The Arc of Palm Beach County

What The Arc of Palm Beach County does

The Arc of Palm Beach County is a 501(c)(3)-style nonprofit service organization (legally "The Arc of Palm Beach County, Inc.") founded in 1958 that delivers a lifespan continuum of programs for children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Palm Beach County, Florida. Its operating portfolio spans four program lines: Children and Family Services (including Bodwell Academy, a tuition-free charter school for ages 3-22 opened in 2024 as a $2.5 million expansion of the Courim Center), Early Intervention (First Step to Success, Early Connections, Forward Leaps), Adult Services (seven 24/7 group homes, supported living, employment services, career transition, artisan program, technology training, Club Arc, seniors services, food-service training), and Community Inclusion/AmeriCorps. Post the January 2022 three-way merger with Seagull Services and Palm Beach Habilitation Center — branded the "New Arc" — the organization operates three campuses (Courim Center in Riviera Beach, Achievement Center North Campus in Riviera Beach, Life Center South Campus in Palm Springs), serves nearly 3,500 individuals annually with approximately 290-300 team members, and combines 165+ years of collective mission experience.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix: government contracts and grants (Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County), individual and corporate donations (annual giving, legacy society, endowment, car donations), special-event fundraising (galas priced at $550/ticket, the Arc Invitational golf tournament, the WILD Pants Party fashion show), and fee-for-service contract work performed by client work crews at corporate partner sites (Otis Elevator, Publix, Pratt & Whitney, Marriott, Florida Power & Light, Boarderie, Palm Beach Kennel Club). Direct services to individuals are provided at no cost to clients; the organization monetizes via third-party reimbursement, philanthropy, and B2B contract labor.

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees (Kurt Gehring as Chair since 2021) and led by President & CEO Pamela M. Payne (appointed September 2023, 40+ years nonprofit experience), CFO John Peters, CPA (October 2023), and Chief Advancement Officer Charlotte Gill (October 2023). It has been recognized with The Arc's 2019 Program Innovation Award (national), United Way's 2019 Community Champion Award, a custom AmeriCorps Financial Organization of the Year Award, and a $100,000 top prize at the 2025 Great Charity Challenge. Technology is used for back-office operations, donor management (Bloomerang), and end-user training (MS Office, introductory coding); no proprietary technology product or AI capability is disclosed.

Name

The Arc of Palm Beach County

Legal name

The Arc of Palm Beach County, Inc.

Website

https://arcpbc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Arc of Palm Beach County is a 1958-founded nonprofit serving nearly 3,500 children and adults with developmental disabilities across Palm Beach County through charter schooling, early intervention, residential group homes, employment services, and community programs funded by government contracts, donations, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Special education programs
• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Residential group homes
• Early intervention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Riviera Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals and corporations. Annual giving, legacy society gifts, endowment contributions, and car donation programs provide funding. Corporate partners sponsor events and programs.
2. Government Contracts and Grants: Funded by Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), and other government sources for service delivery.
3. Special Events: Major annual events including galas, golf tournaments, and fashion shows generate significant fundraising revenue. Events like the Go All In Gala charge $550 per person with tables starting at $5,500.
4. Employment Services Contract Work: Provides customized contract work and job placement services to businesses. Companies pay for services including office work, janitorial, hospitality, fulfillment, and production line packaging through supervised work crews.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Arc of Palm Beach County is a nonprofit that delivers a lifespan continuum of programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, from early intervention through adulthood. Core offerings include a tuition-free charter school (Bodwell Academy), in-home and clinic-based early intervention, residential group homes, supported living, supported employment and job coaching, vocational and career transition training, an artisan program with retail shop, and community enrichment/recreation programs. Services to individuals are provided at no cost, funded through donations, government contracts, foundation grants, special events, and limited contract employment services to businesses.

Product overview

The Arc of Palm Beach County operates as a comprehensive nonprofit service organization providing a portfolio of programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities across their lifespan. The offering consists of multiple distinct programs including: Bodwell Academy (tuition-free charter school for ages 3-22), Early Intervention programs (First Step to Success, Early Connections, Forward Leaps), Adult Services (Residential, Supported Living, Employment Services, Career Transition, Technology Training, Artisan Program, Club Arc, Seniors Services, Food Service Training), and Community Enrichment. The programs are coordinated through multiple campuses (Courim Center in Riviera Beach, Achievement Center North Campus, Life Center South Campus) and serve over 3,500 individuals annually. The Arc Shop provides marketplace access for Artisan Program products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bodwell Academy: Tuition-free charter school for children, teenagers, and young adults with disabilities aged 3 to 22. Operated under contract with the School District of Palm Beach County.
• Achievement Center
• The Arc Shop

