What Sarah's Circle does

Sarah's Circle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, providing a full continuum of housing and supportive services for unaccompanied women (18+) experiencing homelessness. The organization operates four core programs: a Daytime Support Center offering meals, showers, laundry, mail services, and case management; a 50-bed Interim Housing facility providing 24/7 shelter; a Rapid Rehousing program with 12-24 months of rental subsidies; and 176 Permanent Supportive Housing units across three purpose-built buildings (Sarah's on Sheridan, Sarah's on Leland opened 2021, and Sarah's on Lakeside opened November 2024). In 2025, the organization served 762 women, helped 222 move into stable housing, and achieved a 96% housing retention rate, while serving 62,070 meals and providing 18,250 nights of shelter.

The organization is funded through a diversified revenue mix including government contracts from HUD, the Chicago Housing Authority, Illinois DHS, and City of Chicago agencies; foundation grants (notably a $2 million unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call in March 2024); individual donations via the Sarah's Sustainers monthly giving program; corporate sponsorships ($5,000-$15,000 tiers); special events (Winter Walk: A Mile in Her Shoes, CheerFest, A Night to be Amazed); and planned gifts/endowments. All client-facing services are provided free of charge. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via walk-in access at the Daytime Support Center, referrals through the CHA waiting list and the Coordinated Entry System (CES), and partnerships with All Chicago and other social service agencies.

The technology stack is limited to standard nonprofit operational tools: Classy and Givebutter for peer-to-peer fundraising, PayPal for payment processing, Bloomerang for donor and volunteer management, Double The Donation for employer gift matching, and HMIS for mandated client tracking. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors with representatives from Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, JPMorgan Chase, Alecko Capital, CareAllies, and major foundation partners. Sarah's Circle holds a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2024).

Name

Sarah's Circle

Legal name

Sarah's Circle

Website

https://sarahs-circle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sarah's Circle is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 providing a full continuum of housing and support services for women experiencing homelessness, including a Daytime Support Center, 50-bed Interim Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and 176 Permanent Supportive Housing units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Supportive Housing Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Homeless services nonprofit
• Women's supportive housing
• Permanent supportive housing
• Interim housing shelter
• Rapid rehousing program

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts & Grants: Sarah's Circle receives federal funding through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as state and city government contracts and grants from agencies including the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Illinois Housing Authority, Chicago Housing Authority, City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Federal Emergency Management Administration, and Low Income Housing Trust Fund.
2. Foundation Grants: The organization receives grants from private foundations including a $2 million gift from MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving Open Call (2024), as well as ongoing support from foundations such as the Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Reva and David Logan Foundation, and many others listed in their Friends & Partners page.
3. Individual Contributions & Donations: Sarah's Circle raises funds from individual donors through one-time and recurring donations, the Sarah's Sustainers monthly giving program, employer gift matching, and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns such as Winter Walk.
4. Special Events & Fundraising: Annual events including Winter Walk: A Mile in Her Shoes, CheerFest, and Sweaters for Sarah generate fundraising revenue. The Winter Walk peer-to-peer campaign alone has raised over $200,000 in recent years.
5. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors support the organization at tiers including Corporate Leader ($15,000), Corporate Sponsor ($10,000), and Corporate Friend ($5,000), with recognition including logo placement, event podium acknowledgment, social media mentions, and team walk opportunities at Winter Walk.
6. Planned Gifts & Endowments: Sarah's Circle accepts planned gifts including bequests in wills, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, retirement plan beneficiary designations, and life insurance beneficiary designations. Donors can direct gifts to specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sarah's Circle provides a full continuum of free services for women experiencing homelessness in Chicago, including a Daytime Support Center (drop-in meals, showers, laundry, mail, case management), a 50-bed Interim Housing shelter, a Rapid Rehousing program with 12–24 month rental subsidies, and 176 units of Permanent Supportive Housing across three owned buildings. Programs use a Housing First, trauma-informed, women-only model and serve over 750 women annually.

