Little Light House

What Little Light House does

Little Light House is a Christian 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that provides tuition-free specialized education and therapy services for children ages birth to six with developmental delays and disabilities. Its core delivery model is a transdisciplinary classroom approach that integrates certified special education teachers with physical, occupational, and speech-language therapists, assistive technology specialists, and nurses in each classroom. The organization operates two primary on-site programs: the Developmental Center (full-time, year-round classes Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-1:00pm, serving 96 students in Tulsa with capacity for four additional classrooms at its new Oklahoma City site) and the Family Learning Center (part-time weekly two-hour caregiver-and-child classes, Tulsa-only, capacity up to 126 families). Supporting offerings include the proprietary "Head to Toe, Heart and Soul" Bible-based curriculum, the Little Light House Academy free online course platform, the Helping Kids Be Kids podcast, a Mobile Classroom RV program launched in summer 2025, and a Global Outreach program delivering international training trips, virtual sessions, and an intern program.

The organization is funded entirely through donations rather than tuition. Revenue streams include individual one-time and recurring monthly gifts (the "Crew" program, suggested at $30/month), annual fundraising events (Golf Tournament, Garden Party, Laps for Little Ones, Coins for Kids), corporate sponsorships, and planned/legacy giving. Marketing and intake rely on community-driven channels: doctor and therapist referrals, church and community partnerships, word-of-mouth, and earned local media coverage, with the Mobile Classroom extending outreach into underserved neighborhoods across Tulsa County. The estimated $37,000 annual cost to fully sponsor one student is the key unit-economics figure that frames fundraising targets and donor communications.

Operationally, Little Light House is led by Executive Director Molly Smith (with the organization since 2005) and governed by a Board of Directors alongside a Youth Advisory Board and Young Professional Board. The organization recently completed its first geographic expansion in over fifty years with the February 2026 opening of an Oklahoma City campus at 9300 N Kelley Ave, led by parent-advocate Gio Green in honor of her late son Jack, and currently maintains an active waitlist of more than 500 families, signaling durable demand-supply imbalance in its core market.

Name

Little Light House

Legal name

The Little Light House

Website

https://littlelighthouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Little Light House is a Tulsa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing tuition-free Christian education and transdisciplinary therapy (PT, OT, speech, assistive technology) for children ages birth to six with disabilities, operating campuses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City with a global outreach and online training program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Child Care Services (6244), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO), Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), Special Education Online / Virtual Schools & Remote Programs (EDAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Pediatric therapy programs
• Developmental center services
• Special needs education
• Early childhood therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individuals. Monthly giving program called 'The Crew' encourages recurring contributions. Suggested $30/month donation provides one child 30 minutes of care.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Golf Tournament, Garden Party, and Laps for Little Ones with sponsorship opportunities.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through wills, beneficiary designations, qualified charitable distributions, and non-cash asset donations.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events and general operational support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Little Light House is a Christian, nonprofit Developmental Center that delivers tuition-free specialized education and therapy services for children of all disabilities from birth to age six. Its integrated programs combine certified special education teachers with physical, occupational, speech, and vision therapists, assistive technology specialists, and nurses in each classroom, supplemented by a part-time Family Learning Center, a Mobile Classroom outreach vehicle, a global training and outreach program, free online courses via Little Light House Academy, and the proprietary "Head to Toe, Heart and Soul" Bible-based curriculum.

Product overview

Little Light House is a Christian, nonprofit Developmental Center that provides specialized education and therapy services for children of all disabilities, completely tuition-free. The organization operates two primary programs: the Developmental Center (full-time classes Monday-Thursday 8:30am-1:00pm for children birth to six) offering individualized special education with a transdisciplinary therapy team; and the Family Learning Center (part-time weekly two-hour classes for caregivers and children, currently Tulsa-only). The Outreach and Training program extends expertise globally through international training trips, virtual sessions, and church inclusion training. Supporting offerings include the Little Light House Academy (free online courses), Mobile Classroom (outreach initiative), Head to Toe, Heart and Soul Bible-based curriculum, and the Helping Kids Be Kids podcast. The organization recently expanded with a new Oklahoma City campus opening February 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Light House Academy: Free online special education and therapy courses for professionals, parents, caregivers, and anyone looking to learn more about children with special needs
• Family Learning Center
• Mobile Classroom

