Special Hearts Farm

What Special Hearts Farm does

Special Hearts Farm, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 1100 East Maple St, Winter Garden, Florida, founded in 2014 by Kathy Meena (President) and Jennifer Elliott (Vice President), both longtime Orange County Public Schools ESE Transition Teachers with 18-19 years of experience teaching students with autism and intellectual disabilities. The organization serves adults with disabilities and unique abilities through adult day training, supported employment, and entrepreneur-business opportunities centered on a working farm that integrates animal husbandry, gardening, and handmade-product creation (goat's milk soaps, wooden signs, blankets, clothing, gift baskets, and seasonal decor) as vocational training tools.

The farm's commercial and operational footprint is intentionally small and regional: a single physical site, a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer storefront, an annual 'Boots, Wine and Dine Under the Stars' fundraiser, and a staff of approximately 20-25 covering farm operations, direct care, transportation, development, and administration. There is no proprietary technology stack; products are handmade on-site by program participants and listed on Shopify, with the only recurring-revenue product being a $280 Seasonal Product Package subscription spanning four seasonal deliveries.

Funding is dominated by charitable grants rather than earned revenue: disclosed awards include $124,000 from Dr. Phillips Charities for the Forever Home Outdoor Social Engagement Area, a 2025 AdventHealth Community Impact Grant for the Supported Employment Program, separate AdventHealth Central Florida capital funding for a Forever Home Event and Training Barn, and a 4-year grant from the Florida Blue Foundation for the Adult Day Training Program. Strategic partnerships with Orange County Public Schools, UCF Project ASD, and the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities reinforce both referral pipelines and grant credibility. The 'Forever Home' capital project is the central current growth initiative.

Name

Special Hearts Farm

Legal name

Special Hearts Farm, Inc.

Website

https://specialheartsfarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Special Hearts Farm is a Winter Garden, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that provides adult day training, supported employment, and farming/gardening experiences for individuals with disabilities, funded by charitable grants and handmade-product sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Artisan Handmade Goods

NAICS

Sheep and Goat Farming (1124), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Gift Basket & Curated Hamper Assembly (HSACANAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Food Gift Shops & Hampers (CRAHAGAN)

Keywords

• Adult day training
• Supported employment services
• Handmade goat milk soap
• Therapeutic farming programs
• Disability vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Winter Garden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: The farm sells handmade goods produced by program participants, including goat's milk soaps, wooden signs, blankets, clothing, and gift baskets. Products are sold through the farm's Shopify e-commerce storefront and potentially on-site at the farm. Revenue is generated through one-time product transactions.
2. Donations: The farm accepts monetary donations from individuals and organizations through its donations page, supporting the organization's mission and programs.
3. Annual Fundraiser: The 'Boots, Wine and Dine Under the Stars' annual fundraiser generates revenue through event participation and associated donations/contributions.
4. Grants: Special Hearts Farm receives grant funding from charitable foundations including Dr. Phillips Charities ($124,000), AdventHealth (Community Impact Grant and capital funding for Forever Home Project), and Florida Blue Foundation (4-year grant for Adult Day Training Program). These grants support program expansion, capital projects, and operational capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Special Hearts Farm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers Adult Day Training, Supported Employment, and farming/gardening experiences for individuals with disabilities and unique abilities, while selling handmade products—goat's milk soaps, wooden signs, blankets, clothing, gift baskets, and seasonal/holiday items—produced by program participants through its Shopify e-commerce store. Revenue from product sales, donations, foundation grants, and an annual fundraiser supports the organization's vocational and therapeutic programming in Central Florida.

