Shalva

What Shalva does

Shalva is an Israeli nonprofit association (עמותת שלוה) founded in 1990 by Kalman and Malki Samuels in Jerusalem, following the birth of their son Yossi who is deaf, blind, and has complex disabilities. The organization delivers a comprehensive continuum of disability services from birth through adulthood, anchored at the Shalva National Center in Jerusalem. Core programs include the Me and Mommy early intervention program (serving 1,600+ infants and mothers since 2000), inclusive day care, inclusive preschool, after-school center, overnight and weekend respite, summer camp, sports and wellness (inclusive basketball with Hapoel Jerusalem, inclusive football with Beitar Jerusalem and Beitar Nordia), the OHEV oral health program, family support, the Assessment Center, independent living apartments (100 residents in 25 apartments), vocational training, employment placement, and circle of support services.

Shalva's business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure combining donations, government support, social enterprise revenue, and international fundraising. Primary revenue streams include charitable contributions from individual donors and foundations routed through wholly-owned American, British, and Canadian Friends organizations; Israeli Ministry of Welfare contracts; and operating social enterprises — Cafe Shalva (a Kosher Mehadrin dairy restaurant), the Shalva Shop (e-commerce and physical retail selling handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, and books at 89-129 ILS), the Shalva Food Truck, the Shalva Band (performance ensemble that appeared at Eurovision 2019), and the Shalva Events Center (340-seat auditorium). The Shalva Institute, established in 2021, monetizes 35 years of accumulated methodology through professional courses, workshops, and conferences for therapists, educators, and medical professionals.

The go-to-market is community-led and fundraising-driven, leveraging multi-channel digital marketing, sporting challenges (Kilimanjaro climbs, international marathons with 260+ runners), and an international volunteer and donor network across the US, UK, and Canada. The organization's technology footprint is modest, centered on a WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliant website and standard accessibility infrastructure rather than proprietary software. The workforce of 101-250 staff serves more than 1,000 daily program participants and 150,000 annual visitors, with over 200 million viewers reached through the Eurovision broadcast and additional global visibility through the founder's 2022 Presidential torch-lighting at Israel's Independence Day ceremony.

Name

Shalva

Legal name

Shalva

Website

https://shalva.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Shalva is a Jerusalem-based Israeli nonprofit founded in 1990 that provides a full continuum of disability care and inclusion programs from birth through adulthood, complemented by social enterprises and three international Friends fundraising organizations in the US, UK, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Inclusion

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Respite Care for Families of Children with Disabilities (HSAAAIAL)

Keywords

• Disability care services
• Early intervention programs
• Inclusive education
• Vocational training
• Social enterprise

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue source from individual donors, foundations, and supporters globally through online donation platform and fundraising campaigns
2. Shalva Shop E-commerce: Sale of handcrafted products made by adults with disabilities including jewelry, ceramics, woodwork, and inspirational items
3. Cafe Shalva: Kosher dairy restaurant providing employment to individuals with disabilities, generating revenue while advancing inclusion mission
4. Events Center Rental: State-of-the-art conference and event facility hosting corporate events, seminars, performances, and private gatherings with full accessibility
5. Professional Courses and Training: Shalva Institute offers professional development courses for therapists, educators, medical professionals, and caregivers in disability care
6. Government Contracts and Welfare Ministry Recognition: Official recognition and support from Israeli Ministry of Welfare, providing funding for programs and services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shalva is an Israeli nonprofit organization that delivers a comprehensive continuum of disability care and inclusion programs from birth through adulthood, including early intervention, inclusive daycare, preschool, after-school, summer camp, sports, oral health, family support, independent living, vocational training, and employment services. The organization supplements its care programs with social enterprises (Cafe Shalva, Shalva Shop, Shalva Food Truck, Shalva Band, Events Center, Inclusive Workshops) and the Shalva Institute, which provides professional courses and conferences in disability care.

