On With Life

What On With Life does

On With Life is a 501(c)(3) non-profit neuro rehabilitation organization headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, founded in 1991 by families of brain injury survivors who recognized a gap in post-acute care. The organization provides specialized rehabilitation services for individuals with traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, concussion, and complex neurological conditions across a full continuum of care — including post-acute inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, long-term skilled care, residential programs, day services, neuropsychological services, independent living, and family housing. It holds CARF accreditation as a Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP) in brain injury and stroke for adults and children, making it one of only two such programs worldwide.

The organization operates four Iowa locations (Ankeny main campus and New Horizons Center, Polk City, and Coralville) supported by specialized clinical equipment including the Vector Elite Gait Track, Biodex Balance System, Dynavision, aquatic therapy pool, FES Bike, and vestibular assessment goggles, alongside evidence-based therapeutic interventions such as LSVT BIG/LOUD for Parkinson's and the SPEAK OUT! speech program. Its clinical staff includes 76 Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS), and outcomes data shows a 53% average Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score improvement from inpatient admission to discharge, with 81% of outpatient long-term goals met. CEO Jean Shelton leads the organization, supported by a recently appointed Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Eric Dreibelbeis.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: healthcare services billing through insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid across the clinical programs; donations and planned giving channeled through the On With Life Foundation (a separate 501(c)(3) established in 1993); and annual fundraising events including Celebrate Life, Celebrate Hope, and the New Horizons Golf Outing. The organization has secured major philanthropic support from the Meinders Foundation ($1M+ lead gifts to the Giant Strides Capital Campaign), Polk County ($225K+ over five years), Sammons Financial Group, and the Order of the Eastern Star, alongside strategic partnerships with Hubbell Realty, Confluence Brewing, Kreg Tool, and John Deere Harvester Works that support facility development and specialized therapy programs.

Name

On With Life

Legal name

On With Life, Inc.

Website

https://onwithlife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

On With Life is a non-profit neuro rehabilitation organization serving individuals with brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's, and other neurological conditions across a full continuum of care — inpatient, outpatient, long-term skilled, residential, and independent living — through four Iowa campuses and one of only two CARF CIIRP-accredited programs worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuro Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)

SIC

Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurorehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurologic Rehabilitation Centers (Stroke/TBI/SCI/MS/Parkinson’s) (HLADAJAH), Stroke/Neuro-Rehabilitation SNFs (HLADADAG), Adult Day Rehabilitation & Therapy Programs (PT/OT/SLP) (HLADAIAD)

Keywords

• Neuro rehabilitation services
• Brain injury rehabilitation
• Stroke recovery programs
• Parkinson's therapy services
• Post-acute inpatient care

Headquarters

HQ city

Ankeny

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Services Revenue: On With Life generates revenue through providing neuro rehabilitation healthcare services across multiple programs including post-acute inpatient, outpatient, long-term skilled care, residential, and neuropsychological services. Services are billed through healthcare payment systems including insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and potentially out-of-pocket payments from patients and families.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: The On With Life Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 1993, receives donations through various programs including the Empower Hope Fund, Circle of Life Society ($1,000+ donors), Legacy Society (planned giving), stock gifts, and matching gifts from corporations. Donations support specialized equipment, program needs, and family support services.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events including Celebrate Life (largest fundraiser in September), Celebrate Hope (Eastern Iowa), and New Horizons Golf Outing. These events generate revenue through ticket sales, raffles, live auctions, and donations to support programming and equipment purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

On With Life provides post-acute neuro rehabilitation services for individuals with acquired brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease, concussion, spinal cord injury, and complex neurological conditions. The organization operates a comprehensive continuum of care across inpatient post-acute rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, long-term skilled care, residential rehabilitation, day services, neuropsychological services, and independent living programs across multiple Iowa campuses.

Product overview

On With Life is a neuro rehabilitation services organization offering a comprehensive continuum of care with multiple programs across Iowa. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model centered around its post-acute inpatient rehabilitation as the core offering, supplemented by outpatient services, long-term skilled care, residential programs, and community-based services. Key programs include Inpatient Post-Acute Neuro Rehabilitation, Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation, Long-Term Skilled Care, Residential Neuro Rehabilitation, Day Services, Neuropsychological Services, Independent Living (The Apartments of Owl Creek), and the Outpatient Medical Clinic. Specialized offerings include Driver Rehabilitation, comprehensive Parkinson's Programs (LSVT BIG, SPEAK OUT!, PD Singers), and various support groups. The organization also provides family housing, educational programs through On With Life Academy, and clinical training opportunities for students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Post-Acute Inpatient Neuro Rehabilitation Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program for individuals recovering from brain injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions, featuring intensive daily therapy and 24-hour nursing care. CARF CIIRP accredited.
• Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation Ambulatory therapy services allowing individuals to receive physical, occupational, speech, and other therapies while living at home and continuing their daily activities.
• Long-Term Skilled Care

