We Care Arts
We Care Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit in Kettering, Ohio that delivers art-based programming, employment services, and Transition To Work curricula to adults with developmental disabilities, individuals in substance use and mental health recovery, and students aged 16-22 with special needs, funded through grants, donations, curriculum kit sales, and retail.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersKettering, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What We Care Arts does
We Care Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at the Berkeley Center Campus in Kettering, Ohio. It operates art-based programs serving adults with developmental disabilities, individuals recovering from substance use disorders, and people with mental health diagnoses, plus a Transition To Work program for students aged 16-22 with special needs. Core offerings include the Adult Day Program (ArtWORKS classes), Outreach Program (delivered at partner sites such as Kettering Cancer Center, YWCA Dayton, Daybreak, Miracle Clubhouse, and SafeHaven of Dayton), Employment Services, Virtual ArtWORKS, and a community art display network. The Together We Care initiative pairs artist-clients with Greater Miami Valley professional artists to co-create works for the annual gala auction.
The organization sells Art Can Work 10-week classroom curriculum kits at $2,520 each to schools, generates retail revenue through the Town & Country Gift Shop, and hosts fundraising events including Arts & Jazz, Cookie Walk, Art Scramble, Trunk or Treat, and Evening at the Races. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is human-led art instruction with operations across Ohio's Montgomery and Miami counties. The organization is CARF accredited, BBB Accredited, and a 2025 GuideStar Platinum Transparency honoree, and it received the 2025 OAEA State Distinguished Business Service Award for the Transition To Work program.
The business model is grant-and-donation-funded with incremental earned revenue from curriculum kit sales, art sales, retail, and events. All core programs are offered free to participants, with 80% of participants at or below 250% of the US poverty line. Revenue diversification spans foundation grants (Community Foundation for Kettering, Good Shepherd Foundation of Ohio, WAWA Foundation, Troy Foundation, Reynolds and Reynolds, Piqua Community Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, ADAMHS Board, and Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities), corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and program-related earned income. Distribution is multi-channel: on-site at Berkeley Center, virtually, in schools, via outreach partner sites, in a retail gift shop, and through rotating community art displays.
We Care Arts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- We Care Arts
- Legal name
- We Care Arts
- Website
- https://wecarearts.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- We Care Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit in Kettering, Ohio that delivers art-based programming, employment services, and Transition To Work curricula to adults with developmental disabilities, individuals in substance use and mental health recovery, and students aged 16-22 with special needs, funded through grants, donations, curriculum kit sales, and retail.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
We Care Arts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability and Behavioral Health Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG)
Keywords
Where We Care Arts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kettering
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
We Care Arts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Grants and Donations: As a 501c3 nonprofit, We Care Arts operates primarily through grants from foundations and donations. The organization receives support from Community Foundation for Kettering, WAWA Foundation, Troy Foundation, Reynolds and Reynolds, and other charitable organizations. Cash donations are eligible for full tax exemption.
- Art Can Work Kits: Sale of Art Can Work curriculum kits to schools and organizations implementing Transition to Work programs. Each 10-week classroom curriculum set is priced at $2,520, providing art supplies, lesson plans, and instructional videos for up to 20 students.
- Art Sales and Auctions: Sale of artwork created by artist-clients through gallery exhibitions, the Together We Care Gala auction, and community art displays throughout the Dayton area.
- Event Revenue: Revenue generation through special events including Arts & Jazz, Cookie Walk, Art Scramble, Trunk or Treat, and Evening at the Races.
- Town & Country Gift Shop Sales: Sale of art, jewelry, greeting cards, and crafts created by artist-clients through the Town & Country Gift Shop retail location.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Day Program - Free for qualified participants |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Art Can Work 10-Week Classroom Curriculum Set |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Visiting Artist Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cookie Walk - Sold by the pound |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
We Care Arts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
We Care Arts provides free art-based programs for adults with developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and mental health diagnoses through on-site Adult Day Program classes, Outreach art classes delivered at community partner sites, and Employment Services supporting community-based employment. The organization also sells Art Can Work 10-week curriculum kits to schools, operates a retail gift shop selling artist-client creations, and runs collaborative art and fundraising events.
Product overview
We Care Arts operates as a unified nonprofit service organization offering multiple interconnected art-based programs. The core offerings include ArtWORKS classes at the Berkeley Center Campus (Adult Day Program), the Outreach Program bringing art to community partners, and the Employment Services Program. Related programs include Virtual ArtWORKS for remote participation, the Transition To Work Program for students ages 16-22, and the Together We Care collaborative artwork initiative. The organization also sells Art Can Work curriculum kits to schools and provides Art Curation services for businesses. Together, these programs serve individuals with developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and mental health diagnoses through the transformative power of art and community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ArtWORKS: Art education and therapy program for individuals with disabilities, substance use disorders, and mental health diagnoses.
