What The Arc Michigan does

The Arc Michigan is a 501(c)(3) statewide advocacy organization headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, affiliated with The Arc of the United States (founded 1950). It serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and youth in foster care with disabilities through a portfolio of advocacy programs and direct services. Core programmatic offerings include Partners Advancing Self-Determination (PAS), the Person Centered Planning Quality Improvement Project (PCPQI), the federally funded Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program, the Pooled Amenities Trust (a pooled special needs trust), Michigan Alliance for Families, Michigan Family Voices, the Foster Care Disability Navigation program (contracted with 28 Michigan agencies), and the Direct Care Workforce Crisis Initiative. These services are delivered through a hub-and-spoke model combining central coordination, local Arc chapters statewide, and contracted partner agencies.

The organization's business model is non-profit and is funded through a mix of government grants (primarily from MDHHS, Michigan DD Council, and the Social Security Administration), individual donations with tiered giving levels ($25-$2,000), corporate partnerships (notably Comcast under Project UP), trust management fees from the Pooled Amenities Trust, and earned media visibility. There is no technology product or platform — the core technology field is explicitly marked "Not applicable" — and the organization does not charge fees for its advocacy or direct service programs. Strategic positioning relies on 75 years of advocacy history, a Forbes #21 Top 100 Charity ranking in 2025, and formal partnerships with state agencies and the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus. Distribution occurs through 28 contracted agencies, local Arc chapters covering Michigan counties, an annual public policy webinar series, and direct services such as WIPA counseling and trust management.

Name

The Arc Michigan

Legal name

The Arc Michigan

Website

https://arcmi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Arc Michigan is a Lansing-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Michigan through statewide programs including PAS, PCPQI, WIPA, Pooled Amenities Trust, and Foster Care Disability Navigation, serving individuals, families, and foster youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

IEP/504 Planning, Case Management & Compliance (EDAJAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

504 Plan Consulting & Disability Accommodations (School-Based) (EDAKACAG), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Special education support
• Person-centered planning
• Special needs trust
• Work incentives planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

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: The organization accepts donations from individuals, with donation tiers ranging from $25 to $2,000. Donations can be designated for specific purposes such as Government Affairs/Policy Advocacy, Giving Tuesday, Year End/Holiday, or In Memory/Honor of someone.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Arc Michigan is a statewide 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that protects and promotes the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It delivers a portfolio of programs including self-determination technical assistance, person-centered planning quality improvement, pooled special needs trust management, work incentives planning, special education family support, and foster care disability navigation. Services are funded by donations, grants from state agencies such as MDHHS and the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council, and an affiliated network of local Arc chapters.

