Hope Of North Carolina, Inc.

What Hope Of North Carolina, Inc. does

Hope Of North Carolina, Inc. (HOPE NC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 by three parent-advocates (Ginny, Orah, and Dotty) to expand inclusive, affordable housing options for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the North Carolina Triangle area. The organization operates an "IDEAL Communities" model (Inclusive, Diverse, Engaging, Affordable, Lifelong) in which approximately 20% of units in mixed-population developments are reserved for adults with I/DD, with the remaining 80% occupied by families, seniors, and other community members, avoiding institutional or group-home segregation. HOPE NC currently supports three pilot communities: North Street Community in Durham, Grosvenor Gardens in Raleigh (a 50-unit historic building with 10 units set aside for I/DD residents in partnership with CASA), and Weavers Grove in Chapel Hill (10 duplexes developed with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, opening in 2026). Each community is staffed by a Community Facilitator who organizes programming, fosters neighbor relationships, and connects residents to external supports.

HOPE NC does not operate a software product; its technology footprint is limited to its website (hopenorthcarolina.org) and a UserWay-powered accessibility widget for WCAG 2.1 compliance. The organization has no APIs, no proprietary AI/ML systems, and no patents or trademarks. Its principal assets are program-level: a Community Facilitator staffing model, an Inclusive Housing Interest Form intake funnel, the annual Inclusive Housing Summit, the Independent Housing Toolkit, and the North Carolina Inclusive Housing Coalition convening 30+ partner organizations across the state.

The revenue model is multi-source and grant-dependent. HOPE NC is funded through individual, corporate, and foundation donations, charitable contributions, a multi-year capacity-building grant of up to $150,000 per year from the UNC-CH Cares Program / NC Money Follows the Person (2022-2027), a $3.2M+ City of Raleigh capital grant (2025) for Grosvenor Gardens infrastructure, $400,000+ in capital from Alliance Health, rental income on purchased/leased units (often subsidized via federal vouchers), and event-based fundraising. Programs and Community Facilitator services are provided at no cost to residents. The organization is governed by its founders and a Board of Directors, has been recognized by Charity Navigator (2024 Top Rated Nonprofit) and Candid (2025 Platinum Seal), and is led operationally by Director Lauren Wells with on-site Community Facilitators at each community.

Name

Hope Of North Carolina, Inc.

Legal name

Hope Of North Carolina, Inc.

Website

https://hopenorthcarolina.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hope Of North Carolina, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that develops and supports inclusive, mixed-population housing communities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the North Carolina Triangle, partnering with developers, government agencies, and service providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: HOPE NC relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations, community programming, and housing development efforts. Donations help fund activities like YMCA memberships, art classes, and group activities for residents who often lack disposable income.
2. Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from various sources including government programs and foundations. Notably, the Cares Program at UNC-CH School of Social Work, in partnership with North Carolina Money Follows the Person, awarded HOPE NC a grant up to $150,000 per year for five years (2022-2027) under the Building Capacity for Home and Community Based Services Through Collective Impact program.
3. Government and Municipal Funding: HOPE NC receives capital investment from government sources. In late 2025, the city of Raleigh awarded over $3 million to support the Grosvenor Gardens affordable housing project. Alliance Health also committed over $400,000 in capital investment to create units at Grosvenor Gardens.
4. Rental Income: HOPE NC purchases and rents duplexes to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At Weavers Grove, HOPE NC will purchase 10 duplexes to rent to adults with I/DD. Residents may receive rental assistance through subsidies or federal vouchers, often administered by Alliance Health.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Hope Of North Carolina, Inc. (HOPE NC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that develops and operates inclusive, mixed-income housing communities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in North Carolina. The organization partners with private developers, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, and local governments to create neighborhood-integrated communities, and staffs each community with a Community Facilitator who provides programming, advocacy, and resident support. The three pilot communities are North Street (Durham), Grosvenor Gardens (Raleigh), and Weavers Grove (Chapel Hill).

Product overview

HOPE NC operates a portfolio of inclusive housing programs and community support services, not a unified software product. The core offering consists of IDEAL Communities—housing developments where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live alongside neighbors without disabilities. Three pilot communities are currently operational or under development: North Street Community (Durham), Grosvenor Gardens (Raleigh), and Weavers Grove (Chapel Hill). Each community is supported by Community Facilitators who provide on-site programming and connection services. Additional offerings include the annual Inclusive Housing Summit, an online Inclusive Housing Interest Form for prospective residents, and downloadable resources such as the Independent Housing Toolkit. The organization does not offer a software platform, API, or technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IDEAL Communities

