The Arc of Colorado

What The Arc of Colorado does

The Arc of Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1954 and headquartered at 1580 Logan Street, Suite 930, Denver. It serves as the state chapter of The Arc of the United States and operates a statewide grassroots network of 15 chapters (one state chapter plus 14 local chapters), directed by approximately 3,700 members and serving more than 9,000 individuals and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) each year. Its mission is to promote and protect the human rights of people with IDD and to support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

The organization's core offerings are advocacy services rather than technology products. Functional capabilities include individual advocacy for children and adults with IDD, educational advocacy, information and referral services, public-policy and legislative advocacy (including a Colorado Legislative Bill Tracker hosted on the third-party fastdemocracy.com platform and the "Sit Down with Stone" video series), self-advocacy program development, family resource and support services, supported decision-making tools as an alternative to guardianship, and community education. It does not maintain proprietary software, APIs, or AI/ML systems; all digital infrastructure is website- and email-based or outsourced to third-party platforms.

The revenue model is donation- and chapter-dues-based, with the majority of operational funding flowing from Arc Thrift Stores, a separate but affiliated nonprofit retail operation originally established in 1968 that accepts donated goods across Colorado's front range. Additional revenue comes from online donations, mailed donations, and membership programs. The organization is governed by a board of directors with executive officers and chapter representatives, led by Executive Director Elizabeth A. Moran, and currently operates with 1-10 state-level employees coordinating the broader chapter network.

Name

The Arc of Colorado

Legal name

The Arc of Colorado

Website

https://thearcofco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Arc of Colorado is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1954 that provides advocacy, policy influence, resources, and education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Colorado through a statewide network of 15 chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent Educational Consultant Case Management & Service Coordination (EDAKACAO), Disability Employment & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs (EDAAAOAI)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Developmental disability support
• Supported decision-making programs
• Disability rights policy
• Nonprofit advocacy organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Arc of Colorado is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides advocacy, public policy influence, educational resources, and self-advocacy support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Services are delivered free of charge through a statewide grassroots network of 15 chapters and include individual and systems advocacy, supported decision-making alternatives to guardianship, family resources, special education guidance, legislative bill tracking, and community education. The organization is primarily funded through Arc Thrift Stores operations and member donations.

Product overview

The Arc of Colorado is a nonprofit advocacy organization that does not offer a traditional technology product. Its services consist of advocacy programs, educational resources, and community support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates through a network of 15 chapters and provides self-advocacy resources, family support, education data tools, and legislative tracking services. Funding is primarily derived from Arc Thrift Stores operations. The organization utilizes external platforms like fastdemocracy.com for bill tracking but does not maintain its own software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Advocacy Services Free individual advocacy services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities provided through 14 local chapters across Colorado's designated geographic service areas, addressing access to services, education, employment, and community inclusion.
• Self-Advocacy Resources Programs, tools, and educational materials that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to advocate for themselves, including self-determination resources and supported decision-making materials.
• Supported Decision-Making Program A guardianship alternative tool that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities make critical life decisions with support from chosen team members while maintaining personal autonomy.
• Family Resources Support services and educational materials for families of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including special education guidance, kinship family resources, and advocacy toolkits.
• Education Data Tools Resources and data tools related to educational services and special education data for children with disabilities aged 3 through 21, supporting educational advocacy and decision-making.
• Legislative Bill Tracker External bill tracking tool (powered by fastdemocracy.com) that monitors Colorado legislation relevant to disability rights, enabling members to track and take action on policy changes affecting the IDD community.
• Sit Down with Stone Video Series Colorado-specific video series featuring interviews with legislators and policy officials to help self-advocates understand public policy issues affecting people with IDD.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,000+ individuals and families served annually through local chapter network
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of New York: New York state chapter of The Arc providing advocacy, family support, and legislative engagement for IDD individuals. Comparable structure and IDD-advocacy focus as The Arc of Colorado.
• The Arc of Texas: State chapter of The Arc providing advocacy and family services for IDD populations in Texas. Operates with a similar chapter/grassroots model and policy-influencing mission.
• The Arc of California: Another large state chapter of The Arc, providing advocacy, family support, and chapter-based services for IDD individuals. Highly comparable in mission, structure, and service model.
• The Arc of the United States: National umbrella organization for state and local Arc chapters. The Arc of Colorado operates as its state chapter, sharing policy alignment, branding, and advocacy frameworks—making it the most direct peer.
• AdvocacyDenver: Denver-based disability advocacy organization with a chapter representative on The Arc of Colorado's board. Directly comparable in advocacy focus and Colorado geography, serving IDD populations with similar family support services.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services including advocacy, employment support, and therapy. Serves a broader disability population and overlapping service categories, but operates at a much larger scale.
• Volunteers of America Colorado: Colorado branch of a national nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and disability services. Competes for similar donor dollars and serves overlapping vulnerable populations in Colorado.

Emerging players

• National Down Syndrome Society: National advocacy organization for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Shares advocacy and policy-influence DNA with The Arc of Colorado but targets a more specific IDD segment.
• Autism Society of America: National advocacy organization focused specifically on autism, with state and local affiliates. Adjacent in IDD advocacy mission but narrower in scope, making it a partial-overlap peer.

Regional players

• Special Olympics Colorado: Colorado state affiliate of Special Olympics serving IDD individuals through sports programming. Shares the IDD beneficiary population and Colorado geography, though its mission is activity-based rather than advocacy-based.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thearcofco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheArcofColorado
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheArcofColorado
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-arc-of-colorado

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Arc of Colorado