Advantage Services Inc

Advantage Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1992 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit to create supportive employment opportunities for individuals living with mental health disabilities. Over time, we have grown into a social enterprise that provides supportive and permanent jobs for people with disabilities and for individuals facing significant barriers to work, including homelessness, reentry after incarceration, and poverty. Our employment model is sustained primarily through fee-for-service contracts that fund wages, training, and supervision. Today, less than 3% of our $3.2 million annual revenue comes from grants or donations—yet philanthropic support remains vital because it allows us to invest in the equipment and capacity needed to expand job opportunities for the people we serve.

Our mission is to support recovery, stability, and independence for people navigating mental health and other life challenges by providing meaningful employment through viable businesses that deliver exceptional customer service.

We achieve our mission by providing competitive employment for adults who are disabled or disadvantaged, while delivering high-quality services to our community and customers. With steady work and supportive supervision, individuals can build confidence, skills, and financial stability. For many, employment is also an important part of recovery—helping people strengthen independence and reduce reliance on crisis services over time.

Advantage Services demonstrates how private enterprise can advance workforce participation by intentionally creating jobs for people who are often excluded by traditional hiring practices. Our affirmative business approach prioritizes hiring individuals who are disabled or disadvantaged and provides the accommodations, coaching, and benefits that help employees succeed. We celebrate progress and achievements in ways that reinforce dignity and self-worth. Consistent employment can contribute to improved stability, well-being, and long-term recovery for individuals and families.

Our businesses continue to grow and remain self-sustaining through customer revenue. We offer a wide range of career pathways and services, including clerical support; custodial and building maintenance; painting; biohazard cleanup; graffiti removal; grounds maintenance and landscaping; snow removal; moving services; property management; temporary labor services; life-skills training; and employment education support.

Why give now: While our fee-for-service contracts help cover many direct business costs, they do not fully fund the job coaching and wraparound support that make our employment model successful. Philanthropic support allows us to provide consistent coaching, remove barriers to participation, and expand opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness—including those who may need additional time and support before they are ready to step into contract-funded roles.

For supporters and partners, our primary request is investment in job coaching, mentoring and essential equipment—resources that are not fully covered by contract revenue but are critical to expanding employment opportunities. Contributions help us strengthen on-the-job support, add capacity, and equip our teams so we can serve more individuals, including people experiencing homelessness who may need additional stabilization before moving into contract-funded positions. We also welcome introductions to private-sector opportunities where we can bid competitively on service contracts.