Product overview

Sarah's Circle is a nonprofit organization offering a continuum of housing and support services for women experiencing homelessness in Chicago. The core service portfolio includes four interconnected programs: the Daytime Support Center (providing basic needs and case management), Interim Housing (50-bed shelter), Rapid Rehousing (time-limited rental assistance), and Permanent Supportive Housing (176 units of permanent affordable housing). Three physical facilities house these programs: Sarah's on Sheridan (original site with Daytime Center), Sarah's on Leland (opened 2021), and Sarah's on Lakeside (opened 2024). Additional offerings include the Make it Home Fund for moving assistance, the Sarah's Sustainers monthly giving program, and signature fundraising events including Winter Walk and A Night to be Amazed. The organization focuses exclusively on serving women, utilizing a Housing First, trauma-informed approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Daytime Support Center Drop-in center open Monday–Friday (9am–4:30pm) providing a safe space, meals, showers, laundry, computer access, mail services, and case management for women (18+) experiencing homelessness.
• Interim Housing Program 50-bed long-term emergency shelter operating 24/7/365, providing shelter, meals, supportive services, and case management for women experiencing homelessness.
• Rapid Rehousing Program Time-limited (12–24 month) program combining rental subsidies, case management, and housing stabilization support to help women exit homelessness within approximately 30 days.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Program 176 units of permanent affordable housing with ongoing supportive services for women experiencing homelessness, including seniors and women with disabilities, across three buildings.
• Make it Home Fund One-time financial assistance of up to $500 covering moving costs such as application fees, security deposits, first month's rent, furniture, and other move-in expenses for program participants transitioning to housing.
• Sarah's Sustainers Monthly Giving Program Recurring monthly donation program that lets individual supporters make ongoing contributions to fund Sarah's Circle programs and housing stability services for women.
• Winter Walk: A Mile in Her Shoes Annual flagship fundraising event and peer-to-peer campaign held around International Women's Day, walking participants through the experience of women's homelessness in Chicago and raising program funds.
• A Night to be Amazed Annual fundraising gala featuring magic performances and live/silent auctions to raise funds for Sarah's Circle programs.
• Sarah's on Sheridan Original Sarah's Circle facility at 4838 N. Sheridan Road housing the Daytime Support Center, administrative offices, and the Judy Krueger Apartments (10 PSH units).
• Sarah's on Leland Facility opened January 2021 at 1005 W. Leland Avenue providing 38 units of Permanent Supportive Housing and the 50-bed Interim Housing shelter.
• Sarah's on Lakeside Third Sarah's Circle building at 4737 N. Sheridan Road, opened November 2024, providing 28 units of Permanent Supportive Housing, additional program space, and a demonstration kitchen.

Quantifiable outcome

• 762 women served across all programs in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and supporting.

• Perkins+WillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm that designed all three Sarah's Circle buildings — Sarah's on Sheridan, Sarah's on Leland, and Sarah's on Lakeside — with branding elements tying the campus together and architecture consistent with Uptown neighborhood.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorymajorOthersFood bank providing food supplies and support for Sarah's Circle's meal programs. The organization served 62,070 meals in 2025.
• All ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated Entry System (CES) administrator for Chicago homeless services. Referrals to Sarah's Circle programs flow through All Chicago's coordinated entry system.
• Habitat for HumanityminorOthersCommunity partner engaged in volunteer and outreach activities. Mentioned in a third-party article about Raincoat Roofing's community partnerships.
• The Salvation ArmyminorOthersCommunity partner engaged in outreach activities across Chicagoland. Mentioned in a third-party article about Raincoat Roofing's community partnerships.
• Employment BoostsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment services partner connecting Sarah's Circle clients with resume writing and job placement assistance as part of the Rapid Rehousing and Employment Services Program.
• The Journey ForwardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment services partner providing financial coaching to Sarah's Circle clients as part of the Rapid Rehousing and Employment Services Program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Deborah's Place: Chicago-based nonprofit providing a continuum of housing (interim, transitional, permanent supportive) and supportive services exclusively for women experiencing homelessness. Highly comparable in mission, women-only focus, and integrated housing model.
• La Casa Norte: Chicago nonprofit serving youth and families experiencing homelessness with housing, case management, and supportive services. Operates in the same Chicago homeless services ecosystem, partnering with CHA and All Chicago, and shares funders.
• A Safe Haven: Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness, including programs funded by HUD and the City of Chicago. Direct competitor in the Chicago homeless services space.
• The Cara Program: Chicago nonprofit focused on workforce development and supportive housing for individuals affected by homelessness and poverty. Comparable employment-services partnership model and referral relationships with Chicago's Coordinated Entry System.
• Thresholds: Large Chicago nonprofit providing housing, mental health, and substance use services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable Housing First approach and overlap on mental health (48% of Sarah's Circle clients report mental health conditions).
• Inspiration Corporation: Chicago nonprofit providing employment training, housing, and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable rapid-rehousing and employment-services model operating in the same city.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large established Chicago social services organization that operates shelter, housing, and case management programs across multiple populations. Comparable HUD-funded shelter and housing programs, but with broader mandate beyond women-only.
• Salvation Army Chicago Metropolitan Division: National faith-based organization operating shelter, housing, and social services in Chicago. Already a community partner of Sarah's Circle; offers broader portfolio including mixed-gender emergency shelter and supportive housing.

Others

• Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness: Coalition and referral partner that coordinates the Chicago homeless response system. Referrals to Sarah's Circle programs flow through All Chicago's Coordinated Entry System, which interfaces with this coalition; ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Regional players

• Corporations for Character: Are similar women-focused or family-focused homeless service nonprofits in other Midwestern cities that operate an interim-to-permanent supportive housing continuum. Relevant as a model peer for Sarah's Circle's blended funding, housing continuum, and trauma-informed approach in comparable urban markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPumaq2WyQgsrmsJWkbW0hw
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Sarahs-Circle/43552967336
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarahscircle
• Instagraminstagram.com/sarahscirclechi
• Xx.com/Sarahs_Circle

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 Sarah's Circle