What Glenwood does

Glenwood, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, providing a comprehensive continuum of autism and behavioral health services to individuals from 18 months through adulthood. Its core offerings span diagnostic evaluations, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, speech and occupational therapy, individual and family counseling, social skills training, children's and adult residential programs, K-12 education through Allan Cott School, early childhood education at the Mallie M. Ireland Children's Center, adult day programs (Journey Academy, Sullivan Center), and community experience/vocational programs. The organization delivers services across a 364-acre main campus at Sicard Hollow with 28 residential houses, plus additional Birmingham-area facilities including the Behavioral Therapy Center in Avondale and a pecan warehouse supporting its Pecans for Autism fundraiser.

Glenwood's revenue model combines healthcare reimbursement (Medicaid and private insurance for clinical and residential services), charitable donations across multiple giving programs (1974 Giving Circle, Hope Society, Forever Glenwood planned giving), corporate sponsorships and grants (Hallmark Subaru, Alabama State Council on the Arts), United Way support, and major annual fundraising events including Big Top ($445,000+ in 2026) and the Ireland Legacy Golf Tournament ($200,000+). The organization is CARF-accredited, certified by the Alabama Department of Mental Health, and serves 10,000+ families annually with 450+ employees. Its proprietary Managing Crisis Safely (MCS) training program is licensed externally to educators and organizations.

Recent strategic activity centers on facility expansion — a new Health and Wellness Clinic and Kindergarten Building opened in 2025, with a Sensory Room at the Behavioral Therapy Center in February 2026 and the 'Library in the Woods' amenity also in 2026. Glenwood is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by CEO Christy Castleberry. The organization faces material reputational risk from two 2025 lawsuits alleging physical and sexual abuse of a teenage resident and failure to satisfy mandatory reporting obligations, which could affect donor confidence, enrollment, and regulatory standing.

Name

Glenwood

Legal name

Glenwood, Inc.

Website

https://glenwood.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Glenwood is a Birmingham, Alabama-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that provides autism and behavioral health services — including ABA therapy, diagnostics, residential care, and K-12 education — to 10,000+ families annually across a 364-acre campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism and Behavioral Health Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child and Youth Services (62411), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

ABA Therapy Providers (Home-Based) (EDAKAHAB), Autism Diagnostic & Educational Assessment Services (EDAKAKAA), Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Social Skills, Play Skills & Group ABA Programs (EDAKAHAJ)

Keywords

• Autism services
• Behavioral health therapy
• Residential care
• Special education programs
• ABA therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: Glenwood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Multiple giving programs include one-time gifts, recurring monthly donations through the 1974 Giving Circle, planned giving through Forever Glenwood, and the Hope Society leadership giving circle.
2. Healthcare Reimbursement: Glenwood accepts many insurance plans including Medicaid and private insurance. Revenue is generated through billing for therapy, testing, counseling, and other covered services. Out-of-pocket costs may apply depending on insurance coverage.
3. Pecans for Autism Sales: Annual holiday fundraiser selling premium pecans, pecan brittle, divinity bars, and pecan-flavored coffees. Proceeds benefit all Glenwood programs and services.
4. Fundraising Events: Major annual events including the Big Top circus-themed fundraiser (raised over $445,000 in 2026), Ireland Legacy Golf Tournament (raised over $200,000), and Power of Possibilities Luncheon.
5. Corporate Grants and Sponsorships: Grants from organizations like Alabama State Council on the Arts and corporate sponsorships from companies like Hallmark Subaru.
6. United Way Support: Glenwood is a United Way agency receiving support through United Way of Central Alabama.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Glenwood provides comprehensive autism and behavioral health services across the full lifespan, including diagnostic evaluations starting at 18 months, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, speech and occupational therapy, individual and family counseling, and social skills training. The organization operates residential programs for children and adults, specialized K-12 educational programs, day programs, and external training programs for educators and organizations.

