Employment Options

What Employment Options does

Employment Options Inc., doing business as Novus, is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization providing community-based psychosocial rehabilitation and employment support to individuals living with mental health conditions. The organization operates the Clubhouse Model through two physical locations, Compass Clubhouse and Lotus Clubhouse, where members participate in running the organization, build relationships, and access skill-building and career support services. Its primary constituents are individuals with mental health conditions seeking stability, connection, and employment pathways, supplemented by employer clients served through the Partner with Us program for workplace inclusion training and inclusive hiring support.

The organization's product surface spans six core offerings: the Clubhouse Model (community and employment support), Compass Clubhouse and Lotus Clubhouse (sub-brand locations), Novus Catering (catering services that create purposeful employment for unemployed and underemployed people with disabilities), Partner with Us (B2B employer inclusion services), and Career Support Services (employment pathways). The catering program launched in 2026 and represents a new revenue-generating line tied to the organization's social mission. Technology is described as not applicable; the value proposition is delivered through in-person community programming rather than software or digital products.

The business model relies on donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants typical of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, with additional program revenue from Novus Catering and potential employer partnership income. The organization sells its employer services through direct outreach and community partnerships with local chambers (Marlborough Chamber, MetroWest Chamber) and educational institutions (Framingham State University, College of the Holy Cross, Leadership MetroWest). In 2026, the organization rebranded from Employment Options to Novus to reflect an expanded scope beyond employment-only services. Operating geographies are limited to Marlborough, Massachusetts, and the organization employs 11-50 staff with no parent company, no funding rounds, and no public financial disclosures.

Name

Employment Options

Legal name

Employment Options Inc.

Website

https://employmentoptions.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Novus (formerly Employment Options) is a Massachusetts nonprofit operating the Clubhouse Model at two locations (Compass and Lotus) to provide community support, skill-building, and employment pathways for individuals with mental health conditions, complemented by employer inclusion training and a catering social enterprise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Community Support and Supported Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Worksite Financial Wellness & Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) (FSAIAMAN)

Keywords

• Mental health community support
• Clubhouse employment programs
• Supported employment services
• Social enterprise catering
• Workplace mental health inclusion

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlboro

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual and corporate donations, sponsorships, and charitable contributions that support programs for individuals with mental health conditions

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Employment Options (operating as Novus) runs community-based mental health support programs through two Clubhouses — Compass and Lotus — that follow the recognized Clubhouse Model, in which members with mental health conditions help run the organization and build relationships, confidence, and employment readiness. The organization supplements these Clubhouses with Novus Catering, a social enterprise that provides high-quality catering for business lunches, community events, and family celebrations while creating purposeful employment for unemployed and underemployed people with disabilities, and with Partner with Us workplace inclusion services (lunch-and-learns, inclusion support, and inclusive hiring pathways) for employers.

Product overview

Novus (formerly Employment Options) operates as a unified service platform offering mental health community support and employment services. The organization centers on the Clubhouse Model, with two local Clubhouses (Compass and Lotus) providing inclusion, skill-building, and employment support. Novus complements this with Catering services that create purposeful employment for people with disabilities, and Partner with Us programs offering workplace inclusion support including lunch-and-learns and inclusive hiring pathways. The organization connects individuals with mental health conditions to acceptance, work, and community through a coordinated suite of services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Novus Catering: Catering service that creates purposeful employment for unemployed and underemployed people with disabilities
• Compass Clubhouse
• Lotus Clubhouse

