Hammer

What Hammer does

Hammer Residences, Inc., operating as Hammer & NER, is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization founded in 1923 by Alvina Hammer to provide residential and support services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Headquartered in Wayzata, Minnesota with a second office in White Bear Lake, the organization operates group homes (typically four individuals per home), apartment programs, case management and care coordination, and a recreational travel offering (Hammer Travel) across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, with additional presence in Duluth, Minnetonka, and Plymouth. Its service portfolio includes specialized aging-in-place support for adults over 50, nurse-led medical oversight, and volunteer-driven initiatives such as the Cooks in the Kitchen meal program; the organization is one of Minnesota's largest disability services providers with approximately 600 staff serving an estimated 280-380 individuals.

The technology stack consists of standard nonprofit management, care coordination, recruiting (Paylocity), and email marketing (Constant Contact) systems. There is no proprietary software, no public API or SDK, no patents or trademarks, and no disclosed AI/ML capability. Operational delivery is direct-to-individual through residential settings rather than through commercial channels.

Hammer & NER generates revenue through three streams: Minnesota state government disability waivers under the HCBS framework and 245D regulations (primary), individual donations including a monthly recurring program called Alvina's Angels (380 individuals supported), and foundation/grant funding for capital improvements and specialized programs. The 2022 merger with Northeast Residence expanded the east-metro footprint under the combined Hammer & NER brand. The organization is currently transitioning leadership, with Matt Buley succeeding John Estrem as CEO effective July 27, 2026.

Name

Hammer

Legal name

Hammer Residences, Inc.

Website

https://hammer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hammer & NER is a Minnesota-based nonprofit founded in 1923 providing residential, case management, and support services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across group homes, apartments, and community programs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wayzata

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and State Funding: Primary funding from Minnesota state government through disability services waivers, HCBS programs, and rate systems. Services funded through Disability Waiver Rate System and 245D regulations.
2. Individual Donations and Charitable Giving: Monthly donor program (Alvina's Angels), one-time donations, IRA charitable distributions, Facebook Fundraisers, and legacy/planned giving. Individual donors, corporations, and foundations support operations.
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: Funding from foundations to support specialized training programs, capital improvements, and special initiatives beyond state-funded operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hammer & NER is a Minnesota nonprofit that delivers residential and community-based services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its core offerings include group homes and apartment programs (Homes & Apartments), Case Management & Care Coordination, Support Services, and the Hammer Travel recreational travel program. Services are funded primarily through Minnesota state disability waivers and HCBS rate systems, supplemented by donations and grants.

Product overview

Hammer & NER is a nonprofit organization offering a unified suite of disability services centered around residential support. The core portfolio includes Homes & Apartments (group homes and apartment programs), Case Management & Care Coordination, and Support Services. Hammer Travel provides recreational travel opportunities as an additional program. All services are designed to help people with intellectual and other disabilities live meaningful, self-directed lives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homes & Apartments

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Cohen TaylorminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 June 2026Executive search firm partnered with Hammer & NER to conduct national CEO search. The process included engagement from Board members, staff, and community partners.
• MedicaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteer group that participates in Cooks in the Kitchen volunteer program, cooking meals for group home residents.
• Business EssentialsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate volunteer group participating in Cooks in the Kitchen program, helping prepare meals for individuals in group homes.
• Anderson & AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer group from Anderson & Associates that volunteers with Cooks in the Kitchen program.
• InstacartminorOthersGrocery delivery service used by Hammer & NER to order ingredients for Cooks in the Kitchen volunteer meal program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hope Haven: Iowa-based nonprofit providing disability services, healthcare, and manufacturing operations across 650+ employees — directly comparable in mission, scale, and service mix, and notably the organization where incoming Hammer CEO Matt Buley currently serves as CEO.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Large national provider of home and community-based services, including I/DD and behavioral health supports, serving individuals across all 50 states. Directly comparable business model in residential and in-home disability services with greater scale and public-market profile.
• Sevita Health (The MENTOR Network): One of the largest U.S. providers of home and community-based I/DD and behavioral health services, including group homes and supported living. Comparable in core services (residential, day programs, case management) and serves similar populations.
• Lifeworks Services: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing residential, employment, and day services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Closest geographic and mission-aligned peer operating under the same Minnesota HCBS / 245D framework.
• Opportunity Partners: Minnesota nonprofit providing residential, employment, and community supports for people with I/DD. Operates under the same Minnesota waiver and 245D funding system and serves an overlapping population in the metro area.
• Mount Olivet Rolling Acres: Minnesota-based nonprofit offering residential, day, and clinical services for people with developmental disabilities, including aging-related services. Competes for the same waiver-funded clients and donor base in the Twin Cities metro.
• Vinland Center: Minnesota nonprofit providing residential and outpatient services for people with brain injuries and other disabilities. Comparable in regulatory environment, residential care delivery, and nonprofit funding mix, though focused on a different diagnostic population.
• Easterseals Minnesota: Affiliated with the Easterseals national network, this Minnesota affiliate provides disability services including residential, employment, and community supports. Comparable in mission, funding mix, and the use of community-based and donor-funded programs.
• The Arc Minnesota: Minnesota chapter of The Arc, providing advocacy and direct services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable population, advocacy footprint, and reliance on Minnesota HCBS funding streams.

Broad incumbents

• Centene Corporation: Large managed care company that administers Medicaid plans in Minnesota and across the U.S., including coverage of HCBS waiver services that fund providers like Hammer. Comparable in the disability services funding ecosystem as a dominant payer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HammerResidences
• Facebookfacebook.com/HammerMN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/847366
• Instagraminstagram.com/hammer_residences
• Xx.com/Hammer_MN

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Hammer