Esperanza Community Services
Esperanza Community Services is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that delivers specialized education, adult life programs, residential living, and evidence-based clinical therapies (ABA, speech, OT, social work) to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Esperanza Community Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Esperanza Community Services
- Legal name
- Esperanza Community Services
- Website
- https://esperanzacommunity.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Esperanza Community Services is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 that delivers specialized education, adult life programs, residential living, and evidence-based clinical therapies (ABA, speech, OT, social work) to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Esperanza Community Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability and Human Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Severe Behavior Treatment & Crisis/De-escalation Services (ABA) (EDAKAHAK), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK)
Keywords
Where Esperanza Community Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Esperanza Community Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations from supporters, partners, and community members. Fundraising events include the annual Gala and September Soirée.
- Medicaid-funded Services: Government funding through Medicaid programs to support services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Grants: Foundation and government grants including $30,000 Merit Grant from Impact Grants Chicago (2025) and $585,230 Chicago Recovery Grant (2022).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Esperanza Community Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Esperanza Community Services provides specialized education, therapeutic, and residential supports to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. Its three core program areas are a Therapeutic Day School, Adult Life Programs (community day, residential CILA, and home-based supports), and Behavioral & Clinical Services including ABA therapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and social work.
Product overview
Esperanza Community Services offers a comprehensive suite of human services programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates three core program areas: Therapeutic Day School providing specialized education from elementary through transition age; Adult Life Programs encompassing community day services, residential living (CILA homes), and home-based supports; and Behavioral & Clinical Services featuring Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and social work services. Additional specialized offerings include the Bridge NextSteps transition program, WorkReady vocational program, and Esperanza Art Studio. These programs work together to support individuals across the lifespan, from early intervention through adulthood, building skills, independence, and meaningful community participation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Therapeutic Day School Specialized education and therapeutic supports for students from elementary through transition age with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them develop skills, confidence, and independence.
- Adult Life Programs Community day programs, residential living (CILA group homes), and home-based supports that foster independence, life skills, and meaningful community participation for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Behavioral & Clinical Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Ronaldo able to stay full day at school after previously being picked up early due to behavioral issues
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Esperanza Community Services
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Esperanza Community Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Esperanza Community Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Special Kids FoundationcorePartnered to fund the sensory room space for students with sensory dysfunction. The space was created by Esperanza occupational therapists with support from this foundation.
- BCBS Illinois (Blue Cross Blue Shield)coreCorporate partner supporting Esperanza's mission and programs.
- HumanacoreCorporate healthcare partner supporting Esperanza's mission.
- Northern TrustcoreFinancial services partner supporting Esperanza's mission.
- McDonald'sminorCorporate partner that has spread holiday cheer at Esperanza events.
- Chicago Booth (University of Chicago Booth School of Business)minorAcademic partner supporting Esperanza's mission.
- Mutual of AmericaminorFinancial partner supporting Esperanza's mission.
- First American BankminorBanking partner supporting Esperanza.
- Marsh McLennanminorProfessional services firm partner.
- IACminorCorporate partner.
- IBEW Local 701minorLabor union partner supporting Esperanza.
- InsperityminorHR services partner.
- TarryTownminorCommunity partner.
- West TownminorCommunity partner in West Town neighborhood.
- Men's WearhouseminorCorporate partner.
- MATTERminorHealthcare innovation hub partner represented on Esperanza's Board of Directors.
- CCC Intelligent SolutionsminorTechnology partner represented on Esperanza's Board of Directors.
- Savills North AmericaminorCommercial real estate firm partner; Board Development Chair from Savills.
- AccentureminorProfessional services partner; board member Leanne Price from Accenture.
- AGW Demeter ConsultingminorConsulting partner; board member James Ninni from AGW Demeter Consulting.
- The Alexander GroupminorConsulting partner; board member Georgina Thiebaud from The Alexander Group.
- The Solutions ProjectminorPartner organization; board member Brian Macias.
- Westminster CapitalminorInvestment firm partner; board member Randal Lukac Jr. from Westminster Capital.
- TempusminorTechnology company partner; Board Chair Lauren Novak from Tempus.
