Circle of Friends

What Circle of Friends does

Circle of Friends is a Eugene, Oregon-based 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in 2018 that delivers specialized K-12 education, accessible transportation, workforce transition programming, mental health services, and extended-year programming for children and youth with complex disabilities across Lane County. The organization's core offering, Circle of Friends School, is an approved Oregon Department of Education provider that delivers individualized education to medically complex students in partnership with three regional school districts (Springfield, South Lane, Creswell). Students receive integrated services including 560 minutes of daily individualized instruction, 99 hours of nursing and medically informed care per month (including 74 hours of G-tube feeding support), adaptive equipment access (a 18-piece inventory with replacement value above $120,000), AAC communication supports, and mobility assistance (98+ daily transfers). Supporting programs include the Belonging Bus accessible transportation initiative (10 wheelchair positions, funded via Lane Transit District Section 5310 federal funding), Summer Camps and After School Programs, the Workforce Transition & Employment Pathways Program (a community-facing café model serving 25-30 youth ages 16-24 in its first year), and Mental Health Services.

Circle of Friends generates revenue through three principal streams: contracted payments from regional school districts for specialized educational placements under IEP arrangements, federal government grants (notably Section 5310 transportation funding administered via Lane Transit District), and individual donations and community fundraising (Tax ID 84-4434766). Pricing is not tuition-based; the organization operates as a non-tuition nonprofit funded via these blended public and philanthropic sources. The go-to-market is community-led, with family referrals and district partnerships serving as the primary acquisition channel and a small marketing footprint spanning a blog, organic social media, an email newsletter, and a Printful-powered merchandise boutique.

Operationally, the organization is led by Executive Director Michael Ramon Aguilar, with Education Director Jill Murray, Co-Founder and Lead Educator Jenn Davis, and Business Manager Trevor Monreal forming the executive team, supported by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Courtney Leonard since April 2025. The organization employs approximately 15 staff and serves students and families exclusively within Lane County, with no disclosed plans for geographic expansion beyond the region. No proprietary technology platform, AI capability, or app-based delivery mechanism is disclosed; service delivery is in-person, school- and community-based.

Name

Circle of Friends

Legal name

Circle of Friends

Website

https://coforegon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Circle of Friends is a Eugene, Oregon-based nonprofit founded in 2018 that operates an Oregon Department of Education-approved K-12 school and community programs for children and youth with complex disabilities in Lane County, funded by district contracts, federal grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Child and Youth Services (624110), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Related Therapy Services (Speech, Occupational, Physical, Feeding) (EDAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Special education services
• Disability support programs
• Accessible transportation services
• Workforce transition programs
• Nonprofit education provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on individual donations from community members, with explicit calls to action for financial support. Donations fund programming including the Belonging Bus initiative, adaptive equipment, and operational costs. Tax ID provided: 84-4434766.
2. School District Partnerships: Circle of Friends partners with regional school districts (Springfield, South Lane, Creswell) as an approved Oregon Department of Education provider, receiving payment for educational services provided to students with complex disabilities through individualized education programs.
3. Government Funding: The organization receives federal transportation funding (Section 5310 from Lane Transit District) for accessible transportation initiatives, demonstrating successful government grant acquisition for programmatic expansion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Circle of Friends is a Lane County, Oregon-based nonprofit organization that delivers a K-12 individualized education program and integrated community programs for children and youth with complex disabilities. Its core services include the Circle of Friends School (specialized K-12 placement with AAC, nursing, mobility, and feeding supports), the Belonging Bus accessible transportation service, summer and after-school enrichment programming, the Workforce Transition & Employment Pathways Program for youth ages 16-24, and Mental Health Services. Programs are delivered directly and in partnership with regional school districts as an approved Oregon Department of Education provider.

