Oakridge Neighborhood Services

What Oakridge Neighborhood Services does

Oakridge Neighborhood Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1969 and headquartered on a 17-acre campus in Des Moines, Iowa. It operates Iowa's largest Section 8 housing complex, comprising 339 affordable apartment homes — 300 general family units ranging from studios to five-bedroom layouts, plus 39 Silver Oaks senior living apartments for residents age 55 and older. Rents are structured at 30% of household income under HUD's project-based Section 8 program, with additional Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credit units and other federal housing designations (Section 202, 236, 811).

The organization pairs housing with a comprehensive wraparound services portfolio. Oak Academy provides nationally accredited, QRS Level 5-rated early childhood education for children six weeks to Pre-K. Project OASIS (K-5 afterschool) and BE REAL Academy (grades 6-12) deliver 21st Century Community Learning Center programming, while Oak Futures provides paid youth employment for ages 14-24. Oak Studio Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Mainframe Studios offers metro-area teens ages 13-21 access to digital media, robotics, 3D printing, VR, and music production. Family & Workforce Programs round out the offering with adult ESL, financial literacy, citizenship preparation, workforce training, and case management. Roughly 70% of residents are refugees or immigrants.

Revenue is generated through federal housing subsidies, individual donations (including the Acorn Society monthly giving program at $25-$100/month), corporate and foundation grants (Fareway, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Principal, John Deere, Best Buy, Prairie Meadows, and ~40 other visible supporters), modest program fees, and signature fundraising events such as Jazz, Jewels & Jeans and Breakfast at Tiffany's. The organization is currently developing Cynergy, a mixed-use project that will add 33 workforce housing units and a first-floor wellness hub on an adjacent 1.1-acre site. The technology stack is limited to RealPage for resident rent payments; there is no proprietary digital platform.

Name

Oakridge Neighborhood Services

Legal name

Oakridge Neighborhood Services

Website

https://oakridgeneighborhood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Oakridge Neighborhood Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that operates Iowa's largest Section 8 affordable housing complex (339 units) in Des Moines, providing wraparound services including early childhood education, youth programs, teen technology access, and adult workforce training to roughly 800 residents, over 70% of whom are refugees or immigrants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

General Assisted Living Facilities (HLADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Residential Education, Programming & Community Development (EDALACAC)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Nonprofit human services
• Early childhood education
• Youth workforce development
• Senior living community

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Housing Programs: Project-based Section 8 subsidies, Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties, and other federal housing programs where rent is based on 30% of household income for qualifying residents.
2. Individual Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, including monthly giving through the Acorn Society ($25-$100/month), major gifts, and planned giving through wills and estate planning.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from corporate sponsors, foundations, and government grants to fund specific programs including youth education, early childhood, and workforce development.
4. Signature Events: Annual fundraising events including Jazz, Jewels & Jeans and Breakfast at Tiffany's that generate revenue while raising community awareness.
5. Program Fees: Some programs charge modest fees; Oak Academy offers private pay, CCA (Childcare Assistance), and scholarship options for early childhood education services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oakridge Neighborhood Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates Iowa's largest Section 8 housing complex with 300 apartment homes and 39 senior living units on a 17-acre urban campus in Des Moines. It pairs affordable housing with wraparound educational, youth, and workforce programs (Oak Academy early childhood education, Project OASIS afterschool, BE REAL Academy, Oak Futures youth employment, Oak Studio Teen Tech Center, and family/workforce services) for low-income families, refugees, immigrants, seniors, and youth.

