The Arc of South Florida

What The Arc of South Florida does

The Arc of South Florida, Inc. is a private 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in 1953 in Miami-Dade County, Florida, that delivers direct-care, educational, therapeutic, financial-trust, and transportation services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The organization operates through four program departments — Children & Youth, Adult Services, Advocacy & Guardianship, and Trust Services — spanning early intervention (Project Thrive for ages 6 weeks to 5 years), special education (ACE Academy, five campuses PreK-12th grade), therapy services, after-school and summer programs, supported employment, professional guardianship, and a Special Needs Trust practice administered under Federal law 42 U.S.C. §1396p(d)(4)(C) through its wholly-owned subsidiary Arc South Florida Trust Services.

Service delivery is physical and place-based rather than technology-mediated: eight locations across Miami-Dade County (Miami Lakes HQ, Miami Gardens, Kendall, Florida City I & II, Homestead, plus an administrative satellite), a 25-vehicle wheelchair-accessible transportation fleet funded through the Federal Transit Authority, and 200+ professional staff including special educators, therapists, case managers, principals, regional directors, trust officers, and a CFO. The organization does not develop or sell technology products; "core_technology" is explicitly characterized as not applicable.

Revenue is a diversified mix of government contracts (Vocational Rehabilitation referrals for employment services, FTA/FDOT transportation funding, Department of Education qualified-provider status), grants (The Children's Trust for parenting and out-of-school programs), fee-for-service trust and guardianship billing (published monthly and hourly rate schedules, no minimum deposit for pooled trusts), Step Up For Students scholarships for ACE Academy tuition, and donations and membership income. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (2025-2026 Chair: Paul Sweeney) under CEO/Executive Director Gabriel H. Parra, with operating leadership including CFO Henry Neyra and a Director of Trust Services, Director of Children & Youth, Director of HR, and regional/principal site leaders.

Name

The Arc of South Florida

Legal name

The Arc of South Florida, Inc.

Website

https://arcsofla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Arc of South Florida is a Miami-Dade County nonprofit founded in 1953 that delivers educational, therapeutic, guardianship, Special Needs Trust, and transportation services to over 1,000 individuals daily with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating five ACE Academy campuses and a wholly-owned trust services subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Social Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

IEP/504 Planning, Case Management & Compliance (EDAJAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG), IEP/504 PT Planning, Documentation & Compliance (EDAKAGAB)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Special education programs
• Special needs trusts
• Professional guardianship services
• Early intervention therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Hialeah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Program Fees: Revenue is generated through government-funded programs including Vocational Rehabilitation referrals, Florida Department of Transportation transportation funding, and fees for trust services and guardianship. The organization serves over 1,000 program participants daily through various government and fee-for-service programs.
2. Donations and Membership: The organization receives donations from individuals, corporations, and community organizations through its fundraising campaigns. Membership dues provide nominal revenue with educational and enrichment benefits to members.
3. Transportation Services: Transportation services are funded through the Federal Transit Authority with local oversight by the Florida Department of Transportation, enabling fleet maintenance and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Arc of South Florida is a nonprofit social services organization that delivers educational, therapeutic, adult-day, guardianship, transportation, and special-needs trust services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Miami-Dade County. Programs span early intervention (Project Thrive), K-12 special education (ACE Academy), adult employment and life skills, professional guardianship and case management, federally authorized Special Needs Trusts, and accessible passenger transportation.

Product overview

The Arc of South Florida offers a comprehensive portfolio of social services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates as a unified service provider with distinct programs including ACE Academy (educational services from PreK through 12th grade), Project Thrive (early intervention for infants and toddlers), Children and Youth Therapy Services (physical, occupational, and speech therapy), Adult Services Employment Program (job training and supported employment), Guardianship & Case Management Services, Special Needs Trust Services including Pooled Trust Services (financial asset protection), Transportation Services, Speaker Bureau (community outreach), Out-of-School Program, and Parenting Programs. These programs serve individuals from 6 weeks old through adulthood across Miami-Dade County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACE Academy: A pioneering educational experience tailored for students with disabilities from PreK through 12th grade, offering a comprehensive curriculum with contemporary social, educational, and therapeutic philosophies.
• Project Thrive
• Schools Out Program

