Kokua

What Kokua does

Kokua Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency headquartered in Lacey, Washington, founded in 1990 to provide residential and community support services to adults with disabilities in Thurston County. Its core offering is Supported Living Services — in-home assistance, self-advocacy training, and community integration delivered under contracts with the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and funded through Medicaid/DDD waivers. The organization also operates Hummingbird Studio (an arts and creative engagement program), the LEAD Program (leadership and self-advocacy development), and an Accessible 3D Print Shop that produces free assistive devices (fingernail clippers, key turners, phone magnifiers, etc.) in partnership with Makers Making Change.

The business model is a hybrid of government-reimbursed fee-for-service and charitable donations. The primary revenue stream is per-client Medicaid/DDD waiver billing for supported living, classified as recurring subscription-equivalent funding, supplemented by 501(c)(3) tax-deductible donations from individuals and community partners. The go-to-market motion is community-led: referrals flow through the Washington State DDA, families, guardians, and healthcare/community partners, with awareness supported by Facebook, Instagram, the Kokua Spirit newsletter, and community events. Compliance with DDA Policies and Washington Administrative Codes WAC 388-101 and WAC 388-101D is mandatory for service delivery.

Operations are staffed by 101-250 employees under Executive Director Sean Bonneprise, including dedicated HR, Compliance, Training/Onboarding, Health, Behavioral Health, and On-Call Coordinators. The organization is single-jurisdiction (Thurston County, WA), governed by a Board of Directors, and holds no subsidiaries, no parent company, and no disclosed outside investors — consistent with a community-embedded nonprofit whose growth is constrained by state waiver capacity rather than capital availability.

Name

Kokua

Legal name

Kokua

Website

https://kokuaservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kokua Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Lacey, Washington, providing residential supported living, community programs, and assistive services to adults with disabilities in Thurston County, funded primarily through Medicaid/DDD waivers and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Supported living programs
• Residential care services
• Community inclusion programs
• Developmental disabilities services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lacey

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Programs: Medicaid and DDD (Developmental Disabilities Division) waiver-funded services for supported living and residential support.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donations from individuals and community partners supporting nonprofit programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kokua provides residential and community support services to adults with disabilities in Thurston County, Washington. Its core offering is Supported Living Services — in-home assistance enabling adults with developmental disabilities to live independently — supplemented by community programs such as the Hummingbird Studio art program, the LEAD Program (leadership, education, and development), Protective Payee / Money Management services, Community Support Services, and an Accessible 3D Print Shop that produces free adaptive equipment for the community.

Product overview

Kokua is a dual-entity organization with distinct product portfolios. Kokua Services (US nonprofit) offers Supported Living Services as its core offering, supplemented by creative programs like Hummingbird Studio and the LEAD Program, plus an Accessible 3D Print Shop providing free assistive devices. Kokua Co., Ltd. (Japan) offers the BOSAI STARTER SET disaster preparedness product and the pasobo personal disaster diagnosis service, targeting self-help disaster preparedness at the individual residence level.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hummingbird Studio: An art program and creative studio operated by Kokua for individuals with disabilities to engage in artistic expression and community engagement.
• LEAD Program
• Accessible 3D Print Shop

Products and services

• Supported Living Services Residential support service assisting adults with developmental disabilities to live independently in their own homes, including help with daily living activities, self-advocacy, and community integration. Funded primarily through Washington State Medicaid / DDD waivers.
• Hummingbird Studio Art and creative program providing community engagement opportunities for individuals with disabilities, run as a Kokua sub-brand with active Facebook and Instagram presence.
• LEAD Program Leadership, Education, and Development program for adults with disabilities, providing skills training and community participation opportunities. Operated as a Kokua sub-brand with dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages.
• Accessible 3D Print Shop Free 3D-printed accessibility devices for people with disabilities, including fingernail clippers, key turners, drink holders, writing supports, toilet aids, and other daily living assistive devices. Available to Kokua staff, clients, and community members, with designs sourced through a partnership with Makers Making Change.
• Community Support Services Programs helping adults with disabilities participate in community life, including assistance with life transitions, continuing education opportunities, and community engagement activities such as bowling, coffee chats, and social gatherings.
• Protective Payee and Money Management Services Financial management services helping clients manage their money and maintain independence, including a dedicated Client Financial Coordinator role (Jessie McDonnell).

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration)coreOthersState agency providing regulatory oversight and funding for services to adults with developmental disabilities. Kokua adheres to DDA Policies and Washington Administrative Codes WAC 388-101 and WAC 388-101D.
• Makers Making ChangeminorOthersDesigner of 3D printed accessibility aids used by Kokua's Accessible 3D Print Shop, including fingernail clippers, key turners, phone magnifiers, and writing supports.
• Premera Blue CrossminorOthersHealth insurance provider offering Sherwood HMO and Heritage PPO plans for Kokua employees.
• SunLife DentalminorOthersDental insurance vendor for Kokua employee benefits.
• VSP (Vision Service Plan)minorOthersVision insurance vendor for Kokua employee benefits.
• Mutual of AmericaminorOthers401k retirement plan provider for Kokua employees.
• AflacminorOthersSupplemental insurance provider for Kokua employees.
• Lincoln PharmacyminorOthersPharmacy partner providing medication management support and on-call system for Kokua staff, including after-hours text line for medication questions and clarifications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of Washington State: Statewide chapter of The Arc, providing advocacy, supported living, and community-based services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Washington, directly comparable to Kokua's residential and community-inclusion model.
• Easterseals Washington: Washington affiliate of Easterseals, delivering community-based disability services including residential support, employment programs, and assistive technology—closely aligned with Kokua's mix of supported living, community programs, and adaptive equipment distribution.
• Community Living Services (CLS): Washington-based provider of supported living, community inclusion, and self-advocacy services for adults with developmental disabilities, serving as a direct in-state peer to Kokua's supported living operations.
• Volunteers of America Western Washington: Nonprofit providing housing, supported living, and behavioral health services for vulnerable populations including adults with developmental disabilities in Washington, comparable to Kokua in mission, funding model, and target population.
• St. Louis Arc: Mid-sized nonprofit delivering residential, vocational, and community-based services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, structurally similar to Kokua in size, mission, and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): One of the largest U.S. providers of home- and community-based services for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health disabilities; provides residential, day, and supported living services funded through Medicaid waivers, comparable to Kokua's core offering.
• ResCare (BrightSpring Health Services): National provider of home and community-based services, including residential and supported living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; competes in the same Medicaid-waiver-funded service space as Kokua.

Regional players

• AHRC New York City: Large nonprofit providing residential, day, employment, and clinical services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable in service breadth to Kokua but operates in the New York region.

Others

• Thurston County Developmental Disabilities Program: Local government entity responsible for administering developmental disability services and referrals in Thurston County; functions as a key referral source and ecosystem partner for Kokua.
• Makers Making Change: Nonprofit that designs and distributes open-source 3D-printed assistive devices; an existing design partner of Kokua's Accessible 3D Print Shop and an adjacent player in the assistive-technology ecosystem Kokua leverages.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kokuaservices
• Instagraminstagram.com/studio.hummingbird
• Xx.com/kokuaservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kokua-services

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Kokua