Easterseals Southwest Florida

What Easterseals Southwest Florida does

Easterseals Southwest Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1946 and headquartered at 350 Braden Avenue in Sarasota, Florida, serving the Sarasota-Manatee counties with a comprehensive continuum of disability services for individuals from birth through adulthood. The organization operates through an integrated portfolio that includes early childhood development (Lily Preschool), K-12 special education (Easterseals Academy through age 22), adult enrichment and employment services, and a clinical therapy suite spanning physical, occupational, speech, music, behavioral (ABA), neurofeedback, and hippotherapy. Distinctive service modalities include hippotherapy and equine-assisted learning at a 62-acre Easterseals Ranch in Nokomis, immersive virtual reality therapy, autism diagnostic evaluations, and dedicated programs for veterans and first responders (Operation1Stride).

The business model combines charitable donations and grants from individuals, corporate partners, and more than twenty named foundations (Flanzer Philanthropic Trust, Golisano, Barancik, Selby, Bishop-Parker, Paddock, Mendell, Shafie, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation) and Sarasota/Manatee county governments with fee-based program revenue from educational programs, diagnostic services, and therapy delivery. Pricing mechanisms include tuition fee schedules for educational programs, sliding fee scales for diagnostic evaluations, state scholarship acceptance, and a matching funds program ($5-$500 donations matched up to $3,000 per household). Distribution combines center-based service delivery at the main campus, Easterseals Academy co-located at the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County, and the Easterseals Ranch, supplemented by in-home services and community-based instruction. The organization employs 101-250 staff and serves 1,300+ clients and families annually. Customer acquisition is community-led through referrals, healthcare and school partnerships, events (Abilities Shining Luncheon, Summer SunSHINE Campaign, Campaign for Compassion), and awareness campaigns across website and major social channels.

The organization is pursuing growth via the Campaign for Compassion capital campaign funding the Malcolm Family Autism Center of Excellence, recent integration of InStride Therapy (2021 merger) and ABA Academy, a Veterans & First Responders program line, and free community autism screenings. The organization holds IBCCES Certified Autism Center designation and National Accreditation Commission accreditation for its preschool program. While affiliated with the national Easterseals network, it operates autonomously and receives no funding from the national entity; governance is by a Board of Trustees chaired by John Berkey with Tom Waters serving as President & CEO since October 2014.

Name

Easterseals Southwest Florida

Legal name

Easterseals Southwest Florida

Website

https://easterseals-swfl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Easterseals Southwest Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded 1946 in Sarasota, Florida, serving 1,300+ clients and families across Sarasota-Manatee counties with an integrated continuum of disability services including therapy, K-12 education, adult enrichment, autism diagnostics, and hippotherapy at a 62-acre ranch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs / Paratransit Student Transportation Services (EDAEADAH)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Therapeutic services
• Special education
• Autism services
• Community rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners. Donations support programs for therapy, education, and support services for people with disabilities.
2. Program Fees and Service Revenue: Fees for educational programs (Easterseals Academy, Lily Preschool), therapy services, and adult enrichment programs. State scholarships and financial aid available.
3. Special Events: Revenue from events such as the Abilities Shining Luncheon and other fundraising activities.
4. Matching Funds Programs: The Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust matches personal donations of $5-$500, up to $3,000 per household.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Easterseals Southwest Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers therapeutic, educational, vocational, and family support services to children, youth, and adults with disabilities and special needs across the Sarasota-Manatee region. Its offerings span physical, occupational, speech, music, behavioral, neurofeedback, and hippotherapy therapies; inclusive early childhood education through Lily Preschool; K-12 special education via Easterseals Academy; adult enrichment and supported employment; autism diagnostic and treatment services; equine-assisted programs at the 62-acre Easterseals Ranch; respite care; and veteran/first responder support programs.

