AbilityFirst Business Services
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersPasadena, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
AbilityFirst Business Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AbilityFirst Business Services
- Legal name
- AbilityFirst
- Website
- https://abilityfirst.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where AbilityFirst Business Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pasadena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
AbilityFirst Business Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors supporting the organization's mission to help people with disabilities achieve their personal best. The organization operates a donation portal accepting online gifts, stock donations, and tribute gifts.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Financial support from corporate partners and foundations organized in tiers: Guardian ($250,000+), Partner ($50,000-$249,999), Visionary ($25,000-$49,999), Advocate ($10,000-$24,999), Leader ($5,000-$9,999), Champion ($2,500-$4,999), and Ambassador ($1,000-$2,499). Major partners include California Department of Aging, Google, Bank of America, The Ahmanson Foundation, and others.
- Regional Center Funding: Services funded through Regional Center Purchase of Service (POS) authorizations. AbilityFirst is a licensed vendor through the Department of Social Services and works with regional centers including Lanterman Regional Center (Vendor Code: PD3394).
- Special Events: Annual fundraising events including the Food & Wine Festival, Stroll & Roll, Hit the Green Golf Event, and Rainbows for AbilityFirst. The 2022 Stroll & Roll event raised $600,000. Events feature live and silent auctions, sponsorships, and participant fundraising.
- Camp Fees and Scholarships: Camp Paivika summer programs charge fees for overnight camp sessions. Scholarships and camperships are available for qualifying applicants, with costs ranging from $2,000 for a full campership week to specific amounts for activities. Donations fund camperships for families with financial need.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Full Campership - covers one week at Camp Paivika |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels12 records
AbilityFirst Business Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AbilityFirst is a 501c3 nonprofit organization providing person-centered programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Greater Los Angeles. The portfolio includes licensed adult day programs (ExploreAbility), community integration (PossAbility), children and teen after-school programs, College to Career academic support, supported employment services, accessible aquatics, and Camp Paivika, a fully accessible overnight sleepaway camp. Services are delivered through five program centers and funded through Regional Center Purchase of Service authorizations, donations, grants, and program fees.
Product overview
AbilityFirst is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates on a platform-plus-programs model, providing multiple distinct service offerings including: ExploreAbility (licensed adult day program), PossAbility (community integration), Children & Teens After School Program, College to Career, Supported Employment/Employment Services, Aquatics, and Camp Paivika (accessible sleepaway camp). The programs are delivered through various service centers in Greater Los Angeles including the Lawrence L. Frank Center in Pasadena, Joan & Harry A. Mier Center in Inglewood, Long Beach Center, East Los Angeles Center, and Claremont Center. Camp Paivika, located in the San Bernardino National Forest, is one of the first fully accessible camps in the United States. The organization also hosts signature fundraising events including the annual Stroll & Roll walk and Food & Wine Festival.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ExploreAbility (Adult Day Program) A licensed adult day program for adults age 18+ that teaches life skills and fosters personal and social development through diverse activities with ongoing supervision and personal care provided. Located at Joan & Harry A. Mier Center, Lawrence L. Frank Center, Long Beach Center, and East Los Angeles Center.
- PossAbility (Community Integration) A community-based program for adults age 18+ that teaches life skills and fosters personal and social development through community engagement, with emphasis on employment readiness and independent community access. Does not provide constant supervision or personal care.
- Children & Teens After School Program A licensed site-based program for children and youth ages 6 to 22 that teaches life skills and fosters personal and social development through diverse activities with ongoing supervision and personal care provided.
- College to Career A community-based program for college-enrolled young adults age 18+ that teaches life skills and fosters personal and social development through an academic support program and mentorship dedicated to helping students succeed on their campus.
- Supported Employment / Employment Services A community-based program for adults age 18+ designed to teach life skills, foster personal development, and provide job readiness through initiatives like Project SEARCH and DiscoverAbility, connecting participants with meaningful, competitive jobs in their local communities.
- Aquatics Program Aquatics programs at the Joan & Harry A. Mier Center (Inglewood) and Long Beach Center providing accessible warm-water pools for therapeutic recreation, skill-building, fitness, accessible swim lessons, and community open swim.