Product overview

Special Hearts Farm is a Non Profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves individuals with disabilities by providing adult day training, supported employment, and entrepreneur business opportunities related to farming and gardening. The organization operates an e-commerce store selling handcrafted products made by their program participants, including Goat's Milk Soap products (in various seasonal scents and shapes), Wooden Signs (welcome signs, love signs, holiday-themed signs, and custom designs), Blankets, Holiday Decorations (wooden trees, bunnies, turkeys, candy corns, cats), Clothing (t-shirts, hoodies, bucket hats, masks), and Gift Baskets (spa, coffee, wine, and soap combinations). The products are handmade at the farm and sold through their Shopify-powered online store, with proceeds supporting their mission to expand training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Day Training (ADT) Program Structured daytime programming providing vocational training in farming, gardening, retail, hospitality, event planning, and handmade product creation for adults with disabilities and unique abilities.
• Supported Employment Program Vocational program offering real work opportunities and pathways to independence for individuals with disabilities, supported by the 2025 AdventHealth Community Impact Grant.
• Farming and Gardening Experiences Hands-on therapeutic and vocational farming and gardening activities featuring mini horses, a mini donkey, mini zebus, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, and a rabbit, supporting skill-building and social connection for participants.
• Goat's Milk Soap Products Handmade goat's milk soap bars in various seasonal scents and shapes including Coffee Soap, Halloween Soap, Thanksgiving Pumpkin/Turkey/Cornucopia designs, and St. Patrick's Day Irish Cream/Irish Spring scents, priced from $6-$10 per bar.
• Wooden Signs Collection Collection of handmade wooden signs including Welcome Signs, Love Signs, Hugs & Kisses Signs, Standing SHF Logo Signs, Peace & Love Arrow signs, My Heart Arrow Signs, Autism Home Puzzle Piece signs, and Mom-themed signs, priced from $5-$25.
• Blankets Handmade blankets in various styles and sizes priced at $20.00 each.
• Special Hearts Farm Clothing Apparel line including Long Sleeve T-Shirts ($20+), Short Sleeve T-Shirts ($15), SHF Masks ($15), Bucket Hats, and Hooded Sweatshirts ($25) in various sizes.
• Gift Baskets Pre-configured gift baskets including Spa Basket ($30), Coffee Basket with soap and mug, and Wine and Soap Basket ($40, includes a bottle of wine, a wine glass, and 3 bars of goat's milk soap).
• Holiday Products Seasonal holiday-themed handcrafted products including Easter Soap Buckets, Holiday Home Signs, Halloween Goat's Milk Soap ($7), Thanksgiving Goat Milk Soap ($6), Christmas decorations, Valentine's Day items, Holiday Trees, Wooden Bunnies, and Wooden Turkeys.
• Seasonal Product Package Subscription Annual subscription package starting with a cozy handmade blanket along with a holiday-inspired scented candle and soap collection, plus three additional seasonal packages (Valentine's Day, Spring/Easter, Fall) each containing a handmade wood product of choice, a candle, and two soaps; priced at $280 for four seasonal deliveries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Special Hearts Farm won third place at the 2024 Victory Cup Storytelling Breakfast, raising visibility for the organization's mission.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Orange County Public Schools (OCPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKathy Meena and Jennifer Elliott serve as OCPS ESE Transition Teachers. The farm serves as a mentor/demo site classroom for OCPS, providing real-world vocational training for students with disabilities transitioning from school to employment.
• University of Central Florida (UCF) - Project ASDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial Hearts Farm serves as a mentor/demo site for UCF's Project ASD, supporting the university's research and training programs for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Baddour Center: A Mississippi-based farm community that provides residential and vocational programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable to Special Hearts Farm in combining animal husbandry, agricultural work, and handmade craft production as vocational training for the IDD population.
• Camphill Association of North America: A network of intentional farm-based communities serving individuals with developmental disabilities through agricultural work, crafts, and education. Operates a near-identical model to Special Hearts Farm with therapeutic farming and handmade production at its core.
• L'Arche USA: An organization of intentional communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together, often with farm and craft activities. Shares Special Hearts Farm's combination of residential/day programming, animal care, and handmade product creation.

Broad incumbents

• Best Buddies International: Florida-headquartered nonprofit operating employment and friendship programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Shares Special Hearts Farm's focus on supported employment outcomes, though at a much larger national scale.
• Easterseals: A national nonprofit providing disability services including adult day programs, supported employment, and community-based services. A broader incumbent serving the same IDD population through a wider portfolio of programs.
• The Arc: National organization providing advocacy and direct services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates employment and day programs comparable in mission to Special Hearts Farm but at a national scale.

Regional players

• Quest Inc. A Central Florida nonprofit providing services for children and adults with disabilities, including adult day training, supported employment, and community-based programs. Geographic peer operating in the same service region as Special Hearts Farm.
• UCP of Central Florida: A Central Florida chapter of United Cerebral Palsy providing adult day training, supported employment, and residential services. Competes for similar participants, grants, and donor dollars in the same regional market.
• Sunrise Community of Central Florida: A Florida-based nonprofit providing residential, day training, and supported employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Operates within the same APD-funded service ecosystem in Florida.
• Threshold Inc. A Central Florida nonprofit providing adult day training, supported employment, and residential services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Competes directly with Special Hearts Farm for participants, APD funding, and grants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Y4xT36yBmRA&t=2s
• Facebookfacebook.com/thespecialheartsfarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/specialheartsfarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-hearts-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Special Hearts Farm