Product overview

Shalva is a non-profit organization (founded 1990) providing a comprehensive portfolio of disability care programs and social enterprises. The core offerings include early intervention, inclusive day care, preschools, after-school programs, overnight and weekend care, summer camp, sports and wellness, oral health, family support, independent living, vocational training, employment, and assessment services — spanning from birth through adulthood. Complementing the care programs are social enterprises including Cafe Shalva (Kosher dairy restaurant), Shalva Shop (handmade crafts retail), Shalva Food Truck (Jerusalem coffee truck), Shalva Band (musical ensemble), Shalva Events Center (conference venue), and Inclusive Workshops (wood, jewelry, and Dovido workshops). The Shalva Institute (est. 2021) serves as the educational arm, offering professional courses, workshops, and conferences to advance disability expertise globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shalva Shop: Social enterprise shop selling handcrafted products made by Shalva graduates with disabilities, offering jewelry, ceramics, and inspirational items.
• Cafe Shalva
• Shalva Band
• Shalva Food Truck
• Inclusion Park (פארק שלוה לשילוב)
• Shalva Institute (מכללת שלוה)
• Shalva Visitors Center
• Shalva Resource Center (מרכז מחקר וידע)
• OHEV Oral Health Program

Products and services

• Early Intervention – Me and Mommy Early intervention program for infants with disabilities and their mothers, providing professional therapy alongside strength, tools, and a supportive community from the very beginning.
• Inclusive Day Care (Rehabilitative Day Care) Rehabilitative day care program for young children ages 1-3 providing a supportive and inclusive environment with a professional team of educators, medical professionals, paramedical staff, and social workers.
• Inclusive Preschool Inclusive preschool program for children with and without disabilities, providing educational programming and developmental support.
• After School Center Afternoon activity program providing care, therapy, and enrichment activities for children after regular school hours.
• Overnight and Weekend Program Residential and weekend respite care program providing overnight accommodation and weekend support for individuals with disabilities.
• Summer Camp Annual summer camp program providing joyful experiences for children with disabilities along with typically-developing volunteer peers, including water sports, music, and inclusion activities.
• Sports and Wellness Sports and wellness programs including inclusive basketball and soccer teams partnering with professional sports clubs (Hapoel Jerusalem basketball, Beitar Jerusalem and Beitar Nordia football), providing weekly training and competition.
• OHEV Oral Health Program Oral health program providing dental clinic services, hygiene training, and personalized treatment plans for individuals with disabilities who face barriers to accessing dental care.
• Family Support Family support services including counseling, parent support groups, and guidance for families of individuals with disabilities.
• Independent Living in the Community Independent living apartments in the community for adults with disabilities, providing young people with opportunities for personal growth, friendship, and independent living.
• Vocational Training Vocational training programs preparing adults with disabilities for employment through skill development and workplace preparation.
• Employment Program Employment placement and support services helping adults with disabilities find and maintain meaningful jobs in the workforce.
• Circle of Support Support circle program providing ongoing assistance and community connection for adults with disabilities.
• Assessment Center Diagnostic and assessment center for people and children with disabilities, providing evaluation processes following professional protocols with multidisciplinary team recommendations.
• Shalva Institute Educational branch developing and delivering courses, professional workshops, and conferences on disability topics; publishing resources, providing consultation services, and engaging in global consortia to advance the field of disability through education.
• Cafe Shalva Kosher Mehadrin dairy cafe within the Shalva National Center in Jerusalem, providing inclusive employment for people with disabilities as managers, waiters, and hosts, serving Mediterranean-Italian fusion cuisine.
• Shalva Shop Online and physical retail store selling handmade products crafted by Shalva graduates with disabilities, including jewelry, ceramics, inspiration items, and gift packages.
• Shalva Food Truck Israel's first-ever food truck dedicated to integrating individuals with disabilities into the workforce. Located at 1 Shalva Road, Jerusalem, Kosher Mehadrin, serving coffee and freshly baked pastries.
• Shalva Band Musical band composed of talented musicians with disabilities performing at the highest musical standards. The band has performed at Eurovision 2019 and internationally, symbolizing inclusion and success.
• Shalva Events Center State-of-the-art event facility featuring a spacious auditorium (340 seats), breakout rooms, AV equipment, simultaneous translation, and full accessibility for individuals with disabilities, suitable for conferences, seminars, performances, and social gatherings.
• Inclusive Workshops Creative workshops including wood workshop, jewelry making workshop, and Dovido (stuffed toy) workshop, led by Shalva graduates, offering team-building experiences for groups and families in Jerusalem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 daily program participants receive care
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hebrew UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Established Israel's first Center for Disability Studies with multidisciplinary partners at Hebrew University. Dr. Tenenbaum leads this initiative. Hebrew University researchers collaborate on Shalva's academic publications and research.
• University of Delaware - National Leadership ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Yochanan Samuels graduated from the National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at University of Delaware, bringing international best practices to Shalva.
• Hadassah Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Long-standing partnership with Hadassah for medical advisory services, Down Syndrome Program, Center for Children with Chronic Diseases, and Center for Intellectual Disability and Development. Dr. Ariel Tenenbaum serves as Director of these centers while being Medical Advisor at Shalva.
• Jerusalem MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJerusalem Municipality allocated land at the entrance to the city for the Shalva National Center and named the street 'Shalva Road'. Partnership for inclusive community development.
• Jerusalem College of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItamar Shevach lectures at the Jerusalem College of Technology, contributing to academic knowledge sharing in disability care.
• International Academic Committee ExpertscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational committee including experts from Tel Aviv University, University of Haifa, University of Washington, McGill University, and others providing research guidance and academic credibility.
• Hapoel Jerusalem BasketballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for inclusive sports programs where athletes with and without disabilities train and compete together.
• Beitar Jerusalem and Beitar Nordia FootballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for inclusive football teams with athletes with and without disabilities training together.
• Bar-Ilan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYochanan Samuels earned LLM from Bar-Ilan University; Liat Rahat has MSW from Bar-Ilan; staff educational background.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Beit Issie Shapiro: Israeli leader in disability inclusion, providing therapy, early intervention, and inclusive education while exporting knowledge through international consulting. Closely comparable as a knowledge-exporting Israeli disability nonprofit with a therapy and inclusion focus.
• AKIM Israel: Israel's largest organization for people with intellectual disabilities, providing housing, employment, leisure, and advocacy across many branches. Comparable in mission, beneficiary base, and government-contract-funded model, though distributed across many sites rather than a single flagship campus.
• Matan Israel: Israeli nonprofit advancing inclusive education for children with disabilities within mainstream schools. Comparable in inclusive-education focus and professional training for educators, but narrower scope (education only) and dispersed delivery model.
• ALEH: Israeli nonprofit providing residential care, rehabilitation, and educational programs for children and adults with severe disabilities. Directly comparable as an Israel-based multi-site operator serving intellectual and developmental disabilities with government recognition.

