Common Ground Society
Common Ground Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Santa Rosa, California, that supports individuals with disabilities and their families in Sonoma County and the North Bay through meetups, educational presentations, Care Kits, and inclusion training programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSanta Rosa, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Common Ground Society does
Common Ground Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, that supports individuals with disabilities and their families in Sonoma County and the broader North Bay region. The organization operates a community-led service model built around four pillars: Family Support (meetups, support groups, Care Kits, and a 24/7 private Facebook community); Adult Support programming for teens and adults with disabilities; All Inclusive Education presentations delivered into K-12 schools, businesses, and community organizations; and the Be The One™ ambassador and training program. Common Ground Society serves a population spanning more than 115 diagnoses and reports reaching 2,237 families and 10,117 students in the 2024-2025 fiscal year through 112 annual meetups and 53 active volunteers.
The organization's product surface is service-based rather than technology-based. Core products include the Belonging Pass membership program (free Belonging tier plus a $100 annual Access Pass tier), the Common Ground Calming Tent rental service, Common Ground Care Kits (Welcome, Hospital, New Baby, and Grief), and a Referral Program powered by the UniteUs platform that connects families to medical, emotional, and educational resources. There is no proprietary technology platform; digital infrastructure consists of a Squarespace website, Instagram (14.4K followers), Facebook (5.1K+ followers), a 2,000+ subscriber email newsletter, and YouTube podcast appearances.
Common Ground Society is funded through a diversified nonprofit revenue model comprising individual donations (including the BELONGING Circle monthly sustaining program), corporate and event sponsorships (Belonging Partner at $1,000 to Society Builder at $10,000+, plus Educational Access Sponsorship at $1,500 per presentation or $5,000+ for series), membership subscriptions ($100 Access Pass), and signature fundraising events such as the annual Be the One Gala (targeting $350,000 in 2026). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Co-Founder and Executive Director Larkin O'Leary, Co-Founder Jessica Hunter, and Development Director Jenny Douglas. It has no parent company, no institutional investors, and is privately held.
Common Ground Society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Common Ground Society
- Legal name
- Common Ground Society
- Website
- https://commongroundsociety.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Common Ground Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Santa Rosa, California, that supports individuals with disabilities and their families in Sonoma County and the North Bay through meetups, educational presentations, Care Kits, and inclusion training programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Common Ground Society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability and Special Needs Community Support Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family-School Collaboration & Inclusion Planning Support (EDAKABAK), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where Common Ground Society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Rosa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Common Ground Society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters. The BELONGING Circle is the monthly sustaining donor program. All contributions are tax-deductible as Common Ground Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Tax ID 85-0983422.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Annual sponsorship levels ranging from $1,000 (Belonging Partner) to $10,000+ (Society Builder), plus event sponsorships for specific programs like the Annual Gala, Holiday Party, Pumpkin Patch, and Family Fun Days. Educational Access Sponsorship at $1,500 per presentation or $5,000+ for multi-school series.
- Membership (Access Pass): The Access Pass is priced at $100 annually and includes free admission for up to 4 family members to all major events ($5 per additional family member), priority registration for special events and family photos. The basic Belonging Pass is free.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Belonging Pass - Free membership with core access |
| Subscription | Annual | Access Pass - $100/year with premium benefits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Common Ground Society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Common Ground Society provides community-based support programs, inclusive education presentations, and direct family services for individuals with disabilities and their families in Sonoma County and the North Bay. Core offerings include recurring meetup groups, the Belonging Pass membership program, All Inclusive Education trainings for schools and businesses, the Be The One ambassador initiative, Common Ground Care Kits, a Calming Tent rental service, and a UniteUs-powered referral program. The organization sustains these programs through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, membership fees, and annual fundraising events.
Product overview
Common Ground Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 that provides a comprehensive suite of programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families. The organization operates as a unified platform combining Family Support (meetups, support groups, Facebook community), the Belonging Pass membership program (free and $100 Access tiers), All Inclusive Education presentations for schools and businesses, the Be The One™ ambassador and training program, and the Common Ground Calming Tent rental service. Additional offerings include Common Ground Care Kits (Welcome, Hospital, New Baby, and Grief bags), a Referral Program powered by UniteUs, Adult Support services, the annual Be The One Gala, and Legacy Circle planned giving. The organization serves Sonoma County and the North Bay region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Be The One™: A program and pledge initiative that encourages individuals to push past discomfort and fear to say hello and get to know someone they perceive as different. It invites others to join in, offers help when needed, and recognizes the inherent value every individual possesses.
- Belonging Pass
- Common Ground Care Kits
- Common Ground Calming Tent
Products and services
- Belonging Pass Membership An all-access membership providing year-round access to support groups, educational workshops, community events, and family resources for families affected by disability. The free Belonging Pass tier grants access to meetups and special events (with drop-in fees), while the $100 annual Access Pass tier adds free admission for up to 4 family members to major events and priority registration.
