The Pillars of Grand Rapids

What The Pillars of Grand Rapids does

The Pillars (Pillars Senior Living) is a Minnesota-based senior living community operator offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Respite Care, and for-sale 55+ townhomes across multiple communities, including The Pillars of Prospect Park in Minneapolis and The Pillars of Hermantown. The brand was created in 2014 as a partnership between Oppidan Investment Company (a national property development firm that finances The Pillars Fund for resident programming) and Ebenezer Management Services (Minnesota's largest senior living operator, founded 1917, operating 100+ locations as part of Fairview Health Services).

The core technology platform centers on Ebenezer's proprietary Dimensions™ Memory Care Program—an evidence-based dementia care protocol originally grant-funded by the Minnesota Department of Health—alongside third-party engagement tools such as IN2L (It's Never 2 Late) senior engagement technology deployed through the Oppidan-financed Pillars Fund. The company's most differentiated architectural element is its intergenerational operating model at Prospect Park, which integrates senior living, University of Minnesota student housing (up to 15 students providing 10 hours of monthly programming), and on-site licensed child care (ages 6 weeks to 6 years) within a single physical site.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly residency fees across care tiers, supplemented by usage-based respite stays, child care fees, for-sale townhome unit revenue (Fox Ridge, launching Fall 2026), and ancillary programming. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through community tours, phone/email inquiries, and an Ebenezer-wide referral network. The customer base spans seniors seeking maintenance-free living, families needing assisted or memory care support, working families purchasing child care, and University of Minnesota students seeking affordable housing with intergenerational engagement.

Name

The Pillars of Grand Rapids

Legal name

Pillars Senior Living

Website

https://pillarsseniorliving.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pillars Senior Living is a Minnesota-based operator of senior living communities offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Respite Care under the proprietary Dimensions™ program, distinguished by an intergenerational model at Prospect Park that integrates senior living with University of Minnesota student housing and on-site child care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Living

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Assisted Living with Enhanced Care / High-Acuity (Aging-in-Place) (HLADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury/Resort-Style Independent Living Communities (HLADAAAC), Senior Living Property Management (BPAJAGAI)

Keywords

• Senior living communities
• Assisted living services
• Memory care programs
• Independent living housing
• Respite care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Senior Living Residency Fees: Monthly fees for independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care services. Pricing varies by living option, apartment size, and level of care needed. Includes all utilities, housekeeping, meals, and access to community amenities and programming.
2. Townhome Sales - Fox Ridge: For-sale townhomes at Fox Ridge development offering approximately 2,000 square feet of main-floor living with attached two-car garage. Part of The Pillars of Hermantown community with access to all amenities.
3. Child Care Services: Child care services for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old, open to the greater community. Generates revenue through weekly/monthly child care fees.
4. Student Housing: Student housing for up to 15 students from University of Minnesota. Students receive reduced housing rates in exchange for providing 10 hours of programming per month to residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Pillars of Grand Rapids operates senior living communities providing a continuum of care including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care (Dimensions™ program), and Respite Care/Stay by Day options. The brand distinguishes itself through an intergenerational model that integrates senior living with student housing and on-site child care, alongside for-sale senior-inspired townhomes at the Fox Ridge development.

Product overview

Pillars Senior Living operates as a senior living community operator offering a portfolio of residential care communities across Minnesota. The company provides a continuum of care services including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care (via Ebenezer's Dimensions™ Program), and respite/stay-by-day options. The Pillars of Hermantown and The Pillars of Prospect Park are the primary community locations, with Fox Ridge Townhomes offering an attached single-family option. The company is distinguished by its intergenerational living model at The Pillars of Prospect Park, which integrates student housing and on-site child care alongside senior living. Additional programming includes Life Long Learning, Crafted Culinary, Faith Foundations, Person-Centered Care, and Intergenerational Connections. The company is a partnership between Oppidan Investment Company and Ebenezer Management Services, Minnesota's largest senior living operator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dimensions™ Memory Care: Ebenezer's evidence-based dementia care program originally funded by Minnesota Department of Health grant
• Crafted Culinary
• Fox Ridge at The Pillars
• Pillars Child Care

Products and services

• The Pillars of Hermantown Senior living community in Hermantown, Minnesota offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Fox Ridge Townhome options. Includes amenities such as a wellness center, rooftop deck, pub, theater, salon, sauna, and pickleball court.
• The Pillars of Prospect Park Senior living community in Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota campus offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Respite Care, and Stay by Day options. Distinguished by its unique intergenerational model combining senior living with student housing and on-site child care.
• Independent Living

