What Hope does

Hope Institute (legally The Hope Institute for Children and Families) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 in Springfield, Illinois, that delivers a comprehensive continuum of services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental and intellectual disabilities. Its portfolio spans diagnostic services and ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy through The Autism Clinic at Hope; specialized K-12 education via Hope Learning Academy locations in Springfield, Metro East Illinois, and Chicago (the latter operated as a partnership with Chicago Public Schools since 2009); community-based residential care at Hope Residential Academy; vocational and pre-employment training at Hope Vocational Academy (including Hope Cafe, Hope Keeping, Hope On-The-Go, and a Copy Center); and contracted speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy through Hope Therapeutic Services, distributed to 40+ schools and facilities via the 2019 Therapy Relief acquisition. Reaching roughly 1,900 directly-served individuals, ~12,000 through The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP), and ~30,000 total people impacted annually, Hope reports that over 91% of FY24 funding flowed directly into programs.

The organization's business model is fundamentally a hybrid of fee-for-clinical-service, government/Medicaid contracts, and philanthropic support — not a venture-backed SaaS or product model. Direct revenue derives from clinical billings to Medicaid and commercial payers, contracted therapeutic services to schools and healthcare facilities, and state agency agreements (including the partnership with the State of Massachusetts at the Wrentham Developmental Center). Philanthropic revenue is diversified across individual donations, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois), signature events (Style of Hope, Glo Bingo, Hopeful Futures Gala), The Hope Foundation and Hope School Foundation grants, and legacy giving. Pricing for individual services is not publicly disclosed because most clients receive subsidized or grant-funded care.

At an operational level, Hope functions as the lead agency of the TAP statewide collaborative — a network of 4 universities and 11 partner organizations — and as a co-lead (with Trinity Services) of the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network (ICPN), positioning the organization as a regional integrator of disability services rather than a single-site provider. Its distribution footprint covers six states (Alabama, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas), 501-1000 employees, and a stated expansion plan to add a minimum of two autism clinics per year over the next decade, plus a new diagnostic center targeted for 2025. Technology assets are narrow: VR educational tools in classrooms, the TAP online referral portal, and standard ABA practice management — none of which constitute proprietary AI/ML infrastructure.

Name

Hope

Legal name

The Hope Institute for Children and Families

Website

https://hope.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hope Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1957 that delivers autism diagnostics, ABA therapy, specialized education, residential care, vocational training, and contracted therapeutic services to individuals with developmental disabilities across six US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

Keywords

• Autism therapy services
• Special education programs
• Developmental disability services
• Vocational training services
• Residential care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 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 Philanthropy: Individual and corporate donations through the Hope Foundation, including one-time and monthly gifts, sponsorships, and legacy giving through bequests, endowments, and IRA contributions.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including Style of Hope fashion show, Glo Bingo, Hopeful Futures Gala, Black Tie and Black Jack, Celebrity Bartender events, and third-party fundraisers.
3. Government Contracts and Grants: Funding from state and federal programs including Medicaid, Illinois Department of Human Services, and crisis prevention network contracts to serve individuals with disabilities.
4. Corporate Matching Gifts and Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships, matching gift programs, and event sponsorships from companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and other local businesses.
5. Foundation Grants: Grants from the Hope School Foundation providing family financial assistance and educational assistance for employees.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Hope is a nonprofit organization delivering a comprehensive continuum of disability services across six states, including outpatient autism clinics providing ABA therapy and diagnostics, specialized K-5 learning academies, community-based residential homes, vocational and pre-employment training, and contracted therapeutic services (speech, occupational, physical, behavioral). It also operates statewide initiatives such as The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) and the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network (ICPN), which coordinate services across partner agencies and universities.