Product overview

Oakridge Neighborhood Services operates as a nonprofit housing and human services agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of integrated programs. The organization provides affordable housing through two main housing products: Oakridge Neighborhood Apartment Homes (300 units, studios to five-bedroom) and Silver Oaks Senior Living (39 senior apartments). These housing services are paired with extensive wraparound programs including early childhood education (Oak Academy), K-12 youth programming (Project OASIS, BE REAL Academy), youth employment (Oak Futures YSEP), teen technology (Oak Studio Teen Tech Center), and adult/family services (workforce training, financial literacy, ESL, citizenship). The Cynergy Project represents a planned expansion of housing and wellness services. Together, these products create a continuum of care designed to move families from housing instability toward sustained self-sufficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oakridge Neighborhood Apartment Homes Affordable housing complex offering 300 apartment homes ranging from studios to five-bedroom units, providing secure, quality permanent housing with wraparound social services for families in Des Moines' urban core. Operates under Section 8 and Section 42 federal housing program designations.
• Silver Oaks Senior Living Senior living community offering 39 apartments for individuals age 55 and older, featuring high-level amenities, affordable rent with utilities included, secure building access, heated underground garage, and convenient downtown Des Moines access.
• Oak Academy Nationally accredited and QRS Level 5 (highest rating) state-licensed early care and preschool program serving children ages six weeks to Pre-K, designed to meet social, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of the whole child. Offers private pay, Childcare Assistance (CCA), and scholarship options.
• Project OASIS 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program for students grades K-5, designed to increase academic proficiency while focusing on school attendance and positive behavior outcomes.
• BE REAL Academy Comprehensive academic, arts, enrichment and mentoring program for students grades 6-12, offering after school and summer programming to prepare students for academic rigor.
• Oak Futures Youth Employment Program (YSEP) Paid worksite learning, financial education and career exploration program for low-income students ages 14-24, providing employment experiences at nonprofit, for-profit, and public agencies.
• Oak Studio Teen Tech Center Free teen tech center at Mainframe Studios serving metro-area teens ages 13-21 with digital media, robotics, 3D printing, virtual reality, music production equipment, and career pathways programming. Member of The Clubhouse Network.
• Family and Workforce Programs Adult and family programming including workforce readiness training, family case management, financial literacy, English language classes, citizenship education, driver's education, and food pantry services for Central Iowans.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ residents served with housing and services; 400 youth served through education programs; 70%+ refugee and immigrant population successfully integrated

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Des MoinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Cynergy project aligns with City of Des Moines 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, Des Moines Citywide Housing Strategy, Downtown DSM Future Forward, and Capital Crossroads regional plan. City supports affordable housing development.
• Best BuycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBest Buy supports the Oak Studio Teen Tech Center as a founding partner, providing technology equipment and resources for metro-area teens. The teen tech center is branded as 'Oak Studio Best Buy Teen Tech Center' and provides cutting-edge technologies including tools for music production, digital media, robotics, and more.
• The Clubhouse NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOak Studio is a member of The Clubhouse Network, providing teens access to a global network of tech centers and mentorship opportunities. The network provides curriculum, training, and support for teen programming.
• Lutheran Services in IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary resettlement agency partner that refers refugee families to Oakridge Neighborhood. Works collaboratively to help newly arrived refugees access housing and support services.
• Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing pathways for residents to pursue higher education and workforce training. Board member Albert Farr represents DMACC.
• Mainframe StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to Oak Studio Teen Tech Center at 900 Keosauqua Way. Partnership enables access to creative space and technology resources for youth. Oakridge is also acquiring adjacent land from Mainframe for the Cynergy development project.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit affordable housing operators, running 90,000+ units across the country; broader scale and portfolio but the same mission-driven, services-integrated affordable housing model.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of diocesan agencies providing housing, immigration/refugee resettlement, family services, and youth programs — directly comparable to Oakridge's refugee and family-services footprint.
• The Salvation Army: Global faith-based human services organization that combines housing (transitional and permanent supportive) with youth, workforce, and family programs — similar integrated service model at vastly larger scale.
• Volunteers of America: National human services nonprofit that operates affordable and supportive housing alongside veterans, family, and senior services — comparable in scope of services but operating at a national scale.

Direct peers

• Project for Pride in Living (PPL): Minneapolis nonprofit providing affordable housing alongside early childhood, youth, and workforce development programs to low-income families and immigrants — direct parallel to Oakridge's housing-plus-services thesis.
• CommonBond Communities: Twin Cities-based nonprofit that builds and manages affordable housing paired with youth, education, and resident services programs — virtually identical wraparound-services-plus-housing model in a comparable Midwest urban market.
• BRIDGE Housing: West Coast nonprofit that develops and operates affordable rental housing combined with on-site resident services — same hybrid housing-plus-wraparound model, different geography.
• AHC Inc. Mid-Atlantic nonprofit developer and operator of affordable housing with on-site resident services, including youth education and family self-sufficiency programming — same housing-plus-services thesis.
• National Church Residences: Nation's largest nonprofit provider of affordable senior housing and services; closely comparable to Oakridge's Silver Oaks senior living component and HUD-funded operating model.

Others

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that finances and develops affordable housing (major LIHTC syndicator) and partners with operators like Oakridge to deploy capital; comparable ecosystem participant rather than a direct operator competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OakridgeServes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTZLVEDeE3Zzqew99kJum5Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/OakridgeNeighborhoodServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oakridge-neighborhood
• Instagraminstagram.com/oakridge_neighborhood

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Oakridge Neighborhood Services