- All Inclusive Education Inclusive education presentations tailored for elementary, middle, and high school students, educators, businesses, and community organizations. Programs include assemblies focused on disability awareness, mindset-shift presentations for educators, and customized trainings for businesses and community groups, with Educational Access Sponsorship at $1,500 per presentation or $5,000+ for multi-school series.
- Meetup Groups Ongoing peer meetups for caregivers, kids, tweens, teens, and adults with disabilities, including Caregiver Meetups (Book Club, Caregiver Coffee, Moms Meetup, Dads Meetup, IEP Study Hall, Neurodivergent Partners), Kids & Tweens Meetups (SibShops, Connect & Play, Buddy Bingo, 5 and Under, Family Meetup), and Teen & Adult Meetups (Neurodivergent Bingo Night, Neurodivergent Mixer, Magic The Gathering, Connections).
- Family Support Program Support services for families navigating disability diagnoses, including Family Meetups, Dad's Group, Mom's Group, Sibling Support, New Family Groups, and access to the private Facebook community (5,100+ members) and monthly newsletter (1,400+ subscribers).
- Adult Support Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,237 families served annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Common Ground Society
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Common Ground Society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Common Ground Society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- UniteUscoreReferral platform partner used by Common Ground Society to connect families with professional referrals for medical, emotional, educational, and other specialized support services.
- The Flamingo Resort & SpasupportingVenue partner hosting the 5th Anniversary Be the One Gala on April 18, 2026. Provides accessible event space for the organization's signature fundraising event.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Common Ground Society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Arc: National disability advocacy organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through chapters, advocacy, and community programs. Comparable mission around family support and community-based inclusion, though structured around a national chapter model.
- Autism Society of America: National advocacy and support organization serving individuals with autism and their families through education, resources, and community programs. Comparable as a nonprofit combining peer support, community meetups, and education/outreach — similar model to CGS but diagnosis-specific rather than cross-disability.
- Inclusion International: Global federation advocating for the human rights and full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable focus on inclusion training, education, and community-based belonging, operating at much greater scale and from an advocacy-and-policy lens.
- Easterseals: Long-established national disability services nonprofit offering a broad portfolio including education, therapy, and family support. Comparable as a nonprofit serving families of individuals with disabilities across multiple categories, though operating at vastly greater geographic scale than Common Ground Society.
- National Down Syndrome Society: National advocacy organization for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, providing education, advocacy, and community programming. Comparable operating model combining advocacy, education/awareness, and community events, but diagnosis-specific compared to CGS's cross-disability approach.
Direct peers
- Parent to Parent USA: Network of state-based Parent to Parent programs providing emotional and informational support to families of children with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and rare diseases. Directly comparable peer-support and family-connection model targeting the same persona (parents/caregivers of children with disabilities).
- Best Buddies International: Nonprofit creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable as a peer-driven nonprofit combining community social programming and inclusion-focused ambassador/education campaigns targeting families, schools, and businesses.
- Family Voices: Family-led national nonprofit supporting children with special healthcare needs and disabilities through peer support, advocacy, and family-centered resources. Comparable mission around family-led support for cross-disability communities with a focus on resource navigation and peer connections.
Regional players
- Special Olympics Northern California: Regional arm of the Special Olympics movement providing year-round sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Northern California, including Sonoma-adjacent counties. Comparable as a regional Northern California disability inclusion nonprofit using community events, volunteers, and donor-supported programming.
- First Five Sonoma County (First 5): Sonoma County's First 5 commission funding programs for children ages 0-5 and their families. Already a Belonging Sponsor of CGS, and a direct regional peer serving overlapping early-childhood-and-disability family support needs in the same Sonoma County geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Common Ground Society social profiles
Digital presenceCommon Ground Society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Common Ground Society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Common Ground Society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Common Ground Society M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Common Ground Society
What does Common Ground Society do?
Common Ground Society provides community-based support programs, inclusive education presentations, and direct family services for individuals with disabilities and their families in Sonoma County and the North Bay. Core offerings include recurring meetup groups, the Belonging Pass membership program, All Inclusive Education trainings for schools and businesses, the Be The One ambassador initiative, Common Ground Care Kits, a Calming Tent rental service, and a UniteUs-powered referral program. The organization sustains these programs through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, membership fees, and annual fundraising events.
Is Common Ground Society a public or private company?
Common Ground Society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Common Ground Society founded?
Common Ground Society was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Common Ground Society based?
Common Ground Society is headquartered in Santa Rosa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Common Ground Society make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship and membership (Access Pass).
Who are Common Ground Society's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Arc, Autism Society of America, Inclusion International, Easterseals and National Down Syndrome Society. Direct peers are Parent to Parent USA, Best Buddies International and Family Voices. Regional players are Special Olympics Northern California and First Five Sonoma County (First 5).
Does Common Ground Society have an API?
No public API is recorded for Common Ground Society.
What industry is Common Ground Society in?
Common Ground Society's product category is Disability and Special Needs Community Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of EDAKABAK, Family-School Collaboration & Inclusion Planning Support. Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8300.