What Futures Explored does

Futures Explored is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1964 in Lafayette, California (originally as 'The Enterprise'), providing community-based programs and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across Northern California. The organization serves 450+ participants through four integrated service lines: Community Connections (Futures Connections, Go Group, Passport to Independence), Employment + Education (Employment Training Program, Supported Employment, Tailored Day Service), Creative Arts & Media (Film & Media Studios plus the Futures Films production subsidiary), and Personal Wellness (Futures ALIVE, Alive East, GARDEN for medically complex participants, In-Home Day Services). The CARF-accredited organization operates from 9+ program locations across Concord, Antioch, Brentwood, Livermore, Pleasanton, Sacramento, and Stockton, supported by 51-100 staff and an active Direct Support Professional hiring pipeline.

The business model is a hybrid of government fee-for-service reimbursement and charitable fundraising. Approximately the majority of operating revenue flows from California Department of Developmental Services contracts administered through three regional centers (Regional Center of the East Bay, Alta California Regional Center, Valley Mountain Regional Center) plus the California Department of Rehabilitation. Secondary revenue streams include individual donations, recurring sustaining memberships, endowment gifts, stock and in-kind donations, planned/legacy giving, and earned revenue from the Futures Films commercial production subsidiary that employs program graduates. Participants are referred primarily through regional centers and cannot transact directly for services; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Erica Horn, with no parent company, outside investors, or capital-raising activity disclosed.

The underlying technology stack is minimal: a Squarespace-hosted website, Bloomerang for donation CRM and processing, and PayPal as a payment data handler. There is no proprietary platform, mobile application, API, or AI/ML capability — the organization's value proposition rests entirely on human-delivered, person-centered services, with Futures Films functioning as the only quasi-commercial operational unit that generates external earned revenue.

Name

Futures Explored

Legal name

Futures Explored, Inc

Website

https://futures-explored.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Futures Explored is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1964 that delivers community-based programs in employment, creative arts, wellness, and community connections to 450+ individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Northern California, funded primarily through California regional center contracts and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and community support services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Community support programs
• Supported employment services
• Personal wellness programs
• Creative arts media training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts general fund donations, supports special projects, sustains members through recurring contributions, receives endowment donations, processes stock donations, accepts in-kind donations, and encourages legacy giving through planned giving programs.
2. Government-Funded Services: Programs are funded through regional center contracts with the Regional Center of the East Bay, Alta California Regional Center, and Valley Mountain Regional Center, as well as the California Department of Developmental Services and California Department of Rehabilitation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Futures Explored is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers a portfolio of community-based programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Northern California. Its offerings are organized into four program areas: Community Connections (social/recreational engagement, volunteerism, advocacy), Employment + Education (vocational training, supported employment, tailored day services), Creative Arts & Media (Film & Media Studios, Futures Films production company, summer camp), and Personal Wellness (day programs with medical support, in-home services). Services are funded primarily through California regional center contracts, state agencies, and charitable donations.

Product overview

Futures Explored operates as a nonprofit service organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The offering is structured as a multi-service platform organized into four main program areas: Community Connections (Futures Connections, Go Group, Passport to Independence), Employment & Education (Employment Training Program, Supported Employment, Tailored Day Service), Creative Arts & Media (Film & Media Studios, Futures Films production company, Summer Camp), and Personal Wellness (Futures ALIVE, Alive East, GARDEN programs, In-Home Services). Additional services include advocacy through the Consumer Action Committee and volunteer/internship opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Futures Films: A production company that provides professional video services across Northern California. Futures Films is an inclusive business that hires many crew members who are graduates of the Film & Media Studio programs.
• Futures ALIVE
• Futures Connections
• Go Group
• GARDEN
• Passport to Independence
• Futures Film & Media Studios

