Gesher Human Services

What Gesher Human Services does

Gesher Human Services is a nonprofit human services organization formed in January 2022 through the merger of JVS Human Services (founded 1976 to serve individuals with autism in metro Detroit) and Kadima (a behavioral health nonprofit). The merged entity, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, operates across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, serving more than 34,000 individuals annually through three core service areas: Careers & Employment (resume workshops, job search support, Women to Work, Recharge! for older workers, JOIN internship program), Residential Services (group homes and supportive housing for people with disabilities), and Community Integration (Creative Expressions arts enrichment, Clubhouse for the Common Good, eCycle Opportunities).

Its product portfolio spans 16 named programs, including HUD-certified homebuyer education ($50 per household), a Direct Support Professional training apprenticeship (155 hours of technical instruction for a Journeyperson credential), HarMoney financial repair (six-week program with potential $2,500 grant), Microsoft Office training ($499 with scholarships), and the Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program operated jointly with Jewish Senior Life. Delivery channels include five physical offices (Southfield headquarters, Detroit, Warren/Macomb, West Bloomfield), virtual Zoom-based workshops, community venue partnerships, and residential placements.

Revenue is generated through a nonprofit mix: individual donations and charitable gifts (unrestricted and deferred), foundation and government grants (including a $50,000 Huntington Bank grant for HarMoney and MSHDA-approved down payment assistance), annual fundraising events (Trade Secrets raising ~$300K, Lois Zussman Golf Classic raising $200K+, Frame of Mind raising ~$85K), and nominal program fees. Most services are provided free of charge. GTM motion is community-led, driven by partnerships with Michigan Works!, healthcare providers, schools, and earned media coverage on local Detroit TV stations. Key leadership includes CEO Paul Blatt and COO James Willis, with CARF International accreditation as the primary quality credential.

Name

Gesher Human Services

Legal name

Gesher Human Services

Website

https://geshermi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Gesher Human Services is a Southfield, Michigan nonprofit formed in 2022 via JVS Human Services and Kadima merger, providing career development, behavioral health, residential, and community integration services to more than 34,000 metro Detroit residents annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Human Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Chronic Care & Complex Care Management (HSABAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & Cognitive Support Coordination (Dementia, Depression, SUD) (HSABAIAF), Dementia & Alzheimer’s Respite Care (HSABAGAF), Benefits, Insurance & Entitlement Navigation (Medicare/Medicaid/VA/LTC) (HSABAIAG)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Behavioral health services
• Supported housing services
• Community integration services
• Financial education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Gifts: Unrestricted and deferred charitable gifts from individuals, including tributes, memorials, endowment funds, real estate, life insurance, retirement plans, closely-held stock, appreciated securities, and charitable bequests or remainder trusts.
2. Grant Funding: Funding from foundations and government agencies. Notable grants include $50,000 from Huntington Bank for HarMoney program, and ongoing government funding for workforce development and disability services.
3. Event Fundraisers: Annual events including Trade Secrets fundraiser (raising nearly $300,000 for women's workforce initiatives), Lois Zussman Golf Classic (raising $200K+ for mental health), and Frame of Mind benefit (raising approximately $85,000 for Creative Expressions).
4. Program Fees: Some programs charge nominal fees: $50 for Homebuyer Education per household, $499 for Microsoft Office training (with scholarships available). Most core services are provided free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gesher Human Services is a nonprofit human services organization that delivers career development, behavioral health, supportive housing, and community integration services across metro Detroit. Its portfolio includes employment and training programs, residential care, financial education, arts enrichment, internships, and dementia adult-day services.

