Mercy Center NJ

What Mercy Center NJ does

Mercy Center NJ is a nonprofit social services organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It operates three core programs serving low-income residents of Monmouth County: an Emergency Services program centered on a food pantry, a Family Resource Center providing case management and supportive services, and Sisters Academy of New Jersey, a tuition-free Catholic middle school for girls currently enrolling 56 students.

The organization's service volume has expanded sharply in the post-pandemic period. Food pantry visits grew from 1,558 in 2021 to 35,000 in 2022 to over 109,000 in 2024, reflecting both elevated regional food insecurity and Mercy Center's capacity to absorb demand. The organization runs with a small paid staff of approximately ten supplemented by more than seventy volunteers, and all direct services are delivered at no charge to recipients. Revenue is generated through a mix of foundation grants, corporate philanthropy, individual donations, and a recently launched $10 million capital campaign anchored by a $5 million lead gift.

In August 2021, the organization appointed former New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno as President & CEO, a leadership change that signaled a strategic elevation of fundraising, government-relations, and institutional profile. Mercy Center has since secured grants from Jersey Shore Impact 100 ($100,000 in 2023), the FirstEnergy Foundation ($50,000 in 2025), and the National Endowment for the Arts ($10,000 in 2025). The organization has no proprietary technology and does not disclose audited financials in the available data.

Name

Mercy Center NJ

Legal name

Mercy Center

Website

https://mercycenternj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mercy Center NJ is a nonprofit founded in 1986 in Asbury Park operating a food pantry, family resource center, and tuition-free girls' middle school serving low-income Monmouth County residents through emergency services, case management, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Food pantry assistance
• Family resource center
• Tuition-free girls education
• Emergency assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Asbury Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: Primary revenue stream. Major funders include Jersey Shore Impact 100 (awarded $100,000 grant in 2023), Impact 100 Jersey Coast, and various other foundations. CARES Act funding supported food infrastructure including donated refrigerators from Fulfill Food Bank.
2. Individual Donations and Fundraising Events: Annual events including Chefs' Feast, Golf Tournament, and Spring Luncheon generate charitable contributions from individuals and businesses in the community.
3. Volunteer Services (In-Kind): Over 70 volunteers provide operational capacity across food pantry, education, and community programs, representing significant in-kind contribution to service delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mercy Center NJ is a private nonprofit social services organization operating three integrated program pillars: Emergency Services (food pantry, clothing, and household utility bill assistance), the Family Resource Center (counseling, advocacy, referrals, and victim advocacy), and Sisters Academy of New Jersey (a tuition-free, nondenominational middle school for girls in grades 4–8). All services are provided free of charge to economically disadvantaged families, women, and children in the Greater Asbury Park, New Jersey area.

Product overview

Mercy Center NJ is a nonprofit social services organization offering a portfolio of integrated programs under three main pillars: Emergency Services (food pantry, clothing, and utilities assistance), the Family Resource Center (counseling, referrals, advocacy), and Sisters Academy of New Jersey (tuition-free middle school for girls grades 4-8). The organization operates as a unified service platform providing holistic support to families in the greater Asbury Park area, offering emergency assistance, social services, and educational programs designed to break the cycle of generational poverty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Services Immediate assistance program providing food pantry access (open every weekday with self-choice selection), personal care items, clothing, and temporary household utility bill assistance to help families in the Greater Asbury Park area maintain stable living situations. Provided free of charge to clients.
• Family Resource Center One-stop-shop offering information, advocacy, resources, counseling, and services related to family support and preservation, including youth programs, adult family support groups, and the Community Victim Advocacy Program for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. Most programs available in Spanish, Creole, and Arabic.
• Sisters Academy of New Jersey Faith-based, nondenominational, tuition-free independent girls' middle school for grades 4 through 8 in Asbury Park, NJ. Educates girls from surrounding communities and provides tools necessary for success in high schools and universities. Free of charge to families.
• Tax Preparation Services Free tax preparation services offered to families to assist with financial management and IRS filing compliance. Provided at no cost to clients.
• NJNG SAVEGREEN Program Energy assistance program administered in partnership with New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) to help Mercy Center families manage and reduce household utility costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Food pantry visits grew from 1,558 (2021) to 35,000 (2022) to 109,000+ (2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Move For HungercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaborated on a freezer project that enabled Mercy Center to accept and store larger volumes of rescued food. Critical logistics and infrastructure partner for food rescue operations.
• Americas Gleaned SeafoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood rescue partnership supplying gleaned seafood to Mercy Center's food pantry. Supports the organization's mission to combat food insecurity by sourcing surplus food for redistribution.
• Fulfill Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonated refrigerators to Mercy Center via CARES Act funding. Key food bank partner providing infrastructure support for food storage and distribution capabilities.
• Lakehouse Music AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic education partnership providing instruction and programming support for students at Sisters Academy and community music initiatives.
• Interfaith CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 10 local churches that partner with Mercy Center NJ, providing community support, volunteer resources, and collaborative outreach to underserved populations in Asbury Park.
• OPEN Impact Real EstateminorOthersRepresented Mercy Center in its commercial lease, providing pro-bono or reduced-cost real estate advisory and transaction support for the organization's physical locations.
• New Jersey Children's AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with the New Jersey Children's Alliance, a network supporting organizations serving children and families across New Jersey.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fulfill Food Bank: Monmouth County food bank and the primary infrastructure partner for Mercy Center's food pantry (donated refrigerators, food sourcing). Directly comparable as a NJ-based hunger-relief nonprofit operating in the same service geography.
• Lunch Break: Red Bank, NJ-based nonprofit providing food, clothing, and social services to neighbors in need. Comparable in mission (emergency food + family support), geography, and faith-inspired operating model to Mercy Center's Asbury Park operations.
• Interfaith Neighbors: Community-based nonprofit in the Asbury Park / Monmouth County area providing housing, food, and supportive services. Directly comparable as a same-geography, multi-service social services organization with overlapping housing and emergency programs.
• Center for Food Action: New Jersey nonprofit providing emergency food, housing assistance, and social services. Highly comparable to Mercy Center's food pantry and family emergency services, serving similar economically disadvantaged populations in NJ.
• Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey: Central NJ-based social services nonprofit offering counseling, case management, and emergency assistance. Closely comparable to Mercy Center's Family Resource Center offerings (counseling, advocacy, victim support) within the same region.
• Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County: Monmouth County youth development nonprofit providing after-school and enrichment programming. Comparable to Sisters Academy's mission of serving at-risk youth in the same geographic footprint.
• Proceed, Inc. Elizabeth, NJ-based nonprofit providing workforce development, youth services, and community support for underserved populations. Comparable multi-service community nonprofit model to Mercy Center.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark: Large, established Catholic-affiliated nonprofit offering emergency assistance, family services, housing, and immigration support across northern NJ. Overlaps directly with Mercy Center's food pantry, FRC, and housing programs at greater scale.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County: Local Habitat affiliate addressing housing insecurity in Monmouth County. Partial overlap with Mercy Center's Housing Matters program, which supports single mothers with housing stability.
• Fidelity House Community Resource Center: Community-based nonprofit serving northern NJ with youth programs, social services, and family support. Comparable in delivering integrated youth + family programming analogous to Sisters Academy / FRC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MercyCenterAP
• Instagraminstagram.com/mercycenternj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mercy Center NJ