Lifespan

What Lifespan does

LIFESPAN Services Inc. is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based nonprofit founded in 1973 (originally as St. Mark's Center, renamed to LIFESPAN, Inc. in 2000) that provides education, employment, and enrichment programs to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The organization operates three integrated divisions — Education (Early Learning Centers with 5-star rated childcare, school-age programs, special instruction, speech and occupational therapy, and trauma-informed care for children from 6 weeks to 12 years), Employment (LIFEWORKS vocational program, Medicaid Employment Services B3, Innovations Supported Employment, and Vocational Rehabilitation), and Enrichment (8 Creative Campuses for adult day programs, Mosaic art studio, residential/group living, alternative family living, peer support, and respite care). A 251-500 employee workforce supports more than 1,000 individuals daily across 22+ physical sites spanning 20+ North Carolina counties. No proprietary technology platform is described; service delivery is credential- and facility-driven, supported by CARF accreditation.

Revenue mechanics rely primarily on government funding through North Carolina Medicaid waivers (Innovations Waiver, CAP, ICF) routed via Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) including Vaya Health, Alliance Health, Partners Health Management, and Sandhills Center. A secondary revenue layer consists of program fees, charitable donations, corporate sponsorships (with recognition tiers beginning at $10,000), and foundation grants from funders including Bank of America, Duke Energy, Truist, Wells Fargo Foundation, and Foundation for the Carolinas. Go-to-market is community- and referral-led rather than transactional; individuals and families are referred through school districts, healthcare providers, and MCO channels. Distribution combines direct service delivery at owned facilities with corporate partnerships and a volunteer program (including an Adopt-a-Home initiative) that drives both community engagement and fundraising.

Name

Lifespan

Legal name

LIFESPAN Services Inc.

Website

https://lifespanservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

LIFESPAN Services is a Charlotte, North Carolina nonprofit (founded 1973) providing education, employment, and enrichment programs to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, serving more than 1,000 individuals daily across 20+ North Carolina counties through 22+ facilities including Creative Campuses, Early Learning Centers, group homes, and Alternative Family Living arrangements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adult Day Rehabilitation & Therapy Programs (PT/OT/SLP) (HLADAIAD), Adult Day Respite Programs (Daytime Relief) (HLADAKAC), Social Adult Day Care (Non-Medical Supervision & Activities) (HSABANAA)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Special needs education
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Inclusive childcare programs
• Residential support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Services: LIFESPAN receives Medicaid funding through various waivers (Innovations Waiver, CAP, ICF) and prepaid health plans (PHPs) to provide services including residential support, employment services, and early intervention programs. Services are delivered through LME/MCOs (Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organizations) such as Vaya Health, Alliance, Partners, and Sandhills.
2. Donations and Corporate Contributions: LIFESPAN accepts charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Corporate partners contributing $10,000+ are recognized prominently. The organization hosts fundraising events including golf tournaments and clay shooting tournaments.
3. Program Fees: Various programs including early learning centers, adult day programs, and residential services may generate fee-for-service revenue through Medicaid waivers, state funding, and private pay arrangements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LIFESPAN Services is a nonprofit organization that delivers up to 100 programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across more than 20 North Carolina counties. Its offerings span three core areas: Education (Early Learning Centers, school-age programs, speech and occupational therapy, special instruction, trauma-informed care), Employment (LIFEWORKS, Medicaid Employment Services, Vocational Rehabilitation), and Enrichment (Creative Campus Adult Day Programs, Mosaic Art Studio, residential and group living, alternative family living, respite care).

Product overview

LIFESPAN Services is a non-profit organization providing up to 100 programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across more than 20 North Carolina counties. The organization operates a unified service platform organized into three core divisions: Education Programs (including Early Learning Centers, school-age programs, special instruction, and therapy services), Employment Programs (including LIFEWORKS, Medicaid Employment Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation), and Enrichment Programs (including Creative Campuses day programs, Mosaic Art Studio, residential/group living, and respite care). The organization serves more than 1,000 individuals daily through 8 Creative Campuses, 3 inclusive childcare facilities, 9 group homes, and 13 alternative family living homes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LIFEWORKS: Employment program under the LIFESPAN Services umbrella providing vocational training and job placement services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Mosaic: A LIFESPAN Studio
• Creative Campuses
• LIFESPAN Early Learning Centers

