Bread of Life

What Bread of Life does

Bread of Life, Inc. is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by Pastor Rudy Rasmus that operates a portfolio of integrated social services for low-income and homeless populations in the Houston metropolitan area, with active expansion into Washington, D.C. Its core programs include permanent supportive housing via the 31-unit Knowles-Rowland House (developed through a limited partnership with Temenos CDC), monthly food and supply distributions operated in partnership with the Houston Food Bank, community care coordination with community health workers, mental health services, workforce development through the Academy, and disaster relief preparedness. These offerings are unified under the R.I.S.E. framework (Restore, Inspire, Sustain, Educate) and share a single main campus at 2019 Crawford St., Houston. Reported impact metrics include 225,608 individuals supported across all programs, $21 million in relief items donated, and $8.8 million in cumulative earning potential for Academy graduates; the organization also operates the Amazing 102.5 community radio station.

The business model is non-commercial: all beneficiary-facing services are provided free of charge. Operating funding is sourced from individual donations processed via Pushpay, large individual contributions from celebrity and high-net-worth partners (notably $8.4 million from Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland for the Knowles-Rowland House and a $100 million affordable housing pipeline with Tina Knowles), government and institutional grants including Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity, and corporate philanthropy. Headcount is reported in the 101–250 range. Technology infrastructure is minimal and entirely commercial-off-the-shelf: Pushpay for donation processing, Eventbrite for event registration, and an Amazon Wishlist integration for grocery contributions. No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability is disclosed; technology is used only as a thin layer over service delivery rather than as a source of differentiation.

Name

Bread of Life

Legal name

Bread Of Life, Inc.

Website

https://Breadoflifeinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bread of Life, Inc. is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1997 that delivers integrated social services—permanent supportive housing, food distribution, mental health support, health access, workforce development, and disaster relief—to homeless and low-income residents in Houston and Washington, D.C.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Food distribution services
• Permanent supportive housing
• Community health programs
• Homeless services
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Bread of Life relies on individual donor contributions to fund its food distribution, housing development, and community support programs. The organization promotes donating through its website to support its mission of providing food and shelter to those in desperate need in the Houston community.
2. Celebrity and High-Net-Worth Partnerships: Partnerships with high-profile individuals such as Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland who have invested $8.4 million in the Knowles-Rowland House project, and ongoing collaboration with Tina Knowles on $100 million affordable housing projects in downtown Houston.
3. Government and Institutional Grants: Funding from government housing finance agencies such as the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, which issued $65 million in tax-exempt bonds and underwrote federal and DC Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity for affordable housing developments.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bread of Life is a Houston-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides free food distribution, permanent supportive housing, mental health and community health services, workforce development, and disaster relief programming to homeless and low-income individuals in the Houston community. Its flagship assets include the 31-unit Knowles-Rowland House permanent supportive housing project (a partnership with Temenos CDC backed by an $8.4 million investment from Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland), monthly food distributions operated in partnership with The Houston Food Bank, and the BOL Academy workforce development program. All services are unified under the R.I.S.E. framework (Restore, Inspire, Sustain, Educate) and delivered free of charge to qualifying beneficiaries.

Product overview

Bread of Life, Inc. is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 that operates as a single unified social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected community support programs. The core offerings include housing (Knowles-Rowland House), food security (TABLE FOR ALL, Food/Space Distribution), health equity (Community Care Coordination, Mental Health Support), education (The Academy), disaster relief, and community worship (Amazing 102.5). These programs are unified under the R.I.S.E. framework (Restore, Inspire, Sustain, Educate) and share the common address at 2019 Crawford St., Houston, TX 77002.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amazing 102.5: Radio station operated by Bread of Life
• BOL Academy
• Knowles-Rowland House
• Table for All
• R.I.S.E. (Restore, Inspire, Sustain, Educate)

