Big Lakes Developmental Center

What Big Lakes Developmental Center does

Big Lakes Developmental Center is a Kansas-chartered nonprofit organization founded in 1973 that provides comprehensive services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across four counties in northeast Kansas (Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie, and Clay). The organization serves 200+ individuals with IDD through 17 residential homes, work centers, and community-based programs, and employs 180+ staff. Its service portfolio is organized around four core pillars: Day Services (nine programs including Work Skills, Community Integration, Life Skills Training, Farm & Work Development, Retirement Services, and Program Without Walls); Residential Services (Assisted Living I & II and Supported Independent Living); Employment Services (Center-Based, Work Group, and Community Employment placement with named employer partners including Hilton Garden Inn, Walmart, Taco Bell, Texas Road House, Olive Garden, and K-State Student Union); and Additional Services including on-site Health Services, Case Management, and a Transportation fleet. The organization also operates as the designated Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO) for its service region, functioning as the single point of eligibility determination and referral for Kansas developmental disability services, and runs the Big Lakes Foundation (established 1993) as a separate affiliated nonprofit for fundraising.

The underlying operational technology is minimal: there is no proprietary technology platform, no software product, and no mobile application. The asset base is physical — residential homes, training centers, accessible buses/vans/cars, and a 20-acre Zeandale farm acquired in 2010. Marketing and engagement occur through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, a monthly newsletter, an annual report, and participation in the InterHab Power Up! Conference and Advocacy Day.

The revenue model is dominated by government funding, with primary reliance on the Kansas Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver since the 1990s DD Reform Act, supplemented by Social Service Block Grants, State General Fund grants, county mill levies from the four served counties, transportation monthly fees, and donations/grants via the Big Lakes Foundation (which runs a '10 in 10 Endowment Campaign' targeting $10M in 10 years). Go-to-market is community- and referral-led: access to services flows through the CDDO eligibility system, while employer partnerships generate community employment placements. Customer segments are (1) individuals with IDD and their families/guardians, (2) Kansas state and county government payers, and (3) local businesses that hire placed clients. The organization is independent, governed by a Board of Directors, with no parent company, no private equity involvement, and no equity holders.

Name

Big Lakes Developmental Center

Legal name

Big Lakes Developmental Center, Inc.

Website

https://biglakes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Big Lakes Developmental Center is a Kansas nonprofit founded in 1973 that provides residential, day, employment, and health services to 200+ individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across four northeast Kansas counties, operating 17 residential homes and serving as the regional CDDO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Residential support services
• Community employment services
• Day habilitation programs
• Medicaid HCBS waiver

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Medicaid HCBS Waiver): Primary funding source since the 1990s DD Reform Act. The Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver approved for Kansas provides the main funding for services.
2. State and County Funding: Social Service Block Grant (SSBG), State General Fund Grants (SGF), State Aid through the State of Kansas, and County Mill Levy funds from the four counties (Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie, Clay) served.
3. Transportation Services Fee: Monthly fee charged for transportation services for day, employment, and residential program participants in Manhattan and Clay Center.
4. Donations and Grants: Big Lakes Foundation (established 1993) solicits donations, grants, and contributions to support operations and special projects. The 10 in 10 Endowment Campaign aims to grow the foundation to $10 million in 10 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Big Lakes Developmental Center is a nonprofit human services organization that provides supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across four counties in north-central Kansas. Its offerings include day services, residential services in 17 supported homes, employment services through 2 work centers, health services, case management, and transportation. The organization is funded primarily through Medicaid HCBS waivers, state and county contracts, and donations received through the Big Lakes Foundation.