Product overview

Glenwood is a nonprofit healthcare organization providing a comprehensive continuum of autism and behavioral health services. Rather than a unified software platform, Glenwood offers an integrated portfolio of clinical services (diagnostic evaluations, ABA therapy, speech and occupational therapy, counseling), residential programs (children's and adult), educational programs (Allan Cott School for ages 6-21, Mallie M. Ireland Children's Center for ages 2-6, Journey Academy, Sullivan Center), and community-based offerings (day programs, community experience, training programs including Managing Crisis Safely). These services are delivered across multiple Birmingham-area facilities including Sicard Hollow campus and the Behavioral Therapy Center in Avondale, supported by fundraising initiatives such as Pecans for Autism and various giving circles. The organization also offers training programs for educators and organizations. Glenwood does not offer a software product or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Autism Diagnostic Evaluations

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ families served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Hallmark SubarumajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 January 2025Hallmark Subaru designated Glenwood as their Hometown Charity for Subaru of America's Share the Love Event (November 21, 2024 - January 2, 2025), resulting in a $12,000 donation to support Glenwood's programs.
• United Way of Central AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenwood is a United Way agency, receiving support and partnership through United Way of Central Alabama. This is a long-standing relationship supporting Glenwood's nonprofit mission.
• University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenwood and UAB School of Public Health partner to present the Glenwood Lecture Series, a permanent event on UAB's Spring lecture calendar. The purpose is to link Glenwood's clinical service expertise with UAB's research and teaching expertise.
• Autism Society of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenwood is a member organization, connecting with national autism advocacy and resources.
• Autism Society of AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenwood is a member organization, supporting state-level autism advocacy and resources in Alabama.
• National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism (NARPAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenwood is a member organization, connecting with best practices and standards for adult autism residential services.
• Alabama Association of Child Care AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenwood serves as a state satellite center, participating in Alabama's child care agency network.
• Alabama Council of Community Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenwood is a member organization, participating in the statewide community mental health network.
• Primrose School at Liberty ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimrose School donates books annually to Glenwood's Mallie M. Ireland Children's Center and Allan Cott School. Donated nearly 600 books this year.
• Farrelly's Southern Bar and KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFarrelly's provides Easter meals for Glenwood residents as part of the Bunny Bucks Fundraiser initiative.
• Hilton Garden Inn Liberty ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHilton Garden Inn provides discounted hotel reservations for educators attending Glenwood's Summer Teacher Training Workshop.
• Guidestar (Candid)minorOthersThird-party nonprofit transparency platform that awarded Glenwood the Gold Seal of Transparency.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Autism Society of America: National nonprofit advocacy and resource organization for the autism community, of which Glenwood is a member. Not a direct service competitor but a sector umbrella organization relevant for benchmarking donor reach, advocacy positioning, and national reputational standards.

Direct peers

• Melmark: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit offering residential, educational, and clinical services for children and adults with autism and intellectual disabilities. Comparable in operating residential campuses, school programs, and applied behavior analysis services for a similar patient population.
• Chimes International: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing residential, day, vocational, and behavioral health services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. Comparable CARF-accredited, multi-program nonprofit operator with residential footprint.
• Bancroft: New Jersey-based nonprofit providing lifespan autism and intellectual disability services including residential programs, ABA therapy, day programs, and special education schools. Highly comparable operating model with CARF accreditation and multi-program campus footprint.
• Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC): Arizona-based nonprofit offering lifespan autism programs including diagnostic evaluations, ABA therapy, adult services, and community education. Operates a similar mix of clinical, educational, and community-based services through a single nonprofit structure.
• May Institute: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing lifespan services for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, including ABA therapy, residential programs, day habilitation, and special education schools. Closely mirrors Glenwood's continuum-of-care model and CARF accreditation profile.

Regional players

• Judson Center: Michigan-based nonprofit providing autism services, residential care, behavioral health, and special education programs. Operates a similar continuum-of-care model with comparable CARF-accredited residential and clinical services, though anchored in a different region.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit network serving people with autism, disabilities, and other special needs through therapy, education, and community-based services. Broader in scope than Glenwood but a key reference point for nonprofit special-needs services with national donor infrastructure.
• Kennedy Krieger Institute: Maryland-based nonprofit hospital and research institution serving children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs. Overlaps with Glenwood in diagnostic evaluations, ABA, school programs, and family support, with stronger research/academic emphasis.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare for children and adults with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and emotional disorders. Operates residential, educational, and outpatient programs across multiple states, making it a structurally comparable multi-program nonprofit peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Glenwood_Autism

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Glenwood