Our History

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Next Step Clubhouse (NSC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was established to serve individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in the Greater Charlotte area by targeting social and recreational objectives not met by educational institutions or the community at-large. 

 

In November of 2014, a group of people interested in serving this population formed to explore the need and feasibility of a program such as this in our community.  Originally incorporated in June of 2015 as The Exceptional Foundation of Charlotte (TEFC), the organization received 501(c)(3) designation in October 2015.  On September 14, 2016 TEFC opened and began serving individuals with disabilities from Mecklenburg and the surrounding counties. During the second half of 2019, the organization made the decision to rebrand and officially became Next Step Clubhouse on June 16, 2020.

 

What started as a small group of families has grown in size. Next Step Clubhouse is currently serving over 50 individuals.