Keshet

What Keshet does

Keshet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 and headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, that provides educational, recreational, vocational, and residential programs to individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities as well as social-emotional disorders. Its service portfolio spans therapeutic day schools (K-8 Ariella Joy Frankel Keshet Day School, Keshet High School, and the Coe-Worker Transition Program), day and overnight summer camps, adult day services (GADOL), vocational training (Bright Apron Academy), residential Community Integrated Living Arrangements (MY Life, four homes), and a nationally recognized consulting practice (Pritzker Pucker Inspire Center) that has trained 50+ organizations and 18,000+ individuals since 2015. The organization serves roughly 600 participants annually across 75+ programs in the Chicago area and Wisconsin, with 200 year-round staff and lay leaders plus 125 seasonal summer-camp staff, supported by an interdisciplinary team of special educators, therapists, and program specialists operating at average 1:3 staff-to-participant ratios.

Keshet's business model is a hybrid of earned program fees (school tuition, camp fees ranging $2,350-$8,230 per session, adult social events, vocational program fees) and contributed income (individual donations, GEMS monthly giving at $35+/month, planned giving/bequests, greeting-card sales, and the Coins for Keshet vocational coin-sorting program). The One Community Campaign — a $20M capital campaign with $18M (88%) raised as of May 2026 — is funding construction of the Kersten Campus / Justin Coe Center, Keshet's first permanent headquarters in Highland Park, IL, with construction underway in 2025. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on partnerships with Jewish schools, synagogues, JCCs, and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid acquisition, and supplemented by an event-driven engagement model.

Distribution is primarily regional (Chicago metropolitan area and Wisconsin for direct services) and national/international for consulting. Strategic depth is reinforced by a 30+ year JCC Chicago partnership, multi-decade relationships with host schools (Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Solomon Schechter Day School), a national leadership position in inclusive camping, and a Board of Directors composed of more than 50% family members of participants, aligning governance with mission. The organization has grown its operating budget from $150K (1988) to $9.1M (2020) and is now executing a multi-year buildout that materially expands its physical and programmatic capacity.

Name

Keshet

Legal name

Keshet

Website

https://keshet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Keshet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 and headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, providing educational, recreational, vocational, and residential programs to roughly 600 individuals with disabilities annually across 75+ programs in the Chicago area and Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Special Education

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (61)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based Mental & Behavioral Health Services (EDAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Special education
• Inclusive summer camps
• Adult day programs
• Residential disability support

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged for various programs including schools, camps, adult day programs, and recreation activities. Need-based fee assistance and scholarships are available to ensure access.
2. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, monthly giving (GEMS program), tribute cards, and bequests/planned giving.
3. Capital Campaign: The One Community Campaign is raising $20 million for the new headquarters (Kersten Campus/Justin Coe Center).
4. Greeting Card Sales: Sale of greeting cards featuring artwork created by GADOL program participants, with proceeds supporting adult day programs.
5. Coins for Keshet: Coin donation program where sorting and processing coins provides vocational training while generating revenue.
6. Consulting Services: Keshet provides training and consulting services to other organizations on disability inclusion and inclusive camping practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Keshet is a non-profit organization that delivers educational, recreational, vocational, and residential programs for children, teens, and adults with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. The organization operates therapeutic day schools, inclusive day and overnight camps, adult day services, supported residential homes, sports and arts programs, vocational training, and consulting services to other organizations on disability inclusion practices.

Product overview

Keshet is a service organization providing comprehensive programs for individuals with disabilities, not a unified software product. The portfolio includes therapeutic day schools (K-8, high school, and transition programs), adult day services (GADOL), vocational training (Bright Apron Academy culinary program), residential services (MY Life CILA homes), camps (day and overnight), recreation (sports, arts, social programs), and consulting services. Programs span from infancy through adulthood, serving approximately 600 participants annually across education, recreation, adult, and residential categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GADOL: Keshet's Adult Day Program providing daily opportunities for adults with disabilities to live meaningful lives, offering lifelong learning, community connections, and job training.
• MY Life
• Bright Apron Academy
• First Friends
• Camp Keshet North
• Camp Keshet South
• Keshet-On-the-Go