Products and services

• Developmental Center Full-time specialized education and therapeutic early intervention program for children with special needs, ages birth to six. Each classroom pairs a certified Special Education Teacher with two associate teachers and a transdisciplinary team including Speech-Language Pathologist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Assistive Technology Specialist. Classes operate Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM-1:00 PM, twelve months a year, completely tuition-free. Served at both Tulsa and Oklahoma City campuses.
• Family Learning Center Part-time weekly two-hour classes for caregivers and their children with special needs, ages birth to six. Sessions meet Monday-Thursday at 9:00-11:00 AM or 12:30-2:30 PM and include sensory play, art/music activities, therapy sessions, caregiver education, and Bible-based teachings. Capacity for up to 126 families weekly at the Tulsa location.
• Outreach and Training Global outreach program that equips parents, caregivers, teachers, and professionals worldwide with educational tools, training, and mentorship to care for children with special needs. Encompasses international training trips, virtual training sessions, church inclusion training, and the International Intern Training Program.
• Little Light House Academy Free online special education and therapy courses for professionals, parents, caregivers, and anyone seeking to learn about children with special needs. Courses authored and reviewed by LLH professionals with over 50+ years of experience, available to consume at one's own pace in multiple media formats.
• Mobile Classroom A custom-designed RV outfitted with a sensory room, interactive learning space, and therapy equipment, traveling to churches, community centers, and organizations throughout Tulsa County. Staffed by a special education teacher, rotating therapist, and additional staff, delivering 90-minute weekly sessions growing into 12-week semesters for 4-6 families at a time.
• Head to Toe, Heart and Soul Curriculum Free Bible-based curriculum focusing on educational, therapeutic, and spiritual development of children from birth to six years, with special adaptation guides to include children with special needs. Includes storybooks, teacher flip books, activity books, adaptation guides, original songs, resource guides, and Sunday School books. Used globally in preschools, homeschools, churches, developmental centers, and daycares.
• Helping Kids Be Kids Podcast Free podcast providing solutions and resources to help parents and caregivers of children with special needs understand their child, build confidence, and enjoy parenting. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• International Intern Training Program Experiential training program in special needs education with cross-cultural connections. Interns learn from licensed Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech Therapists, special education teachers, LAMP-certified staff, and low-vision certified specialists. Internship lengths range from one week to two years, with spring and fall sessions at the Tulsa headquarters.
• International Training Trips Short-term training trips that empower communities globally through specialized education on special needs. Teams conduct hands-on activities, conferences, and presentations, including demonstrations of creating assistive technology with locally available supplies.
• Church Inclusion Training Courses and onsite trainings for churches seeking to make their facilities more accessible for families with children with special needs. Includes resources, training, and support for creating inclusive church environments.
• Virtual Training Interactive online sessions equipping educators, parents, and professionals with tools and strategies for supporting children with special needs.
• Early Intervention Program Program for children on the Developmental Center waitlist. While waiting for full-time placement, families can enroll for therapeutic services and educational support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ families on waitlist demonstrating significant demand for services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Transformation ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransformation Church made a generous donation in 2022 to support Little Light House's mission to reach children with special needs in North Tulsa. This donation initiated efforts to address transportation and access barriers faced by families in underserved communities.
• Camperland of OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamperland of Oklahoma provided support and hard work in helping make the Mobile Classroom possible, serving as a key partner in bringing services directly to families who cannot attend on-site.
• Integrity CustomscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrity Customs provided expertise and craftsmanship in completing custom modifications for the Mobile Classroom, transforming an RV into a fully-equipped sensory room and learning space.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Joni and Friends: Christian disability ministry providing specialized programs, family support, and international outreach for people affected by disability. Comparable to Little Light House in faith-based mission, family-centered services, and globally distributed outreach programming.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including early intervention, therapy, and special education across hundreds of affiliates. Closest scale-and-mission comparable to Little Light House as a tuition-supported/charitable special education and therapy provider for children with disabilities.
• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and direct-services organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a chapter network. Comparable to Little Light House in serving families of children with developmental disabilities through education and family-support programming.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit providing services and support for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including early intervention and therapy programs. Direct peer in serving young children with developmental disabilities through integrated therapy and education models.
• AbilityPath: Bay Area nonprofit providing early intervention, inclusive education, and therapy services for children with developmental disabilities and their families. Direct comparable to Little Light House in combining early intervention, family education, and therapy under one organization.
• Hope Haven: Faith-based special education and disability services organization operating residential and day programs across multiple locations. Closely comparable to Little Light House in faith-based mission, special education focus, and integrated therapy-and-education model.
• Special Kids Special Families: Colorado Springs-based nonprofit providing early intervention, therapy, and family support for children with disabilities. Strong size and program mix comparable to Little Light House, with similar integrated therapy-and-education service delivery.

Emerging players

• National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): National organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities, including early identification and intervention programming. Comparable to Little Light House in mission focus on early intervention for children with disabilities, though primarily advocacy-oriented.
• Morgan's Wonderland: Texas-based special needs organization providing inclusive recreation and education programming. Comparable to Little Light House in mission focus on serving individuals with disabilities through dedicated facilities and a charitable funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic special education institution serving students with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. Broader scope than Little Light House but overlapping population (including LLH's founding focus on visual impairment) and similarly combining special education with therapy in a campus setting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGm_cmaUNH_0Avgoj3_4kxA
• Facebookfacebook.com/littlelighthouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-little-light-house
• Instagraminstagram.com/llhtulsa
• Xx.com/llhtulsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Little Light House