Achieva

What Achieva does

Achieva is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit disability services organization founded in 1950 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, operating as a chapter of The Arc of Pennsylvania and The Arc of the United States. It provides a comprehensive, lifespan-oriented portfolio of services for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities and their families, spanning Early Intervention (birth through age 3), housing options (independent living, community living, supported living, life sharing, and home care), competitive-integrated employment, special needs trusts, charitable grants, advocacy, and social enterprise businesses (pallet manufacturing, packaging, janitorial services, and an arts studio). The organization coordinates care using the Charting the LifeCourse person-centered planning framework and operates through multiple wholly-owned subsidiaries including Achieva Support (housing, early intervention, employment, business services), Achieva Resource (shared services), Achieva Family Trust (special needs trusts and charitable programs), The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh, The Arc Erie County, Achieva Business Operations, Achieva Business Services, and VaultArt Studio.

Revenue is generated primarily through Pennsylvania Title XIX Medicaid waiver services (Consolidated, P/FDS, Autism, and OBRA Waivers) and Medical Assistance programs, supplemented by charitable grants from major regional foundations (PNC, Highmark, Richard King Mellon, Heinz), employer partnerships (Sheetz, Giant Eagle, McDonald's) for employment placement, special needs trust administration fees, and direct family payments. The organization is led by a President and CEO (Steve Suroviec, retiring end of 2026), an Executive Vice President and CFO (LaToya Warren), and a Board of Trustees chaired by Meghan Gannon Anderson, with 501-1,000 employees operating across Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Erie, and other Western Pennsylvania counties. Achieva holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating and in 2026 earned the Pennsylvania ODP Select Tier Provider Designation, and in 2025 launched a $15M Beyond Boundaries comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Name

Achieva

Legal name

Achieva

Website

https://achieva.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Achieva is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit founded in 1950 that provides disability services across Western Pennsylvania, including Early Intervention, housing, competitive employment, special needs trusts, advocacy, and social enterprise businesses, serving individuals with disabilities and their families primarily through Pennsylvania Medicaid waiver programs and charitable grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Child and Youth Services (62411), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAF

Elder Services & Aging Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYHLADAAAB

Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Independent Living Communities

SECONDARYHSAAAIAC

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare

Home & Personal Services/Childcare, Babysitting & Nanny Services/Special Needs & Inclusive Childcare Services

SECONDARYHLADAKAC

Adult Day Respite Programs (Daytime Relief)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Respite Care Services (Short-Term Elder Care)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Early intervention therapy
• Supported housing
• Competitive integrated employment
• Special needs trusts

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Waiver Services: Primary revenue stream from Federal/State Title XIX waiver services including Consolidated, Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS), Autism and OBRA Waivers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
2. Medical Assistance for Personal Care: Personal care attendant services funded through Medical Assistance when prescribed by physician and approved by MA Managed Care Organizations.
3. Charitable Grants and Donations: Revenue from foundation grants (Highmark, PNC Foundation, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Heinz Endowments) and charitable donations supporting program expansion and special initiatives.
4. Direct Family Payment: Families have option to pay directly for services not covered by government programs, with Achieva able to bill trusts and community organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Achieva is a community-led nonprofit that provides housing, employment, early intervention therapy, in-home care, special needs trust administration, and disability advocacy services to people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities and their families across western Pennsylvania. Services are delivered primarily through government-funded waiver programs (Medicaid waivers, OVR, ODP) and supplemented by foundation grants and direct private-pay arrangements, with social-enterprise business lines providing additional employment pathways.

Product overview

Achieva is a comprehensive nonprofit service organization providing a multi-module portfolio of disability services through its family of organizations. The core divisions include Achieva Support (housing services, early intervention, employment supports, business services and operations) and Achieva Family Trust (special needs trusts and charitable programs). The organization operates alongside affiliates The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh and The Arc Erie County for advocacy services. The service ecosystem spans Early Intervention (therapeutic services for children birth-3), Housing Options (independent living, community living, supported living, life sharing), Competitive-Integrated Employment (job matching, benefits counseling, employer partnerships), Special Needs Trusts (pooled, payback, third-party), Community Participation Support, the InVEST Project (vocational engagement), Home Care services, Business Operations (manufacturing and janitorial enterprises), and Business Services (employer partnerships). Charitable programs include the Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund and Charitable Residual Program for emergency financial assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VaultArt Studio: A project of Achieva which supports artists with disabilities, providing professional-level arts instruction, exhibition space, and career coaching to transform their creativity into the calling of their choice.
• Beyond Boundaries Campaign
• Charitable Residual Program
• Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund
• InVEST Project

