What Clark Retirement Community does

Clark Retirement Community is a nonprofit Life Plan Community (Continuing Care Retirement Community) operating two campuses in Grand Rapids, Michigan — Clark at Franklin and Clark at Keller Lake — serving nearly 500 residents with a workforce of over 400 employees. Founded in 1906 through a donation by Melvin and Emily Clark to house retired Methodist ministers, the organization provides a full continuum of care including Independent Living (apartments, townhomes, and homes), Assisted Living, Memory Care (via The Journey program), Skilled Nursing, and Respite Care. Clark was the first Life Plan Community in the U.S. to implement the Montessori for Aging and Dementia program (launched 2018 at Franklin and later expanded to Keller Lake), and the organization operates The Clark Promise — a benevolent care commitment ensuring residents retain their home even if personal finances are depleted, underwritten by The Clark Foundation (established 1995).

The business model is built on two payment structures: a Continuing Care entrance fee (one-time payment securing lifetime residency and priority access to the full care continuum) paired with monthly service fees, or a monthly-fee-only model available for Assisted Living, Memory Care, Respite Care, and select Independent Living units such as Clark Manor Apartments. Clark is a subsidiary of BHI Senior Living, a faith-based nonprofit parent organization headquartered in Indianapolis that operates communities across Indiana and Michigan. Revenue is generated through resident fees (entrance fees amortized over resident lifespans plus recurring monthly fees), with fundraising through The Clark Foundation, the Leading Ladies philanthropy group, and community events supporting benevolent care.

Operations rely on an integrated partnership ecosystem rather than vertically integrated service delivery: Curana Health provides on-site primary care, Tandem365 handles care coordination, HTS Therapy delivers rehabilitation services, Emmanuel Hospice provides end-of-life care, Morrison Living manages culinary operations, and The Smarter Service offers resident technology concierge support. Marketing is sales-led and event-driven, combining Senior Living Advisors handling phone and email inquiries, scheduled in-person and virtual tours, educational content (blog, downloadable guides, dementia education videos), and a multi-channel presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. The organization does not disclose pricing publicly, requires prospective residents to request Financial Options and Pricing Guides, and targets seniors 62+ and their adult children through content marketing emphasizing the Life Plan Community value proposition and continuum-of-care benefits.

Name

Clark Retirement Community

Legal name

Clark Retirement Community

Website

https://clarkretirement.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Clark Retirement Community is a nonprofit Life Plan Community operating two Grand Rapids, Michigan campuses (Franklin and Keller Lake), serving nearly 500 residents through a full continuum of care — independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and respite care — under parent organization BHI Senior Living.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuing Care Retirement Community (Life Plan Community)

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Plan / Entrance-Fee CCRCs (HLADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury/Resort-Style Independent Living Communities (HLADAAAC), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) with Memory Care (HLADACAD)

Keywords

• Senior living services
• Continuing care retirement
• Assisted living care
• Memory care programs
• Skilled nursing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Entrance Fee (Continuing Care): One-time entrance fee payment that secures residency and future care within the Life Plan Community. Provides lifetime protection at predictable cost with priority access to full continuum of care and eligibility for the Clark Promise. Only available for residents moving directly into most Independent Living residences.
2. Monthly Service Fees: Ongoing monthly fees cover housing, amenities, utilities, property maintenance, lifestyle amenities, and dining options. Available for Assisted Living, Memory Care, Respite Care, and select Independent Living residences like Clark Manor Apartments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clark Retirement Community is a nonprofit Life Plan Community operating two Grand Rapids, Michigan campuses (Clark at Franklin and Clark at Keller Lake) that provide a full continuum of senior living services including Independent Living (apartments, townhomes, and homes), Assisted Living, Memory Care (The Journey program using Montessori for Aging and Dementia), Skilled Nursing, Respite Care, and Hospice Care. Residents choose between a Continuing Care entrance-fee contract or a monthly-fee arrangement, with The Clark Promise guaranteeing lifetime residency even if a resident's finances are exhausted.

Product overview

Clark Retirement Community is a Life Plan Community (Continuing Care Retirement Community) offering a comprehensive continuum of care across two campuses in Grand Rapids, Michigan: Clark at Franklin and Clark at Keller Lake. The community provides multiple living options including Independent Living (luxury apartments, townhomes, and homes), Assisted Living, Memory Care (The Journey program), Skilled Nursing, and Respite Care. Residents can choose between an Entrance Fee (Continuing Care) contract or Monthly Fee payment options. The organization is part of BHI Senior Living and supports residents through The Clark Promise of benevolent care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Journey: Clark's Memory Care program dedicated to providing compassionate and specialized dementia care for individuals living with memory loss.
• Leading Ladies
• The Clark Foundation

