Linwood Center, Inc.
Creating the possibility of extraordinary lives for children and adults living with autism and related developmental disabilities
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Linwood needs both public and private resources to help the skyrocketing number of children and adults living with autism who need our services. The state and government support Linwood receives only covers tuition, staff salaries, and other essential services (medical, etc.) We rely on foundation and individual support to go beyond the basic essentials and provide truly unique and exceptional opportunities for the individuals we support. We are working to provide our children and adult learners with advanced programs for assistive and interactive technology, sensory equipment, and training classes.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Linwood School
Linwood School is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to provide a Special Education and related services program for students with autism (ages 5 through 21) in a non-graded education program with additional residential and support components.
Children’s Residential Program
Linwood offers both 5-day and 7-day residential programs. Students are referred to these residential programs based on need through local school systems, the Autism Waiver and local Departments of Social Services.
Students in Linwood’s 7-day residential programs reside in nearby group homes with three or four children in each home. Our 5-day residential program operates Monday through Friday in our on-campus dormitory. All residences have round-the-clock staffing including awake-overnight supervision. Under the direction of Linwood’s State Certified Residential Child Care Program Administrators, a full complement of staff provide supervision and engage the residents in a wide array of home living and recreational activities after school and on weekends
Adult Services
Providing opportunities for self-direction and self-determination guide everything we do in our Adult Services Program. Supported employment in integrated settings, vocational training, recreation, volunteerism, community involvement and community-based residential services are all possibilities for our adult services program participants, regardless of their unique challenges.
Adult Residential Program
Our community-based Residential Services Program operates 12 homes in Ellicott City, Columbia and Catonsville. Most support three individuals, and all have staff onsite at all times. Awake overnight services and one-to-one behavioral supports are available to individuals who need them. Staff members assist residents as they develop the daily routines necessary for them to work, use community resources and make connections outside their homes. Each home has a van to take residents to community activities and appointments.
Where we work
External reviews

Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
In 2018, Autism Speaks reported that 1 in 55 children are born on the autism spectrum. We need help to expand our programs and services for the growing number of children and adults living with autism. Support from our community is what helps transform good programs into great programs. Together we can build an extraordinary future for children and adults living with autism.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Linwood Center and Linwood School are proud to receive support from such a diverse and dedicated group of community partners. Our partners include federal and state agencies, local businesses, faith-based and community groups, and generous individuals—all of whom make it possible for us to provide the highest quality programs and services for children and adults living with autism.
We organize an annual golf fundraiser every September, and we are looking to expand our fundraising efforts in order to develop more programs at Linwood Center.
We also own and operate a thrift store in Old Ellicott City, Maryland called Linwood Boutique. This store accepts lightly-used donations, and the adult residents of Linwood are employed to maintain the store and complete vocational training.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have employed a fundraising specialist to increase public awareness of Linwood Center's mission to provide programs and services to individuals living with autism.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Increasing public awareness through community outreach in Howard and Baltimore Counties (Maryland).
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Linwood Center, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 10/15/2018
Mr. John Boender
Boender Properties, Inc.
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes