Job One

What Job One does

Job One is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1967 and headquartered in Independence, Missouri, that provides employment and community support services for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities across the Kansas City region. The organization operates four core service lines: (1) Job One Careers, a community employment placement program connecting candidates with local employers; (2) Community-Based Day Services (CBDS), delivering personalized training and community activities; (3) AbilityOne, a federal program placing workers at agencies including USDA APHIS, GSA, FAA, the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse, and the Marine Corps Technology Center; and (4) Transition Services plus Benefits Planning Services for individuals and families navigating Social Security, SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid. Supporting these mission services are two revenue-generating business units: Packaging & Assembly (production support, sorting, assembling, stuffing envelopes, building street sweeper brushes) and Job One Custom Prints (screen printing, digital printing, and embroidery sold through shopjobone.com). The organization also runs a Summer Work Experience Program partnering with six local employers. Job One does not employ proprietary technology platforms — operations rely on standard nonprofit SaaS tools (DonorPerfect, Paycor, Calendly) and its website (jobonekc.org). The organization holds CARF Gold Seal Accreditation and Platinum Transparency 2026 from Candid.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: AbilityOne federal contracts, business-to-business production contracts with regional companies (Thermo Fisher Scientific, UMB Bank, Ignite Medical Resorts, Sallas Auto), quote-based custom printing orders, individual and corporate donations, an annual Cause-ino Night gala fundraiser, grants (eitas state aid, Abernathy Charitable Trust, Drake Development matching campaigns), and community sponsorships. The organization was gifted its headquarters facility at 1085 S. Yuma Avenue by eitas (Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County) in 2023, and most recently established a strategic partnership with Blue Valley Industries in February 2026. Aaron Martin serves as President and CEO.

Name

Job One

Legal name

Job One

Website

https://jobonekc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Job One is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1967 in Independence, Missouri, providing employment placement, AbilityOne federal contracts, community-based day services, and benefits planning for individuals with disabilities across the Kansas City region, supplemented by packaging/assembly and custom printing business units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Employment Placement Agencies (561311)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Community employment placement
• Social enterprise packaging
• AbilityOne federal contracts
• Community-based day services

Headquarters

HQ city

Independence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Business Services Revenue: Revenue-generating business units including packaging and assembly services for businesses, custom printing (t-shirts and apparel), and former document shredding operations (Shred One KC sold to Shred America in 2021). These social enterprises fund the organization's mission.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Job One relies heavily on community donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events including Cause-ino Night annual gala. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. AbilityOne Federal Program: Community employment opportunities through the federal AbilityOne program, which provides government contracts for employment services for individuals with disabilities at federal facilities.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: Receives support from Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County (eitas), state aid, and grants such as the Taylor S. Abernathy & Patti Harding Abernathy Charitable Trust for facility improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Job One is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise providing employment and community support services for individuals with disabilities in the Kansas City area. The organization operates community employment placement, AbilityOne federal program contracts, community-based day services, sheltered workshop (packaging and assembly), and a Custom Prints social enterprise (screen printing and embroidery) to fund its mission.

Product overview

Job One is a nonprofit social enterprise offering a portfolio of employment and community support services for individuals with disabilities in the Kansas City area. The organization operates multiple interconnected service lines: Job One Careers (community employment) connects candidates with inclusive job opportunities; Community-Based Day Services provides personalized community-based training; AbilityOne offers federal employment programs; Packaging and Assembly provides production services for businesses; and Custom Prints offers screen printing/embroidery services. Together, these services support the organization's mission of building skills, creating connections, and expanding job choices for people with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Job One Careers: Connecting candidates with employers for inclusive job opportunities in the community.
• Community-Based Day Services (CBDS)
• AbilityOne
• Packaging and Assembly
• Custom Prints Shop

