The Exceptional Foundation

What The Exceptional Foundation does

The Exceptional Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1993 in Homewood, Alabama (Greater Birmingham area), providing year-round social and recreational services for individuals with intellectual disabilities ranging in age from 5 to 82. It operates from a 32,235 square foot purpose-built facility adjacent to Homewood Park — developed through three capital campaigns in 1999, 2006, and 2014 — and serves over 400 participants annually. The core programming comprises an Adult Day Program (Monday-Thursday, 7:50 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) with sports, enrichment, life-skills, and field-trip activities, and a suite of Youth Programs including after-school care, an eight-week summer camp serving 100+ children, youth sports leagues, weekend outings, and school-holiday camps. The organization also fields competitive Special Olympics teams across Alabama and nationally.

The business model is a hybrid of participant tuition and philanthropic revenue. Participant fees include adult monthly tuition starting at $365 with flexible 1–4 day/week enrollment and youth summer camp at $225/week plus a $150 registration fee. Approximately two-thirds of operating costs are funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships and grants, including a major-donor Kite Society ($1,000+ annual gifts across four tiers), tiered corporate event sponsorships, and signature annual fundraisers — most prominently the Chili Cook-Off, which raised over $520,000 in 2024 with 151 cook teams and 13,000+ attendees and expanded to 124 cook teams and 14,000+ attendees in 2026, alongside the Dinnertainment dinner-theater event. The foundation engages 500+ volunteers per year and partners with Alabama Power, Birmingham Stallions, Special Olympics Alabama, Junior League of Birmingham, and local schools and colleges.

Strategically, the organization functions as the model organization for affiliated Exceptional Foundations in Atlanta, East Alabama, and the Gulf Coast and acts as a consultant to similar groups nationally, effectively franchising its operational playbook. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors and a 35-member Junior Board of young professionals (founded 2002) that launched the Chili Cook-Off. Current leadership is President & CEO Sara Newell, following Tricia Kirk's tenure as Executive Director from 2001 to 2021. There is no disclosed revenue figure, no parent organization, and no equity ownership; the entity is an independent nonprofit supported by donor, corporate, and volunteer constituencies.

Name

The Exceptional Foundation

Legal name

The Exceptional Foundation

Website

https://exceptionalfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Exceptional Foundation is a Birmingham, Alabama-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing year-round social and recreational programs for over 400 children and adults with intellectual disabilities from a 32,235 sq ft facility in Homewood.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social and Recreational Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

Keywords

• Disability day services
• Recreational programs
• Adaptive sports leagues
• Special needs programs
• Intellectual disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals fund programs including over 800 field trips, 500 hours of enrichment programs, and 50 need-based scholarships annually.
2. Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships: Corporate sponsors support annual events (Chili Cook-Off, Dinnertainment) and provide general program funding. Companies sponsor at various levels (Jalapeño, Cayenne, Spicy, VIP/Judges).
3. Event Proceeds: Major annual fundraisers include the Chili Cook-Off (over $520,000 raised in 2024) and Dinnertainment dinner theater event. Proceeds directly benefit programs.
4. Participant Tuition: Monthly tuition starts at $365 for adult day programs. Summer camp costs $225 per week plus $150 registration fee and $50 weekly deposit.
5. Kite Society Donors: Donors giving $1,000 or more annually join the Kite Society at four levels: Members of Our Mission, Friends of the Foundation, Champions for Change, and Advocates for Inclusion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Exceptional Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers year-round social and recreational services for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ages 5 to 82) in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area. Core offerings include adult day programs, youth after-school programs, summer camp, and recreational and Special Olympics sports leagues. Services are delivered in person from a 32,235 sq ft facility in Homewood, Alabama, with annual fundraisers (Chili Cook-Off and Dinnertainment) and donor/scholarship programs supporting operations.