Product overview

Gesher Human Services is a nonprofit human services organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of programs across three core service areas: Careers & Employment (job search support, workforce training, computer education), Residential Services (supportive housing for people with disabilities), and Community Integration (enrichment activities). The organization operates multiple specialized programs including Women to Work for workforce re-entry, HarMoney for financial repair, homebuyer education, Direct Support Professional apprenticeship training, Creative Expressions arts enrichment, Brown Adult Day Program for dementia care, Recharge! for older workers, JOIN internships, and summer internship programs for students with disabilities. The organization serves metro Detroit across Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties, having helped more than 34,000 individuals last year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Careers & Employment Career development services that help people across metro Detroit find meaningful employment and financial stability through job-search support, résumé writing, and professional training.
• Residential Services Supportive housing and care services for people with disabilities across metro Detroit, provided by trained professionals in group-home settings.
• Community Integration Enrichment programs and activities that help people across metro Detroit participate in their communities through social and educational opportunities.
• Women to Work A free workforce program that helps women re-enter the workforce after significant life-changing events through assessment, testing, job-search training, and computer skills.
• Computer Training / Office and Computer Essentials Microsoft Word and Excel classes that teach job seekers office computer skills for greater confidence and preparedness to enter or re-enter the workplace.
• HarMoney Financial Repair Program A six-week interactive virtual financial education program that helps struggling metro Detroiters transform their financial lives, with a potential $2,500 grant for debt clearance or a home down payment.
• Homebuyer Education A HUD-certified homebuyer education program covering the home-buying process, including credit education, mortgage qualification, proper home maintenance, and foreclosure prevention.
• Direct Support Professional Apprenticeship A paid apprenticeship that provides on-the-job training and 155 hours of technical instruction toward a nationally recognized Journeyperson Direct Support Specialist Credential for working with people with disabilities.
• Creative Expressions An arts enrichment program for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or serious mental health diagnoses, offering fine arts, photography, poetry, and music.
• Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program An adult day program providing activities and care for people living with dementia, together with support for their families.
• Recharge! Career Development Program A career development program for adults age 45 and older who want to reinvent their working lives through support, advice, and information about employment options.
• JOIN Internship Program A paid summer internship program for Jewish college students to explore careers in the nonprofit sector and Jewish community.
• Summer Internship Program for Students with Disabilities A six-week paid summer internship for high school students with disabilities in metro Detroit that provides job skills and practical work experience.
• Savvy Savers A free financial education program that helps metro Detroiters develop lasting savings habits, with savings matching of up to $500 for participants attending three consecutive classes.
• eCycle Opportunities An electronics recycling program that provides job opportunities for disabled workers while supporting the safe disposal of electronic waste.
• Clubhouse for the Common Good A Clubhouse model program providing enrichment, educational, and employment opportunities for people living with mental illnesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 34,000 people helped annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles10 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSO musicians collaborate with Creative Expressions program participants, providing musical performances and mentorship at events including Frame of Mind benefit and special performances featuring artists with disabilities.
• Detroit OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDetroit Opera provides vocal training and performance opportunities for Creative Expressions participants, including professional instruction for singers in the program.
• Matrix Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Gesher on theatrical productions including 'The Open Door' and Frame of Mind performances, working with participants to create original theatrical works.
• College for Creative StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides teaching artists who work with program participants on visual arts including painting, photography, and sculpture. Computer lab access provided for training.
• Jewish Senior LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with Gesher to operate the Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish Community Adult Day Program, providing care for people living with dementia and support for their families.
• Michigan Works!coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkforce development partnership providing employment services and job placement support. Gesher hosts office space for Michigan Works! and provides vocational rehabilitation services.
• NextGen DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative founding NEXTWork community in 2013 to provide young Jewish professionals with career resources, expertise, and networking opportunities in Detroit area.
• MSU Medical StudentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical students from Michigan State University gain experience working with people with serious mental health disorders at Gesher's Clubhouse program.
• Temple Beth ElminorOthersBloomfield Hills synagogue that hosts Creative Expressions art showcases and capstone events for artists with disabilities.
• Museum of Contemporary Art DetroitminorOthersVenue partner for Frame of Mind benefit and arts showcase events.
• Eastern MarketminorOthersDetroit venue that hosted the 4th annual Frame of Mind Benefit and Arts Showcase.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JVS Boston (Jewish Vocational Service): A Jewish-affiliated nonprofit providing workforce development, career training, and employer services in the Boston area. Directly comparable in mission, target populations (including immigrants, women re-entering the workforce, and individuals with disabilities), and program structure.
• MORC (Macomb Oakland Regional Center): Regional provider of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities operating in the same Macomb/Oakland counties. Directly comparable in residential, vocational, and community-based services for the IDD population.
• Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit: Major nonprofit workforce development and job training provider in metro Detroit. Directly comparable in career services, job placement, computer skills training, and serving individuals facing barriers to employment.
• Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit: Jewish-affiliated human services agency serving metro Detroit with a similar mix of social services, counseling, and community support. Comparable in community base, geographic focus, and multi-service nonprofit model.
• Community Living Services: Michigan-based nonprofit supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through residential, vocational, and community integration services. Directly comparable in residential services and IDD focus.
• SER Metro Detroit: Workforce development nonprofit serving metro Detroit with employment training, job placement, and career services. Comparable in workforce development mission and metro Detroit geography.

Broad incumbents

• FedCap Rehabilitation Services: Large national nonprofit providing workforce development, disability services, and behavioral health programs. Comparable in integrated human services model but operates at significantly greater scale across multiple states.

Regional players

• The Arc Michigan: Michigan state chapter of The Arc, advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable in IDD advocacy and service coordination, though focused more on advocacy than direct service delivery.
• Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit: Central Jewish community organization in metro Detroit that funds and coordinates many of the same partner agencies. Comparable in serving the same community base, though primarily a funder/convener rather than direct service provider.

Emerging players

• Chimes: National nonprofit providing residential, vocational, behavioral health, and community services for individuals with disabilities. Comparable in integrated disability services model with a growing national footprint across multiple states.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/geshermi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@geshermi
• Facebookfacebook.com/gesherhumanservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/geshermi
• Instagraminstagram.com/geshermi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Gesher Human Services