Capstone Learning

What Capstone Learning does

Capstone Adaptive Learning & Therapy Centers, Inc. (d/b/a Capstone Learning) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in 1953 and headquartered in Pensacola, Florida. It provides a continuous lifecycle of programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from infancy through adulthood, including early intervention and inclusive charter-school classrooms (Capstone Academy, with two campuses in Pensacola and Milton), Adult Day Training, Student Skills Training / Transition Employment Center, three Residential Group Homes with 24/7 nursing oversight, and integrated speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Its operational backbone is a workforce of approximately 11–50 staff (per self-reported firmographics), supported by a Board of Directors chaired by Brian Bell and led by President/CEO Dr. Sherry A. White (since April 1991).

The organization's revenue model is diversified across four streams: (i) government contracts and service fees tied to Medicaid waivers and state-funded developmental disability programs (the largest recurring base, tied to client enrollment), (ii) grants and donations from foundations and individuals — including Sunday's Child, International Paper Foundation, and Melba Bayes Meyers Charitable Trust — with nearly 90% of monetary donations flowing directly to services, (iii) retail revenue from Capstone Pet Place (a pet supply store operating as on-the-job vocational training) and Capstone Pet Barkery (a pet-treat bakery), and (iv) tuition and childcare fees, partially offset by free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten delivered through the Early Learning Coalition of Florida. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by referrals from families, healthcare providers, school districts, facility tours, charity fundraising events (golf tournaments, clay shoots, wine galas), and social enterprise operations. The core technology is an evidence-based curriculum and integrated therapy model rather than a proprietary software platform, and no AI/ML systems, patents, or API surfaces are disclosed.

Name

Capstone Learning

Legal name

Capstone Adaptive Learning & Therapy Centers, Inc.

Website

https://capstonelearning.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Capstone Learning is a Pensacola-based nonprofit founded in 1953 that provides educational, therapeutic, residential, and day-training programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities across Northwest Florida, supplemented by vocational social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Alternative / Nonpublic Schools (NPS) & Placements (EDAKAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education Vocational & Transition Programs (18–22) (EDAKAAAG), Specialized Residential Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAH), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Early childhood education
• Adult day programs
• Residential group homes
• Vocational rehabilitation training

Headquarters

HQ city

Pensacola

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts & Service Fees: Capstone generates revenue through government-funded programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, including Medicaid waivers and state-funded services. These provide recurring revenue based on client enrollment and service delivery.
2. Retail Operations (Pet Place & Barkery): Capstone operates retail stores (Capstone Pet Place) and a pet treat bakery (Barkery) that generate revenue through product sales. These social enterprise operations also serve as job training programs for clients.
3. Grants & Donations: The nonprofit receives grants from foundations (International Paper Foundation, Sunday's Child, Melba Bayes Meyers Charitable Trust) and individual donations. Nearly 90% of monetary donations go directly to services.
4. Tuition & Childcare Fees: Capstone Academy provides early childhood education services. Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) is free through the Early Learning Coalition, but after-school and summer care services may generate fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Capstone Learning (Capstone Adaptive Learning & Therapy Centers, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization that delivers educational, therapeutic, residential, and vocational programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Northwest Florida. Core offerings include Adult Day Training, Student Skills Training/Transition Employment Center, three Residential Group Homes with 24/7 nursing oversight, and Capstone Academy campuses providing inclusive early childhood education with integrated speech, occupational, and physical therapies. Social enterprise operations (Capstone Pet Place retail store and Capstone Pet Barkery pet treat bakery) double as hands-on vocational training programs for clients.