Product overview

The Exceptional Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing year-round social and recreational services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, serving over 400 participants ranging in age from 5 to 82. The organization operates from a 32,235 square foot facility in Homewood, Alabama, and serves as the model organization for other Exceptional Foundations in Atlanta, East Alabama, and the Gulf Coast. The core programs include the Adult Day Program (Monday-Thursday, year-round daily activities including sports, exercise, music, art, cooking, life skills, and field trips) and Youth Programs (after-school activities, summer camp, sports leagues, weekend outings, and holiday camps). The Sports Program offers both recreational and Special Olympics competitive sports including basketball, softball, tennis, bowling, golf, cheer, swimming, track and field, and volleyball. Annual fundraising events include the Chili Cook-Off (largest annual event with over 14,000 attendees) and Dinnertainment (dinner theater with participant performances and art auction). Additional programs include art exhibitions, scholarship assistance, the Kite Society donor recognition program, volunteer opportunities, and corporate partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Day Program Year-round daily programming Monday through Thursday from 7:50 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. offering sports, exercise, music, art, cooking, hygiene, healthy living, life skills, social skills, and science enrichment, plus field trips. Flexible enrollment of 1, 2, 3, or 4 days per week.
• Adult Extracurricular Activities Optional activities outside daily programs including Aktion Club service projects, Scout Troop camping, healthy lifestyle exercises with community partners, and Art Club sessions, designed for adult participants seeking additional engagement.
• Adult Night and Weekend Outings Social outings approximately twice monthly including dinner and movies, local sporting events, plays, musicals, game nights, and dances hosted by the Junior League of Birmingham, plus an annual Prom with live band, dinner, and photo booth.
• Adult Recreational Sports Saturday recreational leagues for adults including basketball, softball, frisbee golf, unified pickleball, volleyball, and adaptive sports club; year-round competitive offerings include tennis, bowling, golf, cheer, and swimming.
• Special Olympics Sports Competitive Special Olympics sports including travel basketball, swim team, competitive cheer, golf (unified with partners), track and field, unified bowling league, tennis, and volleyball teams; athletes compete across Alabama and nationally.
• Youth After-School Programs After-school activities in the Jay Harbert Youth Center from 3:00pm-5:30pm Monday-Thursday including social skills, games, arts and crafts, dance, field trips, music, cooking lessons, yoga, and transportation options.
• Youth Summer Camp Eight-week summer program for over 100 school-age participants ages 5 and up enjoying swimming, music, cooking, science, art, adaptive P.E., and frequent field trips, Monday through Friday from 7:50am to 5:30pm.
• Youth Activity Camps Six-week activity camps on Tuesdays and Wednesdays including sports camp, art camp, dance camp, and youth and young adult basketball leagues.
• Youth School Holiday Camps Full-day camps during school holidays such as Presidents Day and Veterans Day with field trips and activities in the Jay Harbert Youth Center.
• Youth Weekend Outings

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 400 individuals annually with intellectual disabilities aged 5-82
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Alabama PowermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term sponsor and partner of the Chili Cook-Off. Partnering with Alabama Power's Renew Our Rivers program for environmental initiatives.
• Birmingham StallionssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as Kids' Zone Sponsor for the 2026 Chili Cook-Off event.
• Junior League of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts adult dances approximately every other month on Sunday nights. Long-standing community partnership supporting social programming.
• Special Olympics AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation participates in Special Olympics sports including basketball, softball, volleyball, swimming, bowling, tennis, and track & field, traveling statewide and nationally for competitions.
• The Country Club of BirminghamsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for the 12th Annual Dinnertainment event in September 2025.
• The Urban Center at Liberty ParksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for the 2026 Chili Cook-Off event.
• YMCAsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSwim team practice location for Special Olympic Swim Team participants.
• Local Schools and CollegessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation works with local high school and college teams to create inclusive competitive environments through Young Adult Basketball league and unified sports programs.
• Exceptional Foundations (Atlanta, East Alabama, Gulf Coast)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Exceptional Foundation serves as the model organization and provides standard operating procedures to affiliated Exceptional Foundations in Atlanta, East Alabama, and the Gulf Coast. Acts as consultant to other groups across the country.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Arc: National advocacy and direct-service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with local chapters delivering social, recreational, and family-support programming — directly comparable in mission and service mix.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability and community-based services, including recreational, social, and life-skills programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; a much larger incumbent operating across many states with overlapping mission.
• National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS): National advocacy and programming nonprofit supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families through community programming, recreation, and family-support events; comparable in mission and event-driven fundraising model.
• YAI (Young Adult Institute): Large NYC-based nonprofit providing day programs, recreation, and residential services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; highly comparable in day-program and recreation programming structure.

Direct peers

• GiGi's Playhouse: National network of achievement centers delivering free educational, therapeutic, and social-recreational programming for individuals with Down syndrome; comparable as a community-based, donor-supported recreational and life-skills provider with affiliate expansion model.
• Special Olympics: Global organization providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities; The Exceptional Foundation directly participates in Special Olympics Alabama competitions and runs unified sports leagues, making this a strong mission and programming peer.
• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit focused on one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable in social-recreational mission and donor-funded operating model.

Emerging players

• AbilityPath: Nonprofit serving individuals with developmental disabilities through inclusion programs, family support, and recreational services in the Bay Area; comparable in service mix and direct-to-participant programming, though operating on a different geography.

Regional players

• JARC (Jewish Association for Residential Care / JARC Florida): Nonprofit providing residential, day, and recreational programs for adults with developmental disabilities in Florida; comparable in mission and program structure but serves a different geographic market.

Others

• United Way of Central Alabama: Regional funder that channels corporate and individual donations to local human-service nonprofits including disability services providers; comparable as a Birmingham-area funding ecosystem participant and indirect competitor for donor dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheEFBham
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=l8j68ZS1UyM
• Facebookfacebook.com/exceptionalfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/exceptionalfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-exceptional-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Exceptional Foundation