Center for Developmental Services

What Center for Developmental Services does

Center for Developmental Services (CDS) is a community-based nonprofit founded in 2000 in Greenville, South Carolina, that operates a unique partnership hub co-locating multiple specialized service agencies under one roof at 29 North Academy Street, on property donated by First Presbyterian Church. The organization serves children from birth through young adulthood with developmental delays and disabilities (including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other genetic disorders) along with their families, delivering approximately 8,500 individuals served and 75,000 appointments annually. Rather than building proprietary technology, CDS functions as a coordination and facility layer that brings together partner organizations including Prisma Health's KIDNETICS therapy program, Wonder Center medically fragile daycare, Pediatric Prosthetics and Orthotics (Equipped for Life), and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, alongside KidVentures early intervention, Project Hope Foundation ABA therapy (on-site since June 2023), Clarity audiology and speech services, Family Connection of SC parent support, and Greenville County Schools' Preschool Special Education Program.

The service portfolio spans developmental evaluation and diagnosis, physical/occupational/speech therapy (including aquatic therapy in an on-site therapy pool), audiology, ABA-based autism services, prosthetics and cranial remolding orthoses, medically complex daycare, early intervention, parent-to-parent support, and educational coordination, with Spanish-language access provided through a dedicated bilingual coordinator. As a 501(c)-class nonprofit, CDS does not sell services at published prices; families access care regardless of ability to pay, and revenue is generated through diversified channels including individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (Greenville Women Giving, Hollingsworth Funds, Graham Foundation), United Way funding, and annual fundraising events such as the Eggs Benefit breakfast, Cornhole Derby, and Ned Marshall Memorial Golf Tournament.

CDS is governed by an independent volunteer board led since 2012 by Executive Director Dana McConnell, with founder Dr. William Schmidt serving as Emeritus board member. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating and a GuideStar Transparency Seal, was featured in the New England Journal of Medicine as a model for serving individuals with special needs, and was recognized by How2Media's World's Greatest! series and WYFF4's Angels List. Go-to-market is community-led: families learn about services through healthcare provider referrals, school district partnerships, United Way referrals, partner-agency cross-referrals, community health fairs, and the organization's website, social media presence, and facility tours. Geographic scope is regional, confined to Upstate South Carolina and the Greenville metropolitan area.

Name

Center for Developmental Services

Legal name

Center for Developmental Services

Website

https://cdservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Developmental Services is a Greenville, South Carolina nonprofit founded in 2000 that co-locates six or more partner agencies under one roof to deliver multi-disciplinary developmental, therapeutic, and family support services to children with delays and disabilities in Upstate South Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Developmental Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Complexity & Medically Fragile Childcare (G-tube, trach, seizure care) (HSAAAIAG), Communication Support Childcare (AAC, speech/language-informed) (HSAAAIAH), Inclusive / Special-Needs Childcare Centers (EDACAAAH), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Special Needs & Inclusive Caregiver Placement (HSAAALAH)

Keywords

• Developmental services
• Pediatric therapy
• Early intervention
• Disability services
• Medical daycare

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: CDS relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization conducts annual fundraising events including the Eggs Benefit breakfast fundraiser and receives direct donations through its website.
2. Grant Funding: CDS receives grant funding from various foundations and organizations including Greenville Women Giving, Hollingsworth Funds, Graham Foundation, and others. These grants support capital improvements and operational needs.
3. United Way Funding: CDS receives United Way funding as a designated charity recipient, aligned with their Life Essentials strategy for serving families with lifelong disabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Center for Developmental Services operates a consolidated, multi-agency facility in Greenville, South Carolina, that delivers developmental evaluation, diagnosis, therapy (physical, occupational, speech, aquatic), pediatric prosthetics and orthotics, medically fragile daycare, audiology, early intervention, ABA-based autism services, preschool special education, family support, and case management for children and individuals with developmental delays and disabilities. Services are provided through co-located partner agencies (Prisma Health programs, KidVentures, Clarity, Family Connection of SC, Project Hope Foundation, Greenville County Schools) under a single roof, enabling coordinated care regardless of a family's ability to pay.

