Mass Advocates Standing Strong (MASS)

Name

Mass Advocates Standing Strong (MASS)

Legal name

Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong

Website

https://wearemass.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Medford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship tiers ranging from $1,750 (Develop) to $10,000 (Platinum), providing logo placement, free attendees, advertising, and exhibitor opportunities.
2. Membership Dues: Year-round membership providing access to conferences, retreats, and meetings.
3. Conference Exhibitor Fees: Revenue from conference exhibitor tables (Full Table $1,000, Half Table $600) and literature table space ($300).
4. Conference Ticket Sponsorship: Sponsors can purchase attendee tickets in bundles (2 tickets $150, 5 tickets $350, 10 tickets $650).
5. Donations: Tax-deductible contributions accepted online via PayPal or credit card, or by check mailed to their Medford PO Box.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MASS is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit self-advocacy organization that delivers peer-led training and leadership development programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Its core offerings include the Self-Advocacy Leadership Series (SALS), the Awareness & Action abuse prevention curriculum, DDS Service Coordinator training, regional and statewide member meetings, and an annual statewide conference.

Product overview

Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) is a nonprofit self-advocacy organization that operates as a services-based organization rather than a technology product company. MASS offers a portfolio of programs and services centered on empowering self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The core offerings include the Self-Advocacy Leadership Series (SALS) and I-SALS (group and individual versions), which are peer-led training programs focused on leadership and self-advocacy skills. Supporting training programs include Awareness and Action (A&A) for abuse prevention, Explore Prepare Act (EPA) for employment, and DDS Service Coordinator training. MASS also runs the annual conference, regional meetings, statewide drop-in meetings, Rainbow Group (LGBTQ+ advocacy), Speakers Bureau, Supported Decision Making Task Force, and Voting Club. The organization maintains five regional chapters (Metro, Southeast, Central, Northeast, West) and publishes a monthly MASS Flash newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SALS (Self-Advocacy Leadership Series): An eight-class peer-led training series focusing on fundamentals of self-advocacy and leadership for transitional youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• I-SALS (Independent Self-Advocacy Leadership Series)
• Awareness & Action (A&A)
• Explore, Prepare, Act (EPA)

Products and services

• Self-Advocacy Leadership Series (SALS)
• I-SALS (Individualized Self-Advocacy Leadership Series)
• Awareness & Action (A&A) Abuse Prevention Training
• DDS Service Coordinator Training
• EPA (Employment Planning and Advocacy) Training
• Annual MASS Conference
• Regional Member Meetings

Quantifiable outcome

• First Massachusetts resident achieved court termination of guardianship for SDM agreement (Cory)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Winthrop Commission on DisabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the annual Deer Island Fun Day event with Accessible Adventures. MASS self-advocates and staff join the Winthrop Commission on Disability for outdoor activities including fishing, accessible biking, pedicabs, and boat tours around Boston Harbor.
• Accessible AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Deer Island Fun Day accessible outdoor adventure event, partnering with MASS and other disability organizations.
• Vera Institute of Justice (Center on Victimization and Safety)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured MASS trainers John Mullaly and Pauline Bosma in the Vera Institute's July Newsletter highlighting the Awareness & Action training program as 'Changemaking through Awareness and Action.'
• The Arc of MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered during COVID-19 crisis to advocate for healthcare equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Reached out to Governor's office regarding crisis standards of care and hospital care concerns.
• Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMASS attended PYD's Youth Leadership Forum, which is one of the programs where self-advocates like Austin Carr learned about self-advocacy.
• VinfenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVinfen Film Festival - New England's largest annual showcase of films focused on disability and mental health. MASS was scheduled to participate in the March 2026 Vinfen Film Festival.
• Department of Developmental Services (DDS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState agency that DDS Service Coordinators receive MASS training. DDS held virtual listening sessions where MASS advocates provided feedback on improving health service delivery for adults with I/DD.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals Massachusetts: Massachusetts affiliate of the Easterseals national network providing disability services, employment support, and advocacy. Comparable as a larger, broader incumbent serving overlapping disability populations with greater scale and resources.
• National Disability Rights Network: Federation of Protection and Advocacy systems providing legal advocacy for people with disabilities across the US. Comparable as a broad disability rights advocacy peer; MASS is a community self-advocacy counterpart to NDRN's legal advocacy focus.
• The Arc of Massachusetts: The state chapter of the national Arc network, serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Massachusetts with advocacy, family support, and service navigation. Directly comparable as a state-level disability advocacy peer with overlapping government and donor relationships.

Emerging players

• Disability Rights Fund / Disability Rights Advocacy Fund: Global fund that supports disability rights advocacy organizations, particularly in the Global South. Comparable peer in the disability advocacy space with a grantmaking model that could be either a funder or peer depending on perspective.

Direct peers

• Boston Center for Independent Living: Massachusetts independent living center run by and for people with disabilities, providing advocacy, skills training, and peer support. Operates in the same MA geography as MASS with a similar consumer-controlled mission.
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): National nonprofit run by and for autistic people, focused on disability rights, policy advocacy, and community leadership. Closely comparable as a peer-led disability self-advocacy organization with overlapping mission and methodology.
• Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE): National self-advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Highly comparable as a national peer running self-advocacy training, leadership development, and peer-led programs across multiple states.
• Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD): Massachusetts-based nonprofit supporting youth with disabilities through mentoring, leadership programs, and the Youth Leadership Forum referenced as a MASS recruitment pipeline. Comparable peer serving transitional-age youth with disabilities in the same region.

Regional players

• Vinfen: Massachusetts-based human services organization providing community-based supports, behavioral health, and disability services. Comparable peer operating in MA with overlapping disability populations and a documented MASS partnership via the Vinfen Film Festival.
• Disability Law Center (Massachusetts): Massachusetts Protection and Advocacy organization providing legal services and rights protection for people with disabilities. Comparable regional peer with overlapping beneficiary population and state-level advocacy footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massachusetts-advocates-standing-strong-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Mass Advocates Standing Strong (MASS)