Life Steps Foundation

What Life Steps Foundation does

Life Steps Foundation is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 (per the company's own history page) and headquartered in Los Angeles. The organization provides a portfolio of disability and aging services across the lifespan — from early intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, through supported and independent living services for adults with developmental disabilities, to companion care and homemaker programs for low-income seniors aging in place. Its three core service programs are Children & Family Services, Adult Services, and Senior Services, delivered through a mix of center-based preschools, adult day programs, in-home caregiving, and the Grow With Me virtual parent-child series. Services are accessed primarily through referrals from nine California Regional Centers and are supported operationally by partnerships with First 5 California, Head Start, and Help Me Grow San Mateo County.

The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-led by trained staff and Infant Development Specialists across roughly a dozen physical locations spanning Northern, Central Coast, and Southern California. It maintains a content library of free parent coaching videos, weekly blogs, and quarterly newsletters, with no disclosed apps, APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities.

Life Steps Foundation is funded through a nonprofit revenue model combining individual donations (one-time and recurring), annual fundraising events (Fun Run for Inclusion 5K, Every Day is Earth Day 5K, Lobster Feed), and contracted service relationships with California's regional center network. No pricing for direct services is publicly disclosed, consistent with a donation-and-government-contract reimbursement model. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by CEO Susan Chang, and operates 251-500 employees serving more than 400 children monthly statewide.

Name

Life Steps Foundation

Legal name

Life Steps Foundation

Website

https://lifestepsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Life Steps Foundation is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing lifespan disability services — early intervention for children with developmental delays, supported/independent living for adults with developmental disabilities, and in-home companion care for low-income seniors — delivered across Northern, Central, and Southern California through referrals from 9 state regional centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child Care Services (624410), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

Keywords

• Disability services
• Early intervention programs
• Supported living services
• Senior companion care
• Inclusive preschool

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization raises funds through individual donations, online giving, and paper donation forms. Donors can make one-time or recurring contributions.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Fun Run for Inclusion 5K, Every Day is Earth Day 5K, and Lobster Feed generate revenue through event registrations, sponsorships, and ticket sales.
3. Volunteer Contributions: The organization leverages volunteer support to deliver programs and services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Life Steps Foundation delivers in-home and center-based caregiving and skill training programs for individuals with mental, developmental, or physical disabilities across California. Its three core service lines—Children & Family Services (infants to age 5 with developmental delays), Adult Services (Supported and Independent Living Services), and Senior Services (companion care and homemaker support)—are accessed primarily through referrals from California's nine regional centers and delivered through five program locations spanning Northern, Central, and Southern California.

Product overview

Life Steps Foundation is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of disability services across California. The organization operates three core service programs: Children & Family Services (focused on infants/toddlers with developmental delays through inclusive preschool, early intervention, and parenting support), Adult Services (Support Living Services and Independent Living Services for individuals with developmental disabilities), and Senior Services (Insight Companion Care and Senior Homemaker Program for aging at home). The organization also hosts fundraising events including the Fun Run for Inclusion 5K, Every Day is Earth Day 5K, and annual Lobster Feed. All services are designed to help people with mental, developmental, or physical disabilities achieve greater independence throughout their lifespan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children & Family Services A core service program maximizing development of infants and toddlers from birth to four years with developmental delays and supporting parents in strengthening parent/child relationships. Includes inclusive preschool/childcare, early intervention, and the Family Matters Program. More than 400 children are served statewide each month.
• Inclusive Structured Peer Learning Group Preschool / Childcare Program Center-based preschool and childcare program providing natural learning environments to accelerate social, emotional, and learning abilities for children with developmental delays alongside typically developing peers. Offered in Southern and Northern California including We Play We Learn in Pacifica, CA.
• Early Intervention One-on-one in-home training delivered by trained staff to promote child development of language, motor, cognitive, social-emotional, and self-help skills for infants and toddlers with developmental delays.
• Family Matters Program Comprehensive parenting program offering guidance, support, and local resources to parents with developmental disabilities to help them foster their child's developmental potential.
• Grow With Me Parent-Child Groups A free six-week program series focused on key topics of toddler development, providing education in child development and family support for families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Offered in partnership with Help Me Grow San Mateo County, including sessions for infants 12-18 months covering social-emotional development, communication, gross and fine motor skills, play, and self-help routines.
• Adult Services Programs that empower individuals with developmental disabilities to make informed choices about life management and participate in self-advocacy. Includes Supported Living Services and Independent Living Services. Delivered from centers in Long Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Burlingame.
• Supported Living Services (SLS) Helps individuals with developmental disabilities make informed choices about life management, including housing, lifestyle, roommates, leisure activities, and self-advocacy. Participants live in their own apartments.
• Independent Living Services (ILS) Provides education and training to people with physical, emotional, and developmental challenges as an alternative to institutional life. Participants work with Life Steps instructors to develop everyday skills.
• Senior Services Long-term aging services that allow low-income participants to age at home in their communities. Includes Insight Companion Care and the Senior Homemaker Program. Served across the Central Coast (Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande) area.
• Insight Companion Care Companion care services for seniors to help them age at home in their communities.
• Senior Homemaker Program Homemaker services program for low-income seniors to support aging at home in their communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 400 children served monthly across California
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Help Me Grow San Mateo CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLife Steps Foundation partners with Help Me Grow San Mateo County to provide the Grow With Me parent-child group program. This partnership provides free parent education groups covering child development topics including social-emotional development, communication, gross motor skills, fine motor development, play skills, and self-help routines.
• First 5 CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with First 5 California to extend children and family services for children up to age 5 through coaching programs.
• Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Head Start coaching programs to provide extended services for children up to age 5.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Cerebral Palsy: National disability services and advocacy organization with affiliates across the U.S., including California. Provides comparable lifespan services for people with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities, with a broader national scope than Life Steps.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit network providing disability and senior services across the U.S., including California affiliates. Operates a broader portfolio and geographic coverage than Life Steps and is a major umbrella competitor for talent, donors, and federal/state contracts.

Direct peers

• Partners in Care Foundation: California-based nonprofit providing care management, homemaker, and aging-in-place services for seniors and persons with disabilities. Comparable in California senior services delivery, in-home care model, and Medi-Cal/regional center funding relationships.
• AbilityPath: Bay Area nonprofit providing early intervention, inclusive childcare, adult day programs, and supported employment for individuals with developmental disabilities. Directly mirrors Life Steps' Children & Family Services and Adult Services programs on the Northern California side.
• Tierra del Sol Foundation: Southern California nonprofit supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through adult day, residential, and employment programs. Comparable program model and California regional footprint to Life Steps' Adult Services.
• AbilityFirst: Pasadena-based nonprofit operating inclusive preschools, adult day programs, and supported living services for children and adults with disabilities across Southern California. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and program mix to Life Steps Foundation.
• The Arc of California: Statewide advocacy and service provider for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering supported living, independent living, and family support. Comparable in mission, California focus, and IDD population served.
• Institute on Aging: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing in-home care, companion care, and aging-in-place services for older adults in California. Directly comparable to Life Steps' Senior Services segment (Insight Companion Care and Senior Homemaker Program).
• Exceptional Children's Foundation: Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing early intervention, inclusive early childhood programs, adult day services, and work activity programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Closely mirrors Life Steps' lifespan disability services model and Southern California footprint.
• Easterseals Southern California: Major California disability services nonprofit providing early intervention, adult day services, supported living, and senior programs. Operates at significantly greater scale than Life Steps but overlaps in program categories, regional center funding model, and California concentration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LSFNDN
• Facebookfacebook.com/lifestepsfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifestepsfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifestepsfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Life Steps Foundation