Project Return
Project Return, Inc. is a Tampa, Florida-based nonprofit founded in 1992 that operates a membership Drop-in Center providing peer support, recovery, and enrichment services for adults with mental illness, funded by government grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersTampa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Project Return does
Project Return, Inc. is a Florida-based nonprofit organization founded in 1992 that operates a membership-based Drop-in Center at 304 W. Waters Avenue, Tampa, providing recovery, peer support, educational, and social enrichment services to adults aged 18 and older living with mental illness. The organization operates on the Clubhouse model and psychosocial rehabilitation framework, drawing on principles from Fountain House and the social practice model, and emphasizes strengths-based, member-driven, non-time-limited support in which members actively participate in center operations and governance rather than being treated as patients. Its core service offerings include the Drop-in Center, a YouTube-based Online Classroom for remote engagement, Care Connection Services (including Care Calls) for members unable to visit in person, and The Rhoda Zusman Art Gallery and Art Program, which exhibits and sells artwork created by members.
Project Return's technology footprint is minimal: it has no proprietary platform, no mobile app, no public API, and no AI-driven components. Digital service delivery is limited to a YouTube channel that posts ongoing classes and activities. The organization is staffed by a small leadership team, including an Acting Director of Operations, a Program Manager, and an Assistant Program Manager/Art Coordinator, with operations anchored to a single physical location serving the Tampa Bay area.
The business model is donation- and grant-dependent rather than revenue-generating. The organization is partially funded by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network through government behavioral health funding, supplemented by philanthropic donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations (including via Amazon Smile, Goodsearch, and Goodshop). Membership is offered at a one-time symbolic fee of $0.25 with lifetime access, and most services are provided free of charge, with only ancillary items such as lunch, cafe, vending, and some field trips excluded. Additional revenue is generated through the sale of member-created artwork via the Rhoda Zusman Art Gallery.
Project Return firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Return
- Legal name
- Project Return, Inc.
- Website
- https://projectreturn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Project Return, Inc. is a Tampa, Florida-based nonprofit founded in 1992 that operates a membership Drop-in Center providing peer support, recovery, and enrichment services for adults with mental illness, funded by government grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Return industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Community Support Services
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)
Keywords
Where Project Return is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tampa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Project Return business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Donations: Project Return relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to supplement government funding and meet current needs beyond what government funding alone would allow.
- Government Funding: Partially funded by Central Florida Behavioral Health Network through government behavioral health funding.
- Membership Fees: One-time lifetime membership fee of $0.25, which is largely symbolic as most services are provided free of charge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Lifetime Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Project Return product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project Return operates a membership-based Drop-in Center in Tampa, Florida, providing peer support, recovery services, social and educational enrichment, and art programs for adults 18+ recovering from mental illness. Services follow the Clubhouse model and psychosocial rehabilitation principles, and include an Online Classroom (YouTube), Care Connection services (Care Calls), and the Rhoda Zusman Art Gallery.
Product overview
Project Return is a non-profit community center offering a Drop-in Center membership program for people with mental illness, supplemented by an Online Classroom for remote engagement, The Rhoda Zusman Art Gallery for artistic expression and sales, and Care Connection services (including Care Calls) for members unable to visit in person. The organization operates on psychosocial rehabilitation and Clubhouse model principles, providing lifetime membership at no cost (with a one-time 25-cent fee) for adults 18+ with mental illness.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Rhoda Zusman Art Gallery: A multi-media art gallery located at 304 W. Waters Avenue Tampa, Florida, promoting the artistic talents of people recovering from mental illness and educating visitors about mental illness.
Products and services
- Project Return Drop-in Center A membership-based community center providing a safe, supportive, and accepting environment for people recovering from mental illness. Offers educational, social, and personal enrichment opportunities with no time limits on membership. Open to adults aged 18 and older with mental illness.
- Online Classroom An online learning platform that allows members to stay connected with Project Return classes and activities through ongoing posts on their YouTube Channel.
- The Rhoda Zusman Art Gallery A multi-media art space promoting the artistic talents of people recovering from mental illness through exhibition and sale of their works. Features landscapes, portraits, and abstracts in watercolors, acrylics, pastel chalks, and multimedia.
- Care Connection Services Remote support services including Care Calls that allow members not currently visiting the Center to stay connected through telephone outreach.
- Art Program Program promoting artistic talents of people recovering from mental illness through exhibition and sale of their artwork. Art supplies are provided through donations.
Companies that use Project Return
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Project Return technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project Return partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Fountain HousecoreProject Return is guided by principles and models from Fountain House, including the Clubhouse model and social practice model. This represents a philosophical/programmatic partnership in recovery-based mental health services.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Project Return competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Thresholds: Chicago-based nonprofit providing psychosocial rehabilitation, peer support, and recovery services using the Clubhouse model. Closely comparable in service mix (recovery support, employment assistance, community integration) and member population to Project Return.
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): National nonprofit running peer-led support groups and recovery programs for adults with mood disorders. Highly comparable peer-support methodology and member-engagement approach to Project Return's model.
- Fountain House: Originated the Clubhouse model that Project Return explicitly follows. Both organizations serve adults with mental illness through member-driven, community-based psychosocial rehabilitation, making them directly comparable in model and target population.
Emerging players
- Compeer: Nonprofit providing volunteer-based mentoring and friendship matches for adults in mental health recovery. Comparable in its emphasis on community-based, non-clinical peer relationships, though with a one-to-one mentoring rather than center-based model.
Broad incumbents
- Optum Behavioral Health: Part of UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest behavioral health service providers in the US. Overlaps in target population and category but operates at vastly larger scale and through a clinical/insurance-driven rather than community-clubhouse model.
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Largest US grassroots mental health organization, offering peer support groups, education, and advocacy. Operates at much larger national scale than Project Return but overlaps significantly in audience and mission.
- Mental Health America: National nonprofit focused on mental health advocacy, screening, education, and peer support. Comparable mission of supporting people with mental health conditions, though at much broader geographic and programmatic scale.
Others
- Clubhouse International: Global umbrella organization that accredits and supports Clubhouse-model programs, including affiliates like Project Return. Functions as the certifying body and standards-setter for the model Project Return operates under.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project Return social profiles
Digital presenceProject Return financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Return leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Project Return funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project Return M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Project Return
What does Project Return do?
Project Return operates a membership-based Drop-in Center in Tampa, Florida, providing peer support, recovery services, social and educational enrichment, and art programs for adults 18+ recovering from mental illness. Services follow the Clubhouse model and psychosocial rehabilitation principles, and include an Online Classroom (YouTube), Care Connection services (Care Calls), and the Rhoda Zusman Art Gallery.
Is Project Return a public or private company?
Project Return is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Return founded?
Project Return was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Project Return based?
Project Return is headquartered in Tampa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Return make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Funding and membership Fees.
Who are Project Return's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Thresholds, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and Fountain House. Compeer is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Optum Behavioral Health, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Mental Health America. Clubhouse International is listed as an others.
Does Project Return have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Return.
What industry is Project Return in?
Project Return's product category is Mental Health Community Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFACAN, Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services. Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8050.