Broad incumbents

• Special Olympics International: Global movement providing sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in the inclusive-sports programming (Shalva Judo, basketball, soccer) and global brand-building approach, but operates as a worldwide federation rather than direct service provider.
• JDC (Joint Distribution Committee): Global Jewish humanitarian organization operating extensive disability inclusion programs across the former Soviet Union, Israel, and Europe. Comparable as an international Jewish nonprofit addressing disability needs in multiple geographies with government partnerships.
• Easterseals: Large US nonprofit network providing disability services, vocational rehabilitation, and inclusive education across hundreds of affiliates. Comparable in mission scope and continuum of services but operates as a federated national network rather than an integrated single campus.

Regional players

• Yad Sarah: Israel's largest volunteer-based nonprofit providing assistive equipment, accessibility services, and community support, primarily to seniors and people with disabilities. Comparable as a large-scale Israeli nonprofit with a network of branches, government partnerships, and a strong volunteer force.
• Yachad / National Jewish Council for Disabilities: Orthodox Jewish organization providing programs, advocacy, and inclusion services for individuals with disabilities across North America. Comparable in diaspora-Jewish beneficiary base, advocacy model, and inclusive programming; primarily serves North America rather than Israel.

Emerging players

• Best Buddies International: Global nonprofit creating opportunities for friendship, employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable in employment and inclusive-sports programming; shares Shalva's mission-aligned earned-revenue approach through events and donor cultivation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/shalvavideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShalvaNationalCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shalva-national-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/shalvacenter
• TikToktiktok.com/@shalvacenter?lang=en
• Xx.com/shalva_center

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Shalva