Product overview

Capstone Adaptive Learning & Therapy Centers is an inclusive educational organization offering a coordinated suite of programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from infancy through adulthood. The core offerings include Adult Day Training, Student Skills Training/Transition Center with Capstone Pet Barkery, Residential Group Homes, and Capstone Academy with integrated therapy services. Capstone Pet Place provides retail job training while the Pet Barkery offers culinary and business experience. Programs are delivered across multiple locations in Northwest Florida with emphasis on independence, employment preparation, and quality of life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Capstone Pet Barkery: Pet treat baking business providing job training for students with developmental disabilities who bake and sell nutritious pet treats via local vendors
• Capstone Pet Place
• Transition Employment Center (TEC)

Products and services

• Adult Day Training Daily living skills, basic education, socialization, nursing care, medical oversight, mobility activities, and personal care services for youth and adults with complex developmental disabilities, with programs operating in both Pensacola and Milton.
• Student Skills Training Program / Transition Employment Center High School-to-Work Transition Program for students ages 14-22 with developmental disabilities, providing social skills development, continued education, and practical job training through the Capstone Pet Barkery to prepare for independent adult life.
• Residential Group Homes Three group homes for adults with developmental disabilities located in safe neighborhoods in Escambia County, providing family-centered care with 24-hour nursing oversight seven days a week and community activity participation.
• Capstone Academy (Therapy Clinic) Inclusive early childhood education for children ages three to five, offering early intervention, Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, and Individualized Education Plans that integrate speech, occupational, and physical therapies during classroom hours; campuses in Pensacola (opened 2004) and Milton (opened 2010).
• Capstone Pet Place Retail pet supply store in Pensacola open Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm that doubles as an on-the-job training program teaching students retail operations, customer service, inventory management, and hosting pet adoption events with local rescue organizations.
• Capstone Pet Barkery Job training business where students with developmental disabilities bake and sell nutritious pet treats through local vendors, farmers' markets, and area businesses, developing practical culinary, business, and interpersonal skills.
• Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Free state-funded pre-kindergarten program for children who turn four years of age by September 1, offered through the Early Learning Coalition of Florida with certified teachers and small class sizes at Capstone Academy campuses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 90% of monetary donations go directly to providing services (only 10% to administrative costs)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

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 core, minor and major.

• EXIT Realty N.F.I. & EXIT Realty Corp. InternationalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEXIT Realty hosts annual charity golf tournaments benefiting Capstone. Through the Spirit of EXIT Charitable Program, EXIT Realty Corp. International matches net funds raised by EXIT Associates benefiting Capstone up to $6,500. Annual golf tournament has been held for 16 years.
• Local Animal Rescue Organizations and SheltersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents at Capstone Pet Place partner with local animal rescue organizations and shelters to host pet adoption days, finding loving homes for unwanted cats and dogs. Part of the vocational training program.
• Southern Glazer's Wine and SpiritsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided wine pairings for the 'Wine a Little, Dine a Lot' Charity Wine Pairing Gala 2023 event.
• Early Learning Coalition of FloridamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Early Learning Coalition of Florida, Capstone Academy offers Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) to children who turn four years of age by September 1. This free program is part of state-funded early education initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Regional players

• Sunrise Community of Northeast Florida: Florida-based nonprofit providing supported employment, adult day training, and residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable integrated service model in a different Florida region.
• The Arc of Florida: State-level Arc organization supporting Floridians with developmental disabilities through advocacy, employment, residential, and education services. Operates in many of the same Florida counties as Capstone.
• UCP of Central Florida: Florida-based affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy — the same national network Capstone was formerly affiliated with under its prior name (United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Florida). Provides charter schools, therapy, residential, and adult day services.
• Easterseals of the Emerald Coast: Regional Florida-based Easterseals affiliate serving the Emerald Coast/Panhandle region with disability services including early intervention, therapy, and adult day programs. Closest geographic peer to Capstone.

Others

• Melba Support Services: Australian nonprofit providing supported employment, accommodation, and day services for people with intellectual disabilities. Operates social enterprises analogous to Capstone's Pet Barkery/Pet Place for vocational training and revenue diversification.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing services for people with disabilities, including early childhood education, therapy, vocational training, and residential support. The broadest-scale direct peer with a comparable integrated service model.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Large diversified provider of home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including residential, day, and therapy services across multiple states. A scaled incumbent in the same service category.
• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): National operator of home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including residential group homes, day programs, and supported employment. Comparable continuum-of-care model at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• The Arc of the United States: National nonprofit advocacy and direct-service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates similar programs including day services, residential support, employment training, and early intervention.
• AbilityFirst:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CapstoneLearning
• Xx.com/capstonelearn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capstone-adaptive-learning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Capstone Learning