The Arc of Texas

What The Arc of Texas does

The Arc of Texas is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization headquartered in Austin, Texas, that promotes, protects, and advocates for the human rights and self-determination of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Founded in 1950 (some sources cite 1953), the organization operates a statewide portfolio centered on four policy pillars: quality of life and community supports, inclusive education, integrated employment, and civil rights and justice. Core service lines include direct legislative advocacy at the Texas Capitol (Meet The Arc Day, Have a Heart Day, Tour Across Texas), the Master Pooled Trust — a special needs trust pre-approved by the Social Security Administration and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services — and a comprehensive resource library covering Medicaid waivers, guardianship alternatives, supported decision-making, and future planning. The organization is the Texas state affiliate of The Arc of the United States and coordinates a network of local chapters (e.g., The Arc of DFW Area covering nine counties) that deliver regional services.

The Arc of Texas is funded primarily through individual donations, foundation grants, and government grants rather than fee-for-service pricing; programs are delivered at no cost to beneficiaries. The largest disclosed funding inflow is a federal Administration for Community Living award of $6,121,860 routed through the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, which underwrites the Whole Person Project, a five-year initiative on mental health services for adult Texans with IDD. The underlying technology platform is purely operational — AWeber for email/CRM, Harness for online donations, Zoom for webinars, Microsoft 365 and Box.com for office productivity and storage — with no proprietary AI, ML, or custom software systems. Distribution is hybrid: legislative engagement at the Texas Capitol for policymakers, a statewide local-chapter network for constituents, and a self-serve web presence for resource navigation and trust enrollment.

Strategically, the organization is deepening its litigation capacity in 2025, serving as co-counsel in federal challenges to Texas SB 1's voting restrictions and intervening in the Texas v. Kennedy multi-state lawsuit targeting Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It also leads a six-organization coalition advocating for a $1.7 billion increase in Texas special education funding. Headcount is approximately 20–22 staff at the Austin headquarters, supported by an active board and a leadership team with deep Capitol and federal policy credentials.

Name

The Arc of Texas

Legal name

The Arc of Texas

Website

https://thearcoftexas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arc of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization headquartered in Austin that promotes the human rights and self-determination of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through legislative advocacy, a federally-approved Master Pooled Trust, and a statewide network of local chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rights Advocacy Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

504 Plan Consulting & Disability Accommodations (School-Based) (EDAKACAG)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Special needs trust services
• IDD support services
• Policy advocacy nonprofit
• Developmental disability resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies primarily on donations from individuals, foundations, and supporters to fund advocacy activities, programs, and operations. The website prominently features donation capabilities through the Harness online donation platform.
2. Grants and Government Funding: Receives funding through grants such as from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (funded by U.S. Administration for Community Living) for specific initiatives like the Whole Person Project.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Arc of Texas is a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes, protects, and advocates for the human rights and self-determination of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Its core offerings include public policy and legislative advocacy (across quality of life, integrated employment, inclusive education, and civil rights pillars), the Master Pooled Trust (a special needs trust approved by SSA and Texas HHS that preserves benefits eligibility), and a comprehensive resource library covering Medicaid waivers, future planning, guardianship alternatives, and education.

Product overview

The Arc of Texas is a statewide advocacy organization offering a portfolio of services for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The core offerings include Policy & Advocacy (focusing on quality of life, inclusive education, integrated employment, and civil rights), the Master Pooled Trust (a special needs trust for managing funds while preserving benefits), a Resources library (covering Medicaid waivers, future planning, guardianship alternatives), and a network of Local Chapters. The organization also runs advocacy events including Meet The Arc Day, Have a Heart for The Arc Day, and Tour Across Texas, along with educational resources like the Whole Person Project on mental health and IDD, special needs trust video series, and an advocacy toolkit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy & Advocacy Public policy and advocacy services for Texans with IDD, organized around four pillars: quality of life (community supports and services), inclusive education, integrated employment, and civil rights and justice. Includes legislative testimony, policy priority development, and coalition advocacy at the Texas Capitol.
• Master Pooled Trust A special needs trust for Texans with disabilities that allows management of funds (no minimum or maximum contribution requirements) while preserving government benefits eligibility. Approved by the Social Security Administration and Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
• Resource Library Comprehensive resource library covering education, guardianship, employment, protecting finances and benefits, Medicaid waivers, future planning, and other IDD-related topics for individuals with IDD and their families/support networks.
• Local Chapters Network Network of local chapters throughout Texas providing supports, services, and programming to meet regional needs and help people with IDD live and engage in their communities.
• Whole Person Project Five-year initiative funded by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (through a grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living) to expand access to quality mental health services for adult Texans with IDD, including investigative reporting and policy recommendations.
• Meet The Arc Day