- Transition To Work (TTW)
- Art Can Work (ACW)
- Together We Care
Products and services
- Adult Day Program (ArtWORKS Classes) Free on-site art classes at the Berkeley Center Campus for adults with developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and mental health diagnoses, offered Monday-Friday in morning and afternoon sessions. The program fosters artistic skill development, decision-making, and independence, with all supplies and instruction provided.
- Outreach Program Art classes delivered directly at community partner organization locations, with We Care Arts providing all supplies and instruction. Designed to serve individuals whose circumstances make on-site attendance difficult, including cancer patients, recovery populations, and domestic violence survivors.
- Employment Services Program Individual employment services for adults with disabilities, with job coaches helping identify employment opportunities, build resumes, and prepare for interviews to support competitive community employment.
- Transition To Work Program Weekly art classes reinforcing life and job skills for students ages 16-22 in special education Transition to Work programs, supporting their transition from high school to employment and independent living. Recognized with the 2025 OAEA State Distinguished Business Service Award.
- Art Can Work Kits 10-week classroom art curriculum sets including lesson plans, art supplies for up to 20 students, follow-along video tutorials, mindfulness exercises, and adaptive suggestions for special education transition programs. Each kit is priced at $2,520 (approximately $12.60/student/lesson). Sample grant applications are available to help schools fund the program.
- Virtual ArtWORKS Classes Online art classes offered Wednesday and Thursday for enrolled artist-clients, with registration and an intake application process required.
- Together We Care Initiative Collaborative program pairing We Care Arts artist-clients with Greater Miami Valley professional artists to co-create artwork featured and auctioned at the annual Together We Care Gala, with proceeds supporting the organization.
- Art Curation Services (Possibilities Project) Custom curated artwork creation for local businesses, organizations, and homeowners, with artist-clients collaborating with sponsors to create pieces; participating artist-clients receive commissions on sold work.
- Town & Country Gift Shop Retail store at 300 E. Stroop, Kettering, OH selling artwork, jewelry, greeting cards, and crafts created by artist-clients. Open Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 10am-6pm.
Quantifiable outcome
- Free programming for all participants regardless of ability to pay
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use We Care Arts
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
We Care Arts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
We Care Arts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kettering Cancer CentercoreOutreach partner receiving art classes designed to inspire creativity, foster connection, and promote well-being for cancer patients and survivors.
- YWCA DaytoncoreOutreach partner receiving art programming as part of the collaborative artwork initiative.
- DaybreakcoreOutreach partner organization receiving art classes for their clients.
- Miracle ClubhousecoreOutreach partner organization receiving art programming for members.
- Centerville High School ITOPcoreIntegrated Transition Program receiving Transition to Work art classes. Students created Wegerzyn Gardens sculpture installation.
- Wright Memorial LibraryminorNew outreach programming partnership starting end of July with felt collage class.
- 10 Wilmington PlaceminorNew outreach programming partnership starting end of July.
- SafeHaven of DaytoncoreMental health consumer-operated center receiving We Care Arts outreach services including art programming for emotional expression and recovery.
- EastwaycoreOutreach partner for HEAR ME gallery display featuring artwork exploring identity and journeys through motherhood and SUD recovery.
- Promise to HopecoreOutreach partner for HEAR ME gallery display at Dayton Society of Artists.
- UMADAOPcoreOutreach partner for HEAR ME gallery display featuring artwork from participants exploring identity and SUD recovery journeys.
- Brigid's PathcoreOutreach partner for HEAR ME gallery display at Dayton Society of Artists.
- Wegerzyn Gardens Metro ParkcoreHost venue for Keep Growing sculpture installation by Centerville ITOP students. Artwork will remain on display for one year.
- Dayton Society of ArtistscoreGallery host for HEAR ME exhibition featuring outreach participant artwork September 11-26.
- Leadership Dayton Class of 2026coreCollaborated with WCA artist-clients to create artwork for Dayton Foodbank. Programming Manager Anna Brown designed the piece representing community coming together.
- Dayton FoodbankcoreRecipient of collaborative artwork installation by Leadership Dayton and WCA artist-clients, now installed at Dayton Foodbank's new Community Resource Center.
- Eudora BrewhouseminorCommunity art display location featuring artist-client artwork updated seasonally.
- Wholly GroundsminorCommunity art display location featuring bold, colorful artwork by artist-client Danielle H.
- Schuster CenterminorCommunity art display location featuring felt pieces inspired by famous paintings.
- Rosewood Arts CentreminorHost venue for artist-client Lana T.'s piece Flower Mountain in the 32nd Annual The View Juried Landscape Exhibition.
- City BBQminorCatering sponsor for annual Artist-Client picnic providing food for the event.
- Dorothy Lane MarketminorDonated treats for Donor Appreciation Night event.
- Benders Pub GrubminorProvided desserts for Donor Appreciation Night event.
