Smart Home America

What Smart Home America does

Smart Home America is a Mobile, Alabama nonprofit that promotes the IBHS FORTIFIED construction standard through policy advocacy, certified contractor training, and state grant programs. It serves homeowners, builders, insurance carriers, real estate professionals, and policymakers across 30+ US states.

Name

Smart Home America

Legal name

Smart Home America

Website

https://smarthomeamerica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Resilient Construction Advocacy and Training

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Residential Building Construction (2361), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH), Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization & Home Repair Grant/Loan Programs (FSALAKAJ), Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)

Keywords

• Resilient construction standards
• Building code advocacy
• Insurance mitigation programs
• Construction professional training
• Disaster resilience policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Mobile

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Funding: Smart Home America is funded by insurance industry partners and foundations including American Family Insurance, State Farm, Fannie Mae, and The Travelers Foundation. State Farm has supported the organization since its inception in 2009.
2. Training and Continuing Education: SHA offers approved CE provider training for insurance producers, real estate licensees, home builders, roofing contractors, and code officials. Training is available in-person, virtual, and on-demand. ICC preferred provider status across 30+ states.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Smart Home America is a nonprofit organization that promotes the FORTIFIED construction standard developed by IBHS across single-family, multifamily, and commercial properties. The organization provides approved continuing education and certification training for construction professionals, insurance producers, real estate licensees, and code officials in 30+ states. It also advances resilient construction policy through legislative advocacy, technical assistance, state-administered grant programs (such as Strengthen Alabama Homes), and free resources like Construction Code Supplements and community resilience planning tools.

Product overview

Smart Home America operates a multi-product portfolio organized around the FORTIFIED construction standard system developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). The core offering comprises three FORTIFIED programs differentiated by property type: FORTIFIED Home™ (single-family residential), FORTIFIED Commercial™ (commercial structures), and FORTIFIED Multifamily™ (apartment and condo buildings). Supporting these are FORTIFIED Evaluator™ (third-party certification professionals) and FORTIFIED Wise™ (professional training platform). The Wildfire Prepared Home™ program extends the approach to wildfire-prone states. Free supplementary resources include the Construction Code Supplement (beyond-code standards for adoption by jurisdictions) and the Resilient Housing Planning Guide/Workbook for community resilience planning. State-specific grant programs (Strengthen Alabama Homes, Strengthen Oklahoma Homes, etc.) provide funding to homeowners for FORTIFIED upgrades. All programs are cross-referenced to insurance discount incentives available across participating states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BRA²C₂E: A program or initiative under Smart Home America focused on resilience.
• FORTIFIED
• Wildfire Prepared Home
• Volunteer and Learn