Products and services

• Compass Clubhouse Compass Clubhouse is one of two local Clubhouse program sites operated by Employment Options (Novus) in the Marlborough, Massachusetts region, providing community inclusion, skill-building, and supported employment services for adults living with mental health conditions. Members participate in the Clubhouse Model by helping run the day-to-day operations of the clubhouse, building relationships, confidence, and work readiness.
• Lotus Clubhouse Lotus Clubhouse is the second of two local Clubhouse program sites operated by Employment Options (Novus) in Marlborough, Massachusetts, offering community inclusion, skill-building, and supported employment services for adults living with mental health conditions under the same member-governed Clubhouse Model as Compass Clubhouse.
• Novus Catering Novus Catering is the social-enterprise catering arm of Employment Options (Novus), delivering high-quality catering for business lunches, community events, family celebrations, and special occasions while creating purposeful employment opportunities for unemployed and underemployed people with disabilities. Buyers receive both a catering service and a tangible workforce-inclusion impact in a single engagement.
• Partner with Us (Workplace Inclusion Program) Partner with Us is the employer-facing program of Employment Options (Novus), delivering workplace mental health inclusion education through lunch-and-learns, broader inclusion-support consulting, and structured pathways to inclusive hiring of individuals living with mental health conditions. The offering targets HR, People & Culture, and Diversity & Inclusion leaders at companies seeking to reduce workplace stigma and build more inclusive talent pipelines.
• Career Support Services Career Support Services is the career-readiness program of Employment Options (Novus) that helps individuals living with mental health conditions begin again with dignity and direction by providing structured pathways to employment and workplace inclusion. The program complements the Clubhouses and Novus Catering by addressing members' explicit job-search, resume, interview, and onboarding needs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Marlborough Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting Novus events and initiatives. Mentioned in social media engagement and community events like Bloom celebration.
• MetroWest ChamberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional chamber partnership for community events and business networking supporting Novus programs.
• Framingham State UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution partner supporting community initiatives and events.
• College of the Holy CrossminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigher education partner for community engagement and events.
• Leadership MetroWestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeadership development organization partnering with Novus for community impact initiatives.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: Membership organization representing mental health and substance use treatment provider organizations across the U.S. Comparable as a connector between community-based mental health providers, employers, and funders, though operating at industry-association scale.
• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through a federal AbilityOne contract network. Broader, more established player operating at national scale in the same 'employment for people with disabilities' mission space.
• Fedcap Group: Large U.S. nonprofit providing workforce development, vocational rehabilitation, and social enterprise employment for people with disabilities, mental illness, and other barriers. Comparable in combining social services with revenue-generating business lines serving similar populations.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): The largest U.S. grassroots mental health organization, providing advocacy, education, support groups, and public awareness. Comparable in serving individuals with mental health conditions and their employers/families, though at national advocacy scale rather than direct service delivery.
• Mental Health America: National nonprofit focused on mental health promotion, screening, early intervention, and policy advocacy. Comparable in mission to address mental health stigma and connect people to resources, though operates at national advocacy and screening scale.

Direct peers

• Clubhouse International: The international umbrella and accreditation body for the Clubhouse Model that Novus implements through Compass and Lotus. Comparable in that it disseminates the same evidence-based framework, though it functions as a membership/standards body rather than a direct service provider.
• Fountain House: The original Clubhouse Model organization founded in New York City, providing psychosocial rehabilitation, employment support, and community for adults with mental illness. Direct peer in service model, mission, and target population, though operating at much greater scale.
• Melwood: Maryland/Virginia-based nonprofit social enterprise that employs people with disabilities across a range of commercial services including catering, document destruction, and facilities. Direct peer in the dual-impact model of creating purposeful employment through earned-revenue businesses, including catering similar to Novus Catering.
• East House: Rochester, NY nonprofit operating a Clubhouse Model program alongside residential, employment, and recovery services for people with mental illness. Direct peer in clubhouse-based community and vocational rehabilitation approach.
• Thresholds: Chicago-based nonprofit providing mental health services, housing, and employment/education programs for adults with mental illness and substance use disorders. Direct peer in combining psychosocial rehabilitation with employment pathways for a similar population.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NovusTogether
• Facebookfacebook.com/NovusTogether
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novustogether
• Instagraminstagram.com/novustogether
• Xx.com/EmpowermentEOI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Employment Options