Products and services

• Early Intervention Therapeutic services for children birth through age 3 with developmental disabilities or delays, including developmental therapy, feeding and nutrition, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social work, and hearing and vision services. Delivered in the child's home, daycare, or other natural environments at no cost to families.
• Housing Options Multiple levels of housing support for people with disabilities, including A Home of My Own (independent living with waiver funding), Community Living, Supported Living, Life Sharing, and Housing Tenancy services across more than 50 licensed community homes.
• Competitive-Integrated Employment Employment support services helping people with disabilities obtain competitive-integrated work matching their skills, interests, and talents, through community-based assessments, job development, on-the-job task instruction, and fading supports.
• Benefits Counseling Counseling services helping individuals understand how employment income affects government benefits, providing one-stop resources to achieve employment goals while preserving Medicaid, Waiver, and SSI eligibility.
• VaultArt Studio An Achieva project supporting artists with disabilities through professional-level arts instruction, exhibition space, and career coaching to help transform their creativity into a professional career.
• Special Needs Trusts Trust services allowing asset protection while maintaining eligibility for Medicaid, Waiver Services, and SSI, delivered through Pooled Trust, Payback Trust, Income Spend Down Trust, and Third Party Trust options, plus Future Planning and Representative Payee services.
• Charitable Residual Program Supplemental support program providing grants for children and adults with disabilities who lack the financial resources to access critical special needs support when all other funding sources have been exhausted.
• Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund Grant program supporting community engagement activities pursued by people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, established in memory of Cecil and David Rosenthal.
• Home Care In-home support services including Home and Community Habilitation, Companion or Family Aides, Personal Care Attendants, and Homemaker/Chore services, including a managing employer model allowing families to hire relatives, friends, or neighbors for respite while Achieva handles payroll, training, and compliance.
• Community Participation Support Services providing opportunities for meaningful community activities promoting inclusion, skill development, and competitive-integrated employment, delivered through individualized, flexible supports in community settings.
• InVEST Project Integrated Vocational Engagement & Support Team project helping transition individuals with disabilities from subminimum wage to competitive-integrated employment, offering resume building, job shadowing, coaching, and employer partnerships.
• Advocacy Services Information, support, and advocacy for families and people with disabilities, including Empowered Voices leadership group, Planning for College initiative, Disability Healthcare Initiative, and an online Advocacy Action Center to engage with legislators.
• Business Operations Social-enterprise employment opportunities through Pallet Manufacturing in a state-of-the-art Bridgeville facility, Packaging and Assembly, and Cleaning and Janitorial services across four Pennsylvania counties.
• Business Services Services helping businesses integrate disability into their DEI hiring initiatives, including Embedded Inclusion Liaison deployment, Community-Based Work Assessments, job development, job coaching, and employment placement supports.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 Pennsylvanians with disabilities received essential assistance through Charitable Residual Program distributing nearly $2 million in grants
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• SheetzflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Sheetz Inc. is the first employer to commit to Pennsylvania's InVEST program, partnering with Achieva to transition individuals with disabilities away from subminimum wage positions into competitive, fulfilling careers at convenience store locations.
• WQED EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Achieva Early Intervention collaborated with WQED Education on a groundbreaking Infant Massage video series to support families and caregiver bonding.
• Pennsylvania Department of Labor & IndustrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024Achieva partners with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry on the InVEST (Integrated Vocational Engagement & Support Team) Project, a SWTCIE initiative seeking to reduce subminimum wage employment and enhance opportunities for Competitive Integrated Employment for individuals with disabilities.
• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024OVR partners with Achieva on the InVEST Project, providing funding and coordination for vocational rehabilitation services supporting competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities.
• Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024ODP partners with Achieva on the InVEST Project, providing developmental program funding and oversight for services supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.
• PA Family Network (PAFN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024PA Family Network partners with Achieva on the InVEST Project, providing family support and navigation services for individuals with disabilities and their families.
• Allegheny Health NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Allegheny Health Network (Forbes Hospital and Jefferson Hospital) partners with Achieva for the Books at Birth program, providing developmentally appropriate board books to newborns and their families.
• West Penn Hospital NICUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023West Penn Hospital's NICU partners with Achieva for the Books at Birth program, providing books and developmental guides to families whose newborns receive care in the NICU.
• The Arc of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchieva is affiliated with The Arc of Pennsylvania and The Arc of the United States, providing advocacy and services for people with disabilities.
• The Arc of the United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchieva is affiliated with The Arc of Pennsylvania and The Arc of the United States, providing advocacy and services for people with disabilities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of Pennsylvania: State-level advocacy chapter of The Arc network, of which Achieva is also a local chapter affiliate. Both organizations advocate for and serve Pennsylvanians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sharing overlapping service territory in Western PA.
• Community Options: National nonprofit operating personalized supported living, employment, and day programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Competes with Achieva's residential, employment, and community participation service lines.
• Beacon Specialized Living Services: Pennsylvania-based provider of residential and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. Direct competitor to Achieva Support's licensed community home portfolio.
• UCP Central PA: Pennsylvania chapter of United Cerebral Palsy providing residential, employment, early intervention, and case management services to individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, competing in similar Medicaid waiver and ODP-funded service categories.
• Merakey: Large Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing intellectual and developmental disability services, behavioral health, and autism services across multiple states. Direct competitor for Medicaid waiver-funded residential, employment, and community participation services.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability and community services including early intervention, employment supports, and case management. Operates multiple PA affiliates that overlap with Achieva's early intervention and employment service lines.
• The Arc of the United States: National umbrella organization for the Arc network, of which Achieva is a local chapter. Provides overlapping advocacy, services, and resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across all U.S. states.
• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): National provider of home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including host homes, day programs, and employment services. Competes with Achieva for Medicaid waiver-funded services and is a scaled incumbent across multiple states.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Diversified home and community-based health services provider serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, and complex care requirements. Competes with Achieva in residential and day services across PA and other states.

Regional players

• Life'sWork of Western PA: Pittsburgh-area nonprofit providing employment services, vocational training, and community-based supports for individuals with disabilities. Direct competitor to Achieva's competitive-integrated employment and business services lines in the Western PA market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACHIEVA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ACHIEVAPittsburgh
• Facebookfacebook.com/AchievaPittsburgh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/achieva-pittsburgh
• Instagraminstagram.com/achieva

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Achieva