Product overview

Circle of Friends operates as a multi-service nonprofit organization providing a integrated ecosystem of programs for children and youth with complex disabilities. The core offerings include Circle of Friends School (a K-12 individualized education program), the Belonging Bus (accessible transportation), Summer Camps & After School Programs (extended learning), the Workforce Transition & Employment Pathways Program (inclusive job training), Mental Health Services, and a Boutique (merchandise store). These programs work together to provide continuous support from education through workforce transition, with each service designed to address different stages and needs of youth with disabilities and their families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Belonging Bus: Accessible school bus initiative providing transportation for youth with disabilities to access community-based learning opportunities. Funded through Lane Transit District Section 5310 program with 10 wheelchair positions.
• Workforce Transition & Employment Pathways Program
• Summer Camps & Extended School Year Programming
• Mental Health Services

Products and services

• Circle of Friends School K-12 individualized education program serving students with complex disabilities, providing integrated therapies, AAC communication supports, mobility assistance, and medically informed care in partnership with regional school districts.
• Belonging Bus Accessible school bus service providing transportation for students with complex disabilities, featuring 10 wheelchair positions to enable community-based learning opportunities.
• Summer Camps & After School Programs Extended school year and enrichment programming including adaptive recreation, sensory-based learning, AAC activities, community outings, and therapeutic supports for youth with complex disabilities.
• Workforce Transition & Employment Pathways Program Inclusive workforce development initiative for youth with disabilities ages 16-24, featuring a community-facing café and social enterprise for hands-on job training, paid work experiences, and employment preparation.
• Mental Health Services Mental health and emotional support services integrated into the educational program for students with complex disabilities.

Named customers3 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Circle of Friends School is an approved educational provider through the Oregon Department of Education, enabling the organization to work collaboratively with school districts to expand access to appropriate educational placements.
• Springfield School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional school district partnership providing specialized educational placement for students with complex disabilities. Circle of Friends serves as an approved provider through the Oregon Department of Education.
• South Lane School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional school district partnership. Special Education Director Chad Hamilton, Ph.D. stated: 'Circle of Friends has become an essential partner in meeting that challenge.' The district relies on Circle of Friends for specialized programming.
• Creswell School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional school district partnership. Director of Student Services Amy Aguero stated: 'Their personalized approach ensures that each student receives the support they need to thrive academically and socially.'
• North Pole StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with an organization supporting artists with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. North Pole Studio artists create artwork featured on Circle of Friends materials, reflecting shared values in disability pride and creative expression.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Easterseals is a national network providing disability services including education, therapy, workforce, and community-based programs across many states. It is a broad incumbent in the same overall space; while not a Lane County-specific peer, it represents the type of scaled, multi-service disability-services organization Circle of Friends could become.
• Best Buddies International: Best Buddies runs one-to-one friendship, leadership, and workforce programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities nationally and internationally. Comparable to Circle of Friends' Workforce Transition & Employment Pathways Program and broader community-inclusion mission.

Direct peers

• The Vanguard School: The Vanguard School in Pennsylvania serves students with complex communication, physical, and learning needs through individualized programming, therapy integration, and AAC supports. It is comparable in mission, target population, and integrated therapy/education delivery model.
• Monarch School: Monarch School in San Diego serves students with autism and other developmental disabilities through individualized education, therapy, and transition services, including post-secondary pathways. Its K-12-to-transition continuum overlaps directly with Circle of Friends' school plus Workforce Transition programming.
• Bridge School: Bridge School in Hillsborough, California operates a year-round school program for children with severe speech and physical impairments, using assistive technology and individualized instruction. It is the closest national analog to Circle of Friends' integrated clinical-educational model for medically complex students.
• Giant Steps: Giant Steps in Illinois is a private school for students with autism and other developmental disabilities that combines education, therapy, and life-skills programming in a low-ratio setting. Closely mirrors Circle of Friends' integrated education-plus-therapy approach for students with significant needs.
• The Helix School: The Helix School in California is a non-public school serving students with autism and complex learning profiles through individualized instruction and embedded therapy supports. It is comparable in being a specialized non-public school partnering with public districts to serve complex-needs students.
• SEARCH Day Program: SEARCH Day Program in New Jersey is an educational and therapeutic program for children and young adults with autism and developmental disabilities, integrating academics with intensive therapy services. Comparable in operating philosophy and population served to Circle of Friends.

Regional players

• AbilityPath: AbilityPath in the San Francisco Bay Area operates inclusive early intervention, education, and adult programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable service mix (education + transition + community inclusion), but operates in a different geography than Circle of Friends.

Others

• Project SEARCH: Project SEARCH is a national transition-to-employment program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, embedded at host businesses. Comparable to the Workforce Transition & Employment Pathways Program's employment-readiness focus, though it is a program model rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circle-of-friends-oregon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Circle of Friends