Products and services

• FORTIFIED Home A voluntary, beyond-code construction standard developed by IBHS for single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes. Addresses hurricane, high wind, hail, and tornado risks with three tiers (Roof, Silver, Gold) and is available for new construction or retrofitting existing homes. Designed for homeowners and builders seeking insurance discounts and reduced storm damage.
• FORTIFIED Commercial A voluntary, beyond-code construction standard for light to moderate commercial structures including retail, restaurants, hotels, schools, and municipal buildings. Provides three tiers (Roof, Silver, Gold) and is designed to reduce storm damage and help businesses reopen faster.
• FORTIFIED Multifamily A voluntary, beyond-code construction standard for apartments, condos, and other multifamily properties. Three tiers (Roof, Silver, Gold) progressively strengthen buildings against wind, wind-driven rain, and hail to keep residents housed after storms.
• FORTIFIED Evaluator Certification Program Independent, certified third-party professionals who verify that properties meet the FORTIFIED standard. Required for every FORTIFIED Home, Commercial, and Multifamily designation. Evaluators document materials and installation methods and submit verification to IBHS for certification.
• Wildfire Prepared Home A voluntary wildfire mitigation designation program for homeowners in wildfire-prone states. Two levels: Base (ember protection) and Plus (flame and radiant heat protection). Valid for 3 years with annual maintenance requirements and insurance discount eligibility.
• FORTIFIED Wise Training Training platform providing professional certification courses for FORTIFIED Evaluators, roofers, and builders. Offers continuing education credits approved in 30+ states for insurance producers, real estate licensees, home builders, roofing contractors, and code officials.
• Construction Code Supplement Free beyond-code building standards available to any jurisdiction. Two versions: Coastal Construction Code Supplement (hurricane-prone areas) and Inland Construction Code Supplement (high wind, hail, tornado areas). Supplements the International Residential Code and bridges the gap to FORTIFIED standards.
• Resilient Housing Planning Guide and Workbook Free planning tools to help communities develop resilient housing strategies. Includes a 24-page interactive workbook (2-4 hours) and an 80+ page comprehensive planning guide (6-12 month process). Covers housing vulnerability assessment, damage reduction planning, and disaster recovery frameworks.
• Strengthen Alabama Homes Grant Program State grant program providing up to $10,000 in grant funds for owners of primary residences in select Alabama counties to re-roof homes to the FORTIFIED Home standard. Administered by the Alabama Department of Insurance.
• State-Specific Incentive Programs and Resources Over 20 state-specific pages covering grants, insurance discounts, tax incentives, and resilience legislation across multiple states including Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, Strengthen Oklahoma Homes, Strengthen Kentucky Homes, and others.
• Volunteer and Learn Education Program Education and training program offered by Smart Home America for engaging volunteers and learners in resilient construction topics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% fewer insurance claims and 72% lower total losses for FORTIFIED Roof homes during Hurricane Sally
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Southeast & Caribbean Disaster Resilience PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA is a member of the Southeast & Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership, a regional organization focused on disaster resilience coordination.
• The Flood Mitigation Industry AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA is a member of the Flood Mitigation Industry Association (FMIA), an industry organization focused on flood mitigation policy and practice.
• Mobile Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA is a member of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, the local business organization in its headquarters city.
• Baton Rouge Home Builders AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA is a member of the Baton Rouge Home Builders Association, supporting construction industry engagement in Louisiana.
• The Association of State Floodplain ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA is a member of the Association of State Floodplain Management (ASFPM), the leading voice for floodplain management policy and science.
• Alabama Association of NonprofitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA is a member of the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, supporting the nonprofit sector in Alabama.
• Home Builders Association of Metropolitan MobileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA is a member of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Mobile (HBAMM), supporting local construction industry engagement.
• Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBHS developed the FORTIFIED construction standard and Wildfire Prepared Home program. Smart Home America serves as a primary champion and promoter of IBHS standards, providing technical assistance, training, and policy advocacy across the United States.
• Federal Home Loan Bank of DallascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHLB Dallas operates the FORTIFIED Fund Grant Program offering up to $15,000 for roof replacement on existing homes or up to $7,500 towards FORTIFIED Roof on new construction. Their Affordable Housing Program awards grants prioritizing FORTIFIED construction with additional scoring points.
• Federal Home Loan Bank of CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHLB Cincinnati's Affordable Housing Program awards competitive grants to member institutions for affordable housing projects in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee, including additional scoring points for FORTIFIED construction to promote storm resilience.
• Federal Home Loan Bank of AtlantacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFHLB Atlanta's Affordable Housing Program supports affordable housing projects through competitive grants, granting extra scoring points for FORTIFIED construction to strengthen storm resilience in housing developments.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): Industry trade association for residential builders. NAHB is the broader industry counterpart SHA engages with to drive FORTIFIED adoption among builders; it sets the context (cost, codes) within which SHA's training programs operate.
• Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I): Insurance industry research and communications organization. Comparable as a nonprofit funded by insurance carriers that educates consumers and policymakers on insurance and risk topics, including resilience — adjacent mission but broader scope than SHA.
• Enterprise Community Partners: Major nonprofit in affordable housing and community development. Comparable as a mission-driven housing nonprofit that works on resilience and policy advocacy, with substantially larger scale and a national footprint touching similar government and FHLB partners.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Large nonprofit affordable housing builder with demonstrated FORTIFIED Roof adoption (e.g., Habitat for Humanity of Autauga and Chilton Counties). Comparable as a nonprofit that both builds and advocates for resilient affordable housing, overlapping SHA's affordable-housing and policy work.
• National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS): Nonprofit that drives consensus-based solutions for the built environment, including natural hazard mitigation. Comparable as a convening and policy body for building science, though more technical/advisory than SHA's consumer-facing approach.

Broad incumbents

• International Code Council (ICC): The leading model code organization in the U.S., whose IRC and IBC form the baseline that FORTIFIED builds upon. SHA holds ICC preferred provider status and works to integrate FORTIFIED into ICC frameworks, making ICC both a partner and the dominant upstream standards body.

Direct peers

• BuildStrong Coalition: Industry coalition advocating for resilient and stronger building codes. Comparable in its policy advocacy model and target audience (code officials, legislators, builders), though it operates at the federal level rather than state-by-state.
• Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS): Research organization that developed the FORTIFIED standard that SHA champions. IBHS owns the trademarks and runs the FORTIFIED Wise training platform; SHA is its primary external advocacy and adoption partner, making them functionally co-dependent.
• Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH): Nonprofit focused on disaster-resilient construction and public education. FLASH and SHA operate in overlapping spaces — resilient-building standards, consumer outreach, and policy advocacy — making them the closest mission-aligned peer.

Regional players

• Resilient Cities Network: Global city network advancing urban resilience. Comparable in mission (community resilience), but operates primarily internationally and at city-government level rather than U.S. residential construction, making it a thematic rather than direct peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BuildResilient
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-home-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Smart Home America