Ability Montana
Ability Montana is a 501(c)(3) Center for Independent Living serving 500+ people with disabilities monthly across 14 Southwest Montana counties via free peer mentoring, self-directed personal care, veteran-directed care, advocacy, outdoor recreation, and information and referral programs delivered through three offices and virtual channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersHelena, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ability Montana does
Ability Montana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Center for Independent Living (CIL) founded in 1981 in Helena, Montana, that delivers free programs and services to people with disabilities across 14 counties in Southwest Montana. The organization operates three physical offices (Helena, Butte, Bozeman) plus a virtual service layer via Zoom, serving an estimated 500+ Montanans monthly through six core service lines: Peer Mentoring, Self-Directed Personal Care, Veteran Directed Care Program, Advocacy, Outdoor Recreation, and Information & Referral. Over 60% of staff and 65% of board members have personal experience with disability, which is both a structural CIL governance requirement and the foundation of its peer-led service model.
The organization monetizes through a hybrid government-grant-plus-donation model rather than customer pricing. Revenue streams include partial funding from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, federal grants, private grants, and tax-deductible individual and corporate donations. All programs are offered free of charge to remove financial barriers, a model the organization describes as essential because 28.3% of people with disabilities in Montana live below the poverty level. Annual fundraising is anchored by the Evening of Empowerment Gala (tickets $150, tables from $1,000) and tiered event sponsorships up to $10,000.
The technology stack is intentionally minimal: standard web platforms, Zoom, podcast hosting, email marketing, and event management. The organization's defensibility derives from its federally-designated CIL status, its 45-year brand in Southwest Montana, deep referral partnerships with Disability Rights Montana, Montana Vocational Rehabilitation, the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, and veteran organizations, and its owned media assets (Disability Voices Podcast, Ability Blog, recurring ADA Celebration events). The go-to-market motion is community-led: peer referrals, healthcare and social-service provider referrals, events, and workshops, with no transactional sales motion.
Ability Montana firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ability Montana
- Legal name
- Ability Montana
- Website
- https://abilitymt.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ability Montana is a 501(c)(3) Center for Independent Living serving 500+ people with disabilities monthly across 14 Southwest Montana counties via free peer mentoring, self-directed personal care, veteran-directed care, advocacy, outdoor recreation, and information and referral programs delivered through three offices and virtual channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ability Montana industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Living and Disability Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)
Keywords
Where Ability Montana is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Ability Montana business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations from supporters who contribute to the nonprofit mission. Donations are tax-deductible as Ability Montana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Flexible giving options including one-time gifts, multi-year pledges, check, and Venmo.
- Government Grants and Funding: Partial funding from Montana Department of Health and Human Services, federal grants, and private grants. This public funding enables the organization to offer free programs to people with disabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | All Programs - Free of Charge |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ability Montana product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ability Montana is a Center for Independent Living that delivers free programs and services to people with disabilities across Southwest Montana, including peer mentoring, self-directed personal care, veteran directed care, advocacy, outdoor recreation, information and referral, workshops and training, plus the Disability Voices podcast and community events. Services are funded by donations, government grants, and fundraising events and delivered through three offices (Helena, Bozeman, Butte) and virtual channels.
Product overview
Ability Montana is a Center for Independent Living (CIL) nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services to help people with disabilities live independently. The organization operates as a unified service portfolio centered on five core pillars: peer mentoring, self-directed personal care, veteran-directed care, advocacy, and transition services. Core programs include Peer Mentoring where trained mentors share lived experience; Self-Directed Personal Care and Veteran Directed Care programs enabling individuals to control their own caregiving; Advocacy services for self, individual, and systems advocacy; Outdoor Recreation offering adaptive activities like fishing, skiing, and camping; and Information & Referral services. Additional offerings include workshops and training events, the Disability Voices podcast, and community events like the annual Let's Talk Disability monologue production and ADA Celebration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Peer Mentoring
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ Montanans with disabilities served monthly across all programs
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ability Montana
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ability Montana technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ability Montana partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- City of BozemancorePartnership to host the 1st Annual Bozeman ADA Celebration at Lindley Park. Collaboration includes accessible trail development, ribbon-cutting ceremony for new trails, and joint promotion of accessibility and inclusion in Bozeman. Event includes mayor's proclamation recognizing ADA Month.
- Montana Tech AuditoriumminorVenue partner for Let's Talk Disability productions in Butte. The Montana Tech Auditorium hosts the annual monologue production featuring stories of people with disabilities.
- Carroll College FLEX TheatreminorVenue partner for Let's Talk Disability productions in Helena. The FLEX Theatre at Carroll College hosts the annual monologue production.
- Camp BullwheelcoreRecreation facility partner for adaptive fishing trips, river rafting, Living Well class graduation trips, and camping experiences. Located on the Madison River, the camp provides accessible outdoor recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.
- Valley BankminorPartnership for Financial Fitness workshops providing financial literacy education to people with disabilities. Valley Bank staff participate in teaching workshops covering budgeting, savings, credit, and financial planning.
