What Lifting Up Westchester does

Lifting Up Westchester (LUW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, that provides a continuum of services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, hunger, and extreme poverty across Westchester County. Its service portfolio spans emergency shelter (Open Arms Men's Shelter with 38 beds and Samaritan House Women's Shelter with 17 beds, totaling 17,000+ shelter nights annually), supportive housing (250+ units), a community kitchen (Grace's Kitchen, in operation since 1974 and serving 95–115 individuals daily, contributing to 170,000+ meals served annually), an employment center (Job Central, placing 60+ people annually at an average $16.25/hr), and youth programs (500+ youth served, 95% graduation rate). In May 2026, LUW formed a strategic partnership with Caring for the Hungry & Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP), unifying leadership under Co-CEOs Cynthia Knox and Anahaita Kotval while preserving both organizations' independent nonprofit status and expanding combined annual reach to 10,000+ individuals across the full county.

LUW's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring), planned giving via the Wiggins Legacy Society (commitments of $50,000 or more), tax-advantaged giving (IRA QCDs, stock gifts, donor-advised funds), Westchester County government grants and contracts, employer partnerships offering WOTC tax credit benefits, and recurring fundraising events (annual gala, benefit concert raising $29K+ in 2024, and the 9th annual student essay contest). The organization operates no proprietary technology; service delivery is conducted through physical facilities and human case management, with marketing conducted through email newsletters, organic social media, earned media, and community events. Leadership includes CEO Anahaita Kotval (former RBS Managing Director and Inspirica COO), CFO Carl Williams (promoted internally in 2022 after 17 years), and Chief Development Officer Jessica Timms, supported by a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 4-star rating.

Name

Lifting Up Westchester

Legal name

Lifting Up Westchester, Inc.

Website

https://liftingupwestchester.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lifting Up Westchester is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 in White Plains, NY, providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, meals, employment, and youth services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty across Westchester County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

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), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Emergency housing programs
• Community meal programs
• Employment support services
• Youth education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

White Plains

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time and recurring donations through online portals, mail-in checks, and stock donations. The organization encourages donors to cover processing fees to maximize impact.
2. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: The Wiggins Legacy Society accepts multi-year pledges and planned giving commitments of $50,000 or more. Beneficiary designations and charitable bequests provide long-term funding.
3. Tax-Advantaged Giving: IRA charitable contributions (QCDs up to $105,000 for those 71+), stock gifts, and donor-advised fund grants provide tax-efficient giving options.
4. Government Grants and Contracts: LUW receives funding from state and local government, including Westchester County government support, as referenced in the CHHOP partnership announcement.
5. Employer Partnerships: No-cost employment services for employers, with potential Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) benefits for employers hiring target populations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lifting Up Westchester provides a continuum of no-cost social services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty in Westchester County. Core offerings include emergency shelter (Open Arms Men's Shelter and Samaritan House Women's Shelter, 55 beds total), supportive and transitional housing (250+ units), free nutritious meals through Grace's Kitchen and Community Central, employment readiness and job placement via Job Central, and youth education/college-and-career support programs. Services are delivered at dedicated White Plains facilities and coordinated across the full continuum, from immediate basic needs through longer-term housing stability and self-sufficiency.

Product overview

Lifting Up Westchester operates as a single integrated nonprofit service organization providing a continuum of programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty. The core offerings include Emergency Shelter Services (Open Arms Men's Shelter and Samaritan House Women's Shelter), Housing Programs (Supportive Housing and Housing Success), Community Central (featuring Grace's Kitchen and outreach services), Job Central employment services, and Youth Services (including academic enrichment, literacy programs, and college/career success support). These programs are coordinated to provide wraparound support from immediate needs like shelter and meals through longer-term stability including housing, employment, and youth education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Grace's Kitchen: Community kitchen providing free, nutritious meals (breakfast and lunch) five days a week, located in the parish hall of Grace Church at 33 Church Street in White Plains. Has been in operation since 1974.
• Open Arms Men's Shelter
• Samaritan House Women's Shelter
• Job Central
• Next-Generation Programs

