The Arc of Tuscaloosa County

What The Arc of Tuscaloosa County does

The Arc of Tuscaloosa County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 63-0423005) chartered in 1957 as a local chapter of The Arc of the United States. Originally established to serve children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were excluded from public schools, the organization shifted its focus to adults aged 21 and older following the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and subsequent Alabama state legislation that extended educational entitlements to children with disabilities. Today the organization serves more than 250 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities residing in Tuscaloosa, Hale, Pickens, Bibb, and Greene Counties in Alabama.

Service delivery is organized around three operational programs. McGraw Center offers Day Services focused on community-based education, prevocational training, and adaptive daily living skills. Palk Enterprises provides Day Services that emphasize prevocational skills through sub-contract activities and mobile crews at community sites. PESE (Palk Enterprises Supported Employment) handles job placement and employment support, including applications, interview skills training, and ongoing job coaching for individuals placed in competitive community employment. The organization also operates a Project SEARCH High School Transition Program, the Sounds of Joy Choir (founded 1998), and Hourly Services that include personal care, in-home respite, and community accompaniment. Program operations run across four Tuscaloosa-area locations including headquarters at 1330 University Boulevard East, McGraw Center, Palk Enterprises at 3705 Resource Drive, and PESE at 711 Black Bears Way.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding mix rather than direct client billing. Streams include tax-deductible charitable contributions, membership dues, vehicle donations processed through a partnership with Melwood and The Arc U.S., an annual RV Parking fundraiser during University of Alabama football games ($200 per single game), Amazon Smile affiliate revenue, and likely state disability and Medicaid reimbursements supporting service delivery. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on referrals from families, schools, healthcare providers, and state disability services, plus advocacy-based membership recruitment and partnership-driven engagement through United Way of West Alabama events. Leadership is headed by Executive Director Delshonda Thomas, supported by program directors and coordinators across each program site.

Name

The Arc of Tuscaloosa County

Legal name

The Arc of Tuscaloosa County

Website

https://thearcoftuscaloosa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Arc of Tuscaloosa County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving more than 250 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across five Alabama counties through three programs: McGraw Center, Palk Enterprises, and PESE, offering day habilitation, prevocational training, and supported employment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Respite Care for Adults with Disabilities / Special Needs (HSABAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Respite Adult Day Programs (Short-Term/Drop-In) (HSABANAD)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Supported employment programs
• Day habilitation services
• Developmental disabilities advocacy
• Vocational training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tuscaloosa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting the nonprofit mission of providing services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity with EIN 63-0423005.
2. Vehicle Donations: Partnership with Melwood and The Arc U.S. to accept car and vehicle donations. Vehicle donations are tax-deductible and provide an additional revenue stream.
3. RV Parking Fundraiser: Annual RV parking fundraiser during University of Alabama football season at 1330 University Boulevard East. $200 per single game with proceeds supporting The Arc of Tuscaloosa County as a 501(c)(3) charity.
4. Membership Dues: Membership-driven organization where individuals pay dues to join and gain voting rights within The Arc's advocacy efforts and local advocacy work.
5. Amazon Smile: Amazon Smile program where purchases by supporters generate donations to the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Arc of Tuscaloosa County provides day habilitation, prevocational training, supported employment, personal care, in-home respite, and advocacy services to adults aged 21 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Services are delivered through three program centers (McGraw Center, Palk Enterprises, and PESE) and via in-home/community settings across five Alabama counties, with no direct charge to partner employers for job coaching and placement support.

Product overview

The Arc of Tuscaloosa County operates as a multi-program service organization offering day habilitation, supported employment, and hourly services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The core programs include McGraw Center (community-based education and daily living skills), Palk Enterprises (prevocational training through sub-contract work), and PESE (Supported Employment for job placement). Additional services include Project SEARCH (school-to-work transition), Sounds of Joy Choir (community performance program), Personal Care, Hourly Services, and In-home Respite Care. The organization also runs an RV Parking fundraiser for Alabama football games.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• McGraw Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 250+ adults annually across 5 counties
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MelwoodminorOthersCar donation partnership through which The Arc of Tuscaloosa County accepts vehicle donations. Melwood handles the vehicle donation processing. Donors can give cars, vans, trucks, boats with trailers, or RVs 24/7. Proceeds from vehicle sales support programs and services for individuals with disabilities.
• The Arc of the United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arc of Tuscaloosa County is a local chapter chartered by The Arc of the United States in 1957. Part of the nation's largest grassroots movement to build a better future for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The national organization provides support, resources, and a shared advocacy mission.
• United Way of West AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with United Way. The Arc participates in United Way events including Day of Action and Kickoff events. United Way logo appears on website footer indicating formal partnership.
• Project SEARCHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arc hosts a Project SEARCH High School Transition Program - a business-led, one-year, school-to-work program for students with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities in their last year of high school eligibility. Involves workplace immersion, classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship training.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Melwood: Large nonprofit providing employment, day, and residential services for people with disabilities; operates the vehicle donation program partnered with The Arc of Tuscaloosa. Comparable prevocational and supported employment model.
• United Cerebral Palsy of Alabama: Alabama-based nonprofit serving individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through day programs, employment, and advocacy. Direct peer operating similar disability services model in the same state.
• Easterseals Central Alabama: Alabama-based nonprofit providing services for individuals with disabilities including day programs, employment support, and personal care. Operates the same regional social services model for persons with disabilities in the same state.
• ADEC (Awakenings Disability Enterprises): Indiana-based nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through day services, supported employment, and residential programs. Similar multi-program disability services model.
• The Arc of Alabama: State-level chapter of The Arc providing advocacy and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Alabama. Direct peer as a fellow Arc chapter serving overlapping populations and programs.
• Goodwill Industries of West Alabama: Operates employment training and placement programs for individuals with disabilities in Tuscaloosa and surrounding counties. Overlaps on supported employment and job coaching services for the same target population.

Emerging players

• Project SEARCH (national program): National school-to-work transition program hosted by The Arc of Tuscaloosa. Comparable program-level peer offering workplace immersion and internship training for students with IDD.
• Best Buddies Alabama: National nonprofit with Alabama chapter focused on friendship, employment, and leadership programs for individuals with IDD. Partial overlap on employment and inclusion mission.

Others

• United Way of West Alabama: Strategic partner and community umbrella organization that channels donated funds to The Arc of Tuscaloosa. Serves as a complementary but not directly competing relationship in the regional social services ecosystem.

Regional players

• Alabama Department of Mental Health - IDD Services: State agency administering Medicaid IDD waiver services across Alabama. Represents a major funder and policy counterpart to local providers like The Arc of Tuscaloosa County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arctuscaloosa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-arc-of-tuscaloosa-al

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 The Arc of Tuscaloosa County