What Capper Foundation does

Capper Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1920 in Topeka, Kansas, by U.S. Senator and former Kansas Governor Arthur Capper to serve children with special needs. Over a century later, it operates as a comprehensive disability services provider across the full lifespan, offering pediatric therapy (feeding, occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy delivered by an interdisciplinary team), adult day and residential services, adaptive recreation (iCan Bike, iCan Swim, warm water therapy pool, I GOT THIS Golf), and training programs (Professional & Family Training, Ability Awareness, Mandt System). The organization serves more than 4,500 individuals annually across all 105 Kansas counties, supported by 320 staff in Topeka, Winfield, and El Dorado, 627 volunteers contributing 6,246 hours, and 808,558 direct support service hours delivered each year.

The business model blends mission-driven and earned-revenue streams. Government fee-for-service funding and foundation grants form a core base, supplemented by individual donations, planned legacy gifts, investment income from restricted endowments, and an annual events program (An Evening for a Child, Concert for a Child, Blarney Breakfast, Capper Open). A social-enterprise arm, Dialogue Coffee House, operates six retail locations across the Topeka metro area embedded in employer campuses (Stormont Vail, Washburn University, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas) and provides vocational training and employment for 50+ adults with disabilities; the program was integrated via a 2023 acquisition and expanded with the Caitlyn Halsey Empowerment Center in 2025. Capper reports that 92% of funding flows directly to programs and services versus 8% to fundraising and administration, and that more than 75% of children served require subsidized assistance.

The organization maintains a legacy of M&A-driven expansion (2012 Individual Support Systems, 2014 Creative Community Living) and a 2005-2019 Easterseals affiliation that was dissolved to restore the independent Capper Foundation brand. Core leadership comprises President & CEO Zach Ahrens (since 2022), EVP & CFO Sandy Warren, and Chief Administrative Officer Stephanie Broxterman, with a 13-member volunteer Board of Trustees chaired by Neil Dobler. Revenue, fundraising totals, and detailed financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Capper Foundation

Legal name

Capper Foundation

Website

https://capper.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Capper Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1920 in Topeka, Kansas, providing pediatric therapy, adult day and residential services, employment training through Dialogue Coffee House, and adaptive recreation to more than 4,500 people with disabilities across all 105 Kansas counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Pediatric therapy
• Adaptive recreation
• Adult day services
• Community employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Contributions and Donations: Public contributions help cover the difference between actual program costs and what individuals and families can afford to pay. Donations support pediatric scholarships (more than 75% of children served need subsidized assistance) and general operations.
2. Government and Fee-for-Service: Capper Foundation receives funding from government agencies and fee-for-service arrangements for providing disability services.
3. Grants and Fundraising Events: Solicits grants from foundations and hosts fundraising events including Blarney Breakfast, Concert for a Child, and An Evening for a Child to support programs.
4. Investment Income: Investment income from restricted investments supports the foundation's operations and programs.
5. Planned (Legacy) Gifts: Legacy giving programs allow donors to include Capper Foundation in their estate planning.
6. Dialogue Coffee House Revenue: Six Dialogue Coffee House locations across Topeka provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities while generating revenue through coffee and food service sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Capper Foundation provides comprehensive disability services across all ages, including Pediatric Therapy (Feeding, Occupational, Physical, and Speech-Language Therapy), Adult Day and Residential Services, the Dialogue Coffee House community employment program, Adaptive Recreation (iCan Bike, iCan Swim, Warm Water Therapy Pool, I GOT THIS Golf), and Training Programs. The organization serves over 4,500 individuals annually across all 105 Kansas counties, with more than 75% of children served requiring subsidized assistance.

Product overview

Capper Foundation offers a unified portfolio of disability services organized around five core areas: Pediatric Therapy Services (Feeding, Occupational, Physical, and Speech-Language Therapy), Adult Services (Day and Residential), Dialogue Coffee House (community employment program), Adaptive Recreation (iCan Bike, iCan Swim, Warm Water Therapy Pool, I GOT THIS Golf), and Training Programs. The organization serves infants, children, teens, and adults with disabilities across Kansas, providing individualized care through interdisciplinary teams. In 2025, the Caitlyn Halsey Empowerment Center expanded their community employment capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dialogue Coffee House: Community employment program providing job training and employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through coffee shop operations. Multiple locations in Topeka, including downtown, Washburn University campus, and Stormont Vail Administrative Center.
• Capper CAN!
• iCan Bike
• iCan Swim
• Caitlyn Halsey Empowerment Center

Products and services

• Pediatric Therapy Services
• Adult Services
• Dialogue Coffee House
• Adaptive Recreation Programs
• Training Programs
• Caitlyn Halsey Empowerment Center

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, support and historical.