Quantifiable outcome

• 53% average FIM score change from inpatient admission to discharge
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FABR (Foundation to Advance Brain Rehabilitation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025On With Life is part of a select group of leading brain injury rehabilitation organizations from across the United States that have come together to improve patient outcomes. FABR aims to use aggregate patient outcome data in a high-quality database project to demonstrate the value of post-acute rehabilitation.
• Hubbell Realty CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Hubbell Realty Company's CEO Rick Tollakson and team selected On With Life as the 6th Hubbell Extreme Build recipient. Throughout 2023-2024, Hubbell built two family homes on On With Life's campus, each with 5 bedrooms accommodating 10 persons served or families. The project involved extensive fundraising, trade partner coordination, and volunteer effort.
• Confluence Brewing CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Confluence Brewing, a craft beer brewery in Des Moines, created the 'Extreme Strides' blonde ale featuring blueberries and green tea (believed to promote brain function) as part of their Local Cause program. Hubbell Realty Company sponsored the beer, and together they raised $20,000 for On With Life's family housing project.
• Kreg ToolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Kreg Tool collaborated with On With Life to design and create a workshop space in the new outpatient center where persons served can participate in return-to-work activities and relearn life skills. The space includes special-built adaptable tables, work centers, and tools manufactured by Kreg Tool. Kreg has been a supporter of On With Life for 14 years.
• Casey'sminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Casey's General Stores supports On With Life through their annual Best-in-Class summer internship program. Interns spent a day landscaping at On With Life's Residential Neuro Rehabilitation Home, gaining community service experience while supporting the organization.
• Ankeny Soccer ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Ankeny High School soccer program chose On With Life as their annual fundraiser recipient and volunteer project. The team volunteered in the therapy grounds and donated over $1,000 through t-shirt sales and game proceeds in honor of coach Greg Lage who was served at On With Life following a bicycle accident.
• John Deere Harvester WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois collaborated with On With Life to build a combine/tractor access device for the therapy grounds. The project was initiated by patient Brad Plunkett who wanted farmers to practice climbing equipment. John Deere employees donated materials and built the device to help farming patients work toward their rehabilitation goals.
• Ryan CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Ryan Companies' Des Moines office supported On With Life during their annual RyanGivesBack Campaign in honor of employee Brian Clark who was served at On With Life following a stroke. The team spent a day planting, making repairs, and landscaping the therapy grounds, and planted a Northern Red Oak tree as a symbol of strength and resilience.
• Mayo Clinic TBI Model SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020On With Life's CEO Jean Shelton serves on the Traumatic Brain Injury Regional Advisory Council, providing oversight for the TBI Model System out of Mayo Clinic. The council works to improve lives of individuals who experience TBI by studying long-term recovery and developing innovative services for care coordination and community reintegration.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Encompass Health: Largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S. Broad incumbent offering post-acute neuro rehab services across more than 160 locations. Comparable on services but much larger scale and for-profit structure.

Direct peers

• Magee Rehabilitation Hospital: Philadelphia-based neurorehabilitation hospital affiliated with Jefferson Health. Direct peer in post-acute neuro rehab, with overlapping services in brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke; serves as a comparable urban specialty facility.
• Shepherd Center: Non-profit neurorehabilitation hospital in Atlanta specializing in brain injury, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis. Direct peer based on similar specialty scope, CARF accreditation, strong clinical outcomes focus, and non-profit structure.
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital: Boston-based neurorehabilitation hospital and TBI Model System operated by Mass General Brigham. Direct peer offering post-acute neuro rehab across brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke populations; comparable research and clinical excellence orientation.
• TIRR Memorial Hermann: Houston-based rehabilitation hospital and TBI Model System specializing in brain injury and stroke. Direct peer due to overlapping CARF-accredited neuro programs, research consortium participation (TBI Model Systems), and complex care continuum.
• Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital: Non-profit rehabilitation hospital in Grand Rapids, MI specializing in brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Direct peer in Midwestern non-profit neuro rehab, with similar size, scope, and continuum-of-care model.
• Pate Rehabilitation: Texas-based post-acute brain injury rehabilitation provider offering inpatient, outpatient, and day programming. Direct peer with comparable scope on brain injury specialty and post-acute continuum-of-care delivery.
• Craig Hospital: Non-profit neurorehabilitation hospital in Englewood, CO specializing in spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Direct peer due to similar specialty focus (TBI/SCI), non-profit model, comparable CARF accreditations, and patient outcome orientation.
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab: Research-driven rehabilitation hospital in Chicago focused on brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke recovery. Direct peer in neurorehab specialty, though considerably larger and more research-oriented than On With Life.
• Centre for Neuro Skills: Post-acute brain injury rehabilitation provider with facilities in California and Texas. Direct peer focused specifically on acquired brain injury rehabilitation across the continuum, with comparable intensive therapy model and patient population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWtyRfM4SRq96QMufSawxjQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/iowabraininjury
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/on-with-life
• Instagraminstagram.com/onwithlifeiowa
• Xx.com/iowabraininjury

Compliance1 record

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 On With Life