Product overview

Easterseals Southwest Florida is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of disability services through multiple integrated programs and facilities. The organization operates as a unified service ecosystem comprising therapeutic services (physical, occupational, speech, music, behavioral, and neurofeedback therapy), educational programs (Lily Preschool for early childhood and Easterseals Academy for K-12), adult enrichment and employment services, autism diagnostic and support services, and specialized equine therapy at Easterseals Ranch. Additional programs include respite care, case management, transportation, virtual reality therapy, and summer programming. The organization serves children, youth, and adults with special needs, including those with autism, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and veterans/first responders, primarily in Sarasota and Manatee counties through its main campus and 62-acre ranch facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 1,300 clients and families annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Florida Division of Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partnership providing career exploration, job coaching, and supported employment services for students and adults with disabilities.
• Samaritan Counseling ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health counseling services for students in K-12 academy including direct weekly counseling, classroom observations, and family support.
• Telement TherapymajorTechnology or IntegrationTeletherapy platform providing caregiver coaching sessions with clients and families, and wellness checks to staff.
• The Florida CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing full-time staff counselor at Lily Preschool for children and families dealing with trauma and emotional support.
• The Brain Wave CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of neurofeedback training for students with disabilities, primarily children with autism. Also developing research project on neurofeedback effectiveness.
• Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-location partner hosting Easterseals Academy K-12 educational program at their facility.
• InStride Therapy, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquine therapy provider; strategically aligned in January 2019 and merged with Easterseals in January 2021 to provide hippotherapy services.
• ABA AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApplied behavior analysis provider; strategically aligned in June 2019 and merged with Easterseals in January 2021.
• Goodwill ManasotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Goodwill chapter listed as community partner.
• University of South FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner providing community connections and academic resources.
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical education partner invested in Campaign for Compassion.
• Ringling College of Art and DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing art education connections and community resources.
• New College of FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional educational institution partner.
• Early Learning Coalition ManateeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting early childhood education programs.
• All Faiths Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner addressing food security needs for families served.
• Meals on Wheels Plus ManateeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing meals and support services.
• Asolo Repertory TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partner for community enrichment programs.
• Florida Studio TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming arts partner for creative programming.
• Mote Marine LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience education partner for community enrichment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of Florida: Statewide federation of chapters providing disability services, advocacy, and programs — direct peer in mission and service mix (education, employment, family support) for Floridians with I/DD.
• Goodwill Manasota: Sarasota-Manatea's regional Goodwill affiliate providing employment services, vocational training, and community programs for people with disabilities — a direct, same-region overlap with Easterseals' employment services and adult programs.
• The Arc of Sarasota: Local chapter of The Arc serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Sarasota, with overlapping adult day, employment, residential, and family-support services.
• Easterseals of Greater Houston: Sibling Easterseals affiliate operating a near-identical service portfolio (therapy, education, adult, autism, camps) — the most apples-to-apples operating benchmark for a regional Easterseals affiliate.
• United Cerebral Palsy of West Central Florida: Regional disability-services nonprofit in West Central Florida providing therapy, education, adult day training, and family support — directly overlapping Easterseals' therapeutic and educational programs.
• Lighthouse of Pinellas: Pinellas County nonprofit providing services to people with developmental disabilities and visual impairments, including therapy, education, and adult programs — a regional Florida peer with comparable mission breadth.
• Sunrise Community: Florida-based nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, vocational, and adult day services — overlaps Easterseals' adult enrichment and supported employment offerings.

Regional players

• Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) — University of Florida: State-funded university-based program providing free autism support, diagnostics, and training across Florida — overlapping Easterseals' autism diagnostic, family training, and ABA service lines at a state-network level.
• Jewish Family & Children's Service of the Suncoast: Sarasota-Manatee nonprofit delivering counseling, case management, and family-support services — a regional peer in social-services and family-support delivery, though with broader (non-disability-specific) scope.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals (National Office): National umbrella organization coordinating 70+ affiliates including Easterseals Southwest Florida — although the affiliate receives no funding from national, it shares brand, programmatic frameworks, and federal advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/eastersealsswfl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@eastersealssouthwestflorida
• Facebookfacebook.com/EasterSealsSWFL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/easter-seals-southwest-florida

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 Easterseals Southwest Florida