Products and services

• ACE Academy A specialized K-12 school program (PreK through 12th grade) for students with disabilities, offered across five Miami-Dade campuses and blending contemporary social, educational, and therapeutic philosophies with adapted physical education, arts, music, social skills, and functional life skills.
• Project Thrive Early intervention program for infants and toddlers aged 6 weeks through 5 years with developmental and/or physical challenges, providing a stimulating environment with physical, occupational, and speech therapies at no cost based on eligibility.
• Children and Youth Therapy Services Outreach physical, occupational, and speech therapy services for children in the community, covering gait training, wheelchair assessment, sensory integration, cognitive training, oral-motor stimulation, and language skills development.
• Out-of-School Program (Schools Out) Year-round after-school, winter/spring break, and summer camp program primarily for children with disabilities, partially funded by The Children's Trust, featuring inclusive literacy, fitness, social skills, nutritional activities, creative arts, and summer swimming.
• Parenting Programs (Group Triple P) Positive parenting program partially supported by The Children's Trust that strengthens familial bonds and empowers caregivers of children with disabilities, offered annually at Kendall, Miami Gardens, and Florida City locations.
• Adult Services Employment Program Day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities providing Employment Services, Supported Employment, and Discovery career path programs, along with job training, living skills development, and socialization support across Miami-Dade County.
• Guardianship and Case Management Services Professional guardianship and case management for individuals who cannot act with total independence due to physical, mental, or developmental conditions, providing substitute decision-making, innovative case management, and hourly professional services.
• Special Needs Trust Services Federally authorized legal trust services under 42 U.S.C. §1396p that hold assets for disabled individuals while preserving eligibility for government benefits such as SSI and Medicaid, including Pooled Trusts, Qualified Income Trusts, Third Party Special Needs Trusts, and Settlement Preservation Trusts.
• Pooled Trust Services Pooled Special Needs Trust established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1396p(d)(4)(C) for persons with disabilities, allowing asset preservation without minimum deposit and maintaining eligibility for public benefit programs.
• Transportation Services Passenger transportation for program participants in Miami-Dade County using a fleet of 25 vehicles including 12-passenger vans and wheelchair-accessible units, supporting medical, nutritional, shopping, social service, educational, employment, social, and recreational trips.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 program participants served daily in Miami-Dade County
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Arc (National Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arc of South Florida is a local chapter of The Arc, one of the largest volunteer organizations in the U.S. Founded in 1953 by a group of concerned parents. The national organization provides advocacy support, best practices, and brand recognition while the local chapter delivers direct services to Miami-Dade County residents.
• The Children's TrustminorOthersPartial funding source for Group Triple P Positive Parenting Program and Out-of-School Program (after school, winter/spring break, and summer camp). The Children's Trust funds slots for children with disabilities and typically developing role models.
• Federal Transit Authority (FTA)coreOthersPrimary funder for transportation program. Funding ensures fleet stays up-to-date and vehicles reaching 'useful life' can be retired. Administered with local oversight by Florida Department of Transportation.
• Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)coreOthersLocal oversight for Federal Transit Authority transportation funding. Handles Title VI complaint jurisdiction and investigations for transportation services.
• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) - Florida Department of EducationcoreOthersThe Arc of South Florida is a qualified direct service provider under the Department of Education for Employment Services. Accepts referrals from VR to assist individuals with disabilities in finding and maintaining employment.
• Step Up For StudentsminorOthersScholarship program for private school tuition. ACE Academy participates in this program to assist families with tuition payments for their children with disabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AHRC NYC: Large New York-based nonprofit providing lifespan services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including education, day programs, residential, and clinical services. Comparable full-lifespan service model and scale.
• The Arc of Florida: State-level chapter of The Arc providing advocacy and direct services for individuals with IDD across Florida. Highly comparable mission, beneficiary base, and program mix to The Arc of South Florida, with overlap in Miami-Dade.
• ServiceSource: National nonprofit providing disability services including employment, community living, and vocational rehabilitation across multiple states. Comparable programmatic model and beneficiary base, though larger geographic footprint.
• Easterseals South Florida: Regional affiliate of Easterseals providing disability and special needs services including early intervention, therapy, vocational training, and case management in South Florida. Same service categories and target population.
• The WOW Center: Miami-based nonprofit providing adult day programs, employment support, and life skills training for individuals with developmental disabilities. Directly comparable to The Arc of South Florida's Adult Services division in the same geography.
• Goodwill Industries of South Florida: Regional Goodwill affiliate providing vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and job training for people with disabilities and other barriers. Overlaps with Arc's vocational rehabilitation and adult employment programs.
• United Cerebral Palsy of Miami-Dade (UCP of Miami): Miami-based affiliate of UCP providing direct services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including early intervention, therapy, and adult programs. Directly competes for similar IDD families in the same geography.

Regional players

• Jewish Community Services of South Florida: South Florida nonprofit providing case management, guardianship, and disability support services including some IDD-specific programs in the same region. Comparable in guardianship/case management functions.

Others

• The Arc of the United States: National parent organization of The Arc of South Florida. Provides advocacy, brand, and best-practice support rather than direct services. Parent/affiliate relationship rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Miami-Dade County Public Schools - Division of Special Education: Public school district's special education division, the dominant K-12 special education provider in the same geography. A much larger institutional competitor to ACE Academy with public funding and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/arcsofla
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcsofla
• Xx.com/arcsouthflorida

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The Arc of South Florida