The Arc Of Philadelphia

What The Arc Of Philadelphia does

SpArc Philadelphia is a family of nonprofit organizations founded in 1948 that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families across Philadelphia and Delaware County. The organization operates through three affiliated entities: The Arc of Philadelphia, which provides rights advocacy, child and adult advocacy, health initiatives, youth leadership, and technology coaching; SpArc Services, which delivers facility- and community-based direct programs including employment services, community participation supports, home and community supports, and the Cultural Arts Center; and SpArc Marketplace, an online storefront selling artwork produced by I/DD artists. Service delivery is grounded in Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) waiver services, with a documented participant base of approximately 300 individuals, 125 active volunteers, and 20,000 community-engagement hours annually. The core technology stack is non-proprietary — a standard CMS website plus SETWorks for case management and billing — with no disclosed AI/ML capability.

The business model blends four revenue streams: (i) government-funded program fees under PA ODP waivers, representing the largest and most stable component; (ii) charitable donations via annual appeals and recurring monthly giving at preset tiers from $25 to $1,000; (iii) membership dues ($20 annual, $250 lifetime, $150 business annual) providing access to workshops, training, legislative alerts, and the InSight newsletter; and (iv) transactional revenue from SpArc Marketplace art sales. Strategic partnerships materially extend capacity: Drexel College of Medicine operates the HOP Clinic (the first medical student-run free clinic for intellectually disabled adults), The Arc of the US, the Coleman Institute, and Comcast NBCUniversal support the technology coaching program, and the William Penn Foundation funded the Parent IEP Training Series. Distribution is in-person and regional, anchored at 2350 West Westmoreland Street, Philadelphia, with weekly information sessions, an active social media presence, and a Neurodiversity in the Workplace employer-partner network. There is no parent company, no equity ownership, and no disclosed funding rounds; governance rests on a board of directors led by Executive Director Shane Janick.

Name

The Arc Of Philadelphia

Legal name

SpArc Philadelphia

Website

https://sparcphilly.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SpArc Philadelphia is a 1948-founded nonprofit family of organizations that advocates for and delivers direct services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Philadelphia and Delaware County through employment supports, community programming, and cultural arts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds from individual donors through annual appeals (2025 Annual Appeal) and a donation form with preset amounts ($25, $50, $75, $100, $250, $500, $1000) with options for monthly recurring donations.
2. Membership Dues: The Arc of Philadelphia generates revenue through annual memberships ($20 per year) and lifetime memberships ($250), with business memberships also available. Members receive access to workshops, training events, legislative alerts, and the quarterly InSight newsletter.
3. Program Fees and Government Contracts: As a provider of services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, SpArc Services operates under Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) waiver services, implying revenue from government-funded program fees and service contracts.
4. SpArc Marketplace Sales: SpArc Marketplace is a traditional online shop featuring art from artists at the Cultural Arts Center at SpArc Services, generating revenue from art sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SpArc Philadelphia is a family of nonprofit organizations that advocates for and provides direct services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across Philadelphia and Delaware County. Core offerings span disability rights advocacy, employment services and job coaching, community participation and home/community supports, cultural arts programming, health outreach through a medical student-run clinic (HOP), assistive technology coaching, youth leadership development, and an online art marketplace featuring work by artists with disabilities.

Product overview

SpArc Philadelphia is a family of nonprofit organizations providing comprehensive services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates as a multi-brand portfolio consisting of: The Arc of Philadelphia (advocacy, rights protection, and policy work), SpArc Services (direct service programs including employment services, community participation supports, and residential supports), and SpArc Marketplace (online art marketplace). Additional offerings include Health Initiatives with a medical student-run clinic, Child and Adult Advocacy programs, Youth Leadership programming, a Technology Coaching Program, and Parent IEP Training. The SpArc Philadelphia family was founded in 1948 and serves the Philadelphia and Delaware County region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SpArc Services: Provides programs and services that encourage inclusion, independence, and personal achievement, including employment services, community participation supports, and home and community supports
• SpArc Marketplace
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Products and services