- Redline MotorworksminorProvided beverages including water for Donor Appreciation Night event.
- Custom Frame ServicescoreFraming sponsor for Together We Care Gala, donating services to professionally frame auction artwork.
- House of 10,000 Picture FramescoreFraming sponsor for Together We Care Gala, donating services to professionally frame auction artwork.
- Dayton Art SolutionscoreFraming sponsor for Together We Care Gala, donating services to professionally frame auction artwork.
- Wright State Psychiatry Residency ProgramminorPsychiatry residents visited for tour and salt watercolor painting activity, creating potential for future referrals.
- WCA Optimist ClubminorVolunteer group that worked on sensory garden makeover including weeding and brick painting.
- Miami County YMCAminorCommunity partner receiving outreach programming including fall wreath-making class for senior activities group.
- Alzheimer's AssociationminorPartner for Memory Café program where participants work with loved ones to create imprinted coasters.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
We Care Arts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Howie T. Bird Art Studio (via Easterseals): Easterseals-affiliated programs serve individuals with disabilities through vocational and art programs. Comparable services around disability employment and day programming, but at significantly larger scale and broader scope than We Care Arts.
- Goodwill Industries International: Major nonprofit providing employment services, training, and community programs for individuals with disabilities. Directly comparable Employment Services Program offering and an overlapping funder base, though Goodwill is much larger and more diversified.
- VSA (Kennedy Center): National organization under the John F. Kennedy Center dedicated to arts, disability, and education programming. A larger incumbent providing arts programming for people with disabilities across the country; comparable mission but operates at national scale rather than regional community-anchor model.
Others
- Alzheimer's Association (Dayton Chapter): National nonprofit running the Memory Café program with We Care Arts. Indirect peer in mission overlap around supporting individuals with disabling conditions through community-based creative programming.
Emerging players
- Fresh Artists: Nonprofit that provides art supplies and programming to underserved schools, with a curriculum-kit-style program model. Comparable to We Care Arts' Art Can Work kit in the packaged curriculum-for-schools approach, though Fresh Artists focuses on K-8 schools rather than transition programs.
Direct peers
- Arts for the Aging: Washington DC area nonprofit that engages older adults and adults with disabilities through therapeutic and community-based arts programming. Comparable outreach partnership model bringing art to partner organizations serving vulnerable populations.
- Creative Growth Art Center: Oakland, CA-based nonprofit that supports artists with developmental, physical, and mental disabilities through studio programs, exhibitions, and gallery representation. Most direct US peer to We Care Arts in mission, artist-client model, and gallery program.
- National Institute of Art and Disabilities (NIAD): Richmond, CA nonprofit art studio and gallery for adults with developmental disabilities, offering studio programs, exhibitions, and art sales. Highly comparable fine-arts-for-disabilities model with a retail and exhibition channel parallel to We Care Arts' Town & Country Gift Shop and Together We Care gala.
Regional players
- Dayton Society of Artists: Local artist organization that hosts the HEAR ME exhibition featuring We Care Arts outreach participant artwork. Comparable regional arts organization with overlapping community-anchored mission in the Dayton area.
- Dayton Art Solutions: Dayton-area custom framing and art services business that partners with We Care Arts for the Together We Care Gala. A regional framing supplier that supports WCA's auction pipeline while serving its own broader local framing clientele.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
We Care Arts social profiles
Digital presenceWe Care Arts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
We Care Arts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
We Care Arts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
We Care Arts 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 We Care Arts
What does We Care Arts do?
We Care Arts provides free art-based programs for adults with developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and mental health diagnoses through on-site Adult Day Program classes, Outreach art classes delivered at community partner sites, and Employment Services supporting community-based employment. The organization also sells Art Can Work 10-week curriculum kits to schools, operates a retail gift shop selling artist-client creations, and runs collaborative art and fundraising events.
Is We Care Arts a public or private company?
We Care Arts is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was We Care Arts founded?
We Care Arts was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is We Care Arts based?
We Care Arts is headquartered in Kettering, United States, in the North America region.
How does We Care Arts make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Grants and Donations are the primary driver. The others are art Can Work Kits, art Sales and Auctions, event Revenue and town & Country Gift Shop Sales.
Who are We Care Arts's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Howie T. Bird Art Studio (via Easterseals), Goodwill Industries International and VSA (Kennedy Center). Alzheimer's Association (Dayton Chapter) is listed as an others. Fresh Artists is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Arts for the Aging, Creative Growth Art Center and National Institute of Art and Disabilities (NIAD). Regional players are Dayton Society of Artists and Dayton Art Solutions.
Does We Care Arts have an API?
No public API is recorded for We Care Arts.
What industry is We Care Arts in?
We Care Arts's product category is Disability and Behavioral Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAA, Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture), with a secondary code of BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs. Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 7900.