L'Arche USA
L'Arche USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 24 communities across the United States that provide shared living, vocational, and advocacy services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by donations, grants, and volunteer engagement as part of a global federation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What L'Arche USA does
L'Arche USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that operates as the national federation of L'Arche communities across the United States, supporting 24 member communities with 82 residential homes serving 342 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization provides community-based shared living programs, vocational services, day habilitation, and personalized daily planning, with 754 total employees and 940 active volunteers supporting its mission. L'Arche USA is part of a global L'Arche federation spanning 180+ communities in 37 countries, with six decades of operational experience and Special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
The organization's core technology stack is limited to standard nonprofit infrastructure: Stripe for donation payment processing, eTapestry for donor CRM, and SharePoint for internal resource libraries. No proprietary technology platform is referenced. The business model is donation-based, with revenue streams including one-time individual donations, monthly recurring gifts through the Thrive Society program, legacy/planned giving instruments, donor-advised fund contributions through BNY Mellon, Fidelity Charitable, and Schwab Charitable integrations, and foundation grants (including a $4.97 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant in 2025 and prior John Templeton Foundation funding). Distribution operates through a federated model: each L'Arche community is an independent 501(c)(3) that applies directly to the national organization under a membership agreement, with services delivered through local communities rather than centralized channels.
Strategic recent activity includes the 2025 launch of Sacred Stories, a five-year national initiative producing films, audio prayers, and accessible curriculum; the 2024 completion of the L'Arche Impact Study with John Templeton Foundation funding; the 2025 launch of the Lead Together campaign for the Inclusive Leadership Group; and expanded advocacy engagement at federal and UN levels. The organization serves four primary segments: people with IDD (the primary beneficiaries), volunteers and assistants, individual donors, and partner organizations. The Inclusive Leadership Group and Start L'Arche programs signal continued investment in community expansion and member-led governance.
L'Arche USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- L'Arche USA
- Legal name
- L'Arche USA
- Website
- https://larcheusa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- L'Arche USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 24 communities across the United States that provide shared living, vocational, and advocacy services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by donations, grants, and volunteer engagement as part of a global federation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
L'Arche USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Support Services
- NAICS
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where L'Arche USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
L'Arche USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations (One-Time): One-time monetary gifts from individual donors made through the organization's website donation portal or by mailing a check. Donors can give any amount between $1 and $100,000 per transaction.
- Monthly Giving (Thrive Society): Recurring monthly donations from committed supporters who join the Thrive Society. Members receive exclusive updates on the impact of their generosity.
- Legacy/Planned Giving: Deferred giving instruments including bequests in wills and estates, Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs), and beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or investment accounts.
- Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Direct: Donors can direct gifts through DAF Direct tools offered by BNY Mellon, Fidelity Charitable, and Schwab Charitable, facilitating seamless charitable giving from donor advised fund accounts.
- Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations such as Lilly Endowment Inc. ($4.97 million Sacred Stories grant) and John Templeton Foundation (Impact Study grant) support specific initiative-based projects and programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-Time Donation |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly Giving (Thrive Society) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Legacy/Planned Giving |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
L'Arche USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
L'Arche USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates 24 member communities across the United States delivering community-based shared living, vocational, and day habilitation services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization supports residential homes where people with and without IDD live together as intentional community, alongside personalized daily planning, advocacy, and faith-based programming funded through donations and grants.
Product overview
L'Arche USA operates as a national organization coordinating 24 communities across the United States as part of a global movement of 180+ communities in 37 countries. The core offering is community-based shared living programs where people with and without intellectual disabilities live, work, and grow together. This includes Shared Living homes, Vocational Services, Day Habilitation Programs, and Personalized Daily Planning. Supporting these core services are national programs including the Inclusive Leadership Group (ILG) for disability advocacy, the Sacred Stories initiative for faith storytelling, Online Resource Library (SharePoint-based), Online Donation Platform with DAF integration, Thrive Society monthly giving, Legacy Giving program, and Community Start-Up Support for expanding the network. The organization functions as a membership-based nonprofit supporting local communities rather than a traditional technology product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sacred Stories: A five-year national initiative that seeks to elevate and celebrate the lived faith experiences of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. The project creates films, audio prayers, accessible curriculum, and retreats.
- Thrive Society
Products and services
- L'Arche Communities Community-based shared living homes where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live alongside assistants and other community members, receiving residential support, daily activities, and personalized care services. Operates 24 member communities across the U.S. as part of a global federation.
- Shared Living Programs Intentional community-based residential arrangements where individuals with intellectual disabilities live alongside assistants and other community members in supportive home environments, with 82 such homes operated across the U.S.
- Vocational Services Employment support and vocational programs helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities develop job skills, find meaningful work, and contribute to their communities.
- Day Habilitation Programs Daytime activity programs providing structured support, skill development, recreational activities, and community engagement opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Assistant Program (Direct Support) Live-in and live-out assistant positions where trained staff provide direct care, daily support, and companionship to core members with intellectual disabilities. Assistants are trained as Direct Support Professionals.
- Sacred Stories Initiative Five-year national initiative producing films, audio prayers, accessible curriculum, and retreats that elevate the lived faith experiences of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Includes the Listening Tour visiting 20+ communities.
- Thrive Society Monthly Giving Monthly donor recognition program providing exclusive updates on impact. Members receive communications about the work their regular contributions support.
- Legacy Giving Program Planned giving options including wills and estate donations, charitable gift annuities (CGA), and beneficiary designations from retirement accounts and life insurance.