Products and services

• Knowles-Rowland House 31-unit permanent supportive housing facility in Houston, Texas providing on-site social services for persons exiting homelessness, operated through a limited partnership between Bread of Life and Temenos CDC.
• TABLE FOR ALL Hunger relief initiative providing food boxes and household supplies to families in need, operated in partnership with The Houston Food Bank and supported by an Amazon Wishlist for grocery needs.
• Food and Supply Distribution Monthly distribution program held on 3rd Saturdays at Gray and Crawford St. providing household supplies, food boxes, health education, and community health worker assistance.
• Food Only Distribution Monthly food box distribution program held on 1st Saturdays at Jackson and Pierce St., operated in partnership with The Houston Food Bank.
• Community Care Coordination Health access program staffed by community health workers who develop personalized health goals and provide care navigation including nutritional support, medical care resources, childcare assistance, and mental health resources.
• Mental Health Support Mental health services and education program supporting Houston's homeless population, with $1.6M allocated toward services and education.
• BOL Academy Workforce development and education program with graduates achieving $8.8 million in total earning potential, part of the Educate pillar of the R.I.S.E. framework.
• Disaster Relief Preparedness Emergency preparedness and disaster relief program for the Houston community.
• Adams Morgan Affordable Housing Project 188 affordable apartments across six buildings in Adams Morgan, D.C., restricted to residents earning 30%, 50%, and 60% of area median income or less, co-developed by Bread of Life Church with Jubilee Housing.
• Shifting the Atmosphere Conference National leadership and worship conference for Black church leaders, co-sponsored by Bread of Life with the Junius B. Dotson Institute and Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century, featuring leadership development, prophetic worship training, trauma-informed practices, multigenerational worship, and AI tools for ministry.
• Amazing 102.5 Community radio station and worship program operated by Bread of Life.

Quantifiable outcome

• 225,608 individuals supported by all BOL programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jubilee HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Co-developer of $148 million affordable housing project in Adams Morgan, D.C. Partnership involves development of 188 apartments across six buildings within a half-mile radius.
• Junius B. Dotson InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2026Co-sponsor of national leadership and worship conference 'Shifting the Atmosphere' for Black church leaders in Dallas, Texas.
• Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st CenturyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2026Co-sponsor of national leadership and worship conference 'Shifting the Atmosphere' for Black church leaders.
• Temenos CDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLimited partner in Knowles-Rowland House, LP. Brings 13-year history of permanent supportive housing services and operations expertise. Incorporated in 2009 to provide PSH.
• Houston Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for food distribution. Monthly food distributions conducted in partnership with The Houston Food Bank.
• StarbucksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership mentioned in media highlights section of the organization.
• Houston Methodist HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership mentioned in media highlights, including MLK2024 interview collaboration.
• Quest DiagnosticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeams up with Quest Diagnostics for health access and community health programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Star of Hope Mission: Houston-based faith-inspired nonprofit providing shelter, food, and recovery services to people experiencing homelessness; directly comparable to Bread of Life's Houston mission and program mix.
• Houston Food Bank: Largest food distribution nonprofit in Houston and an active distribution partner of Bread of Life; comparable in food assistance scale and beneficiary reach.
• SEARCH Homeless Services: Houston nonprofit providing housing, mental health, and workforce services to people experiencing homelessness; comparable service-line breadth and target population.
• Temenos CDC: Houston permanent supportive housing operator and limited partner in Bread of Life's Knowles-Rowland House; comparable PSH service model and target beneficiaries.
• Jubilee Housing: Washington D.C. nonprofit affordable housing developer and co-developer of the Adams Morgan project with Bread of Life; comparable affordable housing development model and resident services.
• Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County: Houston advocacy and services organization addressing homelessness through coordinated housing and support programs; comparable mission and target population.
• Avenue CDC: Houston community development corporation focused on affordable housing and resident services; comparable nonprofit housing development and supportive services approach.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Greater Houston: Large national faith-based social services organization operating comprehensive food, shelter, and recovery programs in the Houston market; broader portfolio but overlapping service lines.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: Regional faith-based nonprofit offering housing, food assistance, disaster relief, and refugee services in the same Houston geography; overlaps Bread of Life's holistic service approach.
• Feeding America: National nonprofit food assistance network whose Houston Food Bank member partners with Bread of Life; comparable food distribution mission at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/breadoflifehouston
• Facebookfacebook.com/BreadOfLifeHouston

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Bread of Life