Products and services

• Job One Careers (Community Employment) Connects individuals with disabilities to inclusive community employment opportunities, providing job matching, interview support, onboarding assistance, and ongoing job coaching with employer partners.
• Community-Based Day Services (CBDS) Highly personalized training and community activities focused on building job skills and independence, delivered in participants' own communities rather than facility settings.
• AbilityOne Program Federal AbilityOne program providing community employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities at federal facilities, including mailroom and custodial positions at agencies such as USDA APHIS, GSA, FAA, and federal courthouses.
• Packaging and Assembly Job One managed facility providing production support services for businesses including cleaning, detailing, sorting, assembling consumer products, stuffing envelopes, building street sweeper brushes, and custom packaging.
• Job One Custom Prints Custom screen printing, digital printing, and embroidery services for t-shirts, hats, polos, and apparel. All products made by Job One employees as a social enterprise funding mission activities.
• Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) Summer employment program creating job opportunities for students with disabilities by partnering with local employers in the Kansas City region.
• Transition Services Services helping students with disabilities transition from school-based supports to adult services and competitive employment after high school.
• Benefits Planning Services Helps individuals with disabilities understand how employment may affect their Social Security benefits, SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid.
• For Employers Services Services helping employers recruit, hire, and integrate people with disabilities into their workforce, including assessment sites and inclusion support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 Jackson County residents provided with employment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Blue Valley IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026Strategic partnership established in February 2026 between Job One and Blue Valley Industries. Both organizations serve individuals with disabilities and this partnership is expected to create new opportunities for the communities they serve.
• eitas (Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, eitas gifted Job One the production and day services facility at the Yuma Avenue headquarters. This strategic gift enabled significant facility improvements including kitchen renovation funded by Taylor S. Abernathy & Patti Harding Abernathy Charitable Trust. eitas has been a longstanding partner providing state aid and support for workers.
• Shred AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Job One sold Shred One KC (their document shredding social enterprise) to veteran-owned and NAID-certified Shred America in September 2021. The sale includes a staffing partnership providing integrated community employment opportunities for former Shred One KC employees with disabilities.
• Sallas AutominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Automotive repair shop in Kansas City that partnered with Job One to create a custodial position for client Dione. Relationship developed through community connection during car maintenance visit.
• SourceAmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018National nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities through federal contracting. Job One participates in SourceAmerica's Grassroots Advocacy Conference and AbilityOne program. SourceAmerica connects agencies with federal contracts.
• Chamber of Commerce PartnershipsmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerActive member of Grandview Chamber of Commerce, Independence Chamber of Commerce, Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, and Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce. Used for networking, customer acquisition, and community engagement.
• Quality VendingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVending partner that donated a glass-front refrigerator for the renovated kitchen space at Job One headquarters.
• KC CometsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndoor soccer team at Cable Dahmer Arena. Job One Night at KC Comets event with $20/ticket sales supporting the organization.
• East Forty BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Springs brewery that hosts Job One nights and NDEAM Happy Hour events. For every Sunrise Saison sold during October, $1 goes to Job One.
• NorthPoint DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDeveloper of Eastgate Commerce Center that supported Job One in eastern Jackson County.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit focused on creating employment opportunities and friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Adjacent mission overlap with Job One's employment placement services; less direct overlap on AbilityOne federal contracting and day services.

Direct peers

• Melwood: Mid-Atlantic region nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, community employment, and AbilityOne contract services for people with disabilities. Closest comparable in scale and service mix to Job One, with social enterprise business units (document shredding, landscaping) funding mission programs.
• The Chimes Foundation: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing employment, vocational, and community living services for individuals with disabilities. Operates AbilityOne contracts and social enterprise units; comparable service portfolio to Job One but at larger geographic scale.
• Blue Valley Industries: Kansas City-area nonprofit providing employment and day services for individuals with disabilities. Job One entered a strategic partnership with BVI in Feb 2026; both organizations share an overlapping service model (community employment, AbilityOne participation, packaging/production) and identical customer segment.

Others

• SourceAmerica: National AbilityOne program administrator that creates federal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Acts as Job One's contracting channel into federal agencies (USDA, GSA, FAA) — not a direct competitor, but a critical ecosystem participant and partner.
• Shred America: Veteran-owned NAID-certified document destruction company that acquired Shred One KC from Job One in 2021. Maintains a staffing partnership placing former Shred One KC employees; functions as both adjacent vendor and employment pipeline partner for Job One.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit advocacy and direct-service network for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many local Arc chapters provide employment, transition, and day services directly comparable to Job One's programs.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit network delivering disability services including employment, community-based day services, and vocational rehabilitation. Operates at much larger scale across multiple states, providing the same supported employment and disability employment services Job One offers regionally.
• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit social enterprise providing job training and placement for people with barriers to employment, including disabilities. Operates the same social-enterprise model (revenue-generating business units funding mission) and contracts with AbilityOne/SourceAmerica nationally.

Regional players

• ABLE Inc. (Kansas City): Kansas City-area nonprofit providing residential, employment, and day services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Same regional market as Job One with overlapping service lines in community employment and supported employment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JobOneKC
• Facebookfacebook.com/JobOneKC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/job-one-kc
• Instagraminstagram.com/jobonekc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Job One