Product overview

Hope is a nonprofit service organization (not a software product company) that provides a comprehensive portfolio of disability services organized as distinct programs. The core offerings include: The Autism Clinic at Hope providing ABA therapy and diagnostics; Hope Diagnostic Center for autism screenings; Hope Learning Academies (Springfield, Metro East Illinois, Chicago) for educational services; Hope Therapeutic Services for speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy; Hope Residential Academy for community-based housing; Hope Vocational Academy for employment training (with programs like Hope Cafe, Hope Keeping, Hope On-The-Go); Hope Behavioral Consulting; Hope Speakers Bureau for training; and statewide initiatives including the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network (ICPN) and The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP). TAP also operates an online referral portal, the first of its kind in Illinois, which connects families to service providers. This is a services-based portfolio, not a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Autism Clinic at Hope
• Hope Diagnostic Center
• Hope Learning Academy (Springfield and Metro East Illinois)
• Hope Learning Academy Chicago
• Hope Therapeutic Services
• Hope Residential Academy
• Hope Vocational Academy
• Hope Behavioral Consulting
• Illinois Crisis Prevention Network (ICPN)
• The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP)
• TAP Online Referral Portal
• Hope Speakers Bureau

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,900 individuals directly served in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Therapy Relief, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2019Therapy Relief, Inc., a provider of therapeutic services located in Chesterfield, MO, joined the Hope family in 2019. Now known as Therapy Relief at Hope, the organization has over 100 Missouri licensed therapists providing speech, physical, occupational, behavioral, and music therapy services in 40 schools and facilities throughout Missouri counties.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2009Hope Learning Academy Chicago is a unique partnership between Hope and Chicago Public Schools. Opened in September 2009, this K-5 elementary school on Chicago's Near West Side provides individualized education for children with various learning styles in an inclusive environment.
• The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAP is a collaborative effort of 4 universities and 11 organizations that provide autism services throughout Illinois. Hope serves as the lead agency for TAP, which has launched a first-of-its-kind online referral portal connecting families to service providers across the state. TAP enables Hope to reach nearly 12,000 individuals annually through its statewide network.
• Illinois Crisis Prevention Network (ICPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICPN is a collaborative partnership between Trinity Services and Hope providing community-based support and consultation services to intellectually disabled individuals and their care providers/families with the goal of maintaining and promoting successful community living.
• State of Massachusetts (Wrentham Developmental Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Therapeutic Services in Wrentham, Massachusetts is a partnership between Hope and the State of Massachusetts. Wrentham Developmental Center is a historic, state-operated residential facility serving 200 adults with developmental disabilities.
• Local Business Partners (Vocational Academy)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHope Vocational Academy contracts with local businesses to secure employment opportunities for students. Certified business partners include Chatham Public School District, Clark and Company, Computer Banc, County Market, The Grooming Lounge, HSHS, IECU, McCallister's Deli, Nazarene Church, R and R Bindary, Taco Bell, and Wendy's.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bancroft: New Jersey-based nonprofit serving individuals with autism, IDD, and neurological disabilities through residential, day, and clinical programs. Directly comparable to Hope's residential and clinical offerings.
• LEARN Behavioral: National provider of ABA therapy and diagnostic services for children with autism, with school-based and center-based delivery. Direct competitor in Hope's core clinical lane.
• Centria Healthcare: For-profit provider of ABA therapy, autism diagnostics, and related clinical services for children with ASD across multiple states. Closely comparable to The Autism Clinic at Hope.
• Trumpet Behavioral Health: Multi-state provider of ABA therapy, autism diagnostics, and school-based behavioral health services. Direct competitor to Hope's clinic-based ABA services.
• Trinity Services: Illinois-based nonprofit partner of Hope in the Illinois Crisis Prevention Network, providing residential, vocational, and community-based services for individuals with IDD. Direct peer in geography and service lines.
• May Institute: National nonprofit providing educational, residential, and clinical services for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Closely mirrors Hope's full lifecycle service model.

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 and developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism, residential, and day services. Comparable to Hope's residential and clinical care portfolio.
• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services, autism therapy, special education, and vocational rehabilitation across many states. Highly comparable to Hope's multi-program service model, though materially larger and broader in scope.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit affiliate network providing education, residential, vocational, and advocacy services for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Comparable mission and service breadth to Hope.

Regional players

• Intermountain Centers: Arizona-based nonprofit providing residential, educational, behavioral, and vocational services for individuals with IDD and behavioral health needs. Comparable to Hope's integrated services model, though concentrated in the Southwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/communicatinghope
• Facebookfacebook.com/AdvancingHope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advancinghope
• Instagraminstagram.com/advancinghope
• Xx.com/advancing_hope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Hope