National Core Indicators
National Core Indicators is a nonprofit collaborative initiative, founded in 1997 and jointly operated by HSRI, NASDDDS, and ADvancing States, that measures and benchmarks the performance of state human services systems for people with intellectual, developmental, aging, and physical disabilities through standardized surveys administered to 27+ participating states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Core Indicators does
National Core Indicators (NCI) is a nonprofit collaborative initiative founded in 1997 that measures and tracks the performance of state human services systems for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, aging adults, and individuals with physical disabilities. The organization operates two main programs — NCI-IDD and NCI-AD — through which it administers standardized surveys (In-Person Survey, Family Guardian Survey, Adult Family Survey, Child Family Survey, Adult Consumer Survey, and State of the Workforce Survey) directly to individuals receiving services. Data is collected via ODESA (Online Data Entry System Application), a proprietary platform operated by HSRI that features access control, authentication, encrypted storage and transmission, and physical server security. The 2021-2022 cycle gathered 13,559 adult responses across 27 states, with a minimum 400-survey-per-state threshold designed to deliver 95% confidence intervals at +/-5% margin of error.
NCI is not a standalone corporation but a joint initiative of three nonprofit organizations: Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) in Cambridge, MA; the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) in Alexandria, VA; and ADvancing States. State developmental disabilities and aging services agencies voluntarily participate as members, paying dues and committing to administer the standardized surveys. Reports are freely and publicly available in accessible formats, functioning as a freemium model. A secondary revenue stream exists through fees for de-identified secondary data analysis. Thirty-four NCI measures have been incorporated into the CMS HCBS Quality Measure Set, embedding the organization's instruments into federal Medicaid quality frameworks. NCI distributes its outputs through a public website, chart generator, webinars, and direct state engagement rather than through a traditional sales channel.
The organization's competitive position rests on 25 years of cross-state longitudinal data, psychometrically validated survey instruments with inter-rater reliability above 90%, and the only national effort that directly surveys people receiving services about their own experiences. Revenue is not publicly disclosed but is funded through state membership dues and potentially federal grants. The organization has no venture capital, private equity, or public market involvement, consistent with its nonprofit collaborative governance structure.
National Core Indicators firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Core Indicators
- Legal name
- National Core Indicators (NCI)
- Website
- https://nationalcoreindicators.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- National Core Indicators is a nonprofit collaborative initiative, founded in 1997 and jointly operated by HSRI, NASDDDS, and ADvancing States, that measures and benchmarks the performance of state human services systems for people with intellectual, developmental, aging, and physical disabilities through standardized surveys administered to 27+ participating states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Core Indicators industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Services Performance Measurement
- NAICS
- Public Administration (92), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAC)
Keywords
Where National Core Indicators is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
National Core Indicators business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Survey Reports (Public): NCI produces reports that are freely and publicly available, allowing for comparisons among states in accessible formats for all stakeholders including people who receive services and their families.
- Secondary Data Analysis: Participating states own their data, and de-identified NCI data is available for secondary analysis for a small fee. This provides an additional revenue stream for researchers and organizations seeking to conduct specialized analysis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Public Reports - Free access to all NCI survey reports and data briefs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
National Core Indicators product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Core Indicators is a national collaborative effort that measures and tracks the performance of state intellectual/developmental disabilities (NCI-IDD) and aging and physical disabilities (NCI-AD) service systems through standardized in-person, family, and consumer surveys. Participating states use the proprietary ODESA platform to collect data directly from people receiving services, and NCI produces publicly available national and state reports enabling cross-state comparisons. The initiative is jointly operated by HSRI, NASDDDS, and ADvancing States, and is funded through state membership dues.
Product overview
National Core Indicators (NCI) is a national collaborative effort comprising two main survey programs: NCI-IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) and NCI-AD (Aging and Disabilities). These programs measure and improve the performance of state service delivery systems by gathering standardized performance and outcome measures. NCI offers multiple survey instruments including the In-Person Survey (IPS), Family Guardian Survey (FGS), Adult Family Survey (AFS), Child Family Survey (CFS), Adult Consumer Survey (ACS), and the State of the Workforce Survey. Data is collected through HSRI's proprietary Online Data Entry System Application (ODESA). Reports and data are freely and publicly available, with state-specific reports enabling comparisons among states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NCI-IDD (National Core Indicators - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) A national program that measures and improves the performance of state developmental disabilities service systems through standardized surveys collecting data directly from individuals using services and their families.
- NCI-AD (National Core Indicators - Aging and Disabilities) A national program that measures and improves the performance of state aging and physical disabilities service systems through standardized consumer surveys of people receiving long-term services and supports.
- In-Person Survey (IPS) Face-to-face survey conducted with adults receiving DD services, gathering data on demographics, outcomes, service satisfaction, employment, safety, choice, and decision-making. The 2021-22 report covered data from 27 states and 13,559 adults.