Products and services

• Open Arms Men's Shelter A 38-bed emergency shelter for adult men located at 86 E. Post Road in White Plains, NY, offering 24/7 emergency drop-in capacity, shelter, nutritious food, case management, and referrals for counseling.
• Samaritan House Women's Shelter A 17-bed emergency shelter for adult women located at 33 Church Street, 3rd Floor in White Plains, NY, providing emergency drop-in capacity, shelter, nutritious food, case management, and counseling referrals.
• Housing Services Comprehensive housing support including 250+ supportive housing units for individuals needing longer-term financial or case management support, plus a Housing Success program that helps shelter clients find affordable housing, teaches tenant skills, and provides ongoing case management for up to a year.
• Community Central A community needs hub at Grace Church Parish Hall in White Plains providing Charles Bevier outreach support for individuals experiencing homelessness, Health & Wellness and Life Skills programs, and Grace's Kitchen hot meals.
• Grace's Kitchen A community kitchen located in the Parish Hall at Grace Church in White Plains, providing free nutritious breakfast and lunch meals five days a week, serving 95-115 individuals daily.
• Job Central An employment services center located at 148 Hamilton Avenue, 3rd Floor, White Plains, offering employment coaching, laptop access for job seekers, professional development and advancement skills, job skills training, and apprenticeship/internship partnerships with local companies; achieved 60% employment rate for participants after 12 months at $16.25 average hourly wage.
• Youth Services Educational enrichment programs for 450+ homeless and at-risk youth including the Academic Enrichment & Mentoring Program, Kidzlit Literacy Program, College & Career Success and Scholarships, summer camp, and 13 college scholarships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of youth seniors graduated high school
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Caring for the Hungry & Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026Strategic partnership merging operational infrastructure while preserving independent nonprofit status. Cynthia Knox and Anahaita Kotval serve as Co-CEOs of both organizations. CHHOP serves Northern Westchester while LUW focuses on Central and Southern Westchester, providing comprehensive county-wide coverage. Partnership consolidates management, payroll, HR, finance, and development for administrative efficiency.
• Westchester County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestchester County government provides funding and support, with County Executive Ken Jenkins publicly supporting the LUW-CHHOP partnership. County DSS referral number provided for shelter access.
• Area Employers (Job Central Partners)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployers partner with LUW's Job Central to access prescreened entry-level and qualified candidates across various fields including social services, healthcare, office administration, IT, retail, food service, and more. Employers receive Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for hiring target populations.
• Landlords (Housing Partners)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLandlords partner with LUW to rent units to shelter clients and those in supportive housing programs. LUW provides case management support to help clients succeed as tenants.
• Westchester Collaboration for CompassionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA collective led by the Sisters of Divine Compassion bringing together faith-based, nonprofit, corporate, business, government, and educational constituencies. LUW is a member organization advocating for compassionate approaches to homelessness.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Breaking Ground: Breaking Ground is a New York City nonprofit operating the largest permanent supportive housing portfolio for homeless individuals in the country, alongside street outreach and employment services. It is a direct peer in mission, scale ambition, and the integrated outreach-to-housing model.
• Project Renewal: Project Renewal is a New York City nonprofit operating the full continuum from street outreach and emergency shelter through permanent supportive housing, employment, and healthcare. It is highly comparable in its integrated service model and serves a similar homeless and housing-insecure population.
• Inspirica: Inspirica is a Stamford, CT-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and workforce development for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. It is a direct peer in mission and integrated service model, and LUW CEO Anahaita Kotval previously served as its COO and General Counsel.
• Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP): CHHOP is LUW's direct peer and now strategic partner, serving Northern Westchester with a similar continuum of emergency shelter, food, housing, and case management services. The two organizations operate overlapping service models in adjacent geographies within Westchester County and are now under joint Co-CEO leadership.
• WIN (Women's Information Network): WIN is a New York City nonprofit providing shelter, supportive housing, and employment services primarily for women and people with histories of homelessness. It is a direct peer in the integrated housing-plus-employment model serving a comparable client population.

Regional players

• Westhab: Westhab is a Westchester County-based affordable housing and supportive services nonprofit. It is a regional peer operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and workforce development programs in overlapping service territory with LUW.
• Family Services of Westchester: Family Services of Westchester is a county-based human services nonprofit offering housing assistance, mental health, youth programs, and case management. It is a regional peer serving overlapping populations and geographies with comparable service lines.
• Hudson River Housing: Hudson River Housing is a Hudson Valley nonprofit operating supportive housing, homelessness prevention, and homeownership services across Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties. It is a regional peer with comparable housing-first and supportive services programs serving a similar at-risk population.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America Greater New York: Volunteers of America Greater New York operates a wide portfolio of housing, behavioral health, and supportive services across the New York metro region. It is a broad incumbent comparable to LUW's emergency shelter, supportive housing, and workforce programming, with significantly larger national backing.
• Catholic Charities of New York: Catholic Charities of New York is a broad incumbent operating shelters, food programs, housing, and youth services across multiple New York State counties. It competes for county contracts and donor dollars and offers an overlapping service portfolio, though at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/liftingupwestchester
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifting-up-westchester
• Instagraminstagram.com/liftingupwestchester

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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 Lifting Up Westchester