PACER Center

What PACER Center does

PACER Center, Inc. is a Minnesota-based 501(c)-type nonprofit founded in 1977 that delivers free advocacy, training, assistive technology, and social-inclusion services to families of children and young adults with disabilities from birth through age 26. Itself positioned as the only organization in Minnesota providing whole-life, any-disability support across this age band, PACER operates three core service areas: parent training and advocacy (including bilingual staff support in Spanish and Somali), an assistive technology lending library, and social-inclusion programming. Its product portfolio spans the National Bullying Prevention Center (established 2006, including the Kids Against Bullying and Teens Against Bullying educational websites), the COUNT ME IN puppet program (a registered trademark featuring characters with disabilities), Tech for Teens workshops covering coding, 3D printing, and web design, the EX.I.T.E. STEM camp for middle-school girls and gender-expansive youth with disabilities, and publications such as Beyond Sticks & Stones and a cyberbullying parent guide. The organization claims 81% of donations flow directly to programs and services, and it satisfies WCAG 2.0 Level A and Section 508 accessibility requirements on its digital properties.

PACER's business model is primarily donation and grant funded from individuals, corporations, and foundations, with services provided to families at no cost. Earned revenue is narrow and includes a $150-per-show fee for the COUNT ME IN puppet program delivered to schools, plus an emerging line of employer-facing services through the Wells Fargo / UConn Wells Fargo Center for Neurodiversity Neurodiversity Initiative Design Workshops targeting Twin Cities employers. Marketing and distribution run through a community-led motion: pacer.org, multilingual email newsletters, social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn), in-person office consultations at the 8161 Normandale Boulevard Bloomington headquarters, virtual training, community events such as the annual PACER Gala, Raise a Glass fundraiser, and Give to the MAX day, and corporate-supported program channels like EX.I.T.E. Camp with partners including IBM, Medtronic, 3M, and Best Buy. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with Alison Bakken as Board President, and in 2026 transitioned executive leadership from retiring Director Tonia Teasley to Heather Powell, who assumed the role on June 22, 2026.

Name

PACER Center

Legal name

PACER Center, Inc.

Website

https://pacer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PACER Center is a Minnesota nonprofit founded in 1977 that provides free advocacy, assistive technology lending, and social-inclusion programs to families of children and young adults with disabilities from birth to age 26. It operates the National Bullying Prevention Center, COUNT ME IN puppet program, EX.I.T.E. STEM camp, and Tech for Teens workshops, funded primarily through donations, grants, and emerging employer neurodiversity training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Special Education Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (61171), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Parent & Caregiver Training for IEP Navigation (EDAKACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ), Home Visiting & Parent Coaching Programs (EDACALAC), Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Special education support
• Assistive technology lending
• Bullying prevention programs
• Parent training workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: PACER is a nonprofit organization primarily funded through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The website indicates 81% of donations go directly to programs and services.
2. Program Fees: Some programs have nominal fees - puppet shows are $150 per show for schools and organizations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PACER Center provides free parent advocacy, assistive technology services, bullying prevention programming, and STEM education workshops to Minnesota families of children and young adults with any disability from birth to age 26. Its core service lines include parent training and advocacy (English, Spanish, Somali), an assistive technology device lending library, the National Bullying Prevention Center, the COUNT ME IN disability awareness puppet program for schools, and STEM/coding workshops for youth with disabilities.

Product overview

PACER Center is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and resources for Minnesota families of children with disabilities. The organization provides parent training and advocacy services, assistive technology solutions through a Lending Library, and social inclusion programs. Key offerings include the COUNT ME IN Puppet Program for disability awareness education, the National Bullying Prevention Center with curriculum and resources for K-12 settings, the Kids and Teens Against Bullying educational websites, Tech for Teens workshops and EX.I.T.E. Camp for STEM exposure, and various publications and newsletters. Services are provided free of charge to families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kids Against Bullying: Innovative, educational website for elementary school students to learn, engage in activities, and be inspired to advocate for self and others.
• Teens Against Bullying
• COUNT ME IN

