Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Name

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Legal name

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Website

https://autismcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) is an internationally recognized Arizona-based nonprofit providing diagnostic, therapeutic, educational, and research services for individuals with autism across the lifespan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs (EDAKAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Autism Diagnostic & Educational Assessment Services (EDAKAKAA), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL), Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG), Autism Support Instructional Materials (Structured Teaching, Visual Supports) (EDAGAMAK)

Keywords

• Autism services
• Applied behavior analysis
• ABA therapy
• Autism research
• Developmental disability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: SARRC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit with less than 3% of annual revenue coming from state and federal funding. The vast majority of revenue comes from donations, grants, and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Major donor categories range from Bronze ($1K/year) to Platinum ($25K/year) MVP multi-year pledges. The A to Z and Everywhere in Between capital campaign raised $13,263,000.
2. Program Service Fees: Revenue generated from clinical programs including Community School tuition (half-day and aftercare options), diagnostic services, and ABA therapy services. Some programs accept commercial insurance, Medicaid (AHCCCS), marketplace insurance, and private pay. Vocational rehabilitation funding covers employment services for adults.
3. Specialty License Plate Revenue: Arizona's first specialty autism license plate 'Driving Support for Autism' generates $17 per plate sold directly for SARRC and First Place AZ. Available at $25 initial cost plus $25 annual renewal.
4. Social Enterprise (Beneficial Beans): SARRC's social enterprise program Beneficial Beans provides training and employment opportunities for adults with autism, generating revenue while advancing the mission.
5. Research Grants and Federal Funding: SARRC receives research funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation (e.g., $1M grant in 2021 for STEM learning in museums) and National Institute of Mental Health. Less than 3% of total annual revenue comes from state and federal sources.
6. Special Events Revenue: Major annual and biennial fundraising events including the Community Breakfast, YES Day Walk for Autism, and Swirl Sip & Savor gala generate significant philanthropic revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels15 records

Core offering

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) is a nonprofit organization delivering a lifetime continuum of evidence-based autism services across Arizona. Its core offerings include diagnostic evaluations, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy through its AIM ABA program, inclusive preschool via Community School, teen and adult services (PEERS, Learn4Independence, Employment Services, Transition Academy), family support programs, and active autism research. Programs are delivered at multiple campuses, in homes, schools, workplaces, and community settings, and are funded primarily through donations, grants, and program service fees.

Product overview

SARRC is an internationally recognized nonprofit autism organization that provides a lifetime of services through multiple integrated programs. The core offerings include diagnostic services, evidence-based ABA therapy (AIM ABA®), and the inclusive Community School® preschool. The organization operates across the lifespan with children's services (Milestones®, JumpStart®, Parent Training, Second Gear), teen and adult services (PEERS®, Learn4Independence®, Employment Services, Community*Works*®, Transition Academy), and family services (Family Orientation, Grandparent's Support Group). Additional offerings include outreach programs (Think Autism®), screening tools (Easy Access Autism Screening, NODA), educational resources (Online Safety Manual, Dental Care Guide), and social enterprise (Beneficial Beans®). The portfolio is unified by applied behavior analysis (ABA) as the foundational clinical approach, delivered across home, school, community, and center-based settings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community School: Inclusive preschool program offering high-quality early childhood education for children with and without autism in a blended classroom environment with ABA-based programming.
• JumpStart
• AIM ABA
• Beneficial Beans
• PEERS
• CommunityWorks

