What Ray Graham Association does

Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities (RGA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1950 and headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, that delivers a comprehensive ecosystem of disability services to nearly 2,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across DuPage County and the western suburbs of Chicago. Service delivery is organized around four pillars — Live (residential services in 40+ community-based homes), Learn (life-skills day programs via four Community Learning Services hubs in Burr Ridge, Elmhurst, Woodridge, and Lombard), Work (employment placement and coaching), and Play (therapeutic recreation through Gateway SRA and the Hanson Center equine-assisted program) — supported by specialized sub-programs including the Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic and Monarch Services for transition-age young adults. The organization employs approximately 350 people and is governed independently with no parent company or private-equity backing.

RGA's revenue model is multi-stream and government-anchored. The primary funding source is Illinois Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that reimburse residential, day program, employment, and behavioral health services; this is supplemented by private-pay fees for Monarch Academy/Monarch II and the Gateway SRA Elevate program (priced at $320–$805 per month based on attendance), individual donations (with 80–88% of contributed dollars directed to program services), and foundation/corporate grants (recent awards include a $3.37 million transformational grant from the DuPage Community Transformation Partnership, $25,000 from New York Life, $24,962 from DuPage Foundation, and $10,000 from FT Cares Foundation). Service distribution is field-based: referrals come from families, healthcare providers, schools, and advocacy networks, and Medicaid waiver administration effectively channels client enrollment. RGA markets to donors, families, and community members through community events (Butterfly Ball, Monarch Walk, Horse Show & Fun Fest), social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X), and policy advocacy around Medicaid funding.

The organization's technology footprint is modest and assistive rather than platform-native. RGA integrates consumer smart-home technology (Alexa/Siri voice controls, automated lighting, smart thermostats, Schlage Encode WiFi deadbolts) into residential settings to support independent living, and the Emerge Clinic offers in-person, in-home, and virtual behavioral health sessions. There is no proprietary software product, mobile application, or AI/ML pipeline disclosed; the technology thesis is operational convenience and accessibility rather than algorithmic differentiation. RGA holds CQL Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation with Distinction (top 2% of accredited providers) and a Charity Navigator four-star rating, which function as the primary regulatory and reputational anchors supporting its market position.

Name

Ray Graham Association

Legal name

Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities

Website

https://raygraham.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ray Graham Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1950 in Lisle, Illinois, that delivers residential, life-skills, employment, recreational, and behavioral health services to nearly 2,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across DuPage County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Residential support
• Life skills programs
• Therapeutic recreation
• Behavioral health

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services: Primary funding source covering residential services, day programs, employment support, and behavioral health services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Government rates pay for basic services.
2. Individual Donations and Philanthropy: Direct donations from individuals, families, and community supporters. 80-88% of every dollar donated goes directly to people with disabilities. Includes major gifts, recurring donations, and memorial gifts.
3. Foundation Grants: Grants from DuPage Foundation ($24,962 for therapeutic garden), New York Life ($25,000 for home improvements), FT Cares Foundation ($10,000 for smart home technology), and DuPage Community Transformation Partnership ($3.37 million transformational grant).
4. Private Pay Services: Some services like Monarch Academy and Monarch II operate on private-pay basis. Gateway SRA Elevate program charges monthly fees ($805 for 5 days/week).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ray Graham Association provides a comprehensive ecosystem of residential, employment, life skills, and recreational services for nearly 2,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across DuPage County, Illinois. Services are delivered through community-based homes, day program hubs, the Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic, Monarch transition services, Gateway SRA recreation programs, and a therapeutic horsemanship program at the Hanson Center.

Product overview

Ray Graham Association is a nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive ecosystem of residential, employment, life skills, and recreational services for nearly 2,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across DuPage County. The organization operates a platform-plus-programs model with four core service pillars (Live/Residential, Learn/Life Skills, Work/Employment, Play/Recreation) that are supported by specialized sub-programs including the Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic for mental health services, Community Learning Services (CLS) day hubs, Monarch Services for transition-age youth, Gateway SRA for therapeutic recreation, and a Therapeutic Horsemanship Program at the Hanson Center. Services are delivered through community-based homes, day programs, and facility-based activities, with 80% of donated funds going directly to people with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic: Behavioral health clinic providing counseling, assessment, and treatment from licensed professionals for people with disabilities and their families, offering both individual and group support options.
• Monarch Services
• RGA Hanson Center
• Gateway Special Recreation Association (Gateway SRA)