Product overview

Center for Developmental Services (CDS) is a multi-disciplinary partnership facility that provides developmental services for children and individuals with delays and disabilities under one roof in Greenville, South Carolina. Rather than a single product, CDS operates as a coordinated network of partner organizations offering complementary services. The core offerings include: developmental-behavioral pediatrics and psychology (diagnosis of autism, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy); Kidnetics therapy services (physical, occupational, speech therapy including aquatic therapy); Wonder Center medically fragile daycare; prosthetics and orthotics including cranial remolding; Clarity audiology and speech-language services; Family Connection parent-to-parent support; KidVentures early intervention; and preschool special education. ABA therapy is provided through Project Hope Foundation. CDS serves approximately 8,500 individuals and handles 75,000 appointments annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prisma Health — KIDNETICS A department of Prisma Health Children's Hospital that evaluates and treats children from birth through age 21 for complex developmental disorders through physical, occupational, and speech therapy delivered in a large gym, treatment rooms, and therapy pool at the CDS facility.
• Prisma Health — Wonder Center Day treatment program for medically complex children ages birth through six years, providing on-site daycare with nursing care and therapeutic activities under Prisma Health.
• Prisma Health — Pediatric Prosthetics and Orthotics (Equipped for Life) Provides specialty bracing and cranial remolding orthoses for correction of plagiocephaly and other orthopedic needs for children served by CDS.
• Prisma Health — Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and Psychology Provides evaluation and diagnosis of autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other genetic disorders through Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at the CDS facility.
• KidVentures (Thrive Upstate) Offers developmental assessments, service coordination, and early intervention services. Previously known as the Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board.
• Project Hope Foundation — Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy ABA-based autism services provided by Project Hope Foundation, the largest ABA-based autism service provider in South Carolina, offered at CDS for upstate families.
• Clarity Provides audiology and hearing treatment, speech and language evaluation and therapy, and psychological evaluation for developmental and school-focused challenges such as ADHD and learning disabilities.
• Family Connection of SC Parent-to-parent organization that links families of children with special healthcare needs and disabilities to resources, support, and education.
• Preschool Special Education Program (Greenville County Schools) Part of Greenville County Schools, the on-site program helps evaluate and coordinate the best educational environment for children with developmental needs.
• Case Management Program Family support program that connects families to services and resources across partner agencies. Expanded in March 2024 after five years of not accepting new referrals, now led by Director of Family Programs Brooke Schmidt.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,500 individuals served each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Prisma Health — KIDNETICScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIDNETICS is a department of Prisma Health Children's Hospital that evaluates and treats children from birth through age 21 for complex developmental disorders through physical, occupational, and speech therapy in the large gym, treatment rooms, and therapy pool at CDS.
• Prisma Health — Wonder CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWonder Center is a day treatment program for medically complex children ages birth through six years, providing on-site daycare with nursing care and therapeutic activities.
• Prisma Health — Pediatric Prosthetics and Orthotics (Equipped for Life)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides specialty bracing and cranial remolding orthoses for correction of plagiocephaly and other orthopedic needs for children served by CDS.
• Prisma Health — Developmental-Behavioral/PsychologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides evaluation and diagnosis of autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other genetic disorders through Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics.
• KidVentures (Thrive Upstate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly the Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, KidVentures offers developmental assessments, service coordination, and early intervention services.
• Project Hope FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe largest Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) autism service provider in South Carolina. Joined CDS in June 2023 as on-site partner offering ABA therapy for CDS and upstate families.
• ClaritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings audiology and hearing treatment, speech and language evaluation and therapy, and psychological evaluation for developmental and school-focused challenges such as ADHD and learning disabilities.
• Family Connection of SCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent-to-parent organization that links families of children with special healthcare needs and disabilities to resources, support, and education.
• Greenville County Schools - Preschool Special Education ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site school district presence to help evaluate and coordinate the best educational environment for children with developmental needs.
• Bon Secours St. Francis Health SystemmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based health system providing multi-year commitment to CDS. Donated funds supported library renovation now called Bon Secours St. Francis Resource Center. Also sponsors Family Fun Field Day events.
• First Presbyterian ChurchmajorOthersDonated the property where CDS is located, enabling the nonprofit to operate without real estate costs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Easterseals: National nonprofit network providing medical, developmental, and social services for children and adults with disabilities and special needs. Operates through local affiliates using a multi-service model closely comparable to CDS.
• The Arc: National nonprofit providing services, advocacy, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. Operates through a federated chapter structure serving families with similar needs to CDS.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit network delivering therapy, early intervention, and supportive services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. Comparable service portfolio and family-support model to CDS.
• Project HOPE Foundation: Largest ABA-based autism service provider in South Carolina and an on-site partner of CDS since June 2023. Directly involved in delivering autism services alongside CDS through the Greenville co-location model.
• May Institute: National nonprofit providing educational, therapeutic, and behavioral health services for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Operates multi-disciplinary service hubs similar to CDS.
• AbilityFirst: California-based nonprofit providing therapeutic, social, and lifespan services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Comparable multi-service, family-centered nonprofit model.
• Marcus Autism Center: Pediatric autism diagnosis, treatment, and research center affiliated with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Comparable in delivering developmental and autism services through a multi-disciplinary clinical model.

Broad incumbents

• Shriners Hospitals for Children: National pediatric specialty health system serving children with orthopedic, neurological, and developmental conditions. Broader institutional scale, but overlaps with CDS in providing multi-disciplinary pediatric specialty care including prosthetics and orthotics.
• Cincinnati Children's — Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics: Major academic children's hospital with a leading developmental and behavioral pediatrics program. Provides comparable diagnostic, therapeutic, and family support services for children with developmental disabilities, albeit at much larger institutional scale.
• Nemours Children's Health: National pediatric health system offering multi-specialty care including developmental medicine, therapy, and family support. Comparable to CDS in integrating pediatric specialty services around the child and family experience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CDSpartnership
• Facebookfacebook.com/CDSpartnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/cdservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-developmental-services

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Center for Developmental Services