Courageous Community Services

What Courageous Community Services does

Courageous Community Services (CCS) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1963 and headquartered in Whitehouse, Ohio, that delivers disability-focused programs to children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities (including Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and ADHD) across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Its flagship offering is Courageous Acres, an inclusive summer camp running day programs ($350/week) and overnight programs ($1,400/week private pay, or $853.65–$1,055.25/week billed through Ohio Medicaid waivers) with on-site nursing, ADA accessibility, and a 1:4 staff ratio. Beyond camp, the portfolio includes Courageous Connections (an adult day support program launched in 2023 serving adults 18+ in small groups of four), People First of Toledo (a self-advocacy group), the Peer Buddies inclusive mentoring program, and wheelchair-accessible Community Gardens.

CCS runs on a hybrid revenue model combining fee-for-service camp tuition, Medicaid waiver billing (Individual Options, Level One, and SELF Waivers administered by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and Lucas County Board), corporate sponsorships (including Diamond Season Sponsor Master Fluid Solutions), recurring monthly donor commitments at $15/$50/$125 tiers via Zeffy, and event-based fundraising (Poker Run, Awards Gala, Dipping Dogs, Treehouse Raffle). The organization employs a small permanent staff of approximately 7 (Executive Director Laura Kuhlenbeck, Director of Fund Development Alissa Hunt, Program Coordinator Ada Blattner, Billing Specialist Laurie Beaverson, People First Facilitator Quinn Thomas) supplemented by seasonal camp counselors and volunteers, with a 6-person working board. CCS has no proprietary technology product; it operates Active Network for camp registration, Constant Contact for email outreach, and Zeffy for donation processing. The organization rebranded from Camp Courageous to its current name and announced a strategic alliance with Anne Grady Services, another Northwest Ohio disability services provider.

Name

Courageous Community Services

Legal name

Courageous Community Services, Inc.

Website

https://ccsohio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Courageous Community Services is a 1963-founded Ohio non-profit serving individuals with developmental disabilities in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan through inclusive summer camp (Courageous Acres), adult day support (Courageous Connections), self-advocacy, and community programs funded by camp fees, Medicaid waivers, donations, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Inclusive Recreation

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Inclusive summer camp
• Adult day programs
• Self-advocacy programs
• Respite care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitehouse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp Fees - Private Pay: Direct fee-for-service revenue from private pay campers. Day camp sessions cost $350/week, overnight camp costs $1,400/week, and Peer Buddy program costs $150/week. $100 application fee charged.
2. Medicaid Waiver Billing: Bills Ohio Medicaid waivers (Individual Options Waiver, Level One Waiver, SELF Waiver) for Community Respite units. Base rate $170.73/day ($853.65/week), medical add-on $178.41/day ($892.05/week), behavioral add-on $211.05/day ($1,055.25/week). Rates determined by state of Ohio.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through Zeffy platform and event-based fundraising. Recurring monthly giving programs offered at $15, $50, and $125/month levels. Proceeds from Poker Run, Treehouse Raffle, Dipping Dogs, and Gala events.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events, programs, and facility improvements. 2025 sponsors include Master Fluid Solutions (Diamond Season Sponsor), Taylor Automotive, Reynolds Corners Rotary, and others. Sponsorship opportunities for Awards Ceremony, Poker Run, and Dipping Dogs events.
5. Scholarship Fund: The Honorable Charles D. Abood Memorial Scholarship Fund provides camp scholarships to individuals who lack financial means. Funded by endowment contributions from Abood family and community donors. 100% of contributions go directly to scholarships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Courageous Community Services is a private nonprofit that delivers inclusive recreational, social, and life-skills programs for individuals with developmental disabilities in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Its core offerings include Courageous Acres (a fully ADA-accessible summer camp with day and overnight sessions), Courageous Connections (an adult day support program for adults 18+ with I/DD), People First of Toledo (a self-advocacy group), Peer Buddies (an inclusive peer-mentoring program), and Community Gardens (wheelchair-accessible plots open to the public).