Products and services

• Residential Services (Live) Community-based residential services allowing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live in their own homes, be part of their community, and learn life skills. Includes 40+ community homes across DuPage County providing 24-hour support.
• Life Skills Services (Learn) Comprehensive programs designed to help people with disabilities develop skills, enhance independence, and change life trajectories. Includes Community Learning Services (CLS) hubs offering art, music, gardening, technology, culinary skills, employment, community engagement, and leadership training.
• Employment Services (Work) Professional support for people with disabilities to find and keep jobs that match their skills and interests, including job coaching and employment placement services.
• Recreational Services (Play) Therapeutic recreation services offering a variety of ways for people with disabilities to have fun, stay healthy, and build lasting friendships. Includes Gateway SRA programs and therapeutic horsemanship at the Hanson Center.
• Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic Specialized behavioral health services providing counseling, assessment, and treatment from licensed professionals who understand the unique needs of people with disabilities. Offers individual and group support options available in-person, in the home, and virtually.
• Community Learning Services (CLS) Day programming offering opportunities for people with disabilities to explore interests through art, music, gardening, technology, culinary skills, employment, community engagement, and leadership. Operates four hubs in Burr Ridge, Elmhurst, Woodridge, and Lombard.
• Monarch Services Five flexible services designed for young adults with disabilities during times of transition, including Monarch Academy, Monarch II, Life Coaching, Personalized Learning, Social Connections, and Empowered Choices. Operates in Burr Ridge and Naperville on a private-pay basis.
• Gateway Special Recreation Association (SRA) Therapeutic recreation programs provided through an intergovernmental agreement with multiple park districts (Burr Ridge, Countryside, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Pleasant Dale, Westchester, York Center, Hinsdale). Offers sports, social activities, the Elevate daytime program, and Special Olympics athletics for adults with disabilities.
• Therapeutic Horsemanship Program Equine-assisted therapy program using horses to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of people with disabilities. Operates at the Hanson Center in Burr Ridge, includes Short-in-the-Saddle and Barn Buddies programs with 96 regular weekly volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% Direct Support Professional retention rate through competitive wages
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGA is accredited by CQL for Person-Centered Excellence with Distinction. CQL has accredited RGA since 1997 and conducted rigorous evaluations of service quality and innovation.
• Gateway Special Recreation Association (SRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGateway SRA is formed through intergovernmental agreement of park districts (Burr Ridge, Countryside, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Pleasant Dale, Westchester, York Center, Hinsdale). RGA contracts to provide therapeutic recreation programs.
• DuPage Park DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven park districts plus Village of Hinsdale formed Gateway SRA through intergovernmental agreement to provide recreational services for adults with disabilities.
• The ArcminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational advocacy organization for people with disabilities; RGA aligns with The Arc's advocacy efforts around Medicaid protection.
• ANCORminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Network of Community Options and Resources; RGA aligns with ANCOR's policy advocacy for Medicaid.
• Huntington Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTutoring center that Anna contacted independently to strengthen her math and reading skills, supporting her career goal at Mariano's.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Easterseals Chicagoland & Greater Illinois: Direct peer — operates an integrated disability services platform across Illinois including residential, employment, behavioral health, and community living services for children and adults with I/DD, overlapping directly with RGA's Live/Learn/Work/Play model and Medicaid waiver funding base.
• Search Inc. Direct peer — Chicago-area I/DD provider operating community-based homes, day programs, supported employment, and behavioral health, sharing the same Medicaid HCBS funding structure and suburban geography as RGA.
• The Arc of Illinois: Direct peer — statewide advocacy and direct service organization for people with I/DD, providing case management, residential, and family-support services across Illinois with overlapping Medicaid waiver funding and transition-age programming.
• NorthPointe Resources: Direct peer — Illinois community-based I/DD provider with residential, day, and employment services funded through Medicaid HCBS waivers; comparable scale and operating model to RGA in suburban Illinois.
• Clearbrook: Direct peer — Chicago-area nonprofit serving 8,000+ children and adults with I/DD through residential homes, day programs, employment, and clinical services — a near-direct benchmark for RGA's DuPage County service mix and scale.
• Little City Foundation: Direct peer — Chicago-area nonprofit delivering residential, employment, clinical, and recreation services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities; mirrors RGA's community-based homes and clinical integration strategy.
• Maryville Academy: Direct peer — Illinois-based nonprofit providing residential, behavioral health, and community-based services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and trauma histories; comparable service breadth and Medicaid waiver funding base.
• Helping Hand Center: Direct peer — Illinois provider of residential, developmental training, and employment services for individuals with I/DD; similarly funded through Medicaid HCBS and DDD waivers, serving comparable Chicago suburban populations.

Others

• Gateway Special Recreation Association: Adjacent — actually operated by RGA as a sub-brand (joint venture of seven DuPage-area park districts), included here as the closest narrow therapeutic-recreation comparison. Comparable to municipal special recreation associations across Illinois.

Regional players

• Have Dreams: Regional peer — Chicago suburban nonprofit providing programs for adolescents and adults with autism and I/DD including vocational, residential, and recreational services, sharing community-based and employment-focused offerings with RGA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/RayGrahamAssoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/RayGrahamA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1657109/admin/feed/posts
• Instagraminstagram.com/raygrahamassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ray Graham Association