Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley

What Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley does

Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1935 that provides social, educational, and vocational programs to children and young adults with disabilities (ages 5-24) across 21 counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The organization operates a 77-acre accessible campus in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, PA, comprising 39 buildings that include greenhouses, gardens, multi-purpose gymnasiums with Teraflex flooring, multi-sport turf fields, overnight cabins, and dedicated vocational training facilities. Its core program is VarietyWorks, an internationally recognized individualized career-training model using a four-tier approach (Initial Assessment, Community Job Training, Supported Employment, Independent Community Employment) that debuted in August 2018. The broader portfolio includes Summer Day and Overnight Camps, Extended School Year, After-School Programs at the Worcester campus and at partner sites (Widener Memorial School, Temple University), Saturday Day Camp, Adult Social Club, Art Workshops, Job Coaching, Farm-to-Table vocational training, Small Group Employment at community sites, and Work-Based Learning Experiences.

The organization's revenue model is a diversified multi-stream nonprofit model. Program fees flow through Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) waivers, school district payments, and private pay. Philanthropic revenue includes individual donations (processed via Givelively and PayPal), corporate sponsorships leveraging the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program (75-90% tax credits up to $750,000 annually), and major fundraising events including the Black Hat Bash (which raised over $230,000 in 2024), Holiday Lane, Designer Bag Bingo, and Variety Homecoming. Additional revenue streams include facility leasing (gym, auditorium, athletic fields, cabins), community-based café operations at Montgomery County Community College and Norristown, and a newly launched catering service. Distribution occurs through direct on-campus program delivery, satellite partner sites, and community employment locations, with registration handled through the UltraCamp platform. The organization holds a social franchise license with Variety International but operates as an independent 501(c)(3) entity with separate financials and governance.

Name

Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley

Legal name

Variety Club of Philadelphia Inc.

Website

https://varietyphila.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1935 that delivers social, educational, and vocational programs to children and young adults with disabilities ages 5-24 across the Delaware Valley region through a 77-acre accessible campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged for participation in recreational, educational, and vocational programs including summer camp, after-school programs, weekend retreats, and vocational training. Revenue streams include OVR (Office of Vocational Rehabilitation), ODP (Office of Developmental Programs) waivers, school district payments, and private pay.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting the mission. Donations can be made online via Givelively, PayPal, or by mail. Amazon Wishlist provides in-kind support options.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and EITC: Corporate partners sponsor events and programs. Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program allows businesses to earn 75-90% tax credits up to $750,000 per year by contributing to approved educational programs.
4. Special Events: Major annual fundraising events including Black Hat Bash, Holiday Lane, Designer Bag Bingo, and Variety Homecoming. Events generate significant revenue (Black Hat Bash 2024: $230,000+) and provide sponsorship opportunities.
5. Facility Leasing: Campus facilities including gym, auditorium, athletic fields, and cabins are leased to external groups for events, retreats, practices, and meetings. Multi-sport turf field and community gym serve as revenue-generating community spaces.
6. Café and Catering Services: Community-based café operations at Montgomery County Community College and other locations provide vocational training while generating revenue through food service operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Variety is a nonprofit organization providing social, educational, vocational, and recreational programs for children and young adults with disabilities ages 5-24. Core offerings include the internationally award-winning VarietyWorks vocational training program (4-tier career training model), summer day and overnight camps, after-school programs, weekend retreats, job coaching, small group employment, farm-to-table training, and community-based café operations. Programs are delivered on a 77-acre accessible campus in Worcester Township, PA, and at partner sites across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Product overview

Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services for children and young adults with disabilities ages 5-24. The organization operates on a 77-acre campus in Worcester Township, PA, and at partner sites in Philadelphia. Core offerings include vocational training programs (VarietyWorks, Job Coaching, Farm to Table, Summer Vocational Program, Work Based Learning Experiences, Small Group Employment), recreational programs (Summer Day/Overnight Camp, Saturday Day Camp, Weekend Overnight Retreats, Adult Social Club), and educational services (After School Programs, Extended School Year, Art Workshops). Recent additions include community-based café services and catering operations at Montgomery County Community College. The organization also offers fundraising/donation programs including Variety Heart Locks and Variety Bricks. Programs are designed to nurture independence, self-confidence, and prepare participants for life through social, educational, and vocational experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VarietyWorks: International, award-winning individualized career training experience for young adults with disabilities using a 4-tier approach: Initial Assessment, Community Job Training, Supported Employment and Independent Community Employment. Debuted August 2018.