Products and services

• Therapeutic Day Schools Therapeutic day schools serving students ages 3 to 22 with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. Includes the Ariella Joy Frankel Keshet Day School (K-8), Keshet High School at Ida Crown Jewish Academy, and Coe-Worker Keshet Transition Program.
• GADOL Adult Day Program Adult Day Program providing lifelong learning, community connections, and self-directed activities for adults with disabilities. Approximately 75% of activities take place in the community.
• MY Life Residential Program Residential program supporting adults in Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) with 24-hour staffing. Currently operates four homes including one multi-unit apartment building and three single family homes.
• Keshet Camps Inclusive day and overnight camp programs including Camp Keshet North and South, Keshet-On-the-Go, Gesher Overnight Camps, and partner camps through JCC Chicago and Junior Gan Israel. Recognized by National Inclusion Project as a leader in inclusive camping.
• Bright Apron Academy Hands-on culinary and workplace training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Curriculum developed in partnership with National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, offering certifications including ServSafe Food Handler and Certificate in Fire Extinguisher Safety. Cost: $2,250 per cohort.
• Keshet Sports & Fitness Sports programs including Special Olympics Bowling and Special Olympics Golf, providing coaching, adaptations, and competition opportunities for athletes of all ages.
• Arts & More Art programs offering visual arts, music, drama, and cooking classes for people of all ages and abilities to express themselves and build self-esteem.
• Meet-Ups Social program for neurodiverse adults with high independence, providing structured gatherings including dinners, trivia nights, and bowling with light staff facilitation.
• Melton Jewish Learning Inclusive Jewish learning course for adults 18+ in partnership with Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, adapted for diverse learners with 1:5 support ratio. Priced at $120 for a 12-week course.
• First Friends Program for families of infants ages 3-36 months with disabilities or complex medical needs, offering gentle play, music and sensory experiences in partnership with JCFS Chicago. Priced at $120 for 8-week session.
• Consulting Services Training and consulting services for organizations, schools, camps, businesses, and religious institutions on disability inclusion and inclusive camping practices. Since 2015, has provided training to more than 50 organizations serving over 18,000 children and adults globally.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% increase in participants at GADOL adult day program since 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• JCC ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 30-year partnership with JCC Chicago for day and overnight camps. Keshet provides inclusion support and services at Apachi Day Camps and Camp Chi, making inclusive camping possible for hundreds of families annually.
• Ida Crown Jewish AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost school for Keshet High School and Transition Program in Skokie, enabling integrated educational opportunities.
• Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to Ariella Joy Frankel Keshet Day School (K-8) and partner in inclusive kindergarten program.
• Hugs Café Inc.keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeshet is an Affiliate Partner with Hugs Inc., having adopted their hospitality training curriculum for Bright Apron Academy. Originally created by Hugs Café Training Academy in Texas.
• National Restaurant Association Education FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum partner for Bright Apron Academy culinary training program, ensuring industry-standard credentials (ServSafe certification) for graduates.
• JCFS ChicagokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with JCFS Chicago for First Friends program serving families of infants with disabilities, including pediatric Early Intervention experts.
• Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish LearningkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide inclusive Jewish learning for adults with diverse abilities through adapted curriculum.
• MatankeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatan adapted the Florence Melton School curriculum to create inclusive and accessible Jewish learning materials designed for adults of all backgrounds and abilities.
• Jewish United Fund (JUF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner supporting programs, scholarships, and initial funding for First Friends. Keshet is a partner with JUF in serving the community.
• Shalva (Israel)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeshet partnered with Shalva to be the first provider outside of Israel to use their First Friends (Me & My Mommy) model for infants with disabilities.
• jBaby ChicagokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Friends is part of jBaby Chicago network supporting families with infants.
• JCC MilwaukeekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with JCC Milwaukee at Camp Interlaken for inclusive overnight camp experiences.
• National Inclusion ProjectkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Inclusion Project as recognized leader and co-author of Best Practices for Inclusive Camps.
• BBYOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for teen programming and inclusion initiatives.
• LCM ArchitectskeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected to design Keshet's community center. LCM is considered a leader in designing for accessibility and universal design.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including education, therapy, and workforce programs across many states. Comparable as a large-scale multi-service disability organization, though operating at a vastly broader geographic scale than Keshet.
• The Arc: National advocacy and direct-service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), operating chapters nationwide. Comparable as an IDD-focused organization offering residential, day, and advocacy services similar to MY Life and GADOL.
• Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: Major Keshet funder and umbrella communal organization for Chicago's Jewish community. Comparable as a Jewish communal institution supporting overlapping populations and overlapping fundraising/donor ecosystems.
• Samaritas: Michigan-based human services nonprofit offering residential, foster care, and disability services. Comparable as a regional multi-service nonprofit providing CILA-style residential care for people with IDD, similar to Keshet's MY Life program.
• UCP (United Cerebral Palsy): National disability organization providing direct services, advocacy, and housing for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Comparable as a multi-service disability nonprofit offering lifespan services.

Direct peers

• JCC Chicago: Keshet's longest-standing strategic partner (30+ years) running day and overnight camps (Apachi, Camp Chi). Comparable as a Jewish communal organization delivering inclusive programming in the same Chicago market, and Keshet provides inclusion support directly into JCC programs.
• Shalva (Israel): Israel-based disability services organization and Keshet's First Friends partner. Comparable as a multi-service disability nonprofit offering early intervention, education, and adult services under a faith-affiliated umbrella — Keshet adapted Shalva's First Friends model.
• Camp Ramah: National network of Jewish summer camps with inclusion programs. Comparable as a Jewish-camping organization that integrates campers with disabilities, serving a similar demographic with overlapping program philosophy.
• Ability Beyond: Northeast US nonprofit providing residential, day, vocational, and family support services for people with IDD. Comparable as a community-based IDD services organization offering residential and adult day programs analogous to MY Life and GADOL.

Emerging players

• Keshet (Israel / other Jewish disability orgs): Other Jewish communal disability organizations (e.g., Yachad/National Jewish Council for Disabilities, Matan inclusive Jewish education) operate in adjacent spaces. Comparable as mission-aligned organizations promoting Jewish inclusion for people with disabilities, though typically focused on a single program area rather than full lifespan services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzQjYdLQ1RnLG0c-mE5hQYA
• Facebookfacebook.com/keshetchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/keshet-chicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/keshetchicago
• Xx.com/KeshetChicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Keshet