Product overview

Courageous Community Services (CCS) operates as a non-profit service organization offering a portfolio of disability-focused programs, primarily centered around Courageous Acres (summer camp) and Courageous Connections (adult day support). These core programs are complemented by People First of Toledo (self-advocacy), Peer Buddies (inclusive peer mentoring), and Community Gardens. The organization provides inclusive recreational experiences, life skills training, and advocacy services for individuals with disabilities throughout Northwest Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Courageous Acres Summer Camp
• Courageous Connections Adult Day Support
• People First of Toledo
• Peer Buddies Program
• Community Gardens

Quantifiable outcome

• 150-250 campers served annually during summer camp season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Metroparks ToledocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership allowing CCS campers to participate in outdoor activities including gardening, fishing, tree climbing, and other recreational activities at Metroparks Toledo locations. Enables camp programming expansion and nature education opportunities.
• Anne Grady ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance between two disability service organizations. Organizations have announced partnership and press release confirming collaboration. Both serve the Northwest Ohio disability community.
• Holland LibraryminorOthersProvides meeting space for People First of Toledo monthly meetings. Library is located in Holland, Ohio and offers Community Room B for advocacy group gatherings.
• University of Toledo Disability Studies ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Amplify! Self-Advocacy Summit conference. University of Toledo Medical Center co-organizing event with People First of Toledo and other local organizations.
• APSI OhiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Amplify! Self-Advocacy Summit conference for people with disabilities. Partnership for disability advocacy conference programming.
• LifeCourse NexusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Amplify! Self-Advocacy Summit. Contributes expertise to conference on disability topics including supported decision making.
• National Federation of the BlindminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Amplify! Self-Advocacy Summit. Represented in conference organizing committee for disability advocacy event.
• Opportunities For Ohioans with DisabilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for Amplify! Self-Advocacy Summit. Contributes to conference programming on disability employment and services.
• Women In The Wind – Toledo ChapterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoordinates Courageous Poker Run event. Motorcycle club organizes ride benefiting Courageous Acres summer camp program.
• Viking CycleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides prizes for Poker Run events including motorcycle gear and backpack. Contributes to event success through in-kind donations.
• AWAH (Animal Welfare Association of Holgate)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLogo featured at Dipping Dogs event. Partnership for dog swim event promotion and animal community engagement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals National: National disability services network providing adult day services, camping, employment programs, and advocacy. Operates comparable program mix to CCS but at much larger geographic and budgetary scale.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Summer Camp Program: National nonprofit operating a network of accessible summer camps for individuals with neuromuscular disabilities. Serves a similar function (residential camp experiences for people with disabilities) at significantly larger scale.
• The Arc of Ohio: Statewide parent organization of The Arc chapters in Ohio. Provides advocacy, policy, and programmatic support to local chapters like the Arc of Northwest Ohio, operating in the same disability services space as CCS.
• Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI): Statewide Ohio organization providing resources, training, and support for individuals with autism and low-incidence disabilities. Operates in the same disability services space with a broader institutional footprint.

Direct peers

• The Arc of Northwest Ohio: Regional chapter of The Arc serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Northwest Ohio, with overlapping mission, catchment area, and advocacy footprint with CCS.
• Anne Grady Services: Northwest Ohio disability services organization that just announced a strategic alliance with CCS. Both serve individuals with developmental disabilities in the same region, making them direct operational peers and now formal partners.
• Camp Cheerful (Achievement Centers for Children): Ohio-based summer camp and year-round recreational programs for children and adults with disabilities. Closely comparable to Courageous Acres as a disability-focused camp program in the same state.

Regional players

• Easterseals Redwood: Disability services nonprofit operating in the broader Ohio/Midwest region, providing adult day services, residential support, and advocacy for people with disabilities—directly comparable service mix to CCS's Courageous Connections and adult programs.
• Capabilities: Northwest Ohio provider of adult day support, vocational, and residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Directly overlaps with the Courageous Connections adult day support service line.

Emerging players

• Mended Hearts / Mended Little Hearts: National nonprofit providing peer support and recreational programs for individuals with congenital conditions and disabilities. Tangentially comparable as a disability-focused nonprofit serving families through community-based programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CourageousCommunityServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/courageous-community-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Courageous Community Services