The Arc of Delaware County

What The Arc of Delaware County does

The Arc of Delaware County, formally the Delaware County Advocacy & Resource Organization (DCARO), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 and headquartered at 740 S. Chester Road in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The organization advocates for and provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across all ages within Delaware County, PA, employing approximately 30 staff. Its service portfolio includes Adult Advocacy (navigation of Individual Support Plans, employment, housing, and benefits), Education Advocacy for children and families, Legislative Advocacy at local/state/national levels, Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) under Pennsylvania's Office of Developmental Programs since 1999, and a Social/Recreational Program offering seasonal dances, sports leagues, day trips, and social clubs. Specialized programs include the Coalition for HCBS, the Preschool-To-Prison Pipeline project, and the Divided Attention documentary funded by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council.

The organization operates on a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining individual/family membership dues ($25 and $50 annually, respectively), unrestricted donations (including United Way Donor Choice Program #00348), and restricted government grants. Grant funding flows primarily from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council and the U.S. Administration for Community Living. All advocacy and recreational services are delivered free of charge to individuals and families. Distribution occurs exclusively through direct service delivery within Delaware County, with no geographic expansion beyond the county. Marketing and outreach rely on the organization's website, community events, volunteer recruitment, and partnerships with local school districts, colleges, churches, and the three-tier Arc national network (Arc Community Trust, Arc of PA, Arc of the United States).

DCARO holds a structurally significant position as the designated IM4Q quality monitor for Delaware County—a state-authorized role surveying individuals on Medicaid Waiver services—and benefits from nearly seven decades of accumulated local brand equity, recognized in 2026 as the "Best Nonprofit in Delaware County." Leadership includes Executive Director Eileen MacDonald, Director of Operations and Advocacy Michelle Welman, IM4Q Coordinator Javier Salazar, and a Board of Directors chaired by President Tara Humma. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed revenue figures, and operates without venture capital, private equity, or public market exposure.

Name

The Arc of Delaware County

Legal name

Delaware County Advocacy & Resource Organization

Website

https://thearcofdelco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arc of Delaware County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1956 that provides free advocacy, social/recreational programming, and quality monitoring services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

OT Evaluations, Assessments & IEP/504 Planning Support (EDAKAFAM)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Intellectual disability support
• Special education advocacy
• Independent monitoring services
• Community inclusion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Swarthmore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Individual memberships at $25/year and family memberships at $50/year provide revenue and entitle members to advocacy services and social/recreation program participation.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations to support advocacy services and programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
3. Government Grants: DCARO receives grant funding from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council and the U.S. Administration for Community Living to fund specific programs such as the ESEL Program (Divided Attention documentary) and Preschool-to-Prison Pipeline Project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Arc of Delaware County (operating as DCARO – Delaware County Advocacy & Resource Organization) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free advocacy services, systems navigation, and community-based programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Core offerings include Adult Advocacy, Education Advocacy, Legislative Advocacy, Independent Monitoring (IM4Q), a Social/Recreational Program, the Coalition for HCBS, and targeted initiatives such as the Preschool-to-Prison Pipeline project and the ESEL/Divided Attention documentary program. All services are provided at no cost to individuals and families.

Product overview

The Arc of Delaware County (DCARO) is a nonprofit advocacy organization offering a coordinated portfolio of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The core offerings include Adult Advocacy Services (providing information, referral, and systems advocacy), Education Advocacy Services (for children), Legislative Advocacy, Independent Monitoring (IM4Q) for quality assessment, and a Social/Recreational Program. Special initiatives include the Coalition for HCBS (Home and Community Based Services), the Preschool-To-Prison Pipeline project ('Interrupting the Handprints to Handcuffs Trajectory'), and the ESEL Program producing the Divided Attention documentary film. Additional resources include Charting The LifeCourse tools. All services are provided free of charge to individuals and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Advocacy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Active in Delaware County since 1999 for IM4Q program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Pennsylvania Office of Developmental ProgramsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999State government partnership for IM4Q (Independent Monitoring for Quality) program implementation. The Multi-year Plan called for creation of local independent teams to monitor quality of services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
• Arc Community TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with Arc Community Trust, part of the national Arc network providing resources and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Arc of PAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level affiliation with Arc of Pennsylvania, providing advocacy resources and coordination at the Commonwealth level.
• Arc of the United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation with Arc of the United States, connecting local advocacy efforts to national disability rights movement.
• Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of DCARO's ESEL Program (Divided Attention documentary) and Preschool-to-Prison Pipeline Project through grant number 2001PASCDD-02, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
• Delco OID (Office of Intellectual Disabilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Delaware County Office of Intellectual Disabilities for coordination of services and IM4Q program implementation.
• Delco DSIGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Delaware County DSIG (Disability Specific Interest Group) for specialized resources and support.
• Local Institutions of Higher Learning, Churches, and Community ClubsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer partnerships with local colleges, universities, churches, and community organizations to support social/recreational programming and community inclusion.
• Institute on Disabilities at Temple UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Temple University's Institute on Disabilities for research, training, and resources.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• JEVS Human Services: Philadelphia-area nonprofit providing supports and services for individuals with disabilities, including case management, employment supports, and community-based services. Comparable as a regional peer serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through state-funded HCBS and waiver programs.
• Disability Rights Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania's federally funded protection and advocacy organization, serving individuals with disabilities through legal advocacy, information/referral, and systems advocacy. Directly comparable as a peer disability advocacy organization operating in the same state serving overlapping populations.
• The Arc of Philadelphia (Liberty Resources Inc.): Philadelphia-area Arc-affiliated nonprofit providing advocacy and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable as a neighboring Pennsylvania Arc chapter serving a similar constituency with overlapping adult advocacy and case navigation services.
• The Arc of Pennsylvania: State-level Arc chapter providing advocacy, public policy, and resource coordination for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Pennsylvania. Directly comparable as the state umbrella for DCARO's adult advocacy, education advocacy, and legislative advocacy work.
• Achieva: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing advocacy, community living supports, and family services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across western and central PA. Comparable as a regional Arc-adjacent advocacy and service provider with overlapping programs (family support, advocacy, life planning).
• The Arc of Chester County: Neighboring Pennsylvania Arc chapter serving Chester County, providing adult advocacy, education advocacy, and social/recreational programming. Highly comparable as a same-network, adjacent-county chapter with substantially overlapping service mix and target population.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Rights Network: The national membership organization for the federally funded Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system and Client Assistance Programs. Comparable as the broader umbrella entity in the disability rights advocacy ecosystem, coordinating federal policy and capacity-building for advocacy peers including DCARO.
• The Arc of the United States: National Arc federation chapter that coordinates policy, research, and chapter support across the nationwide Arc network. Comparable as the national advocacy backbone of which DCARO is a local affiliate, providing program templates, branding, and federal advocacy reach.

Regional players

• Inglis: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing housing, supports, and advocacy for people with disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, primarily in the Greater Philadelphia region. Comparable as a regional disability services and advocacy peer with a focus on independent living and community inclusion.

Others

• United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania: Regional United Way covering the four-county Philadelphia area including Delaware County. DCARO is registered in the United Way Donor Choice Program (#00348). Comparable as the principal umbrella funder coordinating donor-directed giving across DCARO's service territory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-arc-of-delaware-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Arc of Delaware County