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-star Minnesota DHS resident satisfaction rating
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Ebenezer Management ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Minnesota's largest senior living operator and parent company of The Pillars communities. Ebenezer provides award-winning person-centered programs, operational expertise, and management services. Founded in 1917, Ebenezer operates 100+ locations across the Upper Midwest as part of Fairview Health Services.
• Oppidan Investment CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014National property development firm that partnered with Ebenezer in 2014 to develop The Pillars senior living communities. Oppidan's core values (community, accountability, passion, teamwork, urgency, respect, excellence) inspired The Pillars name. Continues to finance The Pillars Fund.
• University of Minnesota Alumni AssociationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Senior Living Community of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. Proud sponsor of Gopher Athletics. Creates visibility among University community for student housing and senior living programs.
• MacPhail Center for MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for interactive music programming at The Pillars communities, part of The Pillars Fund activities to keep residents engaged and active.
• Generations UnitedflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization dedicated to strengthening connections across generations. Certifies intergenerational programs through rigorous review. The Pillars of Prospect Park received Program of Distinction designation for 3 consecutive years.
• University of Minnesota - College of Continuing & Professional StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMELP (Minnesota English Language Program) - Student groups practice conversational English with senior living and memory care residents throughout the year.
• University of Minnesota - Medical School Department of Rehabilitation MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysical therapy students work with residents in the Dimensions memory care community focusing on walks and visits, working with resident volunteers for 6-week sessions.
• University of Minnesota - Center for Allied Health Programs, Occupational TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOccupational therapy students work with child care, Dimensions and senior living residents in fall and spring. Level 2 students work full-time for 12 weeks on special projects.
• University of Minnesota - Department of Speech-Language-Hearing SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate students host quarterly speech language and hearing screenings and lead small group sessions focused on cognitive engagement.
• Minneapolis College of Art & DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt students with teaching minors lead art courses and creative process classes during spring term at The Pillars of Prospect Park.
• University of Minnesota - School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMasters of Healthcare Administration students interview residents about their experience. Aging Studies Interdisciplinary Group (ASIG) and Intergenerational Community Health Collaborative (ICHC) meet monthly at Pillars.
• University of Minnesota - School of DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDental hygiene students present mini-educational workshop series on dental hygiene for residents and child care.
• University of Minnesota - School of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrative health and healing doctorate of nursing students spend time with residents and team members researching and providing solutions to enhance well-being.
• Gopher AthleticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComplementary tickets to all Women's & Men's Basketball home games. Goldy mascot appears at The Pillars. Cheer squad joins for two home basketball games per year.
• The Pillars FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOppidan-financed fund providing specialized programs and technologies to keep residents active and engaged. Activities include MacPhail Music, Art4Life, Lucynt Table programs, pet therapies, IN2L technology, songwriting, visual arts with COMPAS, virtual reality.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Presbyterian Homes & Services: Minnesota-based nonprofit senior living operator offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and care-coordination across the Upper Midwest. Directly comparable to Pillars in geography, mission-driven ownership, and continuum-of-care product mix.
• Ecumen: Minnesota-headquartered nonprofit senior housing and services provider operating assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing communities statewide. Highly comparable to Pillars as a regional nonprofit peer competing in the same Minnesota metro markets.
• Benedictine Living Communities: Upper Midwest senior living nonprofit operating independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Comparable regional player with similar faith-based, nonprofit operating model and a portfolio of community-scale campuses.

Broad incumbents

• Brookdale Senior Living: Largest U.S. senior living operator with a national footprint across independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Comparable on service-line breadth and customer segments, though operating as a scaled public-company incumbent rather than a regional community operator.
• Atria Senior Living: National senior living operator focused on independent living, assisted living, and memory care across the U.S. Comparable on premium senior living positioning and multi-level care offerings, but at substantially greater scale.
• Sunrise Senior Living: National senior living provider with a strong reputation in assisted living and memory care. Comparable on premium service positioning and dementia-care programming, though its footprint is national rather than Minnesota-concentrated.
• Norwood Crossing-style CCRC Operators: Cedarhurst Senior Living and similar CCRC operators provide independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities. Comparable on continuum-of-care community structure, though at broader geographic scale.

Others

• Ebenezer Senior Living: Parent organization of Pillars Senior Living and Minnesota's largest senior living operator with 100+ locations. Included as an ecosystem/Others relationship rather than competitor, since Ebenezer provides management and programs (Dimensions™, Crafted Culinary) directly to Pillars communities.

Regional players

• Walker Methodist: Minnesota-based nonprofit senior services organization offering housing, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Comparable regional nonprofit peer, though primarily competing within the Twin Cities metro rather than statewide.

Emerging players

• Artis Senior Living: Niche memory care specialist with communities across the U.S. Comparable on the Dimensions™/memory-care programming focus and dementia-care service line, though Artis is specialty-only rather than a full continuum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PillarsofGrandRapids
• Instagraminstagram.com/pillarsprospectpark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-pillars-of-grand-rapids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 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 The Pillars of Grand Rapids