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 Texans with IDD benefit from advocacy efforts
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Texas Council of Administrators of Special EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Co-host of special education advocacy coalition. Partner in calling for $1.7 billion special education funding increase at Texas Legislature.
• The Autism Society of TexascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Coalition partner in special education funding advocacy efforts at the Texas Capitol.
• Coalition of Texans with DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Coalition partner in advocating for special education funding reform at the Texas Legislature.
• Texas Parent to ParentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Coalition partner advocating for increased special education funding alongside The Arc of Texas and other disability organizations.
• Texas Dyslexia CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Partner in the special education advocacy coalition pushing for bold investment in Texas special education.
• Texans for Special Education ReformcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Coalition partner in advocating for full funding of special education and closure of the $1.7 billion annual state funding shortfall.
• Texas AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for employment collaboration. The Employment Collaborator position is hosted by Texas Advocates, with The Arc of Texas collaborating on disability employment advocacy initiatives.
• The Arc of the United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization that The Arc of Texas works with on disability rights advocacy, litigation support, and policy initiatives. Collaborated on Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit and voting rights advocacy.
• Disability Rights Education & Defense FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in defending Section 504 protections. Co-hosted briefing on Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit with The Arc of Texas, American Association of People with Disabilities, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, National Council on Independent Living.
• Legal Defense FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel in litigation against Texas SB 1 voting restrictions that disproportionately harm voters with disabilities. Partnered with Arent Fox Schiff and Reed Smith law firms.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities: State agency and major federal grantmaker for The Arc of Texas (Whole Person Project funder); operates the state plan on developmental disabilities, overlapping in policy goals and target population while functioning as a funder/convener rather than direct service provider.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services and advocacy across medical, vocational, and community-living domains; comparable in mission, donor-supported nonprofit model, and chapter-based service delivery, though broader in scope and condition coverage.
• National Disability Rights Network: National membership organization for the P&A/CAP network; operates at a broader scale across all disability categories and shares the legal advocacy and federal litigation posture that The Arc of Texas increasingly deploys at the state level.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National disability services and advocacy organization serving people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities; comparable in mission, advocacy model, and affiliate-network structure that parallels The Arc's local chapter system.

Direct peers

• Disability Rights Texas: Texas's federally designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system for people with disabilities; directly comparable in mission (legal advocacy, systems change) and Texas geographic focus, with overlapping federal funding sources.
• The Arc of the United States: The national parent organization of The Arc of Texas, running the same IDD advocacy model across all U.S. states; explicitly partnered with The Arc of Texas on Texas v. Kennedy and Section 504 defense, making it the closest mission-aligned peer.
• Texas Parent to Parent: Texas parent-led disability advocacy and family support network; co-advocates with The Arc of Texas on special education funding and shares the family/caregiver customer segment targeted by Arc resources and training programs.
• Coalition of Texans with Disabilities: Texas-based cross-disability advocacy coalition that co-advocates with The Arc of Texas on special education funding and disability rights; directly comparable in advocacy scope, target population, and Capitol-focused GTM.
• The Autism Society of Texas: Texas state affiliate of the Autism Society of America, focused on a key subpopulation of the IDD community; active coalition partner with The Arc of Texas on the 2025 special education funding push and similar in chapter-based service delivery.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit focused on one-to-one friendship, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with IDD; comparable in target population and integrated employment pillar, but narrower in scope and primarily a programmatic operator rather than policy advocate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheArcofTexas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAWhRdmeUsoF1pqBM3RY8kA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheArcofTexas
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thearcoftexas
• Instagraminstagram.com/thearcoftexas

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Arc of Texas