Products and services

• VarietyWorks International, award-winning individualized career training program for young adults with disabilities, using a 4-tier approach: Initial Assessment, Community Job Training, Supported Employment and Independent Community Employment.
• Job Coaching One-on-one employment specialist support helping participants develop job seeking and development skills, build relationships with employers, and gain confidence in self-advocating.
• Extended School Year (ESY) 7-week full-day summer program for students ages 5-21 to maintain and generalize IEP skills and prevent regression over summer break.
• Summer Day Camp 8-week day camp from June to August offering recreational activities including art, music, dance, science, nature, sports, and swimming for youth ages 5-21.
• Summer Overnight Camp Week-long overnight camp programming for youth ages 5-21 with recreational, independent living, and social activities in a camp-based environment.
• Worcester After School Program After school program for students ages 5-21 at Worcester campus offering social skills, pre-vocational training, daily living skills, community integration, and recreational activities.
• Widener After School Program Partnership with Widener Memorial School in Philadelphia for after school program for students with disabilities ages 5-21, free of cost, focused on social skills, emotional regulation, and STEAM.
• Saturday Day Camp Academic year Saturday program from September to May offering art, music, dance, and STEM activities with 1:3 staff to camper ratio and 24 spaces available weekly.
• Weekend Overnight Retreats Weekend overnight programming providing recreational, independent living, and social activities in a camp environment with 24/7 support.
• Art Workshops Art workshops for all ages held on Wednesday evenings, providing supportive space to foster creative talents and self-expression with instruction in various mediums, methods, and techniques.
• Adult Social Club Friday evening social activities for adults 18+ including dance, karaoke, movies, arts and crafts, board games, with monthly group outings in the community.
• Farm to Table Pre-vocational training program for adults with disabilities providing experiences in gardening, greenhouse work, and supported learning at community business partner sites.
• Summer Vocational Program 7-week summer program introducing students to work experiences in garden/greenhouse, bakery, kitchen, maintenance, sales/customer service, and office/clerical areas.
• Work Based Learning Experiences (Internships) Internship program providing young individuals opportunity to gain insight into areas of business interest with support from employment specialists.
• Small Group Employment Supported group employment for adults 18+ at food service-based sites building functional skills for community employment at 1:3 staff-to-participant ratio.
• Sam Staten Jr. Summer Camp at Temple University Free one-week summer camp experience at Temple University providing recreational activities including arts, crafts, games, and swimming.
• Cafe Catering Powered by Variety Catering service providing hands-on training in food prep, customer service, and teamwork for people with disabilities, building skills for greater independence and employment.
• Community-Based Cafés at MCCC Community-based café locations at Montgomery County Community College's Blue Bell Campus providing vocational training and inclusive employment opportunities.
• Variety Heart Locks Engraved heart-shaped locks displayed on campus as lasting tribute to supporters, with $150 contribution supporting life-changing programs.
• Variety Bricks Custom engraved bricks placed along campus entry walkway to honor loved ones, commemorate milestones, or show support for the mission, with prices ranging from $258 to $516.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants gain employment skills and transition to competitive employment through VarietyWorks vocational training
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PA Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Farm City Day at Variety, an immersive agriculture education event for students from second grade through high school. Event part of Remake Learning Day Festival. Secretary Redding attended to highlight connections between farming, community, and daily life.
• Montgomery County Community College (MCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpansion of vocational training services through two community-based cafés on MCCC's Blue Bell Campus. Cafés provide inclusive opportunities for young adults with disabilities to build life and career skills while offering convenient on-campus food options.
• Widener Memorial SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to run After School Program for students with disabilities, ages 5-21. Program runs September to May, Monday through Friday, from 3-6pm, FREE of cost.
• Temple UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSam Staten Jr. Summer Camp located on Temple University campus provides free, one-week summer camp experience with recreational activities including arts, crafts, games, and swimming.
• VarietyWorks Community Business PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal businesses hosting interns, welcoming job shadow participants, training to accommodate employees with disabilities, or hiring Variety job seekers. Funding sources include OVR, ODP waivers, school districts.
• Remake Learning Day FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational festival during May supporting Farm City Day at Variety.
• Ocean City Yacht Club and Ocean City Marlin and Tuna ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts Fishing for Kids event since 1994, providing fishing experiences for families with disabilities including Variety participants.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Arc: National nonprofit advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through employment programs, recreation, residential services, and advocacy. Variety's VarietyWorks and adult social programs closely mirror Arc's vocational and community-based services.
• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit operating employment, leadership development, and community inclusion programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable to Variety's social, educational, and vocational programming focus.
• Variety International: Global children's charity operating the social franchise under which Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley operates. Shares identical brand, mission, and approach to serving children with disabilities through recreational and vocational programs.

Emerging players

• KultureCity: Nonprofit focused on accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities across sports, entertainment, and community venues. Overlaps with Variety's accessibility mission and recreational programming focus, though KultureCity emphasizes venue certification rather than direct service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services including recreation, vocational training, and employment support across many states. Easterseals is a much larger organization but operates similar programs (camps, workforce development, community inclusion) targeting individuals with disabilities.
• National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS): National advocacy and programming organization serving individuals with Down syndrome and their families through education, employment, and community programs. Comparable mission alignment with Variety's focus on inclusion, independence, and employment for individuals with disabilities.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National nonprofit providing services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including recreation, vocational training, and supported employment. Shares Variety's heritage of serving polio survivors and its current mission of supporting individuals with diverse disabilities.
• March of Dimes: National nonprofit historically focused on children's health including birth defects and developmental disabilities. Similar nonprofit funding model (events, donations, corporate partnerships), comparable mission serving children with disabilities, and overlapping program areas around inclusion and family support.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): National nonprofit providing services including summer camps, recreational programming, and support for individuals with neuromuscular diseases. MDA's accessible summer camp model (which Variety participants with conditions like Muscular Dystrophy attend) closely parallels Variety's own camp offerings.

Regional players

• Special Olympics Pennsylvania: Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Pennsylvania. Comparable to Variety's recreational and athletic programs (multi-sport turf field, gymnasium, sports activities) for a similar population in the same region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VarietyPhila
• Facebookfacebook.com/VarietyPhiladelphia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/varietyphiladelphia
• Instagraminstagram.com/varietyphila

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Variety - the Children's Charity of the Delaware Valley