The Villages

What The Villages does

The Villages of Indiana, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit child and family services organization founded in 1978 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Operating as a state-licensed child placing agency accredited by the National Council on Accreditation for Children and Families (COA) since 1992, the organization delivers services through 15 offices covering all 92 Indiana counties, with a staff of approximately 300. The Villages serves roughly 3,500 children and families daily and approximately 11,000 annually through an integrated service portfolio spanning foster care placement and licensing, adoption services (including Wendy's Wonderful Kids), the Healthy Families home-visiting program for new parents, the Family Connection Network for kinship caregivers, Older Youth Services for foster youth aged 16-23, and Family Preservation Services for families in crisis. Specialized divisions include Zero2Three (infant/toddler developmental services), Telehealth Services (virtual behavioral health for Medicaid recipients), Prevent Child Abuse Indiana (statewide prevention advocacy), and the Children's Village Childcare Center.

The organization's underlying technology is minimal by design — there is no proprietary platform architecture; service delivery is human-clinician-led across a distributed physical footprint, supplemented by a telehealth modality for behavioral health. The Villages' revenue mechanics rest on three pillars: (1) government contracts, primarily with the Indiana Department of Child Services for foster care, adoption, family preservation, and Older Youth Services — the organization was selected in 2005 as lead agency for the statewide foster/adoptive parent recruitment and retention program; (2) foundation grants, notably a transformational $10 million sustainability grant from the Lilly Endowment in 2017 following earlier Lilly grants in 2014 ($1M) and 1978 (founding); and (3) donations from individuals, corporate partners (CareSource, Managed Health Services, Goelzer Investment Management, Krieg DeVault), and the Indiana Foster Care Donation Tax Credit program. Most services are free to families; foster parent reimbursement operates as a per-diem model set by DCS based on each child's assessed needs. The Villages was named Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's Wendy's Wonderful Kids partner and uses the Child-Focused Recruitment Model, reported as up to three times more effective for children who have been in foster care longest.

Name

The Villages

Legal name

The Villages of Indiana, Inc.

Website

https://villageskids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Villages of Indiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit child and family services agency founded in 1978, operating 15 offices statewide to serve approximately 3,500 children and families daily through foster care, adoption, kinship care, family preservation, and prevention programs under contract with the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child and Family Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child Care Services (624410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF), Family & Parent Support Services (Parent Coaching, Advocacy) (EDAJALAK)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Foster care services
• Adoption services
• Family preservation
• Home visitation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Primary revenue from contracts with Indiana Department of Child Services for foster care placement, adoption services, family preservation, and older youth services.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations from individuals and corporate partners through various giving programs including recurring giving (Brighter Futures), planned giving (Pless Family Society), and one-time donations.
3. Indiana Foster Care Donation Tax Credit: The Villages serves as an approved agency for the Indiana Foster Care Donation Tax Credit, allowing donors with Indiana state tax liability to receive a 50% tax credit up to $10,000 per year for approved donations.
4. Foundation Grants: Grants from Lilly Endowment and other foundations. Received $10 million sustainability grant from Lilly Endowment in 2017 and $1 million grant in 2014 as part of Be Bold Initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Villages of Indiana, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit child and family services organization that recruits, trains, and supports foster and adoptive families and delivers a continuum of child welfare programs statewide. Its services include foster care, adoption, kinship care, older youth/independent living services, Healthy Families home visitation, family preservation, Zero to Three early-childhood support, child care, and behavioral health/telehealth services.

