Inclusion Connections

What Inclusion Connections does

Inclusion Connections, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered at 2073 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe, Kansas. The organization serves individuals ages 16 and older with developmental and intellectual disabilities across the Kansas City metropolitan area, focusing on the post-high-school transition where public services thin out. Its core programs include PawsAbilities, a workforce development initiative that employs participants in manufacturing and selling handcrafted pet products (dog treats, bandanas) through an on-site retail store, mobile pop-ups, and a Shopify e-commerce storefront; BelongKC, a supportive living initiative currently in a capital campaign to build affordable housing for adults with IDD; and the Connections Program, which delivers year-round educational, social, and life-skills classes.

The organization is funded through a diversified nonprofit revenue model rather than technology or product sales. Primary inflows are individual and corporate donations (including a tiered monthly Hope Builders Club giving program at $25-$250+), an annual FashionAbility Gala that raised $912,010 in 2025 and a record $1.1 million in 2026 with 700+ sold-out attendees, corporate sponsorships led by UnitedHealthcare (2025) and Subaru of Olathe (2026), and a multi-year BelongKC capital campaign that had raised $16.26 million of a $19.9 million goal as of December 2025. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on volunteer engagement, word-of-mouth, peer-to-peer Top Model campaigns, earned media in local press, and grassroots fundraising events. The organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees overseen by Executive Director Debbie Horn and a Board of Directors drawn from regional financial, construction, healthcare, and retail institutions.

Name

Inclusion Connections

Legal name

Inclusion Connections, Inc.

Website

https://ickc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inclusion Connections is an Olathe, Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides workforce training, supported employment, educational programming, and affordable supportive housing for adults with developmental disabilities in the Kansas City metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and Human Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Workforce development programs
• Supportive housing services
• Vocational training programs
• Nonprofit community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Olathe

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations provide primary funding support. The Hope Builders Club monthly giving program offers recurring donations at $25, $50, $100, and $250+ levels with specific impact allocations (supplies, transportation, job coaching, life skills classes).
2. Product Sales: PawsAbilities program generates revenue through sale of handcrafted dog treats, bandanas, and pet products manufactured by program participants. Sales occur at the retail store in Olathe, mobile pop-up stores at local businesses and events, and online via Shopify storefront.
3. FashionAbility Annual Gala: Annual signature fundraising event featuring runway fashion show, live and silent auctions, and Top Model campaigns. The 2026 gala raised a record-breaking $1.1 million; 2025 gala raised $912,010. Proceeds support PawsAbilities workforce development and other programs.
4. Capital Campaign Donations: BelongKC supportive living initiative is funded through major capital campaign donations, naming opportunities, and building sponsorships. Campaign goal of $19,895,000 with $16,259,433 raised as of December 2025.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support events and programs. Presenting sponsors include Subaru of Olathe (2026 FashionAbility Gala) and UnitedHealthcare (2025 FashionAbility Gala). Building sponsorship levels available for BelongKC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Inclusion Connections provides education, employment, and supportive living programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Its core programs include PawsAbilities (workforce development and job training through manufacturing and selling handcrafted pet products), BelongKC (an affordable supportive housing community initiative), and the year-round Connections Program (educational classes and social activities). These program services are delivered primarily at the Olathe, Kansas headquarters to adults ages 16+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Product overview

Inclusion Connections operates as a nonprofit organization offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. The core programs include PawsAbilities (workforce development through pet product manufacturing and sales), BelongKC (supportive housing initiative), and the Connections Program (year-round educational and social programming). These are complemented by the FashionAbility annual gala for fundraising and the Hope Builders Club monthly giving program. The organization serves individuals with developmental disabilities ages 16 and older, focusing on independent living, employment, and education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BelongKC: Supportive Living Initiative creating an innovative, affordable, and sustainable community where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live with customized supports.
• PawsAbilities

Products and services

• PawsAbilities A workforce development and job training program providing meaningful employment for individuals with developmental disabilities through creating and selling handcrafted pet products including natural dog treats and sewn items such as bandanas. Participants learn baking, sewing, commercial kitchen operation, cash register, cleaning, packaging, inventory, and customer service skills.
• BelongKC A supportive living initiative creating an innovative, affordable community in the Kansas City region where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live independently with customized supports, focusing on health outcomes, social relationships, and meaningful employment.
• Connections Program A year-round program offering educational classes and social activities specially designed to build self-confidence and create life-long learning opportunities for young people with developmental disabilities (ages 16+), including fitness, cooking, art, theater, dance, music, and social opportunities.
• Hope Builders Club A monthly recurring giving program that provides steady, reliable support for planning and growing programs, with donors receiving exclusive Q&A sessions with students and staff, behind-the-scenes updates, and recognition.
• Transition Academy Life skills classes supporting independent living for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record-breaking $1.1 million raised at 2026 FashionAbility Gala with 700+ attendees
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kansas)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 August 2024Met with Debbie Horn, Executive Director, to discuss Inclusion Connections' impactful work with developmental disability community. Lisa Pelofsky, Co-Founder and CEO of Byrne Pelofsky, facilitated the meeting.
• UnitedHealthcare Community & StateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured Inclusion Connections' supportive housing initiative that aims to empower adults with disabilities in Kansas City. Article published on uhccommunityandstate.com platform.
• KMBC 9 NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Kansas City news station featured BelongKC supportive living initiative in a news story, helping spread awareness of the housing initiative for individuals with I/DD.
• Kansas City ChiefsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKansas City Chiefs tight end visited Inclusion Connections' PawsAbilities program to meet students who make dog toys and treats, generating local and potentially national sports media coverage.
• KSBH NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Kansas City news station KSBH featured PawsAbilities program and BelongKC in a news segment.
• Kansas City StarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Kansas City newspaper covered the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's visit to PawsAbilities program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Viability: Nonprofit serving people with disabilities across employment, community living, and behavioral health — comparable mid-sized IDD services organization with similar integrated-program structure.
• Melwood: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing job training, employment, and supportive housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — closest direct comp on the integrated workforce + housing model that Inclusion Connections is building with BelongKC.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit network delivering disability services including workforce development, independent living, and community-based employment programs for individuals with disabilities and IDD — directly comparable mission and service mix.
• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, job placement, and skills training — including programs explicitly for individuals with disabilities — directly comparable to the PawsAbilities and Connections Program employment pathway.
• Benchmark Human Services: Multi-state human services organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, day, employment, and behavioral health programs — comparable integrated IDD services provider.
• Best Buddies International: Nonprofit operating integrated employment, leadership, and residential programs for people with IDD — a direct comparator on the supported employment and community-living pillars of Inclusion Connections' model.
• L'Arche USA: Nonprofit creating intentional residential communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together — directly comparable to BelongKC's supportive-living concept and the inclusion philosophy central to Inclusion Connections.
• AbilityFirst: California-based nonprofit providing vocational, residential, social, and recreation programs for individuals with developmental disabilities — strong comp on the multi-program year-round service model.
• The Arc of the United States: National organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through employment, housing, education, and advocacy — overlapping directly with Inclusion Connections' programs (BelongKC housing, PawsAbilities employment).

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Large national workforce-development nonprofit that operates vocational programs explicitly for people with disabilities, including social-enterprise retail. Functions as a broad incumbent in the same employment-for-IDD space as PawsAbilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuo2NZWBsonFToYyvoUL_bg
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Inclusion-Connections/372700129501223
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inclusion-connections
• Instagraminstagram.com/inclusionconnections
• TikToktiktok.com/@pawsabilitieskc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Inclusion Connections