First Place AZ

What First Place AZ does

First Place AZ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, operating an integrated supportive housing and life-skills ecosystem for adults with autism and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Its flagship asset, First Place–Phoenix, is a single residential community at 3001 N. Third St. offering one- and two-bedroom independent living suites at $4,600–$4,800 per month, bundled with utilities, 24/7 concierge, amenities (fitness room, teaching kitchen, sports pool, Space to Create art studio), and wraparound support services. The organization explicitly positions itself as supportive housing rather than a licensed group home, assisted living, or congregate care facility, which allows residents to access home- and community-based services (HCBS) waivers.

The core programmatic offering is the Transition Academy, a two-year residential life skills program for adults 18+ with autism, delivered through the proprietary Learn4Independence® curriculum — a registered trademark comprising 32 courses taught at GateWay Community College in Phoenix. Clinical services (BCBA support) are delivered through a strategic partnership with the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), which also enables potential insurance coverage that can reduce student tuition from $89,593 to $42,343 annually. Adjacent services include Employment & Workforce Development, Health & Wellness, Community Life programming (Connected Community), the Vote the Spectrum civic engagement initiative, and the Arizona Independence Initiative housing stipend pilot.

The revenue model is a hybrid of recurring monthly apartment rents, recurring Transition Academy tuition, and ongoing donations/charitable contributions (including Arizona charitable tax credits, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and the First Place Forever™ legacy giving program). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website (firstplaceaz.org), phone (602.464.6600), in-person open houses and Discover Days, plus referral partnerships with SARRC, the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities, and AHCCCS. The 15th annual Dimensions™ First Place Global Symposium (October 14–16, 2026) anchors brand and policy influence, while the sister organization First Place Global extends the model nationally and internationally. Recent capital formation includes a $600,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation (April 28, 2025) and an investment from NEXT for AUTISM (January 16, 2026).

Name

First Place AZ

Legal name

First Place AZ

Website

https://firstplaceaz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Place AZ is a Phoenix-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating First Place–Phoenix, a supportive independent living community for adults with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities, complemented by the Transition Academy life-skills program and the proprietary Learn4Independence® curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supportive Housing for Adults with Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Transition Planning & Postsecondary Readiness (Educational) (EDAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG), Post-Secondary Transition Planning & Coordination (EDAKANAA), Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Supportive housing services
• Independent living apartments
• Disability transition programs
• Life skills curriculum
• Neurodiverse housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Apartment Rent: Monthly rental income from supportive independent living apartments for adults with autism and I/DD. Rent includes utilities, amenities, and access to support services.
2. Transition Academy Tuition: Two-year residential life skills program tuition for adults with autism. Full tuition is $89,593 annually, potentially reduced to $42,343 with insurance coverage through clinical partner SARRC.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: First Place AZ is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization eligible for Arizona charitable tax credits. Accepts cash donations, IRA qualified charitable contributions, legacy giving, and Arizona tax credit donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First Place AZ operates First Place–Phoenix, a supportive independent living apartment community for adults with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities, offering one- and two-bedroom suites with included utilities, 24/7 concierge, and on-site amenities. It also runs the Transition Academy, a two-year residential life skills program built on the proprietary Learn4Independence® 32-course curriculum taught at GateWay Community College, alongside employment, health & wellness, and community life programming. Revenue is generated from monthly apartment rent ($4,600–$4,800), Transition Academy tuition ($89,593/year, reducible to $42,343 with SARRC insurance coverage), and charitable donations.

Product overview

First Place AZ operates a multi-faceted housing and support services ecosystem for adults with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities. The core offering is First Place-Phoenix, a supportive apartment community providing independent living with one- and two-bedroom suites ($4,600-$4,800/month) with 24/7 concierge and amenities. The Transition Academy is a two-year residential life skills program using the proprietary Learn4Independence® 32-course curriculum with clinical partner SARRC. Supporting services include Employment & Workforce Development, Health & Wellness, and Community Life programs. The organization also runs the annual Dimensions℠ Global Symposium, Vote the Spectrum civic engagement initiative, and the Arizona Independence Initiative pilot housing stipend program, all under the First Place Global international umbrella. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Transition Academy: Two-year residential life skills program for adults with autism, featuring Learn4Independence curriculum
• Learn4Independence®
• First Place Forever™
• Arizona Independence Initiative

