What Green Mountain Self-advocates does

Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA) is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and member-led disability rights organization that provides peer-led advocacy, education, training, and resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1994 in Burlington, Vermont, and federally registered as a nonprofit in March 2014 (EIN 01-0971799), the organization is governed by a board composed of representatives from each local self-advocacy group plus community members, with a professional staff of roughly 8-9 people plus allies. Its membership base spans more than 20 local self-advocacy groups across Vermont with over 600 self-advocates participating, and its national SARTAC (Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center) program extends reach to self-advocates in 30-35+ states via weekly Zoom meetings and a web-based clearinghouse of 300+ plain-language resources.

GMSA's core "products" are programmatic rather than technology-based. The flagship offerings include the annual Voices and Choices Conference (held since 1998, drawing 600+ attendees, with $5 per-person registration), the three-weekend Vermont Leadership Series training (140+ graduates since 2010), the SARTAC national resource and technical assistance center run in partnership with Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE), the Youth Ambassadors and Youth Summits programs, and a sexuality education curriculum co-authored by staff. The organization also publishes position statements, white papers, life-history videos, and a peer-reviewed resource library. The underlying technology stack is minimal: a WordPress-based website (gmsavt.org), Zoom for virtual meetings, email newsletter, and social media channels — there is no proprietary platform, app, or AI component.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding mix: individual tax-deductible donations, tiered conference sponsorships ($250 "Friends" to $2,500+ "Super Advocate"), annual Speak Up Gala proceeds with silent auction, planned giving/bequests, Amazon Smile affiliate donations, and grants/funded partnerships with state and federal entities (Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council, Administration on Disabilities, Vermont DAIL) and foundations (notably NoVo Foundation via the Vera Institute). Financial figures are not publicly disclosed. GMSA operates primarily within Vermont with national reach via SARTAC, and has no parent company, M&A activity, or venture/PE ownership.

Name

Green Mountain Self-advocates

Legal name

Green Mountain Self-Advocates

Website

https://gmsavt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Green Mountain Self-Advocates is a Vermont-based, member-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides peer-led advocacy, training, and resources to people with developmental disabilities, operating 20+ local groups statewide and the national SARTAC resource center reaching 35+ states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training (EDAKANAI)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Self-advocacy training
• Developmental disability services
• Peer-led support
• Disability education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

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: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting self-advocacy in Vermont. Organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with EIN 01-0971799.
2. Annual Speak Up Gala: Annual fundraising event with silent auction to support GMSA projects and ongoing activities.
3. Conference Sponsorships: Conference sponsorship tiers ranging from Friends of GMSA ($250) to Super Advocate ($2,500+) for annual Voices and Choices Conference.
4. Amazon Smile: Portion of purchases donated when shopping through AmazonSmile (EIN 01-0971799).
5. Planned Giving: Bequests and planned donations through wills.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Green Mountain Self-Advocates is a disability rights nonprofit run by and for self-advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It delivers peer-led advocacy, leadership training, plain-language educational resources, and community-based programs through a network of 20+ local self-advocacy groups in Vermont and the national SARTAC resource and technical assistance center serving 30+ states.

Product overview

Green Mountain Self-Advocates (GMSA) is Vermont's statewide disability rights organization run by and for self-advocates. The organization operates as a unified advocacy movement rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include the Voices and Choices Conference (annual event since 1998), the Vermont Leadership Series training program, the national SARTAC resource clearinghouse, a network of 20+ local self-advocacy groups, Youth Ambassadors and Youth Summits programs, and educational resources in plain language covering autism, bullying, sexuality, and disability rights. The organization produces position statements, white papers, life history videos, and hosts weekly national peer meetings connecting self-advocates from 35+ states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SARTAC (Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center): National center that provides self-advocacy resources and technical assistance to self-advocacy organizations across the nation. GMSA set up and runs the SARTAC website with hundreds of resources created by self-advocates.
• Voices and Choices Conference
• Vermont Leadership Series
• Speak Up Gala
• Revitalizing Self-Advocacy

Products and services

• Voices and Choices Conference Annual two-day conference for self-advocates with disabilities, bringing over 600 people together from across Vermont since 1998, featuring speakers with disabilities, workshops, awards, talent show, and peer-to-peer connections.
• Vermont Leadership Series

Quantifiable outcome

• 140+ Leadership Series graduates improving lives of Vermonters with disabilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMSA partners with SABE as lead partner in the national Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC), which provides resources and technical assistance to self-advocacy organizations across the nation. SABE hosts national advocacy conferences biennially.
• Vermont Developmental Disabilities CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of the Self-Advocacy Project grant to strengthen self-advocacy in Vermont. Co-sponsor of Vermont Leadership Series. Collaborative partner on multiple projects including the Inclusive Healthcare Partnership Project.
• Administration on DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner providing funding and support for SARTAC Project and self-advocacy initiatives nationwide.
• UVM Center on Disability and Community InclusionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research support, training, and collaboration on disability inclusion projects including Vermont Community of Practice.
• Vermont Family NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Vermont Leadership Series and partner on Health Care training projects. Provides family perspective and support for GMSA initiatives.
• State of Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing funding and policy alignment for developmental disability services and self-advocacy programs.
• Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (VT LEND)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining program preparing leaders across health and education professions. First self-advocate trainee in program; partners with GMSA to make classes accessible and hire self-advocates as teachers.
• Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected GMSA to coordinate Vermont Community of Practice on cultural and linguistic competence with 9 disability organizations. Focus on serving people with developmental disabilities from diverse backgrounds.
• Vera Institute of JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Uniting to End Violence Against People with Disabilities national coalition. Vera's Center on Victimization and Safety leads effort with support from NoVo Foundation.
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner providing professional development and collaboration opportunities for disability organizations.
• State of Vermont Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState health agency partner for health-related initiatives and training.
• Vermont Care PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Direct Support Professional Appreciation Day and story garden event at Vermont State House.
• Vermont Developmental Disabilities Services DivisionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState division co-organizing Direct Support Professional Appreciation Day event.
• The Center on Youth Voice, Youth ChoiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth resource center on alternatives to guardianship. Youth Ambassadors study with this program as part of GMSA's supported decision-making initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is the largest U.S. nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating a national federation with state and local chapters. Comparable in advocacy and disability rights mission, but broader in scope (services, policy, family support) and substantially larger than GMSA.
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): NDRN is the U.S. membership network for the Protection & Advocacy (P&A) system and Client Assistance Programs, providing legal advocacy for people with disabilities. Comparable mission in disability rights but operates federally-funded legal programs at national scale.

Direct peers

• People First of Washington (state self-advocacy network): People First is a state-level self-advocacy organization run by and for people with developmental disabilities. Mirrors GMSA's Vermont model at the state level, with similar local chapters, peer-led leadership, and self-determination focus.
• Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE): SABE is the national self-advocacy organization for people with developmental disabilities and a direct partner with GMSA via SARTAC. SABE hosts the biennial National Self-Advocacy Conference and serves a near-identical constituency of self-advocates, making it the closest peer in mission and structure.

Emerging players

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): ASAN is a national disability rights organization run by and for autistic people, overlapping with GMSA's developmental-disability advocacy mission and peer-led operating model. ASAN is more focused on autism specifically and operates at national scale with policy and litigation work.
• TASH: TASH is a national advocacy organization advancing equity, opportunity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. Comparable in disability rights advocacy but operates with a broader scope including research and policy across multiple disability populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VTspeakUP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-mountain-self-advocates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Green Mountain Self-advocates