What Southeast Enterprises does

Southeast Enterprises is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, that provides meaningful employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization operates two primary service lines: Employment Services, which encompasses Supported Employment at its Booth Street facility and the Associates on the Move (ATM) community-based staffing program, and Contract Services, which delivers ISO-compliant packaging, assembly, kitting, shrink wrapping, and light fulfillment to local and regional businesses. In 2025, the organization supported 123 individuals with IDD, paid $876,487 in associate wages, and produced 4,645,866 products across 114,378 productive hours.

The organization runs a consumer-facing sub-brand, Every Ember, launched at Art Westport 2025, which sells handmade incense cones in three signature blends (Resilience, Purpose, Renewal) priced at $10 per 10-pack, a $30 variety pack, and a $50 gift set bundled with custom Englewood Arts glass trays. Distribution occurs through a Givecloud-powered e-commerce storefront, a retail partnership with Harvest Moon Botanica, and event-based retail at Art Westport.

Revenue is generated through three streams: business contracts (over 50% of funding), donations (one-time and recurring via the Givecloud platform), and product sales. The organization is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors and led by CEO Lauren Hall, with Administration Director Shejana Verse, Quality & Compliance Director Rick Paez, Account Executive Paul Igla, and Marketing & Community Engagement Specialist Nate Kaptena. Core funding partners include EITAS (Jackson County government) and Missouri DESE. The organization holds no patents, has no subsidiaries, and has not completed any mergers, acquisitions, or funding rounds.

Name

Southeast Enterprises

Legal name

Southeast Enterprises

Website

https://southeastenterprises.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southeast Enterprises is a Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 that provides meaningful employment and contract packaging, assembly, and kitting services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supplemented by the Every Ember handmade incense product line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Packaging & Supported Employment Services

SIC

Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Athletic Field & Golf Course Groundskeeping (IMAIAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL)

Keywords

• Contract packaging services
• Supported employment services
• Kitting and assembly
• Handmade incense products
• Disability employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Contract Services Revenue: Over 50% of funding comes from business contracts with customers for packaging, assembly, kitting, shrink wrapping, and light fulfillment services. This represents the primary revenue stream supporting day-to-day operations and long-term growth.
2. Product Sales (Every Ember Incense): E-commerce sales of handmade incense cones through the online store. Products include individual cones ($10), variety packs ($30), and glass gift sets ($50). Also available through retail partner Harvest Moon Botanica.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual and organizational donations help sustain the mission. The organization accepts one-time or recurring gifts, employer matching gifts, non-cash gifts, and honor/memorial donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southeast Enterprises delivers contract packaging, light assembly, kitting, shrink wrapping, and community-based staffing services to businesses in the Kansas City metro, while employing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through its Supported Employment program. The organization also manufactures and sells the Every Ember handmade incense product line (Resilience, Purpose, and Renewal blends, plus gift sets and variety packs) through its e-commerce store and retail partners, channeling commercial revenue back into its vocational mission.

Product overview

Southeast Enterprises is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing meaningful employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates two core service lines: (1) Employment Services including Supported Employment and Associates on the Move (ATM) community-based staffing, and (2) Contract Services offering Packaging & Assembly services to businesses. Additionally, the organization operates Every Ember as a microbusiness sub-brand producing handcrafted handmade incense products (Resilience, Purpose, Renewal incense cones, Glass Gift Set, and Variety Pack). The company was founded in 1975 and serves the Kansas City, Missouri area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Every Ember: Handmade incense cones crafted by adults with developmental disabilities. A microbusiness program where associates explore entrepreneurship skills. Products include Resilience (Palo Santo & Sage Blend), Purpose (Copal Blend), Renewal (Sandalwood Blend), and gift sets with custom glass art trays created in collaboration with Englewood Arts.

