The United Arc

What The United Arc does

The United Arc is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization founded in 1950 that provides support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across western and central Massachusetts. Its core programs span three divisions: Community Services (day programs, residential supports, family respite, DESE educational supports, individual community support, and SSQUAL programs for adults with developmental disabilities); Family and Youth Services (Safe and Stable parent education, Preparation Support for reunification, Supervised Family Time, Youth Enrichment, and Youth Transition programs for ages 9-22); and Self Advocacy Programs (Pioneer Club in Athol and Frontier Club in Turners Falls). Additional offerings include a Grandparents Group for kinship caregivers, a Resources portal, a monthly newsletter, and a branded merchandise storefront. The organization operates from six physical offices covering Turners Falls, Greenfield, West Springfield, Pittsfield, and Gardner, and reports serving 170+ cities and towns with 80+ employees impacting 2,000+ people annually.

The business model is overwhelmingly government-funded: the primary revenue stream comes from contracts with Massachusetts state agencies, including the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Department of Children & Families (DCF), Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Department of Mental Health (DMH), supplemented by grants from Lifepath, Inc. and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Secondary, smaller revenue streams include individual donations accepted via Zeffy, Venmo, and CashApp; tiered annual memberships priced at $25 (individual) and $40 (family); and branded merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats) sold through a Fourthwall e-commerce storefront. The go-to-market is community-led and referral-driven, with services accessed primarily through state agency referrals and reinforced by community events, social media presence, and 75 years of accumulated brand equity. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is in-person and human-staff-intensive.

Name

The United Arc

Legal name

The United Arc

Website

https://theunitedarc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The United Arc is a Massachusetts nonprofit, founded in 1950, that delivers community, family, youth, and self-advocacy services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 170+ cities and towns, funded primarily through state agency contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Individual and Family Services (6241), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Developmental disability programs
• Community inclusion services
• Nonprofit human services
• Disability advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Turners Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: Primary funding source through contracts with Massachusetts state agencies including the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Department of Children & Families (DCF), Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Department of Mental Health (DMH). Also receives grant funding from Lifepath, Inc. and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
2. Donations: Individual donations accepted through online platforms (Zeffy), Venmo, and CashApp. Donors can contribute any amount.
3. Memberships: Individual memberships priced at $25 annually; Family memberships at $40 annually. Members receive access to exclusive newsletter content and community benefits.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sells branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and hats through an online Fourthwall storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The United Arc is a nonprofit human services organization that provides direct support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across Massachusetts. Its core offerings include Community Services (day programs, residential supports, respite care, DESE educational supports, individual community support, and SSQUAL programs), Family and Youth Services (Safe and Stable, Preparation Support, Supervised Family Time, Youth Enrichment, and Youth Transition), Self Advocacy programs (Pioneer Club and Frontier Club), and a Grandparents Group for kinship caregivers. Services are delivered through six physical office locations and community-based programming funded primarily by Massachusetts state agency contracts.

Product overview

The United Arc offers a comprehensive suite of human services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The organization operates three primary service divisions: Community Services (Agency with Choice day and residential programs, DESE supports, Individual Community Support, and SSQUAL Programs), Family and Youth Services (Safe and Stable, Preparation Support, Supervised Family Time, Youth Enrichment, and Youth Transition programs), and Self Advocacy Programs (Pioneer Club and Frontier Club). Additional services include the Grandparents Group for kinship caregivers, a Resources portal with 13 categories of information, a monthly Newsletter, merchandise through The Archive store, and Membership/Donation programs. The organization is structured as a nonprofit service provider rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ people impacted annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United WaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way partnership displayed as partner logo on website. United Way typically provides funding, volunteer support, and community credibility to nonprofit organizations.
• Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising their GrandchildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency affiliation providing mission alignment and support for The United Arc's Grandparents Group program. The commission's mission is to support grandparents in Massachusetts caring for grandchildren.
• Flutie FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsorship for the Flutie Foundation 5K, an annual fundraising event that The United Arc participates in to raise awareness and funds.
• Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource partner listed on The United Arc's Resources page; provides advocacy resources for individuals and families affected by autism.
• LifePathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing resources and services in the disability and elder services space, referenced in community support resources.
• Supervised Visitation NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides training and best practices for The United Arc's Supervised Family Time program, ensuring quality standards in visitation services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of Massachusetts: Statewide Arc affiliate providing advocacy, family support, and case management to individuals with IDD across Massachusetts. Directly comparable as the state-level chapter in the same Arc national network with overlapping DDS-funded programming.
• Riverside Industries: Western Massachusetts nonprofit offering day services, employment programs, and community supports for individuals with disabilities. Directly competes for DDS referrals in overlapping Franklin/Hampshire/Hampden geography.
• Lifepath, Inc. Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point serving elders and individuals with disabilities in Franklin County and North Quabbin. Active United Arc grant funder; provides overlapping independent living, family caregiver, and case management services.
• May Institute: Massachusetts-headquartered nonprofit providing day, residential, and clinical services for individuals with autism and IDD across multiple states. Comparable service mix (community living, day programs, family services) and contract-funded operating model.
• ServiceNet: Western Massachusetts human services nonprofit providing residential, behavioral health, and disability support across multiple counties. Overlapping geography and payer mix (DMH, DDS contracts) makes it a direct competitor for staff and contracts.
• HMEA (Human Resources Management & Education Associates): Massachusetts nonprofit delivering day services, employment supports, and residential programs for individuals with IDD and autism. Competes for the same DDS contracts across central and western Massachusetts.

Broad incumbents

• Vinfen: Massachusetts and greater New England behavioral health and IDD services provider with day programs, residential supports, and case management. Comparable contract-funded service model at greater geographic scale.
• The Arc of the United States: National umbrella organization for the Arc network, providing advocacy, policy, and chapter support. Comparable as the parent brand and convening body for state/local chapters including The United Arc.
• Seven Hills Foundation: Large Massachusetts-based human services organization delivering disability, behavioral health, and child/family services statewide. Comparable payer mix and service portfolio, but significantly larger scale across multiple states.

Emerging players

• Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM): Massachusetts autism advocacy nonprofit listed as a resource partner on The United Arc's website. Operates in an adjacent subset of the IDD population with overlapping advocacy and family-support service lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheUnitedArc
• Instagraminstagram.com/the.united.arc
• TikToktiktok.com/@wix
• Xx.com/theunitedarc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 The United Arc