Partnerships With Industry

What Partnerships With Industry does

Partnerships With Industry (PWI) is a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit public charity founded in 1985 and headquartered in San Diego, delivering supported employment services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates four offices across San Diego County (Central, South Bay, East County, and North County), employs between 101 and 250 staff, and has cumulatively served 12,500 individuals — currently assisting over 750 people daily and more than 1,000 annually into employment.

The service portfolio operates on two sides. For businesses, PWI offers three service lines: (1) Outsourcing Solutions providing contract manufacturing, packaging, kitting, assembly, labeling, and warehousing services; (2) Employee Leasing / Group Services placing supervised 3-4 person crews at customer sites for grounds-keeping, janitorial, food service, and production support; and (3) Direct Hire / Individual Placement recruiting, screening, and on-the-job coaching for competitive-wage placements (15+ hours/week). For clients, PWI delivers a graduated four-track program: Work and Training Center (entry-level skills), Group Services – Supported Employment (community crew work), Individual Placement – Supported Employment (integrated competitive employment), and Vocational Assessment Services / Direct Placement.

Revenue is generated through service contracts with San Diego County businesses, supplemented by donations from individuals, families, foundations, and corporate sponsors across six individual donor tiers ($1 to $20,000+) and five corporate sponsorship tiers ($2,500 to $30,000 Diamond). The organization relies on referrals from the San Diego Regional Center and the California Department of Rehabilitation as primary client acquisition channels, and is accredited by CARF (tenth consecutive 3-year accreditation in 2019). Named business partners include QUALCOMM, UC San Diego, Home Depot, SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, Legoland, City of Coronado, Southwestern Community College District, Pfizer, PostalAnnex+, and Omni Hotel, with several relationships exceeding 10-20 years in tenure.

Name

Partnerships With Industry

Legal name

Partnerships With Industry

Website

https://pwiworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Partnerships With Industry is a San Diego County 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that provides supported employment services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating four offices and partnering with 230+ local businesses to deliver outsourcing, employee leasing, and direct hire placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Supported employment services
• Vocational rehabilitation programs
• Contract packaging services
• Disability employment services
• Outsourcing staffing solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: PWI relies on donations from individuals, families, foundations, businesses, and San Diego County community groups to fund operations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt California nonprofit. PWI offers multiple giving vehicles including one-time donations, planned giving, corporate sponsorships, vehicle donations, and tribute donations.
2. Outsourcing and Contract Services: PWI provides outsourcing solutions to businesses — including shrink wrapping, repackaging, product assembly, kitting, heat-sealing, labeling, order fulfillment, and warehousing handwork — at a cost-effective rate. Revenue is generated through service contracts with San Diego County businesses.
3. Employee Leasing Services: PWI leases groups of 3–4 clients under full-time Employment Training Specialist supervision to businesses to fill staffing gaps. PWI manages payroll administration and workers' compensation coverage, providing a reliable and cost-effective source of labor.
4. Direct Hire Placement Services: PWI matches businesses with directly hired employees who work at least 15 hours per week at competitive wages. PWI provides free recruitment and screening and ongoing job coaching, with job coaching fully funded by PWI at no cost to employers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Partnerships With Industry (PWI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides supported employment services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in San Diego County. PWI operates three core business-facing offerings — Outsourcing Solutions (contract manufacturing/fulfillment such as shrink wrapping, kitting, assembly, and labeling), Employee Leasing/Group Services (on-site supervised crews of 3–4 clients), and Direct Hire/Individual Placement (permanent placement with fading coaching) — alongside client-facing employment program tracks including a Work and Training Center, Group Services, Individual Placement, and Vocational Assessment Services.

Product overview

Partnerships With Industry (PWI) operates as a nonprofit employment services organization, not a software product company. PWI offers a portfolio of employment-related services designed to place adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in meaningful jobs across San Diego County. The core service portfolio includes three main business-facing offerings: Outsourcing Solutions (contract manufacturing and fulfillment services), Employee Leasing-Group Services (on-site staffing with supervisor support), and Direct Hire-Individual Placement (permanent job placement with coaching). For clients, PWI provides four employment program tracks: Work and Training Center (entry-level skills development), Group Services-Supported Employment (community-based team work), Individual Placement-Supported Employment (independent community employment), and Vocational Assessment Services-Direct Placement (independent job placement assistance).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outsourcing Solutions
• Employee Leasing – Group Services
• Direct Hire – Individual Placement
• Work and Training Center (WTC) / Contract Services
• Group Services (GS) – Supported Employment
• Individual Placement (IP) – Supported Employment
• Vocational Assessment Services / Direct Placement

