Competitive and Inclusive Employment

The Prospector is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides competitive and inclusive employment for people with disabilities. Employees of the Prospector are known as Prospects, and approximately 75% of us self-identify with a disability. Whether it's watching a movie and experiencing our signature "pink glove service" at the Prospector Theater, or devouring an entire bag of our delicious gourmet Prospector Popcorn, we continue to show the world the strong correlation that exists between our workforce, and the standards of excellence our services and products produce.

Our Sparkle Power

This past September marked our 1,000,000th hour of competitive and inclusive employment. Every second was spent welcoming over 835,000 moviegoers, educating more than 17,000 students and teachers about our mission, baking well above 80,000 bags of gourmet popcorn, filming/editing/storyboarding content that has been viewed an upwards of 10,000,000 times, and so much more. All of our hard work has proudly amounted to the Prospector paying an exceeding $20,000,000 in payroll to the 320+ Prospects who have found meaningful work since 2014.

The Prospector Popcorn chefs hold up assorted popcorn products and smile for the camera

Employment Landscape

While our organization's success is undeniable, we recognize that there is still a staggering percentage of Americans with disabilities who do not have a job.

There are plenty of moments when family members will reach out and tell us "When my child is of working age, I want them to work at the Prospector". That's nice to hear, but our response is always "we hope we still aren't one of the only employment options available in the next 5 or 10 years".

We need more businesses and organizations understanding that accessibility and inclusion isn't nice, it's good business. The Prospector's operational success would not exist without our workforce or supporters.

Education

A substantial shift in the amount of meaningful job opportunities happens when entrepreneurs, students, teachers, businesses, and organizations experience first-hand the impact our mission has not only within our personal lives, but for the Prospector's bottom line as well. When we welcome thousands of students each year, we are introducing our future generation to an inclusive working world that breaks down stereotypes and barriers surrounding what it means to have a disability.

Our Service Learning Program has resulted in students turning into co-workers.

Education also happens beyond the classroom. This past October, we hosted our inaugural Do Good Business Conference. The conference was a forum where like-minded businesses shared successes and strategies, and helped employers understand how inclusion and accessibility can better their own business.

Global change accelerates when we rally a coalition together unified in breaking down barriers. We want to see droves of people with disabilities meaningfully employed, earning a paycheck, and gaining their autonomy.

The best representation of our mission coming full circle is the story of the first Prospect we ever hired, Emily. Emily found her sparkle through working at the Prospector, and has since moved on to her next professional venture as a teacher.

Thank You!

Supporters like you allow us to continue this extremely important mission. Contributions don't necessarily need to equate to finances. Below are examples of a few additional ways that help the Prospector remain a sparkly beacon of hope for millions around the world.

Share our mission and story on social media.
- TikTok
- LinkedIn
- Facebook
- Instagram
- X (Twitter)
Buy some delicious gourmet Prospector Popcorn online here!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Leave us a rating and review on Great Nonprofits.org

Sparkle On!

2023 Prospector - Sparkle-tastic End of the Year Campaign

Since 2014, the Prospector has shown the world through inclusive employment and impactful education that those of us with disabilities are an untapped skilled workforce that add tremendous value.

Team Members