Products and services

• Clark at Franklin A senior living community located near East Grand Rapids and the Eastown neighborhood, offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, and Respite Care with amenities including daily chef-prepared meals, indoor pool, wellness center, hair salon, restaurant, bistro, art gallery, computer center, minimart, and gameroom.
• Clark at Keller Lake A lakeside senior living community near Cascade and Ada offering Independent Living (luxury apartments and towne homes), Assisted Living, and Memory Care with lakefront walking paths, wellness and fitness center, bistro, restaurant, and piazza entertainment.
• Independent Living Maintenance-free living for active seniors offering private apartments, townhomes, and cottages with access to dining plans, housekeeping, laundry, and personal care add-on services across both campuses.
• Assisted Living Personalized support with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management while encouraging independence and community engagement, with personal care, health and wellness, dining, life enrichment, and safety and security services.
• Memory Care (The Journey) Specialized dementia care program offering secure environments with structured routines, Montessori for Aging and Dementia, Music Therapy, and Equine Therapy, available at both Franklin and Keller Lake communities for individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
• Skilled Nursing 24/7 medical support and rehabilitation services at the Franklin campus, including restorative therapy (physical, occupational, speech), individualized activity plans, complete dining services, and Medicare/Medicaid certified care.
• Respite Care Short-term stays for seniors needing temporary assisted living or memory care support, including furnished studio apartments, personalized care plans, community amenities access, chef-prepared meals, and on-site medical and spiritual services.
• Hospice Care End-of-life care provided in partnership with Emmanuel Hospice, focused on helping residents experience meaningful moments with more connection, comfort, expression, and joy.
• The Clark Promise Guarantee that residents will always have a home in the community even if financial resources are depleted through longevity or illness, funded through the Benevolent Care Endowment Fund at The Clark Foundation. Available only to residents entering Independent Living under a Continuing Care contract.
• Entrance Fee (Continuing Care Contract) One-time payment securing residency and future care within the Life Plan Community. Provides guaranteed residence, access to the full continuum of care, priority access to assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing, and eligibility for The Clark Promise. Available for residents moving directly into most Independent Living residences.
• Monthly Fee Option A simple monthly payment covering utilities, property maintenance, lifestyle amenities, and dining options. Available for Assisted Living, Memory Care, Respite Care, and select Independent Living residences such as Clark Manor Apartments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residents can remain in the same community as their care needs evolve, eliminating relocation stress and maintaining continuity of care
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Tandem365coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark partners with Tandem365 to provide holistic care coordination that bridges the gap between healthcare providers and daily life. The service helps residents manage complex medical needs while supporting independence, with a team of nurses, social workers, and care navigators offering personalized, in-home support and peace of mind for families.
• HTS TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTS Therapy provides comprehensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy services supporting residents in achieving their highest level of independence. Focus on evidence-based care and personalized treatment plans works closely with Clark's clinical team for recovery from illness or injury and chronic condition management.
• Curana HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurana Health delivers high-quality, on-site primary care and medical services tailored to older adults. As a national leader in senior-focused healthcare working with more than 1,000 senior living communities, their team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, and care specialists who work directly in communities.
• The Smarter ServicesupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology concierge partner providing personalized, one-on-one support for residents navigating smartphones, tablets, email, video calls, online safety, and smart home technology. Helps residents stay connected, confident, and independent while reducing technology-related stress.
• Morrison LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDining partner bringing culinary excellence to each campus with fresh, creative meals, local flavors, and experiences like community cookbooks, chef demonstrations, and sustainable dining initiatives. A leader in hospitality and culinary innovation for senior living.
• Emmanuel HospicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark's trusted hospice partner providing personalized, compassionate end-of-life care focused on helping residents experience meaningful moments—more connection, comfort, expression, and joy. Emmanuel Hospice's 'More About Living' philosophy aligns with Clark's commitment to whole-person care.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Trinity Health Senior Communities: Trinity Health operates faith-based senior living and continuing care communities, including in Michigan. As a nonprofit, mission-driven peer, it is structurally comparable to Clark's BHI-affiliated model and overlaps on continuum-of-care offerings.
• Holland Home: Holland Home is the other major Grand Rapids-based nonprofit Life Plan Community with a full continuum of care (independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing). It is Clark's most direct local competitor for West Michigan seniors.
• Erickson Senior Living: Erickson operates large-scale, entrance-fee CCRCs across the U.S. It is one of the closest business model comparables to Clark's Life Plan Community structure, including continuum of care on a single campus.
• American House Senior Living: American House operates multiple senior living communities across Michigan, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It is a regional direct peer competing in Clark's home state with similar service offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Life Care Services: LCS is a major third-party manager and operator of CCRCs and senior living communities. Many faith-based and nonprofit CCRCs use LCS for management services, making it a structural comparable to Clark's BHI-affiliated operating model.
• Trilogy Health Services: Trilogy operates senior living campuses across the Midwest with a continuum-of-care model. Its geographic overlap with Michigan and multi-level service offering make it a relevant regional comparable.
• Five Star Senior Living: Five Star Senior Living operates independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities, including several in the Midwest. It is a broad incumbent in the same space as Clark.
• Brookdale Senior Living: Brookdale is the largest U.S. senior living operator with independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities nationwide. It competes with Clark for talent, residents, and best practices, though it does not typically offer the entrance-fee CCRC model.
• Atria Senior Living: Atria operates a large national portfolio of independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities. It is a broad incumbent competitor in the senior living space with overlapping resident demographics.
• Sunrise Senior Living: Sunrise is a national senior living provider with assisted living and memory care as core offerings. It competes for the same affluent 62+ demographic and is a credible benchmark for care quality and programming differentiation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clarkretirement
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ClarkRetirement
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClarkRetirementCommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clark-retirement-community
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarkretirementcommunity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Clark Retirement Community