- Camp Paivika A fully accessible sleepaway camp in the San Bernardino National Forest offering overnight summer programs for children and adults with mild to severe developmental and physical disabilities. One of the first fully accessible camps in the United States, providing traditional camp experiences with nurturing support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% satisfaction rate: 94% of campers and families rated the overall camp experience as good to excellent in 2025 post-session survey
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AbilityFirst Business Services
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AbilityFirst Business Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AbilityFirst Business Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- FVO Solutions Inc.flagshipMerger completed in 2021 combining AbilityFirst with FVO Solutions Inc. (formerly Foothill Vocational Opportunities). The merger created an organization serving more than 2,000 people with developmental disabilities across Greater Los Angeles, expanding programs and services while maintaining the AbilityFirst name.
- Pasadena City CollegecoreAcademic partner for the College to Career program, providing in-person support and educational resources for college-enrolled young adults with developmental disabilities participating in the program.
- Glendale Community CollegecoreAcademic partner providing in-class and out-of-class support for students with developmental disabilities in the College to Career program. Collaborates on educational support services and campus integration.
- Los Angeles City CollegecoreAcademic partner for the College to Career program offering educational support and career development services for young adults with developmental disabilities.
- Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegecoreAcademic partner for College to Career program providing vocational and technical education support for students with developmental disabilities transitioning to careers.
- CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)Vehicle donation partner helping donors turn vehicles they no longer need into tax-deductible gifts to support AbilityFirst's mission.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AbilityFirst Business Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Arc: National nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy, employment support, residential services, and community programs. Closely aligned mission and program model to AbilityFirst.
- SourceAmerica: National nonprofit creating employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities through government contracting and AbilityOne program partnerships. Already a partner of AbilityFirst and a closely comparable employment-services model.
- Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including adult day programs, employment support, camping, and accessible recreation. Operates a federated network across many states with comparable service lines to AbilityFirst.
- United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National disability services nonprofit providing employment, housing, recreation, and advocacy for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Direct overlap with AbilityFirst's adult day, employment, and community integration programs.
- PathPoint: California-based nonprofit providing employment services, community living support, and day programs for people with disabilities. Operates in overlapping California geographies with similar service lines.
Emerging players
- Mains'l Services: Private disability services provider offering employment, community, and residential support for people with developmental disabilities. Operates with comparable self-determination and POS-funded model to AbilityFirst's Supported Employment program.
- Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Overlaps with AbilityFirst's employment and community-integration mission at a national scale.
- Special Olympics: Global nonprofit providing sports training and athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Partial overlap with AbilityFirst's accessible recreation, aquatics, and camp programming for similar populations.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Large established nonprofit providing vocational training, supported employment, and disability services through a national retail-funded network. Broader portfolio but overlapping supported-employment programs serving IDD populations.
Regional players
- California Disability Services Association (CDSA): California state association representing community-based disability service providers, including many offering the same Regional Center POS-funded services as AbilityFirst. Regional peer with strong policy and funding alignment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AbilityFirst Business Services social profiles
Digital presenceAbilityFirst Business Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
AbilityFirst Business Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AbilityFirst Business Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
AbilityFirst Business Services subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
AbilityFirst Business Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AbilityFirst Business Services 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 AbilityFirst Business Services
What does AbilityFirst Business Services do?
AbilityFirst is a 501c3 nonprofit organization providing person-centered programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Greater Los Angeles. The portfolio includes licensed adult day programs (ExploreAbility), community integration (PossAbility), children and teen after-school programs, College to Career academic support, supported employment services, accessible aquatics, and Camp Paivika, a fully accessible overnight sleepaway camp. Services are delivered through five program centers and funded through Regional Center Purchase of Service authorizations, donations, grants, and program fees.
Is AbilityFirst Business Services a public or private company?
AbilityFirst Business Services is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AbilityFirst Business Services founded?
AbilityFirst Business Services was founded in 1925. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is AbilityFirst Business Services based?
AbilityFirst Business Services is headquartered in Pasadena, United States, in the North America region.
How does AbilityFirst Business Services make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants, regional Center Funding, special Events and camp Fees and Scholarships.
Who are AbilityFirst Business Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Arc, SourceAmerica, Easterseals, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) and PathPoint. Emerging players are Mains'l Services, Best Buddies International and Special Olympics. Goodwill Industries International is listed as a broad incumbent. California Disability Services Association (CDSA) is listed as a regional player.
Does AbilityFirst Business Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for AbilityFirst Business Services.