Products and services

• Futures Connections (Central + East) Community engagement program supporting individuals in small groups to be active, contributing community members through social and recreational activities, volunteerism, advocacy, health and wellness, and independent living skills, delivered in Concord and Antioch.
• Go Group Community program for active individuals providing support for employment, volunteerism, college education, travel training, exercise, independence skills including money management and cooking, and health and safety preparation.
• Passport to Independence Community access program supporting participants in Sacramento and Yolo Counties to build independence through discovering community resources, social skills development, and friendship building through activities such as bowling, movies, hiking, and amusement parks.
• Employment Training Program (ETP) Short-term vocational program providing participants with skills, tools, and hands-on experience needed to gain competitive integrated employment, including job identification, skills development, and job search support, in the East Bay and Sacramento.
• Supported Employment Program supporting participants to obtain and maintain competitive integrated employment through individualized on-the-job coaching, fading support as skills are learned, and ongoing advocacy, in Contra Costa, Alameda, Yolo, and Sacramento counties.
• Tailored Day Service Customizable day services supporting individuals in job exploration, job development, volunteer work, paid jobs, college access, social skills, micro-enterprise, and health and safety in Contra Costa, Alameda, Yolo, and Sacramento counties.
• Futures Films Professional video production company providing services across Northern California, employing graduates of Film & Media Studio programs and offering high-quality video services at competitive prices for corporate and promotional content.
• Film & Media Studios Vocational film production program combining classroom instruction with real-world studio experience, including film history and theory alongside practical studio training, with paid internship opportunities through Futures Films, in Concord, Sacramento, and Stockton.
• 2026 Summer Camp Two-week residential summer camp for ages 12-22 featuring three sessions: Storytelling Through Art & Stop Motion, Acting & Film Production, and Artistic Expression, held in Concord, CA.
• Futures ALIVE Personal wellness program featuring frequent community trips and extended facility use, located in Concord.
• Alive East Community-based wellness program centered on participant choice, including community work, volunteering, disability advocacy, and group activities for personal empowerment and creativity, with personal care, meal support, and medication assistance in Antioch.
• GARDEN (Brentwood and Tri-Valley) Supportive day program for individuals with medical needs featuring sensory activities, stimulation programs, and community engagement based on individual desires, employing a Registered Nurse for medical care, with in-home services available in Brentwood and Livermore.
• In-Home Day Services One-to-one and one-to-two support services for individuals with significant medical needs unable to travel to program locations, with staff providing daily activities including music, sensory stimulation, and community outings in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ participants served across multiple program locations in Northern California
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• City of DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExciting partnership to create the Workforce Inclusion Network (WIN) for All, which will enable the hiring of 15 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities over the next 18 months in a variety of city positions, with focus on parks and community services department including positions at The Wave recreational and aquatics facility.
• Futures FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA production company that provides professional video services across Northern California. Futures Films is an inclusive business that hires many crew members who are graduates of the Film & Media Studio programs. Works with clients to provide high-quality video services at competitive prices while providing real-world employment for program participants.
• Regional Center of the East BaycoreOthersPrimary regional center partner providing funding and coordination for services in the East Bay region.
• Alta California Regional CentercoreOthersRegional center partner serving Sacramento and surrounding areas.
• Valley Mountain Regional CentercoreOthersRegional center partner serving San Joaquin and surrounding areas.
• California Department of Developmental ServicescoreOthersState agency that funds services for individuals with developmental disabilities in California.
• California Department of RehabilitationcoreOthersState agency that provides services to help Californians with disabilities obtain competitive integrated employment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Exceptional Children's Foundation: Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) serving children and adults with developmental disabilities through day programs, employment services, and residential support. Shares the multi-program nonprofit model, CARF accreditation, and person-centered planning approach used by Futures Explored.
• Aspiranet: California-based human services nonprofit operating programs across foster care, mental health, and developmental disabilities, with workforce inclusion and community-based service overlap. Comparable in CARF-style accreditation, multi-county service delivery, and reliance on state contracts and donor funding.
• East Bay Arc: East Bay-based 501(c)(3) serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across community living, employment, and recreation programs. Directly comparable to Futures Explored in mission, regional center funding model, multi-program structure, and Northern California operating geography.
• Partners in Care Foundation: California nonprofit providing disability and aging services including supported employment, community living, and care management. Comparable in CARF-accredited multi-service model, California service geography, and reliance on Medicaid waiver and regional center funding streams.
• PathPoint: California nonprofit providing supported employment, community participation, and independent living services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable in CARF-accredited service delivery, regional center funding dependencies, and multi-county Northern/Central California footprint.

Emerging players

• Chrysalis: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing workforce development and job placement for individuals facing barriers to employment including disabilities. Comparable in supported employment focus, workforce inclusion mission alignment, and California operating footprint, though primarily focused on broader disadvantaged populations rather than I/DD exclusively.
• Rubicon Programs: Oakland-based nonprofit providing workforce development and reentry services with employment placement focus for individuals with barriers to work. Mission-adjacent peer with overlap in competitive integrated employment and Northern California operating geography, though focused on reentry and broader disadvantaged populations.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of California: State chapter of the national Arc organization providing I/DD advocacy, service referrals, and chapter-affiliated programs across California. Represents the broader I/DD services and advocacy ecosystem in which Futures Explored operates; comparable in mission but broader in geographic scope and policy orientation.
• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit operating jobs, leadership development, and social inclusion programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable in competitive integrated employment focus and mission alignment, though national in scope and primarily programmatic rather than multi-service center-based.
• Volunteers of America (California): National human services nonprofit with California disability services including supported employment, case management, and behavioral health. Comparable as a large multi-service human services provider with mixed government and donor revenue, though significantly larger and more diversified than Futures Explored.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/futures-explored
• Xx.com/futuresexplored

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Futures Explored