Products and services

• First Place–Phoenix Apartments Supportive independent living apartment community for adults with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities, offering one-bedroom/one-bath (744 sq ft) and two-bedroom/two-bath (1,080 sq ft) suites with included utilities, amenities, and 24/7 concierge support for residents seeking independent living outside the family home.
• Transition Academy A two-year residential life skills program for adults 18+ with autism that delivers the proprietary Learn4Independence® 32-course curriculum, a private bedroom in a four-bedroom shared suite, 24/7 concierge, amenities, utilities, and instruction at GateWay Community College in partnership with clinical provider SARRC. Full tuition is $89,593 annually, potentially reduced to $42,343 with insurance coverage through SARRC.
• Employment & Workforce Development Employment and workforce development services including job skills training, career counseling, and job placement support for residents and program participants at First Place–Phoenix.
• Health & Wellness Health and wellness programs and services including healthcare coordination, fitness facilities, and wellness activities for residents with autism and I/DD.
• Community Life

Quantifiable outcome

• Residents develop independent living skills and can live independently in their own apartments
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSARRC serves as First Place AZ's clinical partner, providing BCBA services, behavioral support, and clinical oversight for the Transition Academy. SARRC is also a contracted provider with most insurance plans, enabling potential tuition coverage for Transition Academy students. This partnership enables residents to access both non-clinical support from First Place and clinical services through SARRC.
• GateWay Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Place Learn4Independence® curriculum is taught at GateWay Community College in Phoenix, allowing Transition Academy students to receive college-level instruction as part of their life skills training program.
• First Place GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Place Global is the sister nonprofit organization extending First Place AZ's impact nationally and internationally through education, employment, housing, healthcare, and public policy initiatives. First Place AZ provides the residential model while First Place Global focuses on broader advocacy and replication.
• Arizona Division of Developmental DisabilitiesminorOthersArizona state organization providing services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. Listed as a resource for families seeking additional support services for their family members.
• AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System)minorOthersArizona's Medicaid agency providing healthcare coverage. Referenced as a resource for families seeking additional support funding options for disability services.
• Gold Key ConsultingminorOthersCEO Michael Trailor of Gold Key Consulting serves on the First Place AZ Board of Directors, providing consulting expertise in residential construction, housing development, and community development.
• MassMutualminorOthersFinancial planner Karen Starbowski from MassMutual serves on the First Place AZ Board, providing financial planning expertise for special needs families.
• Autism SpeaksminorOthersBoard member Stuart Savitz serves on the national Board of Directors of Autism Speaks. First Place AZ is connected to Autism Speaks through board relationships and community advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• AANE (Asperger/Autism Network): New England nonprofit serving autistic adults with housing navigation, life-skills programs, and transition services — overlapping with First Place's mission but concentrated in a different geography.
• ADEC (Advocacy, Development, Empowerment, Community): Indiana-based nonprofit providing residential, employment, and day services for people with developmental disabilities — a comparable integrated regional operator in a different geography.
• Judson Services / Judson Center: Midwest nonprofit offering autism and I/DD housing, transition, employment, and community services — overlapping with First Place's multi-service model but operating regionally in Ohio/Michigan.

Direct peers

• Camphill Foundation / Camphill Communities: Operates intentional supportive living communities and transition/vocational programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mirroring First Place's residential-plus-life-skills model on a multi-site nonprofit basis.
• AHRC New York City: Large nonprofit providing residential, employment, and transition services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a similar integrated housing-plus-workforce-development structure.
• Melmark: Provides residential, educational, and adult services for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, including transition-to-independence programming comparable to First Place's Transition Academy.
• Bittersweet Farms (via NW autism & related services network): Operates a residential and vocational farmstead community for autistic adults in Ohio — a single-site supportive housing and employment model closely aligned with First Place–Phoenix.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National federation providing housing, employment, and advocacy for people with I/DD; much larger and broader in scope than First Place but a leading incumbent in the same service categories.
• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit delivering disability and autism services including housing, employment, and community living supports — a broad incumbent with overlapping service lines.

Others

• Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC): First Place's clinical partner and a peer autism services nonprofit in Phoenix; comparable population focus but its core offering is clinical/behavioral rather than residential housing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstPlaceAZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-place-az
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstplaceaz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 First Place AZ