• Kansas ABLE Savings PlancoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to promote ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) savings accounts helping people with disabilities save for disability-related expenses without losing government benefits. Kansas State Treasurer promotes the plan with Capper Foundation.
• KBS ConstructorssupportGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252026 Mission Partner providing support for Capper Foundation programs and services.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KansascoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20252026 Mission Partner; Dialogue Coffee House location opened at BCBSKS campus in May 2024 providing employment for individuals with disabilities.
• Kansas FreemasonssupportGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Dialogue Coffee House partnership with Kansas Freemasons to honor first responders.
• Prairie Band CasinosupportGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Annual donations to support Capper Foundation programs; presented check for over $6K in 2025.
• FreeState Electric CooperativesupportGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Staff and trustees presented gift to Capper Foundation supporting programs and services.
• Cashmere PopcornsupportGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presented check to Capper Foundation for funds raised during Autism Awareness Month.
• Shawnee County K-State Research and Extension Master GardenerssupportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership to help maintain Capper Foundation gardens. Master Gardeners volunteer alongside adults served by Capper, providing learning opportunities and garden maintenance support.
• Kiwanis Club of TopekacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Kiwanis Club sponsors Aktion Club, a service club for adults with disabilities. Capper Foundation started local chapter in 2023 as extension of Kiwanis International with 11,000+ members worldwide.
• iCan ShinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023National organization partnership providing iCan Bike and iCan Swim programs that teach individuals with disabilities to ride bicycles and swim.
• Families Together, Inc.supportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Nonprofit providing information and support for families with children who have disabilities. Austin Hanson has worked as Data Entry Specialist for over 20 years.
• Topeka ZoosupportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Abilities Day events held at Topeka Zoo providing inclusive experiences for individuals with disabilities and families.
• EastersealshistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Affiliation partnership (2016-2019) with national Easterseals organization. Capper adopted Easterseals branding briefly but maintained own governing Board and Kansas corporation status. Returned to Capper Foundation name in 2019.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit federation providing disability services, pediatric therapy, adult day programs, and employment supports. Capper previously branded as 'Easterseals Capper Foundation' (2016-2019), so the two share nearly identical service portfolios—Easterseals operates as the broader incumbent with 70+ affiliates vs. Capper's Kansas-only focus.
• The Arc: National network of disability advocacy and service organizations focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities, including family support, residential, employment, and advocacy. Comparable mission and population served, with Kansas having multiple local Arc chapters overlapping with Capper's catchment.
• Goodwill Industries International: Major nonprofit social enterprise operating retail stores and workforce development programs, including dedicated programs for individuals with disabilities. Comparable social enterprise model (paid employment for program participants) and mission overlap in community employment for people with disabilities.
• AbilityOne Program: Federal program creating employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities through nonprofit agencies (e.g., SourceAmerica). Direct overlap with Dialogue Coffee House's community employment mission and Capper's Community Employment Program.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit network providing services to individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including therapy, assistive technology (Capper acquired UCP's KC assistive tech center in 1997), residential, and advocacy. Direct historical relationship and overlap in assistive technology and pediatric therapy.

Emerging players

• Dungarvin: National provider of residential, day, and employment supports for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, with active Kansas operations. Comparable service portfolio—residential, day services, supported employment—and meaningful competition for HCBS waiver funding.

Direct peers

• Aspire Living & Learning: Multi-state nonprofit providing residential, day, employment, and clinical services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Closely comparable business model—a continuum of pediatric-to-adult disability services with employment integration—across smaller geographies.
• Heartspring: Topeka, Kansas-based nonprofit serving children and adults with developmental disabilities, including residential, pediatric therapy, and autism services. Direct geographic peer competing for similar Kansas families and Medicaid waiver slots.
• KETCH (Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped): Wichita, Kansas-based nonprofit providing adult day, residential, and employment services for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Direct competitor in adult services, community employment, and HCBS waiver funding within Kansas.

Regional players

• Rise / North East Career & Technical Academy (KETCH peer, regional): National/regional network of community rehabilitation programs providing employment, day, and residential services to individuals with disabilities. Comparable adult day and supported employment model; useful as a regional comparison point outside the immediate Kansas geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZf1W5xkz7_5RkqHGXb7Z5w
• Xx.com/CapperFound
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capper-foundation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Capper Foundation