Products and services

• Education Programs High-quality educational programs for children with developmental disabilities including 5-star rated Early Learning Centers, school-age programs, special instruction services, speech and occupational therapy, and trauma-informed care. Serves children from 6 weeks to 12 years old with intellectual and developmental disabilities and typically developing children in inclusive settings.
• Employment Programs Vocational programs for adults teaching basic job skills and providing employment opportunities, including community activities and employment transitions, LIFEWORKS, Medicaid Employment Services (B3 and Innovations Supported Employment), and Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
• Enrichment Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 244 individuals achieved competitive employment
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Vaya HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLME/MCO providing Medicaid managed care services in western North Carolina. Partners with LIFESPAN to provide services to individuals with I/DD.
• Alliance HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLME/MCO providing behavioral health and developmental disability services. Partners with LIFESPAN as a managed care organization.
• Partners Health ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLME/MCO providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities in North Carolina.
• Sandhills CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLME/MCO providing mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services in central North Carolina.
• NC Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing regulatory oversight, Medicaid transformation leadership, and division of child and early education services that interface with LIFESPAN.
• Central Piedmont Community CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner hosting LIFESPAN Early Learning Center at Alamance Community College campus.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school district collaborating on educational programs and transition services for students with disabilities.
• Autism Society of North CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization providing resources and support for individuals with autism and their families, partnering on awareness and services.
• Arc of North CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing resources and advocacy support.
• Special Olympics of NCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletic programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities, providing recreational opportunities for LIFESPAN clients.
• Down Syndrome AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport organization for families affected by Down syndrome, providing resources and community connection.
• Second Harvest Food BankminorOthersFood security organization providing resources to LIFESPAN group homes and programs.
• Amity Presbyterian ChurchminorOthersChurch community providing volunteer support and engagement for LIFESPAN programs.
• Arts and Science CouncilminorOthersCultural organization supporting arts programming including Mosaic Studio art experiences.
• Bechtler Museum of Modern ArtminorOthersMuseum providing art enrichment experiences for LIFESPAN artists.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of North Carolina: Statewide advocacy and direct-service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Carolina. Closely comparable to LIFESPAN as both deliver I/DD services and family supports across NC and frequently co-advocate on Medicaid waiver policy.
• RHA Health Services: North Carolina-headquartered provider of I/DD, behavioral health, and substance use services operating residential, day, and community-based programs. Directly comparable as a NC I/DD provider serving multiple LME/MCOs and Medicaid waiver populations.
• Autism Society of North Carolina: Statewide nonprofit providing autism-specific services, advocacy, and resource navigation across NC. Comparable because it overlaps LIFESPAN's I/DD mission, serves overlapping populations, and partners with many of the same LME/MCOs.
• Easterseals PORTHealth: North Carolina-based Easterseals affiliate providing I/DD, behavioral health, and child-development services. Comparable as a NC nonprofit human-services organization delivering Medicaid-funded I/DD supports overlapping LIFESPAN's counties.
• UCP of North Carolina (United Cerebral Palsy): State affiliate providing services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities across NC. Comparable as a NC I/DD services nonprofit delivering residential, day, and therapy supports similar to LIFESPAN's mix.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Large national operator of home- and community-based I/DD, behavioral health, and aging services. Comparable as a scaled, multi-state I/DD provider offering residential, day, and employment supports similar to LIFESPAN's service mix.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Publicly traded, diversified home and community-based services provider serving I/DD, behavioral health, and pharmacy populations. Comparable because it competes for HCBS waiver referrals and delivers I/DD residential/day programs similar to LIFESPAN.
• Dungarvin: National provider of residential, day, and employment supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable as a multi-state I/DD services operator with a similar group-home and community-based delivery model.
• Volunteers of America National Services: National nonprofit operating I/DD, behavioral health, and senior services including affordable housing and group homes. Comparable because it operates Medicaid-funded residential and community programs for I/DD populations across multiple states.

Emerging players

• Bayada Home Health Care: Large home-health and human-services provider with growing I/DD and pediatric services. Comparable because it delivers Medicaid-funded personal-care and therapy services in NC homes and communities that overlap with LIFESPAN's therapy and respite offerings.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LIFESPAN_Inc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lifespanservices3234
• Facebookfacebook.com/LIFESPANInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifespanservices
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifespanservicesinc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Lifespan