Ability Center of Virginia

What Ability Center of Virginia does

Ability Center of Virginia (ACVA) is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at 5825 Arrowhead Drive, Suite 201, Virginia Beach, VA. It serves individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities and their families, reporting that it reaches more than 520 families across Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The organization operates three core programs: Ability Days, a structured adult day program that runs four days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am-4pm) from September through May focused on social and life-skill development through community outings; ArtWorks, a vocational art program in which adult participants create and sell mixed-media greeting cards, bookmarks, gift tags, and shadowboxes through local retail partners; and Camp Ability, a seven-week summer day camp (Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm) for children, teens, and adults with disabilities featuring field trips, crafts, and themed adventures.

The business model blends earned program revenue, philanthropic support, and event-based fundraising. Earned revenue comes from monthly Ability Days service fees and Camp Ability registration ($350 per week plus a $75 one-time registration fee), with need-based scholarships available. Unearned revenue is sourced from individual donations (credit card, check, Venmo at @AbilityCenterofVA, and appreciated securities), corporate sponsorships at tiered levels for the Annual Gala and Annual Golf Tournament, and United Way of South Hampton Roads partner funding as one of 60 community partners. Marketing is community-led, relying on social media (Instagram, Facebook), earned media coverage (WTKR, WAVY, Pilot Online), email newsletter signups, and word-of-mouth through the volunteer and family network.

The organization is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors composed of consumers, parents, and business leaders, with a small staff led by Executive Director Michelle Prendergast and including a Program Director, Grant Manager, AbilityDays Manager, and Artworks Manager. There is no parent company, no venture or private equity ownership, and no disclosed revenue figures. ACVA's underlying technology footprint is minimal — operational delivery is in-person, with light digital touchpoints such as online camp registration via CampNetwork and volunteer signups via Google Forms.

Name

Ability Center of Virginia

Legal name

Ability Center of Virginia

Website

https://abilitycenterva.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ability Center of Virginia is a 1984-founded nonprofit in Virginia Beach providing Ability Days (adult day program), ArtWorks (vocational art), and Camp Ability (summer camp) to more than 520 families of individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities across Hampton Roads and Virginia, funded by program fees, donations, sponsorships, and United Way support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Adult day programs
• Inclusive summer camps
• Vocational art programs
• Community inclusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia Beach

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

Revenue model

1. Program Service Fees: Monthly service fees assessed for Ability Days program; camp fees for Camp Ability ($350 per week plus $75 registration). Need-based scholarships available.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations via credit card, check, Venmo (@AbilityCenterofVA), and appreciated securities/stock gifts. Fundraising events include Annual Gala and Golf Tournament.
3. United Way Support: United Way of South Hampton Roads community partner funding.
4. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for Annual Gala and Golf Tournament events at various tiers (Triple Crown, Jockey, Winner's Circle, etc.).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ability Center of Virginia is a nonprofit that delivers disability support programs to children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities in Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its offerings include an adult day program (Ability Days), a vocational art program producing greeting cards and artwork (ArtWorks), and a seven-week inclusive summer camp (Camp Ability). Programs are funded through a mix of participant fees, donations, sponsorships, and United Way partner support.

Product overview

Ability Center of Virginia is a non-profit disability services organization offering a portfolio of three distinct programs: Ability Days (adult day program for social and life skills development), ArtWorks (art program producing greeting cards and artwork), and Camp Ability (summer camp for all ages). These programs work together to serve individuals with disabilities throughout Hampton Roads, providing community inclusion, personal independence, and social skill development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ability Days Multi-faceted adult day program that helps create opportunities for adults with disabilities to develop social and life skills through activities and community outings with peers. The group meets on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10am–4pm from September through May.
• ArtWorks Art program providing adults of all abilities a space to create original artwork including mixed media greeting cards, bookmarks, gift tags, and shadowboxes, instilling pride, accomplishment, independence, and self-expression.
• Camp Ability Summer camp program for individuals of all ages with disabilities, featuring field trips, crafts, themed adventures, and weekly activities. Camps run Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm, with seven weeks available each summer and a limit of two weeks per camper at $350 per week plus a $75 registration fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• 520+ families served annually across Hampton Roads and Virginia
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• United Way of South Hampton RoadscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACVA is one of 60 United Way of South Hampton Roads community partners. This partnership provides funding support and volunteer recruitment through United Way Campaign Volunteer opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National umbrella organization for disability advocacy and services supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities - same population and mission, national scale.
• Easterseals UCP Virginia: Large regional disability services nonprofit offering day programs, camps, employment, and behavioral health across Virginia and the Carolinas - same service categories (camps, day programs, disabilities) at significantly greater scale.

Regional players

• The Up Center: Hampton Roads-based human services nonprofit serving children, adults, and families including disability and mental health programs - overlapping Hampton Roads geography and comparable nonprofit family-support mission.
• Jewish Family Service of Tidewater: Tidewater/Virginia Beach nonprofit providing social services, case management, and disability/senior support programs - operates in the same Hampton Roads region with comparable social services frame.
• Special Olympics Virginia: Virginia state organization providing sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities - comparable population served and recreational/community-inclusion mission.

Direct peers

• St. Columba: Virginia-based nonprofit providing community-based day programs, residential supports, and employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities - directly comparable mission, geography (Virginia), and service mix to ACVA.
• The Arc of Virginia: Virginia state chapter of The Arc, a disability advocacy and direct service nonprofit supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families - comparable mission and family-focused service model.

Others

• Virginia Beach Department of Human Services: Public-sector peer providing developmental disability services, case management, and community supports in the same Virginia Beach locality - addresses the same population as ACVA through government funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/abilitycenterva

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ability Center of Virginia