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 750 individuals with disabilities assisted per day in finding employment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QUALCOMMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQUALCOMM is both a major supporter (Qualcomm Foundation) and a business partner of PWI. PWI clients work at QUALCOMM, and the company provides employment and internship opportunities for adults with disabilities. The Qualcomm Foundation has provided grant funding to support PWI's mission.
• UC San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC San Diego is a major business partner of PWI. PWI provides group services at UCSD locations including the 64 Degrees Restaurant, and UCSD offers employment and internship opportunities for PWI clients. UCSD also had Employment Training Specialist positions available.
• Home DepotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome Depot is a named business partner of PWI, providing Individual Placement employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
• SeaWorld San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeaWorld San Diego is a named business partner providing employment opportunities for PWI clients through Individual Placement services.
• Hoehn MercedescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoehn Mercedes is a named business partner providing employment opportunities for PWI clients.
• San Diego ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Diego Zoo is a named business partner providing Individual Placement employment opportunities for PWI clients.
• City of CoronadocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Coronado has partnered with PWI for over 8 years, providing employment for PWI clients. The City Manager described the partnership as a win-win situation benefiting the city and its residents.
• LegolandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegoland is a named business partner providing Individual Placement employment opportunities for PWI clients.
• Omni HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmni Hotel employs PWI clients through employee leasing (group services). The Food & Beverage Manager described the team as upbeat and magical, and expressed willingness to hire 15 more PWI associates.
• Old Ben's WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOld Ben's Workshop uses PWI's outsourcing solutions for product assembly and scaling. The owner stated the business would not exist without PWI — now producing close to 100 products with PWI's involvement in all of them.
• Annex Brand/PostalAnnex+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnex Brand/PostalAnnex+ has used PWI's product assembly outsourcing services for over 10 years, citing high quality and speed of work from PWI clients.
• Southwestern Community College DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthwestern Community College District has partnered with PWI for two decades. PWI crews perform grounds-keeping and support services at the college, and the district values both the service quality and the educational opportunity provided to PWI clients.
• PfizerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPfizer has Employment Training Specialist positions available for PWI placement, providing employment opportunities for PWI's job coaches at the Pfizer facility.
• San Diego NMCRS (Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society) Thrift StoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPWI's CORE Crew #12 has been volunteering at the San Diego NMCRS Thrift Store in Imperial Beach since July 2019. The crew was recognized at NMCRS's Award Ceremony and Holiday Party in December 2019.
• Army and Navy AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrom PWI's first decade, the Army and Navy Academy was an early business partner for Group Services formation and remains a business partner to this day.
• City of VistacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrom PWI's first decade, the City of Vista was an early business partner for Group Services formation and remains a business partner to this day.
• The Bishop's SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bishop's School is a Group Services site where PWI clients work, supervised by a PWI Employment Training Specialist.
• VonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVons is listed as a current Individual Placement employer for PWI clients.
• TargetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTarget is listed as a current Individual Placement employer for PWI clients.
• AMC TheaterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMC Theaters is listed as a current Individual Placement employer for PWI clients.
• San Diego Regional CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe San Diego Regional Center is a primary referral partner, providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities who may benefit from PWI's supported employment programs.
• CA Department of RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe California Department of Rehabilitation is a referral partner that helps qualify individuals for PWI's services.
• County of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPWI has launched 'Jay's Program' in partnership with the County of San Diego, as announced in a Summer Update video on PWI's website.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: The largest U.S. nonprofit employment services network, operating mission-driven programs that employ and provide job placement for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Directly comparable to PWI in supported employment, contract services (packaging, fulfillment), and community-based training across a national footprint.
• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit that connects people with disabilities to employment opportunities through a network of community agencies, including contract service delivery to federal customers. Comparable to PWI in mission (disability employment), service mix (contract services + placement), and reliance on a government-anchored ecosystem.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a strong employment services portfolio delivered through local chapters. Comparable to PWI in target population (IDD adults) and employment service offerings, though operating at national scale rather than a single county.

Direct peers

• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): Nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities through a network of associated agencies offering contract manufacturing and packaging services. Directly comparable to PWI in its combination of supported employment + contract/outsourcing revenue, though focused on visual impairment.
• PRIDE Industries: Nonprofit social enterprise providing employment and support services for people with disabilities, operating contract manufacturing, packaging, and facility services for commercial customers. Highly comparable to PWI's outsourcing solutions and employee leasing offerings with a similar dual mission + business model.
• MERS Goodwill: Regional Goodwill affiliate operating employment services, contract manufacturing, and packaging/fulfillment services for people with disabilities and other barriers. Closely comparable to PWI in service mix (outsourcing, placement, training) and reliance on donations plus earned revenue.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including integrated employment and corporate inclusion programs. Comparable to PWI's mission and direct hire/individual placement services, though with a more national programmatic and advocacy focus.

Others

• Exceptional Lives: Disability services support organization serving families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable to PWI in the broader IDD services ecosystem, though focused on family navigation and resources rather than direct employment placement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pwiworks
• Facebookfacebook.com/179757878708971
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1258382

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Partnerships With Industry