Product overview

The Villages of Indiana is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of child and family welfare programs across Indiana. The core offerings include therapeutic foster care licensing and placement services, adoption programs (infant adoption, adoption from foster care, and kinship adoption), and family support services. Key programs include Healthy Families (voluntary home visiting for new parents), Family Connection Network (kinship care support), Older Youth Services (transition support for ages 16-23), and Family Preservation Services. The organization also operates specialized divisions including Zero2Three (infant/toddler developmental services), Prevent Child Abuse Indiana (prevention advocacy), and Children's Village Childcare Center. Telehealth Services provides virtual behavioral health care. With 15 offices statewide, the organization serves approximately 3,500 children and families daily through these integrated programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foster Care Services

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Dave Thomas Foundation for AdoptioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership with Wendy's Wonderful Kids, a signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption dedicated to helping children in foster care find permanent homes. The Foundation funds adoption recruiters who use the evidence-based Child-Focused Recruitment Model proven up to three times more effective for children who have been in foster care the longest. The Villages was selected for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Grant Expansion in Southwestern Indiana in 2010.
• United Way of Central IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Villages was selected as a member agency of the United Way of Central Indiana in 2000. United Way provides funding support and collaborates on identifying emerging community needs. Partnership helps ensure ability to provide human services across central Indiana.
• Indiana Department of Child ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner providing contracts for foster care services, adoption services, family preservation, and Older Youth Services. The Villages was selected as lead agency in 2005 for statewide recruitment and retention program to rebuild DCS foster and adoptive parent infrastructure.
• Prevent Child Abuse IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevent Child Abuse Indiana (PCAIN), a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, merged into The Villages in 2006. The Villages serves as the umbrella agency for PCAIN, which works across the state to raise awareness, advocate for family-focused policies, and turn education into action.
• CareSourcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisionaries for Children corporate partner at $15,000+ level. Healthcare partner providing support for wellness initiatives and services for families served by The Villages.
• Managed Health Services (MHS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocates for Children corporate partner at $2,500 level. Healthcare managed care organization supporting The Villages' mission and services.
• Goelzer Investment ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle Sponsor for the Fifth Annual Garden Soiree 2026. Champions for Children corporate partner at $7,500 level.
• Krieg DeVault LLPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInc. Board Chair Bob Greising is from Krieg DeVault LLP. Established the Matt Breman Run (Steps for Prevention) in 2006 in memory of attorney Matt Breman who served on Prevent Child Abuse Indiana board.
• Tony DungyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Indianapolis Colts Head Coach (Super Bowl winner) became spokesperson for The Villages in 2007, emphasizing the vital need for foster and adoptive parents.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY): Multi-state nonprofit specializing in therapeutic foster care and adoption services with strong evidence-based practice orientation. Direct peer on the therapeutic foster care delivery model.
• Children's Home & Aid: Illinois-based child and family services nonprofit with similar suite of foster care, adoption, Healthy Families-equivalent home visiting, and family preservation programs. Closest regional peer in service mix.
• KVC Health Systems: Multi-state child welfare and behavioral health nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, in-home family services, and residential treatment. Comparable scale and service breadth to The Villages.
• Pressley Ridge: Mid-Atlantic child and family services nonprofit offering therapeutic foster care, adoption, residential treatment, and education services. Comparable to The Villages on integrated residential/community-based model.
• Bethany Christian Services: Multi-state, faith-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, family preservation, and refugee services. Closest direct peer to The Villages on multi-service child welfare model and adoption-from-foster-care focus.

Others

• Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: National adoption-focused foundation funding Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiters who use the Child-Focused Recruitment Model in agencies like The Villages. Partner/enabler rather than competitor; included because of strategic-tier partnership and shared mission.

Regional players

• Four Oaks Family and Children's Services: Iowa-based child welfare nonprofit offering foster care, adoption, family preservation, and behavioral health services. Comparable Midwest regional scope and integrated service delivery model.
• Children's Home Society of California: California statewide nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and child welfare prevention services. Comparable multi-county delivery model and adoption-from-foster-care focus, but different state regulatory environment.

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national nonprofit operating residential treatment, behavioral health, and foster/adoption services across multiple states. Broader and more clinically focused than The Villages; represents a larger incumbent in shared space.
• Volunteers of America: National multi-service nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and child welfare programs. The Villages' CEO Shannon Schumacher previously served 18 years at VOA as EVP of Strategy, Innovation, and Clinical Services; relevant as a broader platform peer and prior-employer connection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/villageskids
• Instagraminstagram.com/villageskids
• Xx.com/villageskids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-villages

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 The Villages