St. Joseph's Foundation

What St. Joseph's Foundation does

St. Joseph's Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1968, headquartered in Charleville, Co. Cork, Ireland, providing integrated disability services to children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism across North Cork, South Limerick, and parts of Kerry. The organization employs 501-1,000 staff and serves over 1,900 individuals through a portfolio spanning Children's Disability Network Teams (early years resources, pre-school supports, home supports, specialist autism services), multidisciplinary clinical therapies (Physiotherapy, Speech & Language, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Music Therapy, Social Work, Nursing), and adult services (day programs, community services, respite, residential care, employment support). Key physical facilities include a Hydrotherapy Pool at the Charleville main campus and the Liskennett Equine Assisted Activity Centre in Granagh, Co. Limerick, which operates as a designated Horse Boy hub in partnership with the Horse Boy Foundation USA. All residential and respite services are HIQA-registered in compliance with Irish regulatory standards.

The Foundation operates under a hybrid revenue model combining HSE (Health Service Executive) block-grant funding for managed disability services with diversified charitable income streams including community donations, corporate fundraising, tax-efficient giving via Revenue's CHY3/CHY4 schemes, legacy bequests, and event-based fundraising (Golf Classics, Halloween Farm, Santa Experience, Better Life Cycle cycling events, Christmas Jumper Day). Distribution is primarily direct-to-service-user through HSE-funded program pathways, self/family referrals, and healthcare professional referrals, with supplementary outreach via the Alternative Respite Sundays program (over 150 families per weekend). The organization is governed independently with Michael Hegarty as CEO and subject to Freedom of Information Act requirements as a statutory agency. Strategic partnerships include Horse Boy Foundation USA (since 2015), Trinity Centre for Ageing & Intellectual Disability (2024), New Trails Learning Systems (2024), and Better Life Cycle (since 2014, €442,500 cumulative).

Technology infrastructure is modest and service-support oriented, comprising a website-based platform with online booking systems (SimplyBook for swimming sessions, Enthuse for fundraising events) rather than proprietary software or AI-driven systems. The Foundation's distinctive capabilities lie in its specialized therapeutic methodologies—particularly the Horse Boy Method and Movement Methods delivered at Liskennett—and its integrated multidisciplinary clinical model rather than in technology assets. Marketing and donor engagement operate through multi-channel community outreach including the sjf.ie website, Facebook (@SJFCharleville), Instagram, email newsletters, corporate partnerships, and volunteer programs including Best Buddies school initiatives.

Name

St. Joseph's Foundation

Legal name

St. Joseph's Foundation

Website

https://sjf.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

St. Joseph's Foundation is an Irish non-profit founded in 1968 that delivers integrated disability services—including clinical therapies, residential care, respite, and equine-assisted therapy—to over 1,900 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism across North Cork and South Limerick, primarily funded by the HSE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Social Care Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Intellectual disability care
• Autism therapy services
• Community health services
• Residential respite care

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleville

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. HSE Government Funding: Primary funding from Health Service Executive for disability services including children's disability network teams, clinical services, respite, and residential programs
2. Donations and Fundraising: Community donations, corporate fundraising, event-based fundraising including Golf Classics, Halloween Farm, Christmas Jumper Day, and regular fundraising through various channels
3. Legacy Gifts: Bequests and legacy donations from supporters leaving gifts in wills
4. Tax-Efficient Giving (CHY3/CHY4): Tax rebate scheme allowing the organization to claim back tax on donations over €250 through Revenue's Enduring Certificate (CHY3) or Annual Certificate (CHY4)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St. Joseph's Foundation delivers integrated disability services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism across North Cork and South Limerick, including Children's Disability Network Teams, multidisciplinary clinical therapies, adult day/residential/employment programs, and therapeutic facilities such as a Hydrotherapy Pool and Liskennett Equine Assisted Activity Centre. Services are primarily funded by HSE government grants and charitable donations, with access through public referrals.

Product overview

St. Joseph's Foundation is a single-service disability support organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of integrated services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism across North Cork and South Limerick. The portfolio centers on Children's Disability Network Teams providing early intervention and school-age support, paired with Adult Services encompassing day programs, community services, employment, and residential care. Key facilities include a Hydrotherapy Pool and Liskennett Farm (Equine Assisted Activity Centre) delivering the Horse Boy Method therapy program. The Foundation operates Sunday Alternative Respite programs and Specialist Autism Services, all delivered through clinical teams offering Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Music Therapy, Social Work, and Nursing Support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Children's Disability Network Teams Children's Disability Network Teams providing early years resources, progressing disability services, pre-school supports, home supports, and specialist autism services for children aged 0-18 with complex needs.
• Clinical Services for School Age Children Multidisciplinary clinical therapeutic services including Social Work, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Music Therapy for school-age children with disabilities.
• Adult Services Day services, community services, respite and residential services, employment programs, training and education, and clinical services for adults with intellectual disabilities, including Social Work, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology, Music Therapy, and Nursing Support.
• Hydrotherapy Pool Hydrotherapy pool facility at the Charleville main campus providing therapeutic swimming services for service users with disabilities.
• Liskennett Farm (Equine Assisted Activity Centre) Equine-assisted activity centre providing Horse Boy Method therapy, residential services, and day services, enabling children and adults on the autistic spectrum or with learning disabilities to learn, play and express themselves in a stress-free environment.
• Sunday Alternative Respite Alternative respite program offering extended facility access on Sundays for individuals with disabilities and their families, including swim sessions, equine activities, sports hall, all-weather pitch, and music therapy.
• Specialist Autism Services Specialist autism services providing assessments, interventions, and family support for individuals on the autism spectrum.
• Respite & Residential Services Residential and respite care services for children and adults with disabilities, with all residential and respite services HIQA registered as required by law.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,900 children and adults served across North Cork and South Limerick
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Trinity Centre for Ageing & Intellectual DisabilityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2024Partnership for a one-day conference on 'Longitudinal Dynamics in the Ageing of People with an Intellectual Disability: How Evidence from IDS TILDA Can Inform and Support Strategic Planning and Service Delivery.' Speakers included Prof. Mary McCarron and faculty from Trinity College Dublin School of Nursing and Midwifery.
• New Trails Learning SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2024Association with New Trails Learning Systems for presenting Horse Boy & Movement Methods demonstrations by Rupert Isaacson at Liskennett Equine Assisted Activity Centre. Supports training and awareness of therapeutic methods for autism spectrum support.
• Horse Boy Foundation U.S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership established in 2015 to develop Liskennett Equestrian Therapy Centre as a Horseboy hub enabling children and adults with autism or intellectual disabilities to Learn, Play and Express themselves in a therapeutic environment. The center implements Horse Boy Method, Horse Boy Learning, and Movement Methods therapeutic programs.
• Better Life CyclecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual cycling event partnership raising funds for St. Joseph's Foundation. Since 2014, has raised €442,500 and purchased 7 wheelchair-accessible mini-buses. Cyclists pledge minimum €100 sponsorship, 100% going to foundation services.
• Health Service Executive (HSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of Progressing Disability Services bringing together HSE, non-statutory providers (including St. Joseph's Foundation), parents, Department of Health, and Department of Education to deliver unified disability health services for children and young people nationally.
• Citizens Information BoardminorOthersReferenced for Freedom of Information Act information. The Citizens Information Board provides information about FOI workings and serves as an advocacy support referral for complaints processes.
• Charleville Lions ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation with Charleville Lions Club for JP McManus Pro Am fundraising event at Charleville Golf Club.
• HIQA (Health Information & Quality Authority)coreOthersRegulatory body responsible for registration, inspection, and monitoring of residential disability services against National Standards. All St. Joseph's Foundation residential and respite services are registered with HIQA.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cheshire Ireland: Cheshire Ireland delivers person-centred disability services across Ireland including independent living, residential, day, and community-based supports. Comparable as a national disability nonprofit with similar HSE partnership and service breadth.
• Western Care Association: Western Care provides intellectual disability services across the west of Ireland including residential, day, respite, and clinical supports. Directly comparable as a regional disability services nonprofit under the HSE-funded service delivery model.
• COPE Foundation: COPE Foundation is a Cork-based disability services nonprofit supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism through clinical therapies, residential, day services, and respite. Directly comparable regional peer in the same Munster geography.
• Brothers of Charity Services Ireland: Brothers of Charity operates disability and autism services across Ireland providing residential, day, clinical, and respite supports. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, geographic multi-region delivery, and HSE partnership model.
• KARE (Kildare): KARE provides intellectual disability services in the Midlands and East of Ireland with residential, respite, day, and clinical programmes. Directly comparable regional nonprofit with similar ID/autism service mix and HSE contractual model.
• SOS Kilkenny: SOS Kilkenny is a southeast Ireland disability services nonprofit providing early intervention, school-age supports, adult day, residential, and clinical services. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary regional provider under the same HSE PDS framework.
• Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services: Daughters of Charity operates multi-region disability services in Ireland including children's services, adult residential, day programmes, and clinical therapies. Directly comparable in scale and integrated service portfolio for ID/autism populations.
• Enable Ireland: Enable Ireland is one of Ireland's largest disability services nonprofits providing clinical therapies, residential, respite, and adult day services to children and adults with disabilities across multiple regions. Directly comparable as a multi-disciplinary disability service provider delivering similar HSE-contracted services.

Emerging players

• Acquired Brain Injury Ireland: ABI Ireland provides specialist rehabilitation and community-based services for people with acquired brain injury, an adjacent disability population requiring residential, clinical, and community supports. Comparable in clinical service model and HSE funding model though focused on a narrower disability niche.

Broad incumbents

• Rehab Group: Rehab Group is a large Irish nonprofit providing disability, health, and social inclusion services nationally, with broader scope including training, employment, and neurorehabilitation. Comparable at the disability services vertical level but operates as a much larger portfolio organisation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SJFCharleville
• Instagraminstagram.com/stjosephsfoundation
• Xx.com/sjf_charleville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sjfcharleville

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about St. Joseph's Foundation