Community Life Services

What Community Life Services does

Community Life Services is a Santa Cruz County, California nonprofit organization founded in 2012 that delivers person-centered services to people with disabilities across Santa Cruz County, including employment support, independent living training, customized and tailored instruction, paid internships, recreation and social competency training, and Self Determination Program services. The organization operates from two physical locations — 740 Front Street Suite 135 in North County (Santa Cruz) and 449 Union Street in South County (Watsonville) — and staffs a team of 11–50 Specialists, Program Supervisors, coordinators, and administrative personnel led by Founding Executive Director Tracey Marquart (MBA, CNAP, CESP). Service delivery is conducted in-person by credentialed staff (CESP, BCBA, ACRE, CNAP designations) in clients' communities, schools, workplaces, and homes; there is no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, or AI system powering the service.

The business model rests almost entirely on California Department of Developmental Services HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) Medicaid-funded programs, with service rates set by the State of California rather than the organization. Funding flows through Self Determination Program categories (Employment Supports, Prevocational Supports, Community Integration, Community Living) and Department of Developmental Services-paid internships. The organization supplements this primary revenue stream with charitable donations, including a Compassion Fund providing up to $200 per client request for needs outside the regular service scope. The distribution model is direct-to-individual, with referrals and coordination anchored by the San Andreas Regional Center and the California Department of Rehabilitation.

Customer relationships are divided between government payers (CA DDS, DOR, San Andreas Regional Center), corporate partners (Whole Foods, Woodstock Pizza, The Bike Dojo) that hire program participants, educational partners (UC Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College), and a large base of individual clients and families receiving direct support. Go-to-market is community-led: outreach via the company website (communitylifeservices.org), Instagram and Facebook, email newsletter, partnerships, and regional-center referrals. The organization explicitly cites stagnant state service rates that do not adjust for inflation as a structural constraint on revenue growth, suggesting limited commercial leverage in the current funding model.

Name

Community Life Services

Legal name

Community Life Services

Website

https://communitylifeservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Life Services is a Santa Cruz County, California nonprofit founded in 2012 that delivers person-centered employment, independent living, and Self Determination services to people with disabilities, funded by California HCBS Medicaid rates and charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Community Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGACAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAEAJ

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Employment support services
• Independent living services
• HCBS waiver services
• Community inclusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. HCBS Medicaid-funded Services: Services are funded through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), part of Medicaid - a federal program that funds services and supports for people with disabilities. The Department of Developmental Services provides funding for services including Employment Supports, Prevocational Supports, Community Integration, and Community Living through Self Determination Program (SDP). State of California sets rates for all services provided.
2. Compassion Fund Donations: The Compassion Fund provides direct financial assistance to clients facing significant needs outside the scope of regular services. Funded through community donations via PayPal or check, with a $200 purchase limit per request. The Resource Committee reviews requests and makes recommendations to Management for disbursement.
3. General Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations to support operations and mission. Donations help offset challenges from stagnant state rates that don't account for inflation or cost of living increases.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Community Life Services delivers person-centered disability support services across Santa Cruz County, including Employment Services, Independent Living Services, Customized & Tailored Services, Paid Internships, Self Determination programming, Recreation and Social Competency Training, and HCBS-funded supports. Services are funded through California Department of Developmental Services Medicaid (HCBS) rates and delivered face-to-face by trained Specialists under a community-led model.

Product overview

Community Life Services offers a portfolio of coordinated services for people with disabilities in Santa Cruz County. The core offerings include Employment Services, Independent Living Services, Customized & Tailored Services, Paid Internship, Self Determination, and Recreation and Social Competency Training. These services are delivered through the HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) framework and supported by the Compassion Fund for emergency financial assistance. All services are tailored to individual needs, goals, and dreams, with specialists providing personalized training and instruction across employment, community living, education, and social integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employment Services

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• San Andreas Regional Center (SARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Andreas Regional Center is a community-based, private nonprofit corporation funded by the State of California to serve people with developmental disabilities. Community Life Services coordinates with SARC to provide services and supports for individuals in Santa Cruz County.
• California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOR is an employment and independent living resource for people with disabilities. The organization works with service providers to support employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
• State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCDD is established to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need. They partner with community organizations to advance this mission.
• METRO ParaCruzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides people with disabilities a level of access to mass public transportation in Santa Cruz County.
• Disability Rights CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy organization providing rights advocacy services for individuals with disabilities, including those receiving HCBS services.
• Shared AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides recreational services to people with disabilities in the Santa Cruz area.
• Hope ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope's mission is to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs.
• Community Bridges Family Resource CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support for families after disasters, including insurance claim assistance, documentation support, and local resource navigation. Community Life Services refers clients to this resource.
• UC Santa CruzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic university in Santa Cruz. Community Life Services works with learning institutions to support educational goals of individuals with disabilities.
• Cabrillo CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic community college offering associate degrees and certificates. Partner for continuing education support for individuals with disabilities.
• The Bike DojominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Santa Cruz business that has hired individuals with disabilities through Community Life Services employment support.
• Woodstock PizzaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal employer in Santa Cruz that participates in hiring people with disabilities through Community Life Services.
• Whole Foods MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational retailer with Santa Cruz location that has employed individuals with disabilities through Community Life Services.
• Lift LineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides 60,000 door-to-door rides a year to seniors and people with disabilities in the Central Coast area, supporting transportation independence.
• Family Resource Collective (Community Bridges)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter disasters, Community Bridges staff can help file insurance claims and coordinate documentation for affected individuals.
• Special OlympicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal movement creating inclusion and community for people with disabilities. Local chapter provides recreational opportunities.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AbilityPath: AbilityPath is a Bay Area nonprofit providing disability services including employment support, independent living, and community inclusion for children and adults with disabilities. Direct peer - comparable person-centered service portfolio under California's HCBS framework with overlap in Northern California.
• Mains'l Services: Mains'l Services provides personalized support for people with developmental disabilities across California including employment, community living, and self-determination services. Direct peer - HCBS-funded, person-centered service delivery model with comparable SDP enrollment support.
• Hope Services: Hope Services is a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit serving people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs across Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties. Direct peer - same HCBS-funded service model (employment, independent living, community integration) and overlapping geographic footprint, including Santa Cruz.
• LifeBridge California (formerly LifeBridge Capital): LifeBridge California is a nonprofit supporting people with developmental disabilities through self-determination program services, community living, and employment support. Direct peer - operates a similar SDP-focused model in California with comparable regulatory positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Sevita Health operates one of the largest U.S. networks of home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Broad incumbent - California MENTOR division directly competes for HCBS service contracts and SDP enrollees.
• The Arc of California: The Arc of California is the statewide chapter of The Arc, advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Broad incumbent - operates at significantly larger scale across California with advocacy, employment, and community living programs overlapping CLS's service lines.
• Easterseals Bay Area: Easterseals Bay Area provides disability services across Northern California including employment support, behavioral services, and community living. Broad incumbent - similar service categories with much larger geographic reach, headcount, and fundraising infrastructure.

Regional players

• Goodwill Industries of the Monterey Peninsula: Goodwill Monterey operates employment and training programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Regional player - directly comparable employment services model with adjacent geographic reach (Monterey, immediately south of CLS's Watsonville coverage).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/squarespace
• Instagraminstagram.com/squarespace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-life-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Community Life Services