Quantifiable outcome

• North Street residents of all abilities experienced increased belonging and social connection after one year with a community facilitator.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CASA (Community Advocates for Stable Affordable Housing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffordable housing development partner operating over 460 affordable rental units in the Triangle. CASA partners with HOPE NC at Grosvenor Gardens where 10 units are set aside for adults with I/DD.
• Alliance HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinks individuals with I/DD and behavioral health needs with support services. Committed over $400,000 in capital investment to create units at Grosvenor Gardens. Often subsidizes rent or accesses federal vouchers for residents.
• UNC-CH Community Practice LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of UNC-CH School of Social Work, catalyzing and expanding community-driven, sustainable, and knowledge-based initiatives through creative scholarship, innovative program development, and committed partnerships.
• Orange County Department of AgingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers integrated aging services and programs including wellness and education classes, job search advice and workshops, lunches, trips, and volunteer opportunities. Supports intergenerational programming in IDEAL communities.
• POAH (Preservation of Affordable Housing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit creating affordable homes that support economic security, equity, and access to opportunity for all. Part of the IDEAL Collective Impact initiative.
• Habitat for Humanity of Orange CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Weavers Grove, a mixed-income neighborhood in Chapel Hill where HOPE NC will purchase 10 duplexes to rent to adults with I/DD. Habitat for Humanity is building the homes; HOPE NC will provide units for disabled residents.
• Town of Chapel HillsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner supporting inclusive housing initiatives in the Chapel Hill area through the Weavers Grove project and other community development efforts.
• UNC School of MedicinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research, training, and community health expertise to support inclusive housing development and evaluation.
• Meals on Wheels Orange County NCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides meal services that support independent living for seniors and adults with disabilities in Orange County communities.
• Empowerment IncsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting empowerment and independence for individuals with disabilities.
• Carolwoods Retirement CommunitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetirement community partner supporting intergenerational connections and inclusive community programming.
• Autism Society NCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState affiliate of the Autism Society providing advocacy, support, and resources for individuals with autism and their families.
• NC DHHS (NC Department of Health and Human Services)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing Medicaid waivers, support services, and policy frameworks that enable community-based living options for individuals with disabilities.
• Disability Rights NCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtection and advocacy organization working to ensure the rights of people with disabilities in North Carolina.
• Vaya HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaged care organization providing behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability services in North Carolina.
• NCHFA (NC Housing Finance Agency)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState housing finance agency providing affordable housing financing and programs that support inclusive housing development.
• Spring Forest FarmsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitating a weekly cooking class in the North Street Neighborhood, teaching participants how to prepare fresh, healthy meals using seasonal vegetables. Partnership helps neighbors build community while learning practical skills.
• Steelo SalonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal salon near the Durham community that provides quarterly haircuts to residents. Partnership developed when Steelo Salon opened as a neighbor, demonstrating how inclusive communities foster organic community connections.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Easterseals is a national disability services network offering housing, employment, and community-living supports across many states. Overlaps with HOPE NC on the inclusive-housing and community-supports axis but operates at vastly larger scale and breadth.
• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Sevita Health is one of the largest national providers of home- and community-based services for individuals with I/DD and behavioral health needs, including residential and host-home settings. Comparable in the I/DD community-living services space, with much broader geographic and operational scale.
• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is the largest national advocacy and services organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a strong housing and community-living policy agenda. Broader in scope than HOPE NC but operates in the same I/DD housing space and shares HOPE NC's policy-advocacy orientation.
• BrightSpring Health Services: BrightSpring provides home and community-based services for people with I/DD and complex needs, including behavioral health and pharmacy. A scaled, diversified I/DD services platform that competes with HOPE NC for state Medicaid and waiver funding in the same service category.

Direct peers

• Chimes: Chimes is a nonprofit providing residential, day, and community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a stated mission of community inclusion. Direct peer in both mission (inclusive communities) and population served (I/DD).
• YAI (Young Adult Institute): YAI provides residential, day, and community programs for people with I/DD in the NYC region, including supervised and supportive housing. Directly comparable in delivering I/DD housing and community supports, though at significantly larger scale than HOPE NC.
• L'Arche USA: L'Arche operates intentional inclusive communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together. Closest direct analog to HOPE NC's IDEAL model — both center community belonging over institutional care and rely on dedicated facilitators to foster inclusion.
• AHRC New York City: AHRC NYC operates residential programs, day services, and family support for people with I/DD. Comparable in mission and program mix to HOPE NC, including community-based housing alternatives to institutional settings.
• Ability Housing: Ability Housing develops and operates affordable, accessible housing for individuals with disabilities. Closely mirrors HOPE NC's focus on combining housing development with disability-specific mission and support, though Ability Housing takes a more developer-direct approach.
• Mainstream Living: Mainstream Living provides residential and community-based services for people with I/DD in Iowa. Comparable nonprofit mission around community-based, integrated living — a useful peer for assessing the replicability of HOPE NC's model across state lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hopencinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopenorthcarolina
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopencinc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Hope Of North Carolina, Inc.