- Butte Native Wellness CenterminorOutpatient clinic serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Partnership involves cross-referrals and community connections for disability services.
- Rural Institute for Inclusive CommunitiescoreUniversity of Montana program providing assistive technology through MonTECH. Partnership involves referrals for assistive technology devices and resources for people with disabilities.
- Big Sky 55+minorOrganization of Montanans 55 and older working on policy reforms. Partnership involves advocacy collaboration and legislative engagement around aging and disability issues.
- The Friendship CenterminorHelena-based organization serving those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Partnership involves referrals and support for individuals with disabilities facing these challenges.
- Montana Vocational RehabilitationcoreState program helping people with disabilities obtain careers. Cross-referrals for employment services, job training, and vocational support.
- Blacktail Health (formerly Southwest Montana Community Healthcare)minorFederally-funded healthcare center providing primary medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health services. Partnership involves referrals for holistic healthcare access.
- American Legion Post 10minorVeteran organization in Deer Lodge providing peer support and community building for veterans. Partnership supports veteran-specific programming and outreach.
- Disability Rights MontanacoreState protection and advocacy organization for disability rights. Partnership involves Section 504 advocacy, HCBS budget cut opposition, and systemic advocacy collaboration.
- Summit Independent Living (Missoula)minorIndependent living center providing Orientation and Mobility Program. Partnership involves referrals for blind and low vision services.
- Catalyst MontanacoreAdvocacy organization for Medicaid expansion and healthcare access. Partnership involves Get Involved podcast series and legislative advocacy during Montana legislative sessions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ability Montana competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Summit Independent Living Center: Missoula-based Montana Center for Independent Living offering peer mentoring, independent living skills, advocacy, and transition services. Directly comparable as a fellow Montana CIL serving overlapping functions; Ability Montana already refers clients to Summit's Orientation & Mobility Program.
- Montana Vocational Rehabilitation: State DPHHS program providing vocational rehabilitation, employment services, and job training for Montanans with disabilities. Comparable in mission-adjacent services (employment, training) and serves the same population; Ability Montana refers clients to this program.
- Disability Rights Montana: State protection and advocacy organization for Montanans with disabilities, providing legal advocacy, systems advocacy, and Section 504 enforcement. Closely comparable peer working in disability rights and advocacy; Ability Montana partners with DRM on legislative initiatives.
- North Central Independent Living Services (NCILS): Center for Independent Living covering north-central Montana with the same five core CIL services (peer mentoring, advocacy, ILS training, information & referral, transition). Direct functional peer operating in the same regulatory and funding environment.
- Living Independently for Today (LIFT): Montana Center for Independent Living providing peer support, advocacy, independent living skills, and transition services in Eastern Montana. Directly comparable mission and federally-funded CIL model serving a different region of the same state.
Broad incumbents
- Access Living: Chicago-based Center for Independent Living and nationally prominent disability rights organization offering peer mentoring, advocacy, transition, and independent living services at much greater scale. Comparable as a leading CIL with broader programmatic, policy, and national footprint.
- The Arc: National disability advocacy and services organization focused on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with state/local chapters providing advocacy, family support, and community living services. Comparable mission and advocacy orientation but broader national reach.
- Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including independent living, employment, assistive technology, and recreation across the U.S. Comparable as a large-scale disability services nonprofit competing for similar donor and grant dollars, though with a broader service portfolio.
Others
- Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (University of Montana): UMT-based center providing disability research, training, and assistive technology through MonTECH. Not a direct competitor; partner organization that Ability Montana refers clients to for assistive technology devices and resources.
- National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership organization representing Centers for Independent Living and the Independent Living Movement. Not a direct competitor; serves as the umbrella advocacy and technical assistance body for Ability Montana and all other CILs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ability Montana social profiles
Digital presenceAbility Montana financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ability Montana leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Ability Montana funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ability Montana M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ability Montana
What does Ability Montana do?
Ability Montana is a Center for Independent Living that delivers free programs and services to people with disabilities across Southwest Montana, including peer mentoring, self-directed personal care, veteran directed care, advocacy, outdoor recreation, information and referral, workshops and training, plus the Disability Voices podcast and community events. Services are funded by donations, government grants, and fundraising events and delivered through three offices (Helena, Bozeman, Butte) and virtual channels.
Is Ability Montana a public or private company?
Ability Montana is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ability Montana founded?
Ability Montana was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ability Montana based?
Ability Montana is headquartered in Helena, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ability Montana make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Funding.
Who are Ability Montana's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Summit Independent Living Center, Montana Vocational Rehabilitation, Disability Rights Montana, North Central Independent Living Services (NCILS) and Living Independently for Today (LIFT). Broad incumbents are Access Living, The Arc and Easterseals. Others are Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities (University of Montana) and National Council on Independent Living (NCIL).
Does Ability Montana have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ability Montana.
What industry is Ability Montana in?
Ability Montana's product category is Independent Living and Disability Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech). Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8300.