• The Arc of Philadelphia advocacy services Advocacy services that protect the rights of and promote opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, delivered through one-to-one consultation, parent/caregiver webinar series, and community partnerships.
• SpArc Services direct programs Direct programs and services that encourage inclusion, independence, and personal achievement for individuals with disabilities, including employment services and job coaching, community participation supports, and home and community supports.
• SpArc Marketplace online art shop Traditional online shop featuring art created by artists from The Cultural Arts Center at SpArc Services, supporting creative expression and economic independence for artists with disabilities.
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace program Program connecting neurodiverse individuals with employment opportunities through partnerships with area businesses, helping individuals gain and retain independent competitive and community-based employment.
• Health Initiatives / HOP Clinic / HealthMeet Health outreach program providing education and training in unique healthcare needs of the I/DD community, including the HOP Clinic — the first medical student-run free clinic dedicated to intellectually disabled adults — operated in collaboration with Drexel College of Medicine, plus the HealthMeet initiative for health screenings and provider training in partnership with Drexel University College of Medicine and Drexel School of Nursing.
• Child Advocacy services Advocacy services for non-school age and school-age children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping families obtain supportive services through IEP reviews and school/agency meetings.
• Adult Advocacy services Services linking individuals and families with I/DD to service providers, offering guidance on accessing waiver services, housing, employment, healthcare, and transportation resources.
• Youth Leadership Program Program helping young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities develop leadership skills and prepare for active community participation.
• Technology Coaching Program Tech coaching program demonstrating how individuals with disabilities can use everyday consumer technology (Amazon Echo Show, Ring Doorbell, smart lighting) to live more independently, supported by The Arc of US, The Coleman Institute, and Comcast NBCUniversal.
• Parent IEP Training Sessions Training series helping parents and family members navigate the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process and understand special education and disability services, created with William Penn Foundation grant funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% of program participants regularly go out in the community
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Arc of PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2024The Arc of Pennsylvania is the parent/state affiliation for The Arc of Philadelphia. Executive Director Sherri Landis of The Arc of Pennsylvania commented on The Arc of Philadelphia's expansion to Delaware County, noting the partnership will help achieve the goal of all Pennsylvanians having access to advocacy support services.
• Drexel College of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrexel College of Medicine collaborates on the Health Outreach Project (HOP) Clinic — the first medical student-run free clinic dedicated to intellectually disabled adults in the country. Medical students provide weekly walk-in clinics under Drexel medical staff supervision. The Arc of Philadelphia also partners with Drexel University College of Medicine and Drexel School of Nursing on the HealthMeet initiative for health screenings and provider training.
• The Arc of the United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arc of the US supports The Arc of Philadelphia's tech coaching program, which demonstrates how individuals with disabilities can use technology to live more independently. The Arc of the US also supports the HealthMeet initiative. The Arc of Philadelphia is affiliated with The Arc of the United States and The Arc of Pennsylvania.
• Coleman InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Coleman Institute supports The Arc of Philadelphia's tech coaching program, which helps individuals with disabilities use technology to live more independently.
• Comcast NBCUniversalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComcast NBCUniversal supports The Arc of Philadelphia's tech coaching program, which demonstrates how everyday consumer technology (Amazon Echo Show, Ring Doorbell, Bluetooth lightbulbs, etc.) can be used by individuals with disabilities to increase independence.
• RCPA (Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpArc Philadelphia is a proud member of RCPA (Pennsylvania Providers), an organization supporting providers of services to individuals with disabilities and behavioral health needs in Pennsylvania.
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace Partner OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Neurodiversity in the Workplace initiative lists multiple partner organizations (logo section), though specific partner names are not individually identified in the source text. The initiative aims to promote employment of individuals with disabilities through employer partnerships.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of Pennsylvania: State-level umbrella organization of which The Arc of Philadelphia is an affiliated chapter. Both provide I/DD advocacy across Pennsylvania and share programmatic frameworks, legislative priorities, and donor networks.
• Liberty Resources Inc. Philadelphia-area nonprofit provider offering programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs. Operates within the same Pennsylvania ODP waiver framework and serves overlapping participant populations.
• AHEDD (Agency for Human & Economic Development & Diversity): Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing employment, vocational rehabilitation, and training services to people with disabilities. Directly comparable in employment-services and ODP waiver-funded service delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: National nonprofit providing behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability, and educational services. Operates in Pennsylvania and shares a similar I/DD service model, though at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• The Arc of the United States: National umbrella for The Arc of Philadelphia and similar state/local chapters. Operates as a broad incumbent in the I/DD advocacy space with nationwide policy influence, brand recognition, and programmatic funding that local chapters leverage.
• Resources for Human Development (RHD): Pennsylvania-based national nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and disability services. Operates programs for individuals with I/DD within the same Pennsylvania service region and shares the ODP/Medicaid funding model.
• YAI: New York-headquartered large nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan. Comparable in mission and breadth, including employment and advocacy, though at national scale.
• Elwyn: Large Pennsylvania-headquartered nonprofit serving individuals with I/DD, autism, and behavioral health needs through residential, employment, and community-based programs. Comparable in mission and service breadth, but substantially larger and multi-state.

Regional players

• Community Living And Support Services (CLASS): Pittsburgh-based nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental health needs through community-based services. Comparable service mix but operates in a different Pennsylvania geography.
• The Arc of New Jersey: Sibling state-level Arc chapter providing I/DD advocacy in New Jersey. Comparable chapter-level model to The Arc of Philadelphia but serving an adjacent, non-overlapping state geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SpArcPhilly
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCHg4YWyUssock6yM3IKp1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpArcPhilly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sparc-philadelphia
• Instagraminstagram.com/sparcphilly

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 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 The Arc Of Philadelphia