Products and services

• Supported Employment Meaningful, structured employment in a supportive environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing consistent work opportunities tailored to individual strengths and needs alongside peers and trained staff.
• Packaging & Assembly Services B2B contract packaging, light assembly, kitting, and shrink wrapping services delivered to local and regional businesses from the Kansas City, Independence, and North Kansas City facilities.
• Associates on the Move (ATM) Community-based staffing program that places Southeast Enterprises associates with local businesses for short-term assignments, extending the organization's workforce into the wider Kansas City community.
• Every Ember Incense Product Line Handmade incense product line sold through the Southeast Enterprises e-commerce store and retail partners (including Harvest Moon Botanica), offered in Resilience, Purpose, and Renewal blends plus gift-set and variety-pack bundles.
• Resilience Incense Cones Handmade incense cone blend named Resilience, part of the Every Ember product line, sold individually through the e-commerce store and retail partners.
• Purpose Incense Cones Handmade incense cone blend named Purpose, part of the Every Ember product line, sold individually through the e-commerce store and retail partners.
• Renewal Incense Cones Handmade incense cone blend named Renewal, part of the Every Ember product line, sold individually through the e-commerce store and retail partners.
• Every Ember Glass Incense Gift Set Curated glass-packaged incense gift set from the Every Ember line, intended as a social-enterprise gifting product and sold via the e-commerce store and retail partners.
• Every Ember Variety Pack Multi-pack bundle of Every Ember incense blends, sold as a single SKU through the e-commerce store and retail partners for sampling or gifting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 123 individuals with IDD supported in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KC Pet ProjectminorOthersCommunity partner that creates opportunities for Southeast Enterprises associates to support animal care and enrichment while connecting with the community.
• HarvestersminorOthersCommunity partner helping address food insecurity through meaningful volunteer and support opportunities for Southeast Enterprises associates.
• Veterans Community ProjectminorOthersCommunity partner supporting a community dedicated to serving those who have served. Provides volunteer opportunities for Southeast Enterprises associates.
• Flourish Furniture BankminorOthersCommunity partner providing hands-on opportunities for Southeast Enterprises associates to support families in need.
• Global One Urban FarmminorOthersCommunity partner engaging Southeast Enterprises associates in urban agriculture and sustainability-focused learning experiences.
• Lead to ReadminorOthersCommunity partner supporting literacy and mentorship opportunities that build confidence and connection for Southeast Enterprises associates.
• Englewood ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration for creating custom glass art incense trays for the Every Ember product line. Each glass tray features unique colors and textures created in collaboration with Englewood Arts, making no two trays alike. Partnership celebrates creativity and community.
• Harvest Moon BotanicaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partner where Every Ember products are sold alongside other thoughtfully curated goods. Makes handcrafted incense available to local customers beyond the online store.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SEARCH, Inc. Chicago-area nonprofit offering vocational training, contract services, and supported employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Similar contract-packaging and employment-services profile.
• ServiceSource: Nonprofit providing employment, vocational training, and contract services for people with disabilities across multiple states. Comparable supported-employment and contract-services model.
• SourceAmerica (AbilityOne): National nonprofit that connects people with disabilities to federal and commercial contract work, including packaging and supply-chain services. Direct mission and contract-services comparable.
• Fedcap Rehabilitation Services: Nonprofit operating vocational programs, contract packaging, and staffing services for people with disabilities. Comparable supported-employment and contract-manufacturing activities.
• Peckham: Michigan-based 501(c)(3) that provides contract packaging, kitting, assembly, and supply-chain services while employing people with disabilities. Closest comparable by mission, contract-services mix, and supported-employment workforce model.
• Humanim: Maryland-based nonprofit providing workforce development, contract packaging, and social enterprise services for people with disabilities. Comparable mission-driven contract-services model.
• Aspire (now The Aspire Group): Nonprofit serving people with developmental disabilities through employment, day programs, and contract services including assembly and packaging. Similar community-based mission and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit network offering contract services, staffing, and workforce programs including for people with disabilities. Comparable mission and contract-services lines, but at far larger scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/seenterp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Southeast Enterprises