Products and services

• Bodwell Academy Tuition-free charter school for children, teenagers, and young adults with disabilities aged 3 to 22 with varied levels of intellectual and orthopedic abilities, offering a lower school (pre-K through 8th grade) with intensive therapeutic model and an upper school (grades 6-12 through age 22) blending academics with life and vocational skills.
• Respite Services Center-based and in-home temporary care provided to caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities, offered Saturdays 9 AM to 3 PM at the Courim Center in Riviera Beach.
• Children and Teens Camps Recreational camp experiences for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities including field trips, arts and crafts, and sports activities with developmental, social, and behavioral support services.
• First Step to Success In-home early intervention services for families of children between birth and 5 years demonstrating mild developmental delays, focusing on cognition, communication, movement, coordination, social/emotional growth, and self-help skills.
• Early Connections Developmental support program placed in pediatric primary care settings serving children from birth to 36 months, offering developmental screenings, parent support, referrals, education groups, home visits, and developmental items.
• Forward Leaps Six-month in-home and short-term developmental services for children from birth to age 5 with slight developmental delays, providing no-cost interventions in the home or daycare setting.
• Residential Services Seven community-based group homes for adults with developmental disabilities professionally staffed 24 hours a day throughout Palm Beach County, providing personalized plans to enhance quality of life and independence.
• Supported Living Training and support services with coaches assisting individuals in developing daily living skills including money management, shopping, menu preparation, cleaning, safety, and public transportation use, with 24/7 on-call support.
• Employment Services Program Supported employment services helping adults with developmental disabilities obtain and maintain employment through job coaching, placement, and ongoing support, with partnerships including Otis Elevator, Pratt & Whitney, and Florida Power & Light.
• Career Transition Program Hands-on learning program teaching life skills for workplace and independence covering daily living, personal/social skills, and occupational skills, with participants also joining Enclave Employment programs.
• Artisan Program Artistic program helping individuals with developmental disabilities create mosaics, paintings, greeting cards, and other artwork, learning business skills including money management and customer service while selling products at community venues.
• Technology Training Program Self-paced technology learning program covering MS Office, digital art, job search skills, resume writing, smartphone training, introductory coding, and typing skills, with hardware accommodating special-needs software.
• Community Enrichment Training program for practitioners promoting appropriate involvement of school-age children with disabilities in afterschool and summer programs, including specialized instruction and on-site support for positive social relationships.
• Club Arc Community-based recreational programs providing life skill training and social events for adults with disabilities to spend time with peers.
• Seniors Services Recreational and socialization activities for individuals who have reached retirement age or whose disabilities prevent work tasks, offering opportunities for community engagement and healthy lifestyle maintenance.
• Food Service Employment Training Training program in food service industry skills including food preparation, cooking, dishwashing, and cashiering at TJ's Cafe cafeteria, with opportunity to obtain Safe Food Handling Certificate.
• The Arc Shop Online and venue-based shop selling original art created by artisans in the Artisan Program, including mosaics, acrylic paintings, mixed-media pieces, and custom orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 clients currently employed through Employment Services Program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Wellington InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the Great Charity Challenge equestrian event. Wellington International absorbs all administrative costs so 100% of funds raised go to charity.
• United Way of Palm Beach CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funding for Arc's programs. Awarded Community Champion Award to The Arc. Partnership enables distribution of charitable donations and volunteer support for GCC event.
• Palm Beach County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner. School Board has approved Bodwell Academy charter school. Active members of Florida Consortium for Public Charter Schools.
• The Breakers Palm BeachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers from The Breakers helped transform the 15,000-square-foot Achievement Center with labor for interior and exterior overhaul.
• Otis ElevatorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment partner since 1991. Clients work on mobile work crews at Otis Elevator. The Arc provides janitorial and other contract services.
• PublixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through Job-A-Palooza and ongoing programs.
• Pratt & WhitneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment partner. Supports Job-A-Palooza and Arc Invitational. Clients work on mobile work crews.
• Marriott International Hotels & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Florida Power & LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment partner through FPL's recycling plant for job placement and training services.
• Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & SpaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partner in Employment Services Program providing employment to adults with disabilities.
• BoarderieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partner in Employment Services Program.
• Schumacher Automotive GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of community art project 'Be a Piece of the Big Picture' mosaic creation event. Sponsored community art piece displayed in showroom.
• Palm Beach CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner. County Commissioners honored Arc's 60th anniversary. Mayor Ronnie L. Felder attended ribbon-cutting events.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Melwood: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing vocational training, employment placement, and recreational services for people with disabilities. Closely mirrors The Arc PBC's Employment Services, Career Transition, and Artisan programs but in a different geography.
• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit focused on one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with IDD. Overlaps on employment services and adult socialization programming; comparable donor-driven model.

Broad incumbents

• SourceAmerica: National AbilityOne-designated nonprofit creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities via federal contracts. Comparable employment-services focus but operates at much larger scale through federal contracting channels.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large national nonprofit operating residential treatment, vocational, and educational programs for individuals with IDD and behavioral health needs. Comparable residential group home and supported employment offerings at significantly larger scale.
• The Arc of the United States: National federation of which Palm Beach County is a chapter. Provides advocacy, standards, and convening for ~600 state/local chapters; relevant as parent brand and standard-setter for The Arc PBC's programs and grant eligibility.
• Easterseals (National): National nonprofit network serving 1.4M+ individuals with disabilities annually through early intervention, employment, and adult services. Comparable broad-portfolio IDD service model with state/federal funding concentration.

Others

• Special Olympics Florida: Florida state program providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Mission-adjacent (IDD community engagement, athlete-artisan overlap via Margie Lee Rodriquez story), but operates a different core delivery model.

Direct peers

• Easterseals Florida: Statewide nonprofit delivering disability services including early intervention, vocational rehabilitation, and adult services across Florida. Operates a comparable mix of programs targeting the IDD population with similar government-contract-driven revenue model.
• Goodwill Industries of Palm Beach County: Adjacent-county Goodwill affiliate providing vocational training, supported employment, and adult day services for people with disabilities. Direct overlap on employment services and contract work (mobile work crews) with similar enterprise partner base.
• The Arc Broward: Sister Arc chapter serving Broward County, FL with a similar lifespan continuum of IDD services including residential, employment, charter school, and adult day training. Most directly comparable peer given shared mission, model, and Florida footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheArcofPalmBeachCounty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-arc-of-palm-beach-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/arcpbc
• Xx.com/arcpbc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Arc of Palm Beach County