Irene Wortham Center

What Irene Wortham Center does

Irene Wortham Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1961 and headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and children from families with financial need across western North Carolina. The organization operates four integrated programs: the Adult Day Activity Center (ADA), a CARF-accredited day program housed in a 7,000 sq. ft. facility opened in 2011; the Early Learning Center (ELC), a five-star state-rated integrated preschool serving children ages six weeks to pre-K with and without developmental disabilities; three licensed Intermediate Care Facilities (Rose Street, Dogwood, and Azalea) providing around-the-clock nursing care for 24 residents; and the Alternative Family Living program launched in 2018 to support independent living in home settings.

Service delivery is built on person-centered care following the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development curriculum, individualized service plans tailored to each participant's goals for communication and self-expression, and specialized therapeutic infrastructure including sensory rooms with therapeutic equipment. Class ratios are deliberately low — 1:4 for infants, 1:5 for one-year-olds, and 1:6 for ages 2 to 5 — and the ELC partners with Buncombe County Schools therapists for in-classroom speech, occupational, and behavioral support. The ADA is CARF-accredited and the ELC holds a five-star state regulatory rating.

The business model is donation-driven rather than commercial. Revenue streams include individual charitable contributions, four monthly sustaining-member tiers ranging from $100 (Bronze) to $500 (Platinum), a $5 million capital campaign for campus modernization, planned-giving vehicles (IRA distributions up to $100,000, donor-advised funds, charitable gift annuities and trusts), in-kind donations, and government/insurance reimbursement for services delivered regardless of ability to pay. The organization employs 101-250 staff, is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, and runs community-led outreach including the Annual IWC Golf Classic (now in its 26th year) and the Irene's Elves holiday gift program, supported by regional partners such as Dogwood Health Trust, United Way of North Carolina, and the Community Foundation of WNC.

Name

Irene Wortham Center

Legal name

Irene Wortham Center, Inc.

Website

https://ireneworthamcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Irene Wortham Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Asheville, NC, founded in 1961, serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and families with financial need through an integrated Early Learning Center, Adult Day Activity Center, and three residential Intermediate Care Facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Social Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Early childhood education
• Adult day services
• Residential care
• Disability support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Asheville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, IWC relies on donations from individuals, community members, and local businesses. All gifts are fully tax deductible.
2. Sustaining Member Tiers: Monthly donation program with four tiers: Bronze ($100), Silver ($150), Gold ($350), Platinum ($500). Higher tiers support multiple service areas.
3. Capital Campaign: $5 million capital campaign for campus modernization including new residential home and Early Learning Center construction.
4. Planned Giving and Estate Donations: Tax-advantaged giving vehicles including IRA distributions (up to $100,000 for those 70.5+), Donor-Advised Funds, Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, and beneficiary designations.
5. In-Kind Donations: Non-cash donations of goods, services, time, and expertise, with tax-donation receipts provided.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Irene Wortham Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides lifelong support services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and families with financial need in western North Carolina. Its core service portfolio includes a CARF-accredited Adult Day Activity Center, a five-star Early Learning Center for children ages 6 weeks to pre-K, and three licensed Intermediate Care Residential Homes providing 24/7 nursing care for IDD residents, plus the Alternative Family Living program supporting independent living.

Product overview

Irene Wortham Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a portfolio of social service programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and children from financially disadvantaged families in Asheville, NC. The organization operates four integrated programs: the Adult Day Activity Center (ADA), a CARF-accredited day program; the Early Learning Center (ELC), a five-star rated integrated preschool; Residential Homes providing 24/7 care in three licensed facilities; and Alternative Family Living for independent living support. Additional programs include the Capital Campaign for campus modernization and seasonal initiatives like Irene's Elves. The programs work together to provide comprehensive, lifelong services from early childhood through adulthood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Day Activity Center (ADA) A CARF-accredited day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities offering individualized service plans with goals for purposeful communication, relaxation, and self-expression in a 7,000 sq. ft. integrated facility in Asheville, NC.
• Early Learning Center (ELC) A five-star rated integrated preschool serving children ages six weeks to Pre-K with and without developmental disabilities, following the NC Foundations curriculum with small class sizes, on-site speech and occupational therapy, and nutritious meal programs.
• Residential Homes Three licensed Intermediate Care Facilities (Rose Street, Dogwood, and Azalea) providing 24/7 individualized nursing care for 24 residents with intellectual and co-existing developmental disabilities.
• Alternative Family Living A program launched in 2018 that allows IDD individuals to live in a family-style home setting and make independent choices in daily living, supporting maximum independence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 residents receive comprehensive, around-the-clock individualized care in three licensed Intermediate Care Facilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Sona PharmacyflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Title Sponsor of the 26th Annual IWC Golf Classic. Sona Pharmacy representatives spoke directly to golfers at the tournament, demonstrating active involvement in supporting IWC's fundraising events and early learning programs.
• Legacy Benefits (ISA)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Title Sponsor of the 26th Annual IWC Golf Classic. Met participants at Hole 1 during the tournament, supporting fundraising efforts for IWC's programs.
• Junior League of AshevilleminorOthers · 1 January 2025Community sponsor and volunteer organization supporting IWC's mission to serve children and families.
• Wells Fargo AdvisorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Community sponsor and hole sponsor for Annual Golf Tournament, supporting IWC fundraising efforts.
• FirstBankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Community sponsor supporting IWC, participating in corporate partnerships and event sponsorship.
• McKessonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Hole sponsor for Annual Golf Tournament, supporting IWC's fundraising events and community programs.
• Buncombe County SchoolscoreOthers · 1 January 2025Educational partner providing school slots for IWC's Early Learning Center students. ELC follows NC Foundations curriculum and works with Buncombe County Schools therapists for speech and occupational therapy services.
• The ARC of Buncombe CountycoreOthers · 1 January 1960Historical founding partner. In the 1950s-1960s, parents of students in Buncombe County special education classes organized to form the local chapter of what became The ARC of Buncombe County, which focused on the need for day care programs for IDD children under 6, eventually leading to IWC's establishment in 1961.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Monarch: Monarch is a North Carolina-based nonprofit providing residential, day, and supported living services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including licensed ICF-level care. It directly competes with Irene Wortham Center in the NC IDD residential and day-program market and is the most operationally similar peer in scale and mission.
• RHA Health Services: RHA Health Services operates residential, day, and community-based programs for individuals with IDD and behavioral health needs across North Carolina, including Western NC. Like Irene Wortham Center, RHA delivers ICF-level residential care and individualized day programming for IDD adults, making it a close regional direct peer.
• The Arc of North Carolina: The Arc of North Carolina is the state chapter of The Arc, providing advocacy and direct services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is both an advocacy peer and the parent movement from which IWC's founding partners originated, serving overlapping IDD populations in NC through similar service categories.
• Autism Society of North Carolina: Autism Society of North Carolina provides direct services, residential supports, and day programs for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities across the state. Its IDD service portfolio and North Carolina footprint make it a direct peer to Irene Wortham Center's ELC, ADA, and residential programs.

Broad incumbents

• BrightSpring Health Services: BrightSpring Health Services is a publicly-traded provider of home and community-based health services, including IDD residential and day supports, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. It is a broad incumbent in the same IDD service categories as Irene Wortham Center, operating at national scale across multiple states.
• Sevita Health: Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network) is a national operator of home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health disabilities, including ICF and supported living programs. It operates at vastly larger scale than IWC but covers the same IDD residential, day, and family-living service categories.
• Sunrise Senior Living: Sunrise Senior Living operates assisted living and memory care residences nationally with a model centered on residential personal-care service delivery. Although focused on elderly rather than IDD populations, it is a broad incumbent peer for the residential assisted-living/24-hour-care operating model that IWC delivers at smaller scale in its three ICF homes.

Regional players

• Easterseals PORT Health: Easterseals PORT Health is a North Carolina-based affiliate of Easterseals providing disability, behavioral health, and aging services across the state, including in Western NC. It overlaps with IWC in serving IDD populations regionally but operates with a broader disability and behavioral health portfolio.
• LifeSpan Services: LifeSpan Services is the Area Agency on Aging serving Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties in Western NC, providing aging and disability resource services including case management and community supports. It overlaps with IWC in serving aging and disabled populations in the same geography and is also connected via shared board expertise.

Others

• Bayada: Bayada is a national home health and personal care services provider that includes pediatric and adult IDD support services across many states. It is adjacent rather than directly competitive with IWC because it focuses on home-based rather than facility-based care, but it operates in overlapping IDD and personal-care markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ireneworthamctr

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Irene Wortham Center