- Aetna (CVS Health)minorHealthcare partner; Board Secretary Bret Deyo from Aetna.
- BMO U.S.minorFinancial services partner; Resource Development Chair Juan Pablo Márquez from BMO U.S.
- TransUnionminorCredit reporting partner; Treasurer & Finance Chair Barbara Obregon from TransUnion.
- SmithbucklinminorAssociation management partner; Associate Board member Brett Schneider.
- RUSH MD Anderson Cancer CenterminorHealthcare partner; Associate Board member Anuri Nwagwu.
- Verdant PlaceminorCommunity partner that donated flower bed and seedlings for Esperanza's garden project.
- Ignite Glass StudiosminorEvent venue partner hosting the September Soirée fundraising event.
- Compass CaresminorVolunteer partner that painted the sensory room.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Esperanza Community Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mosaic: National faith-based nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and behavioral services for individuals with IDD. Comparable service mix with broader geographic reach; similar Medicaid and donation funding model.
- AHRC New York City: Nonprofit serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through day programs, residential services, schools, and clinical therapies. Comparable lifespan service model and Medicaid-funded nonprofit structure.
- Community Options: National nonprofit supporting people with IDD through residential, employment, and community-based programs. Comparable mission and operating model; broader geographic footprint gives it scaling advantages.
- Little City Foundation: Chicago-area nonprofit serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, through residential, vocational, and clinical programs. Most directly comparable peer given shared Chicago geography and lifespan IDD service model. Notably, Esperanza's CEO Jayne Drew previously led Little City Foundation.
- RISE Services: Provider of residential, behavioral, and community-based services for individuals with IDD and autism. Comparable ABA therapy, residential, and adult day programs; broader multi-state footprint.
- Marklund: Illinois-based nonprofit providing residential, therapeutic day school, and adult day programs for individuals with IDD and autism. Directly comparable on service mix, Illinois geography, and nonprofit structure with Medicaid and donation funding.
Broad incumbents
- Sevita Health: Large national provider of home and community-based services for individuals with IDD and behavioral health needs, including host homes, day programs, and ABA therapy. Much larger scale and broader geographic reach than Esperanza.
- Easterseals: National nonprofit federation providing disability and autism services including therapy, education, and adult services. Broader in scope and geographic reach than Esperanza but overlaps on therapeutic, educational, and family-support offerings.
Emerging players
- GiGi's Playhouse: National network of Down syndrome achievement centers offering therapeutic, educational, and family-support programs. Comparable in mission and nonprofit structure; narrower disability focus (Down syndrome) but Esperanza CEO Jayne Drew previously led GiGi's Playhouse.
Regional players
- ServiceNet: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing residential, clinical, and employment services for individuals with mental health and developmental disability needs. Comparable service model but concentrated in the Northeast.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Esperanza Community Services social profiles
Digital presenceEsperanza Community Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Esperanza Community Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Esperanza Community Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Esperanza Community Services 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 Esperanza Community Services
What does Esperanza Community Services do?
Esperanza Community Services provides specialized education, therapeutic, and residential supports to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. Its three core program areas are a Therapeutic Day School, Adult Life Programs (community day, residential CILA, and home-based supports), and Behavioral & Clinical Services including ABA therapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and social work.
Is Esperanza Community Services a public or private company?
Esperanza Community Services is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Esperanza Community Services founded?
Esperanza Community Services was founded in 1969. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Esperanza Community Services based?
Esperanza Community Services is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Esperanza Community Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are medicaid-funded Services and grants.
Who are Esperanza Community Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mosaic, AHRC New York City, Community Options, Little City Foundation, RISE Services and Marklund. Broad incumbents are Sevita Health and Easterseals. GiGi's Playhouse is listed as an emerging player. ServiceNet is listed as a regional player.
Does Esperanza Community Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Esperanza Community Services.
What industry is Esperanza Community Services in?
Esperanza Community Services's product category is Disability and Human Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAKAG, Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language), with a secondary code of EDAKAHAK, Severe Behavior Treatment & Crisis/De-escalation Services (ABA). Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8300.