- Family Guardian Survey (FGS) Survey administered to families who have an adult family member (18+) who does not live in the family home and receives services from DD services in their state.
- Adult Family Survey (AFS) Survey for families with an adult family member (18+) who lives in the family home and receives services from DD services in their state.
- Child Family Survey (CFS) Survey for families who have a child (under 18) who lives in the family home and receives at least one service from DD services in their state.
- Adult Consumer Survey (ACS) Survey for people receiving long-term services and supports, defined as at least one active service (not including case management) at least twice a week, including chore services, personal care attendant, day services, and home-delivered meals.
- State of the Workforce Survey
Quantifiable outcome
- 27 states participated in the 2021-2022 survey, collecting data from 13,559 adults
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use National Core Indicators
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
National Core Indicators technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
National Core Indicators partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Human Services Research Institute (HSRI)coreHSRI is one of the three founding nonprofit organizations of National Core Indicators. HSRI provides research expertise, data collection infrastructure (ODESA platform), and coordinates with state agencies on survey administration and analysis.
- National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS)coreNASDDDS represents state directors of developmental disabilities services and is a founding partner of NCI-IDD. NASDDDS member agencies are the primary users and participants in the survey program.
- ADvancing StatescoreADvancing States (formerly NASUAD) represents state agencies on aging and physical disabilities and partners on NCI-AD initiative for aging and disability services measurement.
- State Developmental Disabilities AgenciescoreState DD agencies voluntarily participate in NCI-IDD by collecting standardized survey data from adults receiving services. 27 states currently participate, with each state committing to share results with stakeholders.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
National Core Indicators competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ADvancing States: Co-founding partner of NCI-AD representing state aging and disability agencies; ADvancing States provides NCI with state-level access and policy alignment for the aging and physical disabilities measurement program.
- National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute (NRI): NRI conducts the only comparable state-level outcome measurement program for public mental health systems (NASMHPD Research Institute), making it the closest functional peer to NCI's measurement-of-state-services model, just in a different disability domain.
- Human Services Research Institute (HSRI): Co-founding nonprofit operator of NCI; HSRI conducts applied research on intellectual/developmental disabilities, aging, and behavioral health systems and provides the ODESA data infrastructure that powers NCI. Directly comparable in mission and customer base.
- National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS): Co-founding partner of NCI-IDD representing state DD directors; NASDDDS provides the state-level member relationships and policy expertise that enable NCI data collection, making it the closest institutional peer.
Broad incumbents
- American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR): National association representing private IDD service providers; ANCOR complements NCI's state-agency measurement by aggregating provider-side perspectives on system performance and quality.
- Mathematica Policy Research: Large policy research and evaluation firm frequently contracted by federal and state agencies for HCBS, disability, and aging services evaluations; comparable in research methodology, customer base, and data rigor.
- The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy organization that also conducts research and policy work on intellectual and developmental disabilities services; comparable in stakeholder ecosystem and subject domain though different in primary activity.
- Westat: Employee-owned research firm conducting large-scale survey, evaluation, and data collection work for federal and state health and human services agencies; comparable in survey-based measurement work.
Emerging players
- National Quality Forum: Multistakeholder organization that endorses healthcare quality measures, including those adopted by CMS; partially comparable as a quality-measure standards body intersecting with NCI's HCBS measure set inclusion.
Others
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) HCBS Quality Measurement: Federal regulator that consumes NCI measures via the HCBS Quality Measure Set; included as an ecosystem participant whose measure-set decisions directly shape NCI's regulatory positioning and demand environment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
National Core Indicators social profiles
Digital presenceNational Core Indicators financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Core Indicators leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
National Core Indicators funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Core Indicators 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 National Core Indicators
What does National Core Indicators do?
National Core Indicators is a national collaborative effort that measures and tracks the performance of state intellectual/developmental disabilities (NCI-IDD) and aging and physical disabilities (NCI-AD) service systems through standardized in-person, family, and consumer surveys. Participating states use the proprietary ODESA platform to collect data directly from people receiving services, and NCI produces publicly available national and state reports enabling cross-state comparisons. The initiative is jointly operated by HSRI, NASDDDS, and ADvancing States, and is funded through state membership dues.
Is National Core Indicators a public or private company?
National Core Indicators is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Core Indicators founded?
National Core Indicators was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Core Indicators based?
National Core Indicators is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Core Indicators make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Survey Reports (Public) is the primary driver. The others are secondary Data Analysis.
Who are National Core Indicators's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ADvancing States, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute (NRI), Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) and National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Broad incumbents are American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), Mathematica Policy Research, The Arc of the United States and Westat. National Quality Forum is listed as an emerging player. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) HCBS Quality Measurement is listed as an others.
Does National Core Indicators have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Core Indicators.
What industry is National Core Indicators in?
National Core Indicators's product category is Human Services Performance Measurement. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAKAC, Disability Benefits Administration. Its NAICS code is 92 and its SIC code is 8300.