What New Directions Addiction Recovery Services does

New Directions Addiction Recovery Services (NDARS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 (operations referenced from 2011 onward) and headquartered in Woodstock, Illinois, with a second administrative office in Crystal Lake. The organization operates a continuum of community-based recovery support services for individuals affected by substance use disorders (SUD) in McHenry County, Illinois, structured around four stated principles: Accessibility, Sustainability, Community Support, and a Consistent Message. Programs include The Other Side (a sober bar in Crystal Lake, the first of its kind in Illinois), New Directions Sober Living (three transitional housing homes serving 24 residents in Crystal Lake), the New Directions Retreat (a 90-day residential recovery program in Woodstock serving up to 30 men and women), Connect to Recovery (a 24/7 peer support hotline staffed by 50+ volunteers), the A Way Out program (24/7 substance abuse assessment and treatment placement operated on behalf of the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office since September 2020), and Family Support Groups for loved ones of individuals with SUD.

The organization delivers services through a peer-based, lived-experience model: the majority of staff and hotline volunteers are individuals in recovery themselves, providing relatable peer support rather than clinical intervention. Distribution is achieved via physical facilities (sober bar, sober living houses, residential retreat), embedded peer support staff co-located in hospital emergency departments (notably Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital), and partnerships with the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition, McHenry County Mental Health Board, McHenry County State's Attorney's Office, and local law enforcement. Marketing and referral generation rely on a community-led motion — word-of-mouth, community events (Annual Golf Outing, Zero Fest), a blog with educational content, email newsletters, social media, and earned media coverage including HuffPost, Chicago Tribune, and Treatment Magazine.

NDARS's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than transactional. Revenue streams include individual donations and a monthly recurring giving program, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Stryker, Foglia Family Foundation, Carey Electric, multiple local contractors), event-based fundraising (golf outing at $175/$600 entry), stock gifts, estate giving, and foundation/corporate grants (T-Mobile Hometown Grant of $50,000 in December 2024; Community Foundation for McHenry County awards of $25,000 in January 2023 and $20,000 in August 2025). Sober living housing is described as low-cost and billed monthly; A Way Out and Connect to Recovery are free at the point of service with no insurance required. The organization holds the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency (2024) and employs 11–50 staff (per available firmographics), with no disclosed revenue, no parent company, and no technology platform beyond standard nonprofit web infrastructure.

Name

New Directions Addiction Recovery Services

Legal name

New Directions Addiction Recovery Services

Website

https://ndars.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Directions Addiction Recovery Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in McHenry County, Illinois, offering a community-based continuum of recovery services — including a sober bar, sober living housing, a 90-day residential retreat, a 24/7 peer support hotline, and a law enforcement referral program — for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Recovery Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Addiction recovery services
• Substance abuse treatment
• Sober living housing
• Peer support hotline
• Community recovery programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodstock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: NDARS operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, families, and local businesses in the McHenry County community. The organization emphasizes locally-funded sustainability over government dependency.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses provide sponsorship support for NDARS events and programs. Corporate sponsors listed include Stryker, Foglia Family Foundation, Carey Electric, Pink Roofing, Miranda Alt Team, Northern Illinois, Coleman Contractors, Pirtle Law Group, CrossFit K, and Wakeman Law Group.
3. Event-Based Fundraising: NDARS generates revenue through organized fundraising events including an annual golf outing (NDARS Annual Golf Outing) and Zero Fest. Individual golfer registration costs $175, with foursome registration at $600.
4. Monthly Giving Program: The organization offers a monthly giving program where supporters can become recurring monthly contributors, described as the most impactful way to support the mission.
5. Government and Foundation Grants: NDARS receives grant funding from foundations and programs such as the T-Mobile Hometown Grant ($50,000 awarded in 2024). The organization was one of 25 grant recipients out of more than 850 applicants across the U.S.
6. Stock Gifts: NDARS accepts stock gifts as a form of charitable contribution.
7. Estate Giving: The organization offers estate giving options for donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Directions Addiction Recovery Services (NDARS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that delivers a continuum of community-based recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders in McHenry County, Illinois. Its core offerings include The Other Side sober bar, sober living housing, the Connect to Recovery 24/7 peer support hotline, the New Directions Retreat (a 90-day residential program for 30 residents), the A Way Out assessment and referral program, and Family Support Groups. Services are delivered free or at low cost and are funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

New Directions Addiction Recovery Services (NDARS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization offering a continuum of community-based recovery support programs for individuals with substance use disorders. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs: The Other Side (a sober bar providing alcohol-free social space), New Directions Sober Living (structured housing for people in recovery), Connect To Recovery (a 24/7 peer support hotline), the A Way Out Program (substance abuse assessment and treatment referral), the New Directions Retreat (a 90-day residential recovery home), and Family Support Groups. These programs work together to address different stages and aspects of the recovery process, from peer support and community connection to housing and family education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Other Side: Sober bar in Crystal Lake, IL providing alcohol-free social space for the recovery community
• New Directions Sober Living
• Connect to Recovery
• New Directions Retreat
• A Way Out

Products and services

• The Other Side A sober bar in Crystal Lake, Illinois providing an alcohol-free social space for people in recovery, featuring pool tables, music, TVs, non-alcoholic drinks, and community event space for educational seminars and group meetings.
• New Directions Sober Living Sober living houses in Crystal Lake providing low-cost housing for people in recovery, with case management services including resume building, driver's license recovery, court fee assistance, and community reintegration support. Three homes serve 24 residents (11 men, 5 women, 8 men).
• Connect to Recovery A 24/7 peer support call tree connecting people struggling with addiction to over 50 trained volunteers organized by gender and age, providing phone support, in-person meetings, rides to treatments, and ongoing recovery check-ins.
• A Way Out Program A 24/7 substance abuse assessment and referral program connecting McHenry County residents to appropriate inpatient or outpatient treatment, with no-cost placement for individuals without insurance, operated on behalf of the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.
• New Directions Retreat An affordable 90-day residential recovery program in Woodstock utilizing 12-step spiritual principles and offering structure, support, and focus on reintegration into community and workforce for 30 men and women.
• Family Support Group Support services for family members and loved ones of individuals struggling with addiction, providing education and resources for families navigating recovery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 residents provided safe housing in 3 sober living homes in Crystal Lake
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Jett's Heating & AirminorOthersLocal business contributor to the women's sober living home project, providing HVAC services as part of the remodel.
• Gator Plumbing & IrrigationminorOthersLocal business contributor to the women's sober living home project, providing plumbing services as part of the remodel.
• Exceed Floor & HomeminorOthersLocal business contributor to the women's sober living home project, providing flooring.
• Old World StoneminorOthersLocal business contributor to the women's sober living home project, providing stone materials.
• Heartland Home CabinetryminorOthersLocal business contributor to the women's sober living home project, providing cabinetry.
• ABC SupplyminorOthersBuilding materials supplier contributor to the women's sober living home project.
• Consolidated Electrical DistributorsminorOthersElectrical supplier contributor to the women's sober living home project.
• International Painting and DrywallminorOthersContractor contributor to the women's sober living home project, providing painting and drywall services.
• McHenry County State's Attorney's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDARS has operated the A Way Out program on behalf of the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office since September 2020. The program offers substance abuse assessment and referral services to anyone in McHenry County requesting help. Peer Support Specialists bridge the gap between people seeking care and treatment providers.
• McHenry County Substance Abuse CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in addressing substance use disorders in McHenry County. The coalition, along with the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office, local police agencies, Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, and the McHenry County Mental Health Board, actively works to connect individuals to treatment providers.
• Northwestern Medicine Woodstock HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner in the A Way Out program. Peer Support Specialists are present at hospital emergency departments to connect individuals to recovery resources.
• McHenry County Mental Health BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health board partner in the McHenry County initiative to address substance use disorders and connect individuals to treatment.
• Wake the NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that waged an advocacy campaign to get naloxone into the hands of first responders and available at pharmacies in McHenry County. NDARS helped launch this campaign. Wake the Nation continues to advocate for naloxone and opioid awareness and train community members.
• StrykerminorOthersCorporate sponsor of NDARS programs and events.
• Carey ElectricminorOthersCorporate sponsor of NDARS programs and events.
• Pink RoofingminorOthers2024 Zero Fest sponsor.
• Miranda Alt TeamminorOthers2024 Zero Fest sponsor.
• Coleman ContractorsminorOthers2024 Zero Fest sponsor.
• Pirtle Law GroupminorOthers2024 Zero Fest sponsor.
• Wakeman Law GroupminorOthers2024 Zero Fest sponsor.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oxford House: National network of democratically-run sober living homes. Comparable to NDARS Sober Living's low-cost transitional housing model with resident self-governance and 12-step orientation.
• Gateway Foundation: Illinois-based nonprofit providing residential and outpatient substance use treatment, including assessment/referral services analogous to NDARS's A Way Out program. Overlaps geographically in northern Illinois.
• Sober Living America: National nonprofit certifying and supporting sober living homes, with similar focus on transitional housing standards and peer-led recovery communities. Directly comparable to NDARS Sober Living.
• Phoenix Multisport: Nonprofit building sober-active communities through fitness and social events; operates sober social spaces analogous to NDARS's The Other Side sober bar. Closest conceptual peer to the alcohol-free social-space component.
• SMART Recovery: Nonprofit providing peer-led addiction recovery support groups and self-empowering tools. Comparable peer-support model to NDARS's Connect to Recovery hotline, with a national footprint.
• Rosecrance Health Network: Illinois-based nonprofit offering residential substance use treatment, outpatient services, sober living, and family programs across northern Illinois. Same continuum-of-care philosophy, overlapping geography, and similar reliance on community fundraising.

Broad incumbents

• Shatterproof: National nonprofit focused on addiction advocacy, treatment access, and family support. Comparable to NDARS's mission scope (advocacy, family support, treatment navigation) though operates as a policy/advocacy organization rather than direct service provider.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Large national nonprofit providing residential and outpatient addiction treatment, sober living support, and recovery resources. Directly comparable to NDARS's continuum of care (sober living, residential, family support, peer services) but at vastly greater national scale.
• Caron Treatment Centers: Established nonprofit addiction treatment provider offering residential, outpatient, and family programs nationally. Comparable continuum of services but with significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.

Regional players

• Behavioral Health Care Alliance: McHenry County-area behavioral health coordination body partnering with NDARS; represents regional ecosystem of providers that complement rather than compete with NDARS's peer support and recovery housing services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ndarsorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-directions-addiction-recovery-services
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewDirectionsAddictionRecoveryServices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 New Directions Addiction Recovery Services