Emerald Communities
Emerald Communities is a Washington State nonprofit operating two Life Plan Communities — Emerald Heights in Redmond and Heron's Key in Gig Harbor — serving nearly 900 seniors with independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersRedmond, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Emerald Communities does
Emerald Communities is a Washington State nonprofit organization founded in 1979 that develops and operates Life Plan Communities (also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities) for older adults. Its portfolio comprises two active Type A campuses: Emerald Heights in Redmond, Washington, opened in 1992 on a 38-acre wooded site, and Heron's Key in Gig Harbor, Washington, opened in 2017 on the Key Peninsula waterfront. Together the two communities serve nearly 900 residents with a full continuum of care spanning independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.
The underlying business model is a classic Type A Life Plan Community structure: residents pay an upfront entrance fee (with a portion, typically 10% or less, flowing to Emerald Communities to support mission fulfillment) plus predictable monthly service fees that cover housing, amenities, and access to higher levels of care without pricing variation tied to acuity. Additional revenue is generated from on-site care services as residents' needs progress. Marketing and demand generation are executed through a multi-channel mix of content marketing (blog, SEO), email (Act-On), LinkedIn organic social, campus tours, dedicated phone lines for prospective residents, and earned media through reader-voted industry awards. The technology stack is intentionally light — Act-On for marketing automation and Google Analytics for site measurement — with no proprietary AI or data platform; community operations are delivered through conventional hospitality and clinical staffing under a corporate services overlay (Finance, HR, Operations, Marketing, Technology, Food & Beverage).
Operationally, Emerald Communities is governed by a Board of Directors (Chair Dwight S. Whiting) and led by President and CEO Ron Schaefer alongside a senior team including CFO Denisa Feddersen and CHRO Jo Hollis. The organization is mid-execution on a $107.165M Series 2026AB tax-exempt bond-financed expansion of Heron's Key (Phase II, opening 2028, adding 54 residential units and new amenities) and is in early-stage development planning for a third community, Luana Kai, in Hawaii in partnership with a local board. As a nonprofit, Emerald Communities reinvests surplus into resident programming, community enhancements, and charitable grants (over $1.5M contributed to local nonprofits since 2020, including $340,000 to 18 organizations in 2025).
Emerald Communities firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Emerald Communities
- Legal name
- Emerald Communities
- Website
- https://emeraldcommunities.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Emerald Communities is a Washington State nonprofit operating two Life Plan Communities — Emerald Heights in Redmond and Heron's Key in Gig Harbor — serving nearly 900 seniors with independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Emerald Communities industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Senior Living Services (Life Plan Communities / Continuing Care Retirement Communities)
- NAICS
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311)
- SIC
- Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Campus / Regional CCRC Networks (HLADAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) with Memory Care (HLADACAD), Nonprofit / Faith-Based CCRCs (HLADAEAC)
Keywords
Where Emerald Communities is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Emerald Communities business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Entrance Fees: Life Plan Communities typically charge upfront entrance fees that provide access to the community and future care services. A portion of net entrance fees (typically 10% or less) is transferred to Emerald Communities to support mission fulfillment and expansion.
- Monthly Service Fees: Residents pay predictable monthly fees that cover housing, amenities, and access to care services. Monthly expenses remain predictable and are not based on changes in care level, providing long-term financial stability for residents.
- Care Services Revenue: Revenue from higher levels of care including assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services provided on-site to residents as their needs evolve.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Predictable Monthly Costs - Life Plan Community Model |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Emerald Communities product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Emerald Communities develops and operates nonprofit Type A Life Plan Communities (CCRCs) that provide independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services on a single campus. Residents pay an entrance fee plus predictable monthly service fees that grant lifetime access to the full continuum of care without cost increases tied to changes in care level. The portfolio currently includes Emerald Heights (Redmond) and Heron's Key (Gig Harbor), serving nearly 900 residents across Washington State.
Product overview
Emerald Communities operates a portfolio of senior living communities under a Life Plan Community model (also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities or CCRCs). The company offers two active Type A Life Plan Communities: Emerald Heights in Redmond, WA and Heron's Key in Gig Harbor, WA. These communities provide a continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Additionally, Emerald Communities is exploring development of a new Life Plan Community called Luana Kai in Hawaii. The communities are nonprofit organizations focused on whole-person wellness across seven dimensions: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, vocational, and environmental.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Emerald Heights: A premier Life Plan Community in Redmond, Washington, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing on a scenic, wooded 38-acre campus.
- Heron's Key
- Luana Kai
Products and services
- Emerald Heights Life Plan Community Premier Type A Life Plan Community in Redmond, Washington providing independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing on a 38-acre wooded campus with whole-person wellness programming for active older adults.
- Heron's Key Life Plan Community Vibrant waterfront Type A Life Plan Community in Gig Harbor, Washington offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing on the Key Peninsula with predictable monthly costs and lifetime access to on-site care.
- Luana Kai (Future Life Plan Community) Future Life Plan Community in Hawaii being explored by Emerald Communities in partnership with the Luana Kai board, intended to provide older adults on the islands with nonprofit housing, healthcare, and wellness programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 900 residents served across two Life Plan Communities
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Emerald Communities
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Emerald Communities technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Emerald Communities partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- ICAA (International Council on Active Aging)minorEmerald Communities is a proud member of ICAA, an industry association supporting active aging and wellness-focused senior living communities. Membership provides networking, best practices, and credibility in the active aging sector.
- LeadingAgeminorEmerald Communities is a proud member of LeadingAge, a leading voice for aging services providers. Membership connects the organization with industry advocacy, education, and quality standards initiatives.
- Luana Kai BoardminorEmerald Communities partners with the Luana Kai board to explore developing a nonprofit Life Plan Community in Hawaii. The collaboration aims to serve Hawaii's aging population with high-quality housing, healthcare, and wellness options. Board members include Stephanie Marshall (Chair), David McEwan (Vice Chair), DeWayne McMullin (Secretary), Kamani Kuala'au, Dwight Whiting, Daphne Schneider, and Oz Stender (Honorary Member).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Emerald Communities competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Emerald Communities social profiles
Digital presenceEmerald Communities compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Emerald Communities financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Emerald Communities leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Emerald Communities funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Emerald Communities M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Emerald Communities
What does Emerald Communities do?
Emerald Communities develops and operates nonprofit Type A Life Plan Communities (CCRCs) that provide independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services on a single campus. Residents pay an entrance fee plus predictable monthly service fees that grant lifetime access to the full continuum of care without cost increases tied to changes in care level. The portfolio currently includes Emerald Heights (Redmond) and Heron's Key (Gig Harbor), serving nearly 900 residents across Washington State.
Is Emerald Communities a public or private company?
Emerald Communities is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Emerald Communities founded?
Emerald Communities was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Emerald Communities based?
Emerald Communities is headquartered in Redmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does Emerald Communities make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Entrance Fees are the primary driver. The others are monthly Service Fees and care Services Revenue.
Does Emerald Communities have an API?
No public API is recorded for Emerald Communities.
What industry is Emerald Communities in?
Emerald Communities's product category is Senior Living Services (Life Plan Communities / Continuing Care Retirement Communities). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLADAEAF, Multi-Campus / Regional CCRC Networks, with a secondary code of HLADACAD, Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) with Memory Care. Its NAICS code is 623311 and its SIC code is 8050.