What Looking Glass does

Looking Glass Community Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, serving children, youth, adults, and families in Lane County. The organization operates a comprehensive continuum-of-care model spanning four core service areas: counseling (mental health and substance use treatment, including individual, family, group, EMDR therapy, and psychiatric services), homeless youth services (24/7 crisis hotlines, Station 7 emergency shelter, PEER 24-bed low-barrier overnight shelter, New Roads drop-in center, street outreach, and rapid rehousing), alternative education (Riverfront School and Career Center, Center Point School, plus GED programs), and residential services (Regional Crisis Center, group homes, and the Independent Living Program for foster youth). Supporting programs include the Job Training Program (WIOA-funded, ages 14-24), Lane-Metro Youth Corps (conservation work crews, ages 16-21), and Skilled Trades Program (construction training in partnership with Square One Villages, which builds tiny homes for the unhoused). All services are provided at no cost to clients.

The organization has 101-250 employees distributed across at least 9 physical locations in Eugene, Springfield, and Cottage Grove, plus a distributed network including 30+ schools with embedded therapists, 68 Safe Place sites (the only such program in Oregon), and a 24/7 BHRN hotline. Underlying technology is non-differentiated: third-party WellSky for case management, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms, and standard productivity/website tools. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is fundamentally human service delivery.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Income streams include federal grants (HUD for Rapid Rehousing), state funding (Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority, Youth Development Division), county contracts (Lane County HHS for behavioral health and crisis response), private foundation grants (PacificSource, Trillium, Spirit Mountain, Reser Family Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation), corporate sponsorships, individual donations (including stock and planned giving), and annual fundraising events. The go-to-market is community-led: services are accessed via direct walk-in, crisis hotline, school partnerships, street outreach, and word-of-mouth referral networks spanning law enforcement, social service agencies, and community organizations. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors/Stewards and currently led by President and CEO Craig Opperman (with Chad Westphal also referenced as President and CEO in a 2026 blog post, indicating recent leadership transition).

Name

Looking Glass

Legal name

Looking Glass Community Services

Website

https://lookingglass.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Looking Glass Community Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 in Eugene, Oregon, providing free counseling, homeless youth services, alternative education, residential care, and workforce programs to children, adults, and families across Lane County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: Primary revenue stream from federal grants (HUD funding for Rapid Rehousing), state funding (Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority, Youth Development Division), and private foundation grants (PacificSource Foundation, Trillium Community Benefit Initiative, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Reser Family Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation).
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Monetary donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and community organizations. Includes stock donations, planned giving programs, and in-kind donations of clothing, tents, sleeping bags, and other supplies.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual and recurring fundraising events including Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures breakfast fundraiser, auction gala dinner, and various community events (Grilled Cheese fundraiser, lip-sync events).
4. Government Contracts: Contracts with Lane County and state agencies for specific services including behavioral health, homeless youth services, and crisis response programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Looking Glass is a nonprofit social services organization providing a comprehensive continuum of care for children, youth, adults, and families in Lane County, Oregon. Core offerings include mental health and substance use counseling, emergency shelter and drop-in services for homeless and runaway youth, alternative education and GED programs, residential treatment, job training, conservation work crews, and crisis intervention hotlines—all delivered free of charge to clients.

Product overview

Looking Glass is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programs for youth, adults, and families in Lane County, Oregon. The core service areas include Counseling (mental health and substance use treatment), Homeless Youth Services (emergency shelter through Station 7 and New Roads drop-in center), Education (three alternative schools: Riverfront School & Career Center, Center Point School, and New Roads School), and Residential Services. Supporting programs include the Job Training Program, Lane-Metro Youth Corps, Skilled Trades Program, Independent Living Program, PEER Shelter, Regional Crisis Center, and Behavioral Health Resource Network. These programs work together to provide a continuum of care from crisis intervention through education, employment training, and housing stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counseling Program Comprehensive counseling services providing mental health and substance use treatment to children, teens, adults, and families in Lane County, including individual, group, family therapy, psychiatric services, EMDR, and bilingual Spanish services. Free of charge to eligible clients.
• Station 7 Emergency Youth Shelter Emergency youth shelter and Safe Place coordinator for Lane County, providing 24-hour crisis intervention, safe transportation, and emergency shelter services for youth in crisis. The only Safe Place program in Oregon with 68 partner sites.
• New Roads Drop-In Center Drop-in center for homeless youth providing day use services, laundry facilities, resources, case management, food, and connections to housing support programs.
• PEER Shelter Low barrier homeless youth overnight shelter providing up to 24 beds with on-site medical services and mental health supports.
• Riverfront School & Career Center Cognia-accredited alternative high school and career center providing academic success for at-risk students, GED programs, and job training services.
• Center Point School Oregon Department of Education registered private alternative school offering academic services in a therapeutic environment for middle and high school aged youth with emotional, neurological, and behavioral challenges.
• Job Training Program WIOA-funded program operated in partnership with Lane Workforce Partnership providing case management, educational support, career exploration, and paid work experiences for youth ages 14-24, with up to 200 hours of paid work experience.
• Lane-Metro Youth Corps Conservation work crew program providing paid summer and year-round work experience to Lane County youth ages 16-21, operated in partnership with Oregon Youth Conservation Corps since 1990.
• Skilled Trades Program Construction training program educating students in general construction, basic carpentry, electrical skills, and hands-on applications, with partnership with Square One Villages for tiny home building.
• Regional Crisis Center Crisis intervention facility providing emergency residential services and 24/7 support for youth and families in acute situations.
• Independent Living Program Services helping foster youth transition to independence including housing placement assistance, life skills training, and ongoing case management support.
• Behavioral Health Resource Network (BHRN) 24/7 hotline and support services for individuals experiencing behavioral health or addiction crises, connecting them to appropriate care resources via (800) 422-2595.
• Rapid Rehousing Program HUD-funded rapid rehousing program providing rent assistance for up to 2 years for homeless youth, with 70% of clients remaining in their rental units for more than 1 year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of Rapid Rehousing clients remain housed for more than 1 year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FOOD for Lane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency relationship where Looking Glass staff pick up fresh produce and food products from FOOD for Lane County's warehouse to supplement meals for residential programs and New Roads drop-in center clients.
• Square One VillagescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLooking Glass Skilled Trades students build tiny homes for Square One Villages' Opportunity Village to benefit the unhoused population of Lane County. Three tiny homes completed as of 2026.
• Lane Workforce PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIOA-funded Job Training Program operated in partnership with Lane Workforce Partnership serving youth ages 14-24 with workforce goals.
• Oregon Youth Conservation CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLane-Metro Youth Corps operated in partnership with Oregon Youth Conservation Corps to provide conservation work experience for youth ages 16-21.
• Army Corps of EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLane-Metro Youth Corps summer crews work on conservation projects for Army Corps of Engineers nursery near Fern Ridge, including creating fire lines and habitat restoration.
• Boys & Girls Club of Emerald ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership where Looking Glass therapists and skill builders are embedded at Boys & Girls Club locations 2-3 days per week to provide therapy and skill-building services.
• National Safe PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program partnership where Looking Glass Station 7 is the Safe Place coordinator for Lane County. The only Safe Place program in Oregon with 68 partner sites.
• Trans*PonderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ resource organization that partners with Looking Glass Station 7 for Pride celebrations and resource sharing.
• HIV AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for HIV/AIDS resources that collaborates with Looking Glass Station 7 on community events.
• Jasper MountaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-agency Crisis Response Team partnership between Looking Glass, Jasper Mountain, and The Child Center operating in Lane County for over 15 years.
• The Child CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-agency Crisis Response Team partnership providing 72-hour crisis stays at Jasper Mountain Safe Center for youth in crisis.
• Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiverfront School operated in partnership with HECC for alternative education services.
• Senator James Manning / Oregon Black Education FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenator Manning attends graduation ceremonies and awards $1,000 scholarships from his foundation to outstanding graduates.
• Bushnell UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBushnell University students volunteer for community service days helping with landscaping at Looking Glass transitional living apartments.
• Kelly Lyon PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography services donated for graduation event, taking photos and creating video.
• Austin FolnagycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty owner who leases entire housing complexes exclusively to Looking Glass transitional living youth clients, with 2-3 properties providing 10+ units.
• LTD (Lane Transit District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLTD buses serve as Safe Place sites providing free transportation to Station 7 for youth in crisis.
• Dari MartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Dari Mart locations serve as Safe Place partner sites with trained staff to help youth get to Station 7.
• McDonaldscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll local McDonalds locations serve as Safe Place partner sites.
• UO Kappa Delta SororityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term fundraising partner with annual grilled cheese fundraiser and Shamrock lip-sync events. Raised over $90,000 for Station 7 since founding.
• Fisherman's MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted fundraising events during Safe Place Week with percentage of sales donated to Looking Glass.
• TacovoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted fundraising events during Safe Place Week with percentage of sales donated to Looking Glass.
• Levi StraussminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEugene office employees participated in Community Day volunteering at Looking Glass locations for landscaping and painting.
• Vinnie's Smokin' BBQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood truck parked at Riverfront School weekly where students receive paychecks while gaining work experience through workforce readiness grant program.
• Eugene 4J School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-school therapy program with Looking Glass therapists embedded in 30+ district schools.
• Springfield School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for suicide prevention presentations and in-school therapy services.
• Bethel School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-school therapy program with Looking Glass therapists.
• Junction City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-school therapy program with Looking Glass therapists.
• Lane County Waste ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuamash Prairie Wetland Project collaboration with Lane-Metro Youth Corps offering conservation work experience.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Janus Youth Programs: Portland-based nonprofit operating alternative schools, residential programs, and homeless youth services across Oregon. Comparable to Looking Glass in service continuum but serves a different geography, reducing direct competitive overlap while remaining a programmatic peer.
• Morrison Child & Family Services: Portland-based nonprofit providing mental health, residential, and educational services for at-risk youth and families in Oregon. Comparable in COA-accredited continuum-of-care model and Oregon state-grant funding base, but operates in the Portland metro area.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Club of Emerald Valley: Eugene-based youth development nonprofit serving at-risk youth in Lane County. Looking Glass already partners by embedding therapists and skill builders at Boys & Girls Club sites, and both organizations compete for the same school-district and foundation funding pools.
• White Bird Clinic: Eugene-based nonprofit providing crisis intervention, behavioral health, and human services to vulnerable populations. Comparable to Looking Glass in Lane County footprint, mental health service line, and reliance on state/county grants.
• Jasper Mountain: Lane County, Oregon-based residential treatment and crisis services provider for at-risk youth. Already operates as Looking Glass's Crisis Response Team partner under a 15+ year multi-agency collaboration, making it the closest operational peer in geography and service mix.
• Cascade Health: Eugene-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, counseling, and employee assistance programs in Lane County. Directly comparable to Looking Glass Counseling Program in service mix, target population, and county-level funding sources.
• Catholic Community Services of Lane County: Faith-based nonprofit in Lane County providing family services, housing support, and case management. Comparable to Looking Glass in social-services mission and government-grant funding model within the same regional competitive set.
• The Child Center: Lane County-based child and family services organization and Looking Glass's existing Crisis Response Team partner. Highly comparable in mission, county footprint, and youth-crisis service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National nonprofit operating residential, educational, and behavioral health programs for at-risk youth and families. Comparable in COA-accredited continuum-of-care and in-school services model, but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Volunteers of America Oregon: Affiliate of the national Volunteers of America network providing behavioral health, housing, and youth services across Oregon. Comparable in social-services mission and federal/state funding streams, with broader geographic reach than Looking Glass.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZgQNbH-MWG3NvUhscI7kUA
• Xx.com/LGLaneCounty

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries10 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 Looking Glass