Thrive Memphis

What Thrive Memphis does

Thrive Memphis is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, that delivers social and recreational programming for individuals with intellectual disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Williams Syndrome, Prader-Willi, and Rubenstein Taybi. The organization, originally founded as The Exceptional Foundation of West Tennessee before rebranding, operates a single facility at 6560 Poplar Avenue in Memphis and serves both adolescents and adults through year-round day programs, an after-school program with transportation from partner schools such as Madonna Learning Center, an eight-week summer program, and weekend "Thriving Fun Nights." Participants are enrolled via an admissions interview and assigned to one of three persistent social house groups (Hudson House, Quincy House, Willow House) based on social interests, available space, and staffing ratios, which the organization uses to encourage deeper community connection.

The business model combines four revenue streams: donations and private giving, grants and partner scholarships (the organization explicitly does not receive government funding), annual fundraising events (a golf tournament, a crawfish boil, and an "April in Paris" dinner gala), and participant-paid supply fees plus monthly program fees. An ancillary gift shop sells handcrafted items and holiday cards produced by participants, with proceeds supporting the mission. Headcount is small (1-10 employees) led by Executive Director Jo Anne Fusco and Director of Operations Jamie Mays, with a lean direct-service staff and an active volunteer pipeline.

The organization is purely service-delivery-based: its operating model is in-person programming at one Memphis facility with weekday hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (extending to 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with optional morning and late care), plus scheduled weekend events and seasonal summer activities. The technology stack is limited to a WordPress website, donation processing via Givebutter, organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), and an email newsletter. No proprietary software, mobile apps, API, AI/ML systems, or technology integrations are present, reflecting a community-led non-profit operating model rather than a technology-enabled service.

Name

Thrive Memphis

Legal name

Thrive Memphis

Website

https://thrivemem.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thrive Memphis is a Memphis-based 501(c)(3) non-profit delivering social and recreational day, after-school, summer, and weekend programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities, structured around three house groups, and funded through donations, grants, fundraising events, and participant fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability social and recreational services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• Disability day programs
• Social recreation services
• Special needs programming
• Community based non-profit
• Fundraising events for disabilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Private Giving: The organization receives support from private donors and individual giving. Donations are solicited through the website, events, and direct appeals to support participant scholarships and programming.
2. Grants and Scholarships: Grant funds from partner organizations help provide participant scholarships and programming experiences. The organization mentions being among few non-profits in Memphis that do not receive government funding.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including golf tournaments, crawfish boils, and galas generate revenue for operations and programs.
4. Program Fees: Participants pay supply fees and monthly fees based on services provided. Additional fees may include special events and field trips.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thrive Memphis delivers year-round social and recreational programming for adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities, including day programs (Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with morning and late care), an after-school program for ages 15 and up, an eight-week summer camp, and weekend social events. Participants are grouped into three "houses" (Hudson, Quincy, Willow) based on social interests and staffing ratios, with activities spanning arts and crafts, music, sports, gardening, culinary arts, cultural field trips, and social-skills classes. Operations are funded through donations, grants, participant supply and monthly fees, and annual fundraising events, and the organization explicitly does not receive government funding.

Product overview

Thrive Memphis is a non-profit organization providing social and recreational programming for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The core offering consists of year-round day programs (Year-Round Program, After School Program, Weekend Events) and a seasonal Summer Program, all structured around three house groups (Hudson House, Quincy House, Willow House) to foster community. Ancillary offerings include a Gift Shop selling participant-crafted items and holiday cards. The organization also hosts fundraising events including the annual Mitch Meier Memorial Golf Tournament, Crawfish Boil, and April in Paris dinner to support participant scholarships and programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Year-Round Day Program Continuous year-round Monday-Thursday day program for adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities, organized into three house groups (Hudson House, Quincy House, Willow House) and offering cultural field trips, health and wellness activities, arts and crafts, sports, music, social skills classes, gardening, and culinary arts, with optional morning (8:00-9:00 a.m.) and late (4:00-5:00 p.m.) care.
• After School Program After-school program for participants ages 15 and up, offered Monday-Thursday, with transportation to and from selected schools such as Madonna Learning Center.
• Summer Program Eight-week summer camp for individuals with intellectual disabilities, providing social and recreational experiences including field trips, art, dance, music, and adventure activities.
• Weekend Events (Thriving Fun Nights) Weekend social events held at Thrive Memphis where participants gather for dinner and fun activities.
• House Group Placement (Hudson House, Quincy House, Willow House) Admissions and placement service that assigns each new participant to one of three social "house" groups (Hudson House, Quincy House, Willow House) based on social interests, available space, and staffing ratios to encourage deeper peer connections.
• Thrive Memphis Gift Shop Online shop selling handcrafted items made by participants, including holiday cards and the Story Book 'Kicker with It's Ok to Cry!', with proceeds supporting the organization's mission.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National non-profit providing disability and community-based services including day programs, recreation, and social engagement — overlaps with Thrive's day program and community recreation offerings at much larger scale.
• The Arc: Largest national non-profit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy and a wide range of community programs — broader scope but overlapping social/recreational programming for the same population.
• Special Olympics: Global non-profit offering sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities — comparable participant population with a sports/recreation focus overlapping Thrive's sports programming.
• National Down Syndrome Society: National non-profit advocating for and providing programs to individuals with Down syndrome and other ID — overlapping participant population with broader advocacy and programmatic scope.

Direct peers

• GiGi's Playhouse: Network of non-profit Down syndrome achievement centers offering free social, educational, and recreational programming for individuals with ID and their families — comparable free/donation-funded programming model.
• Friendship Circle: Non-profit operating social, recreational, and respite programs for children, teens, and adults with special needs through local chapters — closely mirrors Thrive's community-based programming and volunteer-driven model.
• Best Buddies International: National non-profit providing one-to-one friendship, social, and recreational programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — directly comparable mission and participant population to Thrive Memphis.

Emerging players

• Madison House Autism Foundation: Non-profit focused on autism and ID programming for adults and transition-age youth including social and recreational activities — directly comparable adult-focused ID programming niche.

Regional players

• JCC Memphis (Jewish Community Center): Memphis-based community center referenced in Thrive's programming calendar; offers inclusive recreation and social programming serving overlapping families in the same Memphis geography.
• The Arc Tennessee: State chapter of The Arc serving Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including in the Memphis region — comparable regional disability services focus in the same operating geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThriveMEM
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThriveMEM
• Instagraminstagram.com/thrivemem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thrive-memphis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Thrive Memphis