Systems Unlimited

What Systems Unlimited does

Systems Unlimited, Inc. is a non-profit social services organization founded in 1971 in Iowa City, Iowa, that delivers community-based support to people with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities, mental health needs, aging-related needs, and children with disabilities. The organization operates across six Eastern Iowa counties (Linn, Jones, Iowa, Cedar, Muscatine, and Washington) from offices in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Monticello, employing nearly 1,000 staff. Its core service portfolio consists of three programs: Employment Systems (day habilitation, career exploration, individual supported employment, and job coaching), Supported Living (Supported Community Living, Residential-Based SCL, Consumer-Directed Attendant Care, and Hourly SCL in homes serving two to three people), and Behavioral Health Solutions (licensed ABA therapy, behavioral support, individual and family therapy, medical care coordination, and functional behavioral assessments). Complementary offerings include the Artists at SUI art program (launched 2018) and the annual Sensory Walk & 5K event. The organization holds CARF Gold Seal accreditation and maintains DEIB initiatives and an Earn and Learn partnership with Kirkwood Community College.

The business model is structured around managed-services revenue from Iowa Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers across multiple categories — Intellectual Disability, Health and Disability, Brain Injury, Physical Disability, and Elderly — with referrals channeled through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and managed care organizations including Wellpoint, Iowa Total Care, and Molina. A secondary revenue stream consists of donations and charitable contributions (financial, in-kind, and endowment gifts) routed through United Way, Community Foundation of Johnson County, and Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, plus earned revenue from Artists at SUI merchandise sales. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed because reimbursement rates vary by individual service plans and waiver category. Go-to-market is referral-led rather than direct sales, with person-centered intake and an online application process; marketing channels include the company website (sui.org), organic social (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), email/newsletter, community events (Pride, Arts Festival, Festival of Trees), and volunteer/donor engagement programs. Leadership transitioned to permanent CEO Mona Kenyon in 2023 after she served as interim CEO from September 2022.

Name

Systems Unlimited

Legal name

Systems Unlimited, Inc.

Website

https://sui.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Systems Unlimited is a 501(c)(3)-style non-profit founded in 1971 that delivers community-based social services — supported living, employment/day habilitation, and behavioral health — to people with disabilities and mental health needs across six Eastern Iowa counties, employing nearly 1,000 staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Mental Health Social Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination (EDALAFAI)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Supported community living
• Behavioral health services
• Employment habilitation programs
• Medicaid HCBS services

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medicaid/HCBS Waiver Funding: Primary funding stream through Home and Community Based Waiver programs including Intellectual Disability, Health and Disability, Brain Injury, Physical Disability, and Elderly waivers
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Financial donations, in-kind donations, endowment programs through Community Foundation of Johnson County and Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Systems Unlimited delivers personalized, community-based social services support for people with disabilities and mental health needs in Eastern Iowa. Its core offerings are Supported Living (residential and in-home community support), Employment Systems (day habilitation, career exploration, individual supported employment, and job coaching), and Behavioral Health Solutions (clinical behavioral health, ABA therapy, behavioral assessments, and medical care coordination). The Artists at SUI program adds creative and inclusive art-based programming.

Product overview

Systems Unlimited is a non-profit social services organization offering a suite of coordinated care services for people with disabilities and mental health needs. The core service portfolio consists of three main programs: Employment Systems (day habilitation and job coaching), Supported Living (residential and in-home support), and Behavioral Health Solutions (clinical behavioral health services). These are complemented by Artists at SUI, an art program launched in 2018 that provides creative opportunities for artists with disabilities. The organization operates primarily in Eastern Iowa and serves individuals across multiple counties through community-based homes and day programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Artists at SUI: An art program started in 2018 as part of the Iowa City Day Program. The mission is to promote radical inclusion of people served through art by eliminating boundaries for adult artists living with disabilities so they can be visible and equal contributors to Iowa's creative communities. Provides access to art supplies, instruction, adaptive devices and creative support, as well as opportunities to display artwork in various festivals and shows.

Products and services

• Employment Systems

Quantifiable outcome

• CARF Gold Seal accreditation demonstrates gold standard care quality
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alpha Sigma Phi (University of Iowa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with University of Iowa fraternity for volunteer activities with people served. Since late summer 2025, Alpha Sigma Phi has partnered with Systems Unlimited and volunteered with the people served.
• Mandela Washington FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Hosted Mandela Washington Fellowship visitors on July 12th and 23rd. The fellowship consists of emerging leaders from sub-Saharan Africa who visited to learn about SUI's services and community integration programs.
• Phi Kappa Psi (University of Iowa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022University of Iowa fraternity selected Systems Unlimited as their charity for the semester. Activities include movie nights, trampoline park visits, art projects, walks in the park, yard work at residential homes, and fundraising.
• Kirkwood Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarn and Learn partnership program designed to support non-native English-speaking employees by strengthening workplace language skills while creating opportunities for professional growth and future leadership roles. Customized curriculum developed for SUI workplace environment including SUI acronyms, documentation skills, and professional development areas.
• United WayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonors can select Systems Unlimited as the organization to support through United Way donations.
• Hy-Vee DrugstoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHy-Vee Drugstore on 1st Ave. in Iowa City selected Systems as one of their causes to care about in May, featuring SUI on posters and hosting wine tasting events.
• Johnson County Board of SupervisorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented proclamation in honor of Direct Support Professional Recognition Day. Ongoing collaboration for community support initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mosaic: National non-profit providing residential, day, behavioral, and employment services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Closest direct peer in mission, funding model (Medicaid HCBS waivers), and integrated service portfolio.
• REM Iowa: Iowa-based provider of residential, day, and employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating across many of the same counties and managed-care contracts as Systems Unlimited.
• Hope Network: Michigan-based non-profit providing supported living, behavioral health, and vocational services for people with disabilities and mental health needs — comparable integrated service model and Medicaid-funded operating structure.
• Bethesda Lutheran Communities: Faith-affiliated non-profit offering residential, day, and faith-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Similar mission focus, CARF-accredited quality posture, and Medicaid-funded operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Large national provider of home and community-based services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. Competes for the same Medicaid waiver referrals across multiple states and offers overlapping supported living and day services.
• MercyOne (Trinity Health): Large Iowa-based health system that operates affiliated behavioral health and community-based programs. Adjacent competitor for managed-care referrals and a partial overlap with SUI's behavioral health and elderly waiver services.
• EasterSeals Iowa: Affiliated with the national EasterSeals network, providing disability and behavioral health services across Iowa including employment supports and case management — competes for similar referral sources and HCBS waiver clients.

Regional players

• Optimae Lifeservices: Iowa-headquartered provider of behavioral health, home and community-based, and disability services across rural Iowa. Most geographically overlapping Iowa peer with a comparable mix of HCBS-funded services.
• Aspire of Eastern Iowa: Regional Eastern Iowa non-profit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, day, and employment programs — direct competition for clients and waiver funding in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor.

Emerging players

• Balance Autism (formerly Homestead of Iowa): Iowa-based non-profit providing residential, day, and clinical services primarily for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities — overlapping service lines and payer base with Systems Unlimited in Iowa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SystemsUnlimitedInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/systems-unlimited-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/systemsunlimitedinc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Systems Unlimited