- Inclusive Leadership Group (ILG) National program empowering people with and without intellectual disabilities to lead together, shape decisions, strengthen community life, and advocate for disability rights and inclusion.
Quantifiable outcome
- 342 people with IDD actively participating in L'Arche communities across the U.S. (2025)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use L'Arche USA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
L'Arche USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
L'Arche USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.
- L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C. (GWDC)coreGWDC serves as a lead community partner in the Sacred Stories initiative, playing a central role in shaping the vision and approach from inception. GWDC's Community Leader & Executive Director Luke Smith has been instrumental in developing the collaborative approach for this national project.
- EverAblecoreFilm production partner for the Sacred Stories Listening Tour. EverAble's crew travels by RV to over 20 L'Arche communities across the United States, capturing authentic stories of faith, friendship, and community life. Founded by Michael McDonald, the organization creates films centered on the spiritual lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
- Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA)supportResearch and evaluation partner for the Sacred Stories initiative. CARA, based at Georgetown University, contributes expertise in applied research to help measure and document the impact of the storytelling project and its outcomes.
- Dialogues In ActionsupportFacilitated the L'Arche Impact Study evaluation experience across six L'Arche communities in the United States, contributing expertise in participatory evaluation methods and character virtue development assessment.
- BNY Mellon, Fidelity Charitable, and Schwab CharitablesupportDAF Direct integration partners enabling donor advised fund holders at these institutions to easily designate gifts to L'Arche USA through the DAF Direct online tool, facilitating seamless charitable giving for donors.
- AccessCNYcoreL'Arche Syracuse's partner organization for delivering services in its four homes and a day habilitation program. AccessCNY is a key institutional collaborator for service delivery in the Syracuse, NY region.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
L'Arche USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Arc of the United States: The Arc is the largest U.S. national federation advocating for and serving people with IDD through chapter-based services, advocacy, and family support. It is the most structurally analogous peer to L'Arche USA at the national level, sharing a federated nonprofit model, IDD focus, and policy-advocacy posture.
- Easterseals: Easterseals is a national nonprofit network providing disability and community-based services, including residential, vocational, and day programs for people with IDD. It serves a similar beneficiary population to L'Arche USA through a federated affiliate model, though broader in scope (including physical disabilities).
- United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): UCP is a national federation providing residential, vocational, and advocacy services for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including IDD. Its affiliate-based service delivery and policy advocacy make it a direct comparable to L'Arche USA's residential and community-living model.
- AbilityFirst: AbilityFirst operates residential group homes, camps, and vocational programs for people with developmental disabilities in California. Its direct-service residential and employment model closely mirrors L'Arche USA's, though it is a single-state regional operator rather than a national federation.
Emerging players
- Best Buddies International: Best Buddies is a national nonprofit creating one-to-one friendships, employment opportunities, and leadership development for people with IDD. While not residential, it overlaps L'Arche's mission of community-based inclusion and operates a similar volunteer- and donor-driven model across U.S. chapters.
- Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS): JFCS affiliates operate faith-rooted disability and community-based services including case management and residential support. They share L'Arche's faith-anchored service ethos and donor/grant funding model, though their IDD focus is typically one program line among many.
Broad incumbents
- Special Olympics: Special Olympics is a global movement providing athletic training and competition for people with IDD, with a large U.S. program footprint and UN-recognized status. It is broader in scope than L'Arche but shares the IDD community-engagement model, faith-adjacent volunteer base, and global advocacy infrastructure.
Others
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): NDRN is the national membership network for the federally funded Protection & Advocacy (P&A) systems serving people with disabilities. While not a service provider, its federal advocacy and IDD policy leadership overlap with L'Arche USA's UN ECOSOC and state-level advocacy work.
- ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources): ANCOR is the national membership association representing private community providers of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is a peer-of-model rather than a direct service peer, but its DSP workforce, Medicaid HCBS, and quality-improvement agenda intersect closely with L'Arche USA's operations.
Regional players
- Communitas (Washington State): Communitas is a faith-rooted Washington State nonprofit providing supported living, vocational, and community services for people with developmental disabilities. Its mission and community-based residential model closely mirror L'Arche USA's, but it is a single-state regional player rather than a national federation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
L'Arche USA social profiles
Digital presenceL'Arche USA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
L'Arche USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
L'Arche USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
L'Arche USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
L'Arche USA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about L'Arche USA
What does L'Arche USA do?
L'Arche USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates 24 member communities across the United States delivering community-based shared living, vocational, and day habilitation services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization supports residential homes where people with and without IDD live together as intentional community, alongside personalized daily planning, advocacy, and faith-based programming funded through donations and grants.
Is L'Arche USA a public or private company?
L'Arche USA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was L'Arche USA founded?
L'Arche USA was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is L'Arche USA based?
L'Arche USA is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does L'Arche USA make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations (One-Time) is the primary driver. The others are monthly Giving (Thrive Society), legacy/Planned Giving, donor Advised Fund (DAF) Direct and foundation Grants.
Who are L'Arche USA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Arc of the United States, Easterseals, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) and AbilityFirst. Emerging players are Best Buddies International and Jewish Family & Children's Service (JFCS). Special Olympics is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources). Communitas (Washington State) is listed as a regional player.
Does L'Arche USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for L'Arche USA.
What industry is L'Arche USA in?
L'Arche USA's product category is Disability Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 623210 and its SIC code is 8300.