AbilityFirst Business Services

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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).
4. 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.
5. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• FVO Solutions Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2021Merger 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 CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic 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 CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic 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 CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for the College to Career program offering educational support and career development services for young adults with developmental disabilities.
• Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic 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)Channel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AbilityFirstLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AbilityFirstLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abilityfirst
• Instagraminstagram.com/abilityfirstla
• Xx.com/abilityfirstla

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries7 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 AbilityFirst Business Services