NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing

What NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing does

NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization founded in 1977 and headquartered in Sacramento, California. It serves Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, their families, businesses, employers, and public agencies across 24 northeastern counties of California. The organization is described as 'of, by and for' the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, meaning it is founded and managed by Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, providing culturally competent service delivery grounded in lived experience.

The organization's service portfolio spans four core service categories — Advocacy Services (ADA/Section 504 compliance, IEP and IFSP support, discrimination resolution), Employment Services (job readiness, communication skills, DMV test preparation), Access Services (counseling, independent living skills, community education), and Interpreting Services delivered through the ACT! (Access Communication Today) program, which includes both on-site interpreting and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI). A set of specialized sub-brand programs targets distinct sub-populations: Camp Grizzly (residential summer camp for Deaf/HH youth ages 7–18 and KODA), EXCEL (day program for Alta Regional Center consumers), DeafSAFE (sexual violence survivor support), DeafPlus (developmental disability support), Deaf Coach, Senior Choices, and Mental Health Videos.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded with a fee-for-service interpreting component. Revenue streams include donations and fundraising (including an annual Crab Feed fundraiser with $1,000–$7,000 sponsorship tiers), interpreting service fees for businesses through ACT!, and program-specific sponsorships. Many community-facing services are provided free of charge. Marketing and outreach rely on social media (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo), email communications, community events, and word-of-mouth within the Deaf/HH community. No public revenue, AI, or proprietary technology disclosures exist.

Name

NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Legal name

NorCal Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Website

https://norcalcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977, based in Sacramento, California, that provides advocacy, employment, access, interpreting, and specialized community programs to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals across 24 northeastern California counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: NorCal Services is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that raises funds through donations, corporate sponsorships for events like the annual Crab Feed fundraiser, and general fundraising efforts to support programs and keep services free to the community.
2. Interpreting Services Fees: The organization provides interpreting services through its Access Communication Today (ACT!) program, generating revenue through service fees for interpreting assignments for businesses and organizations.
3. Program Sponsorships: Programs like Camp Grizzly are supported through specific fundraising initiatives and corporate sponsorships at various levels ($1,000 to $7,000 sponsorship tiers).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization providing advocacy, employment, access, and interpreting services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals across 24 northeastern California counties. Core offerings include ADA/Section 504 advocacy and IEP support, job readiness training, counseling and independent living skills, and ASL interpreting services for businesses through the ACT! program. Specialized programs include Camp Grizzly (youth summer camp), DeafSAFE (survivor support), EXCEL (day program), DeafPlus, Deaf Coach, and Senior Choices.

Product overview

NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing is a nonprofit community-based organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services 'of, by and for' the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community since 1977. The organization provides core services including Advocacy Services (ADA/Section 504 compliance and IEP support), Employment Services (job readiness and skills training), Access Services (counseling and independent living skills), and Interpreting Services through their ACT! program with Video Remote Interpreting capability. Their Specialized Programs include Camp Grizzly (residential summer camp for youth ages 7-18), EXCEL (day program for Alta Regional Center consumers), DeafSAFE (sexual violence survivor support), Deaf Coach, Senior Choices, and Mental Health Videos. DeafPlus provides targeted support for individuals with developmental delays or disabilities. The organization serves 24 northeastern counties of California from their Sacramento headquarters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DeafPlus: A program providing advocacy and resources for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals with developmental delays or developmental disabilities.
• DeafSAFE
• ACT! (Access Communication Today)
• Camp Grizzly
• EXCEL

Products and services

• Advocacy Services One-on-one advocacy to resolve discrimination complaints and denial of interpreter issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Includes system advocacy for equal access in education, employment and public services, IEP/IFSP advocacy and FAPE support, and assistance at administrative proceedings.
• Employment Services Specialized employment services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals including writing skills improvement, communication skills development, DMV test preparation, job readiness training, budgeting skills, and college preparation assistance.
• Access Services Array of access services ranging from counseling and independent living skills to community education programs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals.
• Interpreting Services (ACT!) Access Communication Today (ACT!) provides top-level, high quality American Sign Language interpreting services for businesses, with dedicated managers for customer service and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) capability for remote assignments.
• Camp Grizzly One-week residential summer camp program for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and KODA (Kids of Deaf Adults) youth ages 7 to 18, serving as an annual leadership and education event.
• EXCEL Day program for Alta Regional Center consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing, based in Sacramento, providing developmental and community engagement support.
• DeafSAFE Program providing specialized advocacy, trauma support, and safety resources for deaf and hard of hearing survivors of sexual violence.
• Deaf Coach Specialized one-on-one coaching program for deaf and hard of hearing individuals providing personalized support and guidance.
• DeafPlus Advocacy and resources program for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals with developmental delays or developmental disabilities, including parent support groups, resources, and videos.
• Senior Choices Program designed for seniors who are deaf or hard of hearing, providing community connection, accessible social activities, and senior services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals across 24 northeastern counties of California since 1977

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Carmichael Elks LodgeminorOthers · 30 January 2026Venue partner for NorCal's annual Crab Feed fundraiser event. The Lodge provides event space for the organization's primary annual fundraising event supporting Camp Grizzly.
• LeadK Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2026Joint programming partner for parent support and family services. NorCal's website shows co-branded resources including LEADK Event calendar integration and collaborative parent support group registrations.
• LEADK (LeadK Family Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEADK (LeadK Family Services) is a strategic partner referenced alongside NorCal events, indicating collaboration on parent support resources and family services for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community. NorCal hosts LEADK Events as part of its programming calendar.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NorCalDeafSvcs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NCSDHHMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/norcalsvcs?ref=mf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/norcal-center-on-deafness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing