Stand Among Friends

What Stand Among Friends does

Stand Among Friends (SAF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Shawn and Lisa Friedkin in Boca Raton, Florida. The organization delivers vocational evaluation services, employment placement, assistive-technology access, and inclusive community programming for individuals with disabilities in Florida. Its core service offerings include comprehensive and situational worksite vocational evaluations conducted by licensed evaluators using standardized instruments (WRAT IV, TABE, WASI, Career Scope, Ruff 2 & 7 Selective Attention Test, Holland Code Quiz), the Disability Center @ FAU on the Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton (housing assistive technology and research collaborations), and the emb(race)® annual accessible race event (a registered trademark held since 2011). A Moodle-based eLearning portal called SAFEP offers online courses including Teacher Training and Peer Mentoring Works.

The organization operates a community-led go-to-market: client acquisition flows primarily through referrals from the State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation program, the FAU partnership, and the annual emb(race)® event, while revenue is generated almost entirely through tax-deductible donations (online via PayPal, mail-in checks, planned giving, securities gifts, and tribute/memorial gifts) and event sponsorships. Since 2008, SAF has served over 1,200 people and placed 500+ individuals in employment, with over 50% of clients holding college degrees. The current board comprises Lisa Friedkin, Dawn Friedkin, Jason Smith, and Lawrence Herrup, following the deaths of founder Shawn Friedkin (March 3, 2021) and board member Skeets Friedkin (June 5, 2024).

Stand Among Friends holds a U.S. Congressional Record recognition (2021) for its founder's legacy and maintains a regional, Florida-only operational footprint with no disclosed headcount, financial scale, or AI/ML capability. Two named institutional anchors — Florida Atlantic University (strategic partner since 2006) and the State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation program (referral partner) — concentrate its service-delivery infrastructure.

Name

Stand Among Friends

Legal name

Stand Among Friends

Website

https://standamongfriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stand Among Friends is a Florida-based 501c3 nonprofit that provides vocational evaluations, employment placement, and assistive-technology services for individuals with disabilities, primarily through a partnership with Florida Atlantic University and referrals from the State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vocational Evaluation & Career Assessment (Transition-Age) (EDAKANAC), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN), Disability Case Management, Retention & Student Support (EDALAGAJ), College Readiness & Disability Services Transition Support (EDAKANAB)

Keywords

• Vocational evaluation services
• Disability employment services
• Assistive technology access
• Inclusive community events
• Disability eLearning training

Headquarters

HQ city

Boca Raton

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, sponsors, and supporters. Multiple giving options including online PayPal donations, mail-in checks, planned giving (wills and bequests), gifts of stocks/securities, and tribute/memorial gifts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stand Among Friends delivers vocational evaluation services (comprehensive and situational worksite assessments) for individuals with disabilities, primarily funded through the State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation program. The organization also operates the Disability Center on Florida Atlantic University's Boca Raton campus, providing assistive technology access and research collaboration, and hosts the annual emb(race)® inclusive accessible race event.

Product overview

Stand Among Friends is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services for people with disabilities. Core offerings include Vocational Evaluations (comprehensive and situational assessments to determine skills and recommend career matches), the Disability Center @ FAU (assistive technology center and research facility on Florida Atlantic University campus), and the emb(race) annual accessible race event. The organization also operates SAFEP, a Moodle-based eLearning portal offering courses including Teacher Training and Peer Mentoring Works. These services are delivered through partnership with Florida Atlantic University and the State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• emb(race)®: An all-inclusive, accessible race event inviting participation regardless of physical abilities, held at Florida Atlantic University's Boca Raton campus. The race is designed to be accessible for those with visual and mobility impairments.

Products and services

• Vocational Evaluations Comprehensive and situational worksite evaluations conducted by licensed evaluators to determine skills, interests, and aptitudes of individuals with disabilities and recommend career matches. Uses standardized assessments including WRAT IV, TABE, WASI, Career Scope, Ruff 2 & 7 Selective Attention Test, and Holland Code Quiz.
• emb(race)® Inclusive Race Event Annual all-inclusive accessible race event held at Florida Atlantic University's Boca Raton campus, open to participants on foot, with crutches and canes, in wheelchairs, on hand cycles, with guide dogs and support runners for people with visual impairments. Designed to be accessible for those with visual and mobility impairments.
• Disability Center @ FAU Center for the Study of Neurological Disabilities located on Florida Atlantic University campus in Boca Raton, FL. Houses assistive technology for people with disabilities to utilize computers and learn new software applications. Enables collaborative research studies with FAU.
• SAFEP (Stand Among Friends eLearning Portal) Moodle-based eLearning platform offering professional development courses including Teacher Training and Peer Mentoring Works for individuals with disabilities and the educators who support them.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ individuals placed in employment since 2008
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Florida Atlantic University (FAU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership formed in 2006 to open The Center for the Study of Neurological Disabilities (The Disability Center) on the FAU Boca Raton campus. Initially housed a computer lab of Assistive Technology for people with disabilities to utilize computers and learn software. Allows collaborative work with FAU on research studies.
• State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation ProgramcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSAF provides vocational evaluations for people with disabilities (teenagers transitioning from high school, college students, and adults) through the State of Florida Vocational Rehabilitation program. Evaluations are conducted by licensed evaluators to determine skills, interests, and aptitudes and recommend career matches.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: The largest nonprofit operator of vocational rehabilitation and disability employment programs in the U.S., operating Mission Services that include job training, placement, and supported employment for people with disabilities — the same core mission as Stand Among Friends but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Easterseals: A national nonprofit network providing disability services including vocational rehabilitation, employment support, assistive technology, and community-based programs — directly comparable to SAF's combination of vocational evaluation, assistive technology access, and community engagement.
• The Arc of the United States: A national organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through employment programs, community living support, and advocacy — overlapping with SAF's focus on disability employment placement and transition services.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit providing direct services, advocacy, and life-skills programming for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including employment supports and assistive technology — comparable to SAF's mission given its founder's paraplegia and neurological-disability focus.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): A nonprofit that develops and supports employment for people who are blind or have disabilities through training and product/service contracts — overlapping with SAF's employment-placement focus on disability populations.
• Job Corps: A federal residential vocational training program for young people including those with disabilities, providing career assessment and training — comparable to SAF's vocational evaluation and transition services for younger clients.

Direct peers

• SourceAmerica: A nonprofit AbilityOne program that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through training, placement, and contracted services — directly comparable to SAF's vocational evaluation and employment placement mission.

Others

• ABLE National Resource Center: A national collaborative supporting ABLE accounts and financial empowerment for individuals with disabilities; adjacent to SAF's mission in that both serve individuals with disabilities seeking greater independence and employment outcomes.

Emerging players

• disABLEDperson, Inc. A niche online employment platform and community for job seekers with disabilities — comparable to SAF in that it addresses disability employment, but operates as an online job-matching service rather than a service-delivery nonprofit.
• Lime Connect: A nonprofit focused on disability inclusion in education and employment, particularly for students and professionals — overlaps with SAF's college-educated client base (50%+ with degrees) and its transition-to-employment programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/standamong
• Facebookfacebook.com/StandAmongFriends
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stand-among-friends

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Stand Among Friends