Products and services

• COUNT ME IN Puppet Program Educational puppet show featuring characters with various disabilities (ADHD, blindness, deafness, autism, learning disabilities, physical disabilities) that teaches young children disability awareness and social inclusion; available to elementary schools and pre/kindergarten audiences for $150 per show.
• National Bullying Prevention Center National center that leads social change to prevent childhood bullying through resources, curriculum, and awareness campaigns for K-12 youth, families, and educators; founded in 2006 as a PACER initiative.
• EX.I.T.E. Camp (Exploring Interests in Technology and Engineering) Free summer camp for Minnesota middle school girls and gender-expansive youth with disabilities to explore STEM fields (coding, product design, engineering) through fun, supportive, hands-on learning, supported by corporate partners including IBM, Medtronic, 3M, Best Buy, Greenberg Traurig LLP, and Wold Architecture and Engineers.
• Tech for Teens Workshops Monthly workshop series for youth with disabilities ages 12–20 to explore coding, 3D printing, web design, engineering, robotics, and other technology topics through hands-on learning at PACER's Bloomington center.
• Assistive Technology Lending Library Lending service that provides Minnesota families with access to assistive technology devices and equipment on a lending basis so they can evaluate what technology solutions best fit their child's needs before purchase.
• Kids Against Bullying Website Innovative, educational website for elementary school students to learn about bullying prevention, engage in activities, and be inspired to advocate for self and others.
• Teens Against Bullying Website Website created by and for middle and high school students with ideas to address bullying, be heard, and lead change in this important social cause.
• Beyond Sticks & Stones publication 70-page comprehensive guide offering bullying prevention strategies and practical tools for parents and adults to take action, available through the PACER Shop.
• Cyberbullying: What Parents Should Know publication 16-page booklet providing guidance on helping children and youth navigate online social situations and healthy relationships in the digital world.

Quantifiable outcome

• Services provided at zero cost to families

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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wells FargocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2025Wells Fargo partners with PACER to host Neurodiversity Initiative Design Workshops at their Minneapolis offices. The workshop series, developed with UConn's Wells Fargo Center for Neurodiversity and Inclusive Employment, helps employers rethink workforce practices for neurodivergent employees.
• IBMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM partners with PACER's EX.I.T.E. Camp, donating talents and resources to inspire campers through topics including coding, project management, and product design.
• MedtronicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedtronic partners with PACER's EX.I.T.E. Camp, providing guest speakers and mentorship for girls with disabilities exploring STEM fields.
• 3MminorStrategic or Co-development Partner3M partners with PACER's EX.I.T.E. Camp, contributing expertise in material sciences and engineering to inspire young girls with disabilities.
• Best BuyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBest Buy partners with PACER's EX.I.T.E. Camp, providing technology education content and resources for campers.
• Greenberg Traurig, LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw firm partner supporting PACER's EX.I.T.E. Camp through donations and volunteer engagement.
• Wold Architecture and EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and engineering firm partner contributing to PACER's EX.I.T.E. Camp programming with guest speakers and mentorship.
• UConn's Wells Fargo Center for NeurodiversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic center developing and delivering neurodiversity workforce training programs, partnered with PACER and Wells Fargo to bring workshops to Twin Cities employers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): National nonprofit focused on improving outcomes for the 1 in 5 children with learning and attention issues through advocacy, research, and resources. Comparable to PACER on parent and youth LD advocacy, policy work, and national awareness campaigns, with a broader national scope.
• Wrightslaw: Leading national publisher of special education law and advocacy training materials for parents, including the flagship "From Emotions to Advocacy" book. Comparable to PACER on the IEP navigation, special education law, and parent training content dimensions, distributed nationally online.
• Understood.org: National nonprofit providing free online resources, expert guidance, and tools for parents of children with learning and attention issues. Directly comparable on the content, tip sheets, and parent education dimensions of PACER's resource library, with a national digital reach that overlaps PACER's audience.
• Federation for Children with Special Needs: Massachusetts-based parent training and information center providing free advocacy, IEP support, and special education training to families of children with disabilities. Directly comparable to PACER as a PTI network member serving a single state with similar free service, advocacy, and workshop model.
• National Parent Center (Parent to Parent USA): National network connecting parent-to-parent support programs for families of children with disabilities. Directly comparable to PACER's family support and parent training mission, operating as a coordinating body for similar state and regional parent support programs.

Emerging players

• National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS): National advocacy organization for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, providing programming, resources, and policy work. Comparable to PACER on family education, advocacy, and inclusion programming, focused on a specific disability segment.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including early intervention, autism services, workforce development, and camping/recreation. Broader incumbent in the disability services space with overlapping assistive technology and family support offerings, but operates nationally with a wider service portfolio.
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): International professional association for special and gifted educators providing professional development, standards, and advocacy. Overlaps with PACER on the special education and IEP knowledge dimensions but serves educators rather than families as primary audience.
• Autism Society of America: National grassroots autism organization providing information, advocacy, and support across the lifespan. Overlaps with PACER on the family advocacy and resource navigation dimensions, with a focus on a single disability category across the U.S.

Regional players

• St. David's Center for Child & Family Development: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing pediatric therapy, autism services, and early childhood education including special needs. Direct regional peer in the Minnesota children's disability services market with overlapping early intervention and assistive technology offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/pacercenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/PACERCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacer-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacercenter
• Xx.com/PACERCenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 PACER Center