Avondale House

What Avondale House does

Avondale House is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1976 by parents of children with autism. It provides a comprehensive suite of services for adults (18+) with moderate to severe autism in the greater Houston area, organized around three core programs: the Adult Day Program (with a General Track for social and daily living skills and a STEP track for vocational preparation including a 16-week unpaid internship), the Residential Program (four licensed group homes serving 18 residents with 24/7 support at a 1:3 staff-to-client ratio), and Employment Services (supported job placement contracted through the Texas Workforce Commission). Operations are anchored at a 33,000-square-foot facility on O'Meara Drive (opened January 2008), with five additional acres acquired in 2015 and four group homes in southwest Houston.

The organization's business model is a hybrid of government-funded service delivery and charitable fundraising. Revenue is generated through Texas Health and Human Services Commission waivers (HCS, TxHmL, CLASS) used by eligible individuals to offset program costs, Texas Workforce Commission contracts for employment services, private payment options for those without waiver funding, and a diversified fundraising apparatus including online donations, planned giving (Legacy Society), recurring monthly giving (Sustainer's Circle), an annual fund (The Avondale Fund), and signature events such as Bingo Bash, the Embracing Autism Evening gala, Run for a Reason (Chevron Houston Marathon charity team), and Bike to the Beach. Bingo Bash fundraising scaled from $128,000 in 2022 to over $200,000 in 2025, and the organization completed a $400,000 matching gift challenge that generated $1 million total.

Avondale House differentiates itself as the only nonprofit in greater Houston specifically serving individuals with moderate to severe autism, combining a 40+ year operating history (approaching its 50th anniversary in 2026) with vertically integrated programming across day, residential, and employment services. The organization employs 11-50 paid staff supplemented by 400+ volunteers contributing nearly 4,000 hours annually. Following Steve Vetrano's December 2025 departure after nine years as CEO, Kevin Kern, formerly COO and a 25+ year veteran of IDD nonprofit leadership, assumed the Interim CEO role effective December 1, 2025. The organization is United Way-affiliated (since 1990), holds Texas HHSC licensing for its residential program, and maintains strategic referral partnerships with the Texas Workforce Commission and The Arc of Greater Houston.

Name

Avondale House

Legal name

Avondale House

Website

https://avondalehouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Avondale House is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 providing specialized adult day, residential, and employment services for adults with moderate to severe autism in greater Houston, funded through Texas government waivers, donations, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism and Disability Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Skills, Play Skills & Group ABA Programs (EDAKAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

ABA Therapy Providers (Home-Based) (EDAKAHAB), Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI), Autism Behavioral Support (School-Based ABA/PBIS) (EDAKAKAE)

Keywords

• Autism services
• Adult day program
• Residential services
• Supported employment
• Disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding & Waivers: Individuals with waivers such as HCS, TxHmL, or CLASS use their government funding to offset program costs. Avondale House contracts with Texas Workforce Commission for employment services.
2. Donations & Fundraising: The nonprofit receives donations through online portals, mail, stock gifts, donor-advised funds, matching gifts, and planned giving (Legacy Society). Annual events like Bingo Bash and Run for a Reason generate significant fundraising revenue.
3. Private Pay: Accepts private payment options for individuals without existing government waiver funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Avondale House provides year-round educational, residential, and employment services for adults (18+) with moderate to severe autism in the Houston area. Core offerings include an Adult Day Program (General Track and STEP employment-preparation track), a Residential Program operating four group homes serving 18 residents with 24/7 support, and Employment Services delivered under contract with the Texas Workforce Commission. Programs are funded through government waivers, private pay, donations, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Avondale House is a nonprofit service organization (not a software/technology product company) offering a portfolio of autism services for individuals with moderate to severe autism in the Houston area. The organization operates three core service programs: the Adult Day Program (with General Track and STEP employment preparation tracks), Residential Program (4 group homes, 18 residents), and Employment Services (supported employment with Texas Workforce Commission). Supporting functions include donation/volunteer platforms, Legacy Society planned giving, Sustainer's Circle recurring giving, The Avondale Fund annual fund, and annual fundraising events (Embracing Autism Evening, Bingo Bash, Run for a Reason marathon, Bike to the Beach).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Avondale Fund: The organization's official annual fund designed to sustain and strengthen its mission to provide individuals with autism the resources, education, and support they need.
• Sustainer's Circle
• Legacy Society
• STEP (Social Training & Employment Preparation)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million raised through matching gift challenge
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• The Center for PursuitminorOthers · 1 February 2025Kevin Kern served as Chief Operating Officer at The Center for Pursuit before joining Avondale House in February 2025.
• Texas Workforce CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvondale House contracts with Texas Workforce Commission to provide job placement to individuals on the autism spectrum who need assistance finding competitive employment. Program participants learn specific skills to help them find and maintain jobs through supported employment services.
• The Arc of Greater HoustonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvondale House works with The Arc of Greater Houston and other Houston community organizations to provide job placement and supported employment services to individuals on the autism spectrum.
• Bloom FitnessminorOthersKevin Kern serves on the Board of Directors for Bloom Fitness as part of his professional involvement.
• Private Providers Association of Texas (PPAT)minorOthersKevin Kern maintains active involvement with PPAT and serves on the Texas Chapter board.
• The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDDminorOthersKevin Kern maintains involvement with the Planning & Advisory Council for The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD.
• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)minorOthersKevin Kern is a dedicated member of AAIDD and previously served on the Texas Chapter.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AHRC New York City: Large New York-based nonprofit providing day, residential, employment, and clinical services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism. Comprehensive service model closely paralleling Avondale House's day/residential/employment suite.
• Eden Autism Services: New Jersey-based nonprofit providing lifespan services for individuals with autism, including day, residential, and employment programs. Operates a near-identical service model (school-to-adult continuum) to Avondale House at similar scale, making it a strong direct peer.
• Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC): New York City-based nonprofit providing residential, day habilitation, and employment services specifically for children and adults with autism. Closely aligned service portfolio, autism-only population focus, and comparable scale to Avondale House.
• Melwood: Maryland/Virginia-based nonprofit providing employment, day programs, and residential services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Similar integrated service model and contract-based employment programs.
• The Arc of Greater Houston: Houston-area chapter of The Arc network providing advocacy, employment, and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Active referral partner of Avondale House, serving overlapping IDD populations in the same geography.
• ServiceSource: Nonprofit providing employment, day, and community living services for people with disabilities including autism, across multiple states. Comparable employment services contract model and IDD population focus.
• May Institute: Massachusetts-headquartered nonprofit providing educational, residential, and vocational services for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities across multiple states. Closely comparable comprehensive service model and autism-specific focus.
• The Center for Pursuit: Houston-based nonprofit providing residential, day, and employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism. Most directly comparable peer given identical Houston geography, overlapping IDD/autism population, and the fact that incoming Avondale CEO Kevin Kern was previously COO there.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit network providing disability and autism services across the U.S., including day programs, residential support, and employment services. Operates at much larger scale and broader disability focus, but overlaps with Avondale House's service categories and population.
• The Arc of the United States: National umbrella organization for the Arc network, advocating for and providing services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism. National parent of local chapters like Avondale's referral partner Arc of Greater Houston.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/avondalehousehouston
• Facebookfacebook.com/AvondaleHouseHouston
• Instagraminstagram.com/avondalehouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avondale-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Avondale House