Product overview

The Arc Michigan is a statewide advocacy organization (not a technology product company) that provides a portfolio of programs and services focused on protecting and promoting the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Its core offerings include: the Partners Advancing Self-Determination (PAS) program providing technical assistance for self-directed services; the Person Centered Planning Quality Improvement Project (PCPQI) evaluating and improving person-centered planning; the Pooled Amenities Trust offering pooled special needs trust services; Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) helping beneficiaries understand employment impacts on benefits; Michigan Alliance for Families providing special education support; Michigan Family Voices mobilizing family leaders for policy advocacy; Foster Care Disability Navigation serving youth in foster care with disabilities; and the Direct Care Workforce Crisis initiative advocating for worker wages. The organization also publishes resources like the Guide to Hiring and Managing Direct Care Workers. These programs collectively support full inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in Michigan communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Partners Advancing Self-Determination (PAS) A collaborative project with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that increases the availability and use of self-directed services for people with developmental disabilities through free state-level technical assistance, training, and support to local PAS Teams.
• Person Centered Planning Quality Improvement Project (PCPQI) A partnership with MDHHS that evaluates and improves Person and Family-Centered Planning across Michigan's Behavioral Health Provider System, including interviews with people receiving services and the development of statewide training plans.
• Pooled Amenities Trust A pooled special needs trust operated by The Arc Michigan that allows people with disabilities to protect and manage resources without risking their public benefits such as SSI and Medicaid.
• Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) A step-by-step counseling process that helps people with disabilities receiving Social Security benefits understand how employment will affect their Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, SSDI, and other benefits.
• Michigan Family Voices A grassroots collaborative that identifies and mobilizes family member and individual leaders to create a statewide network that impacts and affects positive change in disability policy.
• Michigan Alliance for Families (MAF) Provides information, support, and education for families who have children (birth through 26 years) who receive or may be eligible for special education services, offering learning opportunities and leadership mentoring across Michigan.
• Direct Care Workforce Crisis Initiative A coalition initiative that advocates for increased wages and state funding for direct care workers in Michigan's behavioral health system through media campaigns, committee hearings, and legislative meetings.
• Foster Care Disability Navigation A program that coordinates direct advocacy and support services for Michigan youth in foster care who have a disability or suspected disability, contracted with 28 agencies across the state and supported by a statewide toll-free helpline managed with the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan.
• Developmental Disabilities Practice Improvement Team (DD-PIT) An advisory team that makes policy recommendations guided by promising and emerging practices that empower people with developmental disabilities and their families across Michigan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 6,000 people with disabilities reached through digital skills training programs since 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Caroline's CartminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025New partnership placing The Arc's logo and QR code on Caroline's Carts nationwide, promoting inclusion in retail spaces. The carts are available in stores across all 50 states and eight countries. Designed for older children and adults with disabilities to shop with dignity.
• Comcast CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership between The Arc and Comcast supporting digital skills training programs that have reached nearly 6,000 people with disabilities. Includes funding for The Arc@School scholarships (300 scholarships) and Tech Coaching programs at 10 chapters. Partnership is part of Comcast's Project UP, a $1 billion initiative to create digital opportunities.
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant funding for Foster Care Disability Navigation program. MDHHS Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration (BHDDA) partnership for Person Centered Planning Quality Improvement Project. Collaborative work on Behavioral Health System Redesign.
• Student Advocacy Center of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership managing the Foster Care Disability Navigation program's statewide toll-free helpline. Student Advocacy Center handles intake, answers questions, and refers callers to local contracted advocacy agencies for direct services.
• Michigan Developmental Disabilities CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding source for Partners Advancing Self-Determination (PAS) project. Grant administered to The Arc Michigan for increasing quality and use of self-determination arrangements for people with developmental disabilities.
• Community Mental Health (CMH) EntitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PIHP and CMH entities for person-centered planning evaluation through MDHHS Site Review process. Collaboration on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) requirements and self-direction implementation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Disability Rights Michigan: Disability Rights Michigan is a statewide disability-rights legal and advocacy organization that provides representation, case support, and policy advocacy to people with disabilities. It is directly comparable to The Arc Michigan’s rights advocacy, navigation, and statewide partner work.
• PACER Center: PACER Center provides parent training, special-education advocacy, and navigation for families of children with disabilities. Its family-centered education support overlaps directly with The Arc Michigan’s Arc@School and Michigan Alliance for Families programs.
• Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund: The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund is a national disability-rights legal and policy organization focused on civil rights and public policy. It is comparable in mission and policy-advocacy depth to The Arc Michigan’s statewide and federal advocacy work.
• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates is a professional and advocacy organization centered on special-education rights, parent representation, and procedural safeguards. It is directly comparable to The Arc Michigan’s special-education advocacy and parent training and navigation services.
• Learning Disabilities Association of America: The Learning Disabilities Association of America provides advocacy, education, and support for people with learning disabilities and their families. Its education and family-support focus is comparable to The Arc Michigan’s special-education and IDD navigation services, although the served disabilities are narrower.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: The Arc of the United States is the national umbrella for the Arc movement, with a much broader multi-state footprint. The Arc Michigan is a separately governed state-level affiliate, so the national organization is a broad incumbent reference for the same disability-rights mission and brand ecosystem.
• United Cerebral Palsy: United Cerebral Palsy is a large disability-services organization supporting people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities across community living, independence, and employment. It is a broad incumbent comparator for The Arc Michigan’s direct services, self-determination, and inclusion work.
• Easterseals: Easterseals provides disability services, rehabilitation, employment support, and family resources through a broad national network. It is a broad incumbent comparator for The Arc Michigan’s statewide training, benefits, and community-support portfolio.

Emerging players

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a disability-led organization advancing self-advocacy, inclusion, and policy change for autistic people. It overlaps with The Arc Michigan’s self-determination, rights, and inclusion mission, though it is more advocacy-led and less service-delivery oriented.
• National Disability Institute: National Disability Institute works on disability employment, benefits, and financial empowerment, including work-incentives planning. It is comparable to The Arc Michigan’s WIPA counseling and employment-support use cases, but is a more specialized thematic peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-arc-michigan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The Arc Michigan