Products and services

• AIM ABA

Quantifiable outcome

• 129,789 clinical intervention hours provided in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Governor of ArizonaminorOthers · 1 January 2017March 3 was proclaimed 'SARRC's Social Enterprise Day' by the Office of the Governor of Arizona in 2017, recognizing SARRC's social enterprise contributions.
• Behavior Imaging and Georgia TechcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015Partnership to launch Naturalistic Observation Diagnostic Assessment (NODA), a clinically tested service using a smartphone app and autism specialists to diagnose or rule out autism. Became standard diagnostic tool at SARRC after four years of use starting 2020.
• Foundation for Senior LivingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Collaborated with First Place AZ and the Foundation for Senior Living to launch the First Place Transition Academy, which SARRC has operated since 2014 as a two-year independent living program for adults with autism.
• First Place AZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012First Place AZ was founded as SARRC's sister organization in 2012 by Denise Resnik (SARRC co-founder). The organizations partnered to create Arizona's first specialty autism license plate 'Driving Support for Autism.' Also collaborated on the First Place Transition Academy, operated by SARRC since 2014.
• Autism Genetics Resource Exchange (AGRE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004SARRC partnered with AGRE (the largest private, open-access repository of clinical and genetic information dedicated to autism research) to expand its research capabilities and contribute to the international autism genetics database.
• Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Partnership in 2003 to conduct Arizona's largest and most comprehensive molecular and genetics research on autism, marking one of SARRC's earliest major research collaborations.
• Libera Universita Campus BioMedico (Rome)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001SARC families participated in a historic international study in collaboration with Libera Universita Campus BioMedico in Rome in 2001, marking one of SARRC's first international research collaborations.
• NEXT for AUTISMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEXT for AUTISM made possible SARRC's Online Safety Manual, an approachable curriculum teaching individuals with ASD important skills needed to safely interact online.
• Delta Dental of Arizona FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelta Dental of Arizona Foundation enabled SARRC to develop Dental Information Guides and Trainings for families, autism service providers, and dental professionals to expand oral healthcare for individuals on the autism spectrum.
• Arizona Tuition ConnectionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDollar-for-dollar Arizona tax credit program enabling donors to support families receiving treatment through SARRC's Community School. Donors contribute up to $1,535 (single) or $3,062 (married joint) and receive state tax credits.
• St. James Episcopal Church (Tempe)minorOthersSt. James Episcopal Church in Tempe hosts SARRC's Community School-Tempe campus, located at 975 E Warner Rd, Tempe, AZ 85284.
• Paiute Neighborhood Center (Scottsdale)minorOthersThe Scottsdale Paiute Campus is located within the Paiute Neighborhood Center, providing community space for SARRC's services.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability and autism services across the lifespan, including early intervention, therapy, and employment support. Comparable to SARRC's lifespan nonprofit service model, but operating nationally rather than concentrated in one state.
• Autism Speaks: Large national autism advocacy and research funding organization with associated resource/referral services. Comparable in research funding and family resource functions, but operates as a national advocacy body rather than direct-service provider like SARRC.
• Autism Society of America: National grassroots autism organization providing information/referral, advocacy, and local affiliate services. Comparable in nonprofit family-support and resource-navigation functions, though operating as an umbrella advocacy body rather than clinical provider like SARRC.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit providing advocacy and direct services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism. Comparable in mission-driven lifespan support and family services, though with broader advocacy focus than SARRC's clinical/research emphasis.

Direct peers

• Behavior Frontiers: Multi-state provider of ABA therapy and autism services for children and adults, with clinical programs and insurance billing. Directly comparable to SARRC's AIM ABA therapy and Community School offerings through similar ABA-based intervention methodology.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit operating ABA, diagnostic, and lifespan services for individuals with autism and behavioral health needs across multiple states. Comparable to SARRC in nonprofit ABA-driven service delivery and lifespan scope, but at significantly larger national scale.
• Melwood: Nonprofit providing employment, training, and support services for people with disabilities including autism. Comparable to SARRC's Employment Services and Beneficial Beans social enterprise in mission-aligned vocational rehabilitation and adult services.
• Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD): One of the largest ABA therapy providers in the U.S., offering diagnostic, therapeutic, and school-based services for autism. Directly comparable to SARRC's AIM ABA program; SARRC's COO Amy Kenzer previously worked at CARD.
• May Institute: Nonprofit organization providing ABA-based autism and behavioral services across the lifespan, including schools, residential programs, and adult services. Directly comparable to SARRC's ABA-based clinical model and lifespan service architecture.

Others

• First Place AZ: Sister organization of SARRC, co-founded by SARRC co-founder Denise Resnik, focused on residential and community-based independent living for autistic adults. Operationally intertwined (Transition Academy, autism license plate) but legally and programmatically distinct from SARRC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SouthwestAutism
• Facebookfacebook.com//SouthwestAutism
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/464260?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1397094752903%2Ctas%3Asouthwest%20autism%2Cidx%3A1-1-1
• Instagraminstagram.com/southwestautism
• Xx.com/swautismcenter

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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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 Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center