Product overview

Big Lakes Developmental Center is a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie, and Clay counties in northeast Kansas since 1973. The organization offers an integrated portfolio of services organized around four core service areas: Day Services (offering nine distinct programs including Work Skills, Community Integration & Support Services, Life Skills Training, Farm & Work Development, Day Activities, Community Access & Activities, Retirement Services, Life Enrichment, and Program Without Walls), Residential Services (three program levels from Assisted Living I through Supported Independent Living), Employment Services (Center-Based Employment, Work Group Services, and Community Employment for competitive job placement), and Additional Services including Health Services, Case Management, and Transportation Services. The organization also operates the Big Lakes Foundation as a separate affiliated nonprofit for fundraising and operates a CDDO (Community Developmental Disability Organization) for eligibility determination and referral services in Kansas. The company serves over 200 individuals with IDD through 17 residential homes and 2 work centers, with a staff of 180+ employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Services Structured daytime habilitation, life-skills, and community participation programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities served in the four-county region.
• Residential Services Supported residential living in 17 homes across north-central Kansas, providing 24-hour staffed housing and personal care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Employment Services Vocational and supported employment programs delivered through 2 work centers in Manhattan, Kansas, helping individuals with disabilities develop job skills and obtain community employment.
• Health Services Health and nursing supports, including medication management and coordination of medical care, for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by Big Lakes.
• Case Management Individualized case management and service coordination for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including plan development, monitoring, and linkage to waiver and community resources.
• Transportation Door-to-door transportation for individuals served by Big Lakes, connecting residences, day programs, work centers, and medical appointments across Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie, and Clay counties.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ individuals with IDD receiving services as of 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hilton Garden InncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity employment partnership providing on-the-job training and employment opportunities for Big Lakes clients. Brad Everett, General Manager, notes the reliability and dependability of employees placed through Big Lakes.
• Taco BellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity employment placement for individuals with IDD. Willie Pitney, General Manager, describes Big Lakes employees as hard-working individuals willing to do what is asked of them.
• WalmartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity employment placement providing competitive employment opportunities for individuals with IDD at Walmart locations.
• Texas Road HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity employment placement for individuals with IDD at the local Texas Road House restaurant.
• InterHabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Association of I/DD Providers in Kansas. Big Lakes participates in the annual Power Up! Conference and Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. InterHab provides leadership development programs and annual awards recognizing excellence in IDD services.
• Little Apple HondaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partnership providing vocational training and employment opportunities for Big Lakes clients.
• ParkerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partnership providing contract work and employment opportunities for Big Lakes clients.
• From the Land of KansasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partnership supporting Kansas agricultural products and providing employment opportunities.
• US Army Corps of EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partnership providing employment opportunities for Big Lakes clients.
• Olive GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity employment placement for individuals with IDD.
• Dillon'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity employment placement for individuals with IDD.
• K-State Student UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity employment placement for individuals with IDD at the Kansas State University Student Union.
• Networks PlsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated with Networks Pls for their first-ever Giving Back Golf Tournament benefiting Big Lakes. The tournament took place on August 22nd at Stagg Hill Golf Club with fifteen teams participating.
• Oral Health KansasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOral Health Kansas visited Big Lakes to host their 'Feeling Good About Your Smile' educational sessions, providing oral hygiene education and free oral care supplies to clients.
• Sunflower Pilot Club of Manhattan, KSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers from the Sunflower Pilot Club of Manhattan, KS assisted Big Lakes clients with cookie decorating during Halloween Week celebrations.
• Eileen's Cookies MHKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business that provided cookies for Big Lakes' Halloween Week celebrations.
• Endulza Tu MomentominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal small business known for custom cakes and authentic Hispanic desserts that provided churros for DSP Week celebrations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Easterseals: National nonprofit federation providing disability services including residential, day, and employment programs. Highly comparable to Big Lakes as a mission-driven IDD services nonprofit, operating at significantly larger scale across many states.
• RHA Health Services: Nonprofit provider of IDD, behavioral health, and substance abuse services across multiple states. Operates residential, day, and community employment programs directly analogous to Big Lakes' service mix, with similar Medicaid HCBS funding reliance.
• Mosaic: Faith-based nonprofit serving people with IDD through residential, day, and employment services across the US and internationally. Closely comparable mission and service model to Big Lakes, with comparable reliance on Medicaid waivers and state funding.
• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): One of the largest US providers of home and community-based services for individuals with IDD and brain injuries. Directly comparable to Big Lakes across residential, day, and employment services, but operates as a private-equity-backed national platform rather than a nonprofit.
• Penn-Mar Human Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing residential, day, vocational, and supported employment services for people with IDD. Nearly identical service portfolio to Big Lakes at a larger scale, with comparable community employment placement partnerships.
• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit federation advocating for and serving people with IDD, with many local chapters operating direct service programs. Comparable in mission and advocacy orientation, though primarily a policy/advocacy body rather than a direct service operator like Big Lakes.

Broad incumbents

• BrightSpring Health Services: Publicly traded provider of home and community health services including pharmacy, hospice, and IDD support. Operates a much broader service portfolio than Big Lakes but shares the Medicaid HCBS-funded IDD services segment as a major business line.
• Help at Home: Large private provider of home and community-based services primarily serving Medicaid IDD and aging populations across multiple states. Comparable HCBS-funded service delivery model, but operates at significantly larger scale with private equity backing.

Others

• Bayada Home Health Care: Large nonprofit home health and personal care services provider serving adults and children with disabilities and chronic conditions. Comparable health services and case management components to Big Lakes' health services offering, but focused on in-home clinical care rather than residential/day programs.

Regional players

• LifeBridge of Kansas: Kansas-based nonprofit providing IDD services primarily in central and western Kansas. Comparable service model and Medicaid HCBS funding structure, but serves non-overlapping counties in a different geographic region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biglakes1
• Facebookfacebook.com/biglakesMHK
• Instagraminstagram.com/biglakes_mhk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-lakes-developmental-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Big Lakes Developmental Center