Bethel New Life

What Bethel New Life does

Bethel New Life Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community investment organization founded in 1981 (originating as Bethel Housing in 1979 out of Bethel Lutheran Church's ministry) and headquartered on a nine-acre campus at 4950 W. Thomas Street in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. The organization delivers integrated housing, workforce development, food security, wellness, and senior care services to residents of Chicago's West Side, anchored by the Mildred Wiley Wellness Campus, two senior living properties (Beth Anne Place, an 85-unit supportive living community, and Beth Anne Residences for independent low-income seniors aged 62+), the Holistic Journeys Workforce Development Program, Bethel's Daily Bread Food Pantry (launched December 2022), horticulture-based wellness programming, and event/office space rentals (The Chapel, Amberg Hall, Multipurpose Room).

The business model blends grant and donation funding (Austin Fresh $200K plus pending federal requests, donations processed via MoonClerk), income-subsidized senior housing fees, and earned rental income from event venues and a nonprofit office incubator. Service delivery follows a campus-partnership model that co-locates 20+ partner organizations — including ACCESS, Lurie Children's Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Amazon Fresh, Top Box Foods, Project Exploration, and Mary Crane Center — to address what Bethel frames as the "10 Dimensions of Wellness" (spiritual, emotional, physical, environmental, intellectual, occupational, financial, civic, social, and creative).

Leadership is provided by President & CEO Sharif Walker (appointed September 2020), with governance by a Board chaired by Andrew Curtis (Northern Trust-affiliated) and including Treasurer/CFO Mahomed Ouedrago and directors with expertise in affordable housing, healthcare, labor law, public policy, and finance. Bethel has served over 500,000 individuals since founding, helped 7,000 residents find employment, and developed over 1,000 housing units. The organization has 251-500 employees and is privately controlled as a community-owned nonprofit with no parent company or institutional investor ownership.

Name

Bethel New Life

Legal name

Bethel New Life Inc.

Website

https://bethelnewlife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Bethel New Life is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a nine-acre campus in the Austin community, delivering integrated affordable senior housing, workforce development, food assistance, wellness programming, and event-space rentals to low-income West Side residents and seniors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based / Nonprofit Assisted Living Providers (HLADABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Independent Living Community Ancillary Services (Dining/Transportation/Wellness Programs) (HLADAAAI)

Keywords

• Affordable senior housing
• Community wellness services
• Workforce development programs
• Community food pantry
• Nonprofit community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Event and Office Space Rentals: Bethel New Life rents office and retail space to local businesses since 1995, promoting wealth creation in the community. They also offer meeting and event space (Chapel, Amberg Hall, Multipurpose Room) for weddings, parties, workshops, and community events. Additionally, they provide a nonprofit incubator with affordable office space for local nonprofits.
2. Senior Living Fees: Beth Anne Place (supportive living) and Beth Anne Residences (independent living) generate revenue through monthly fees for housing and care services for seniors aged 62 and older. Beth Anne Place provides three meals daily, nursing care, housekeeping, and activities. Beth Anne Residences offers affordable housing with coordinated activities.
3. Grants and Donations: As a nonprofit organization, Bethel New Life receives funding through grants and charitable donations. They have received grants from Austin Fresh ($200,000) and have pending/federal funding requests. They maintain a donation portal through MoonClerk.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bethel New Life is a community development nonprofit that delivers affordable senior housing (supportive and independent living), workforce development training, holistic wellness programming, food assistance, and event/office space rentals from a nine-acre campus on Chicago's West Side. Its services are structured around ten dimensions of wellness and are delivered through direct on-site programs and a campus partnership model with local organizations.

Product overview

Bethel New Life operates as a community services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing holistic wellness on Chicago's West Side. The core offerings include the Mildred Wiley Wellness Campus (a holistic health and education center), senior living communities (Beth Anne Place supportive living and Beth Anne Residences independent living), the Holistic Journeys Workforce Development Program, Event Spaces for venue rentals, Bethel's Daily Bread Food Pantry, and Horticulture Wellness activities. These services work together through a campus partnership model, bringing together organizations and programs to address the 10 dimensions of wellness for Austin and neighboring communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beth Anne Place: Supportive living community for seniors with 85 units, offering comfortable 1-bedroom and studio apartments, three meals daily, housekeeping, laundry, 24-hour nursing assistance, and full activity programs.
• Beth Anne Residences
• Mildred Wiley Wellness Campus
• Holistic Journeys Workforce Development Program

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amazon FreshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022Partners with Bethel in the Daily Bread Food Pantry program, providing food access support to West Side residents.
• Mary Crane CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood development organization providing comprehensive child development and family support programs on Bethel's campus. Uses a sliding fee scale based on family income and household size.
• Project ExplorationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEM education organization providing learning opportunities for youth, particularly low-income students, students of color, and young women to increase representation in STEM careers. Has a center on Bethel's campus and uses the Horticenter and community garden.
• Move Me SoulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance dance and wellness company born on Chicago's west side offering performances on the BNL campus and participating in community activities. BNL serves as fiscal sponsor.
• Entrepreneurs AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1996, providing entrepreneurial training in low-income, under-developed, and under-represented communities. Has collaborated with Bethel on community events for small businesses and violence prevention. Focuses on drone photography, ED product design, invention, and eco-art.
• U of I Extension (Illinois Nutrition Education Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides cooking and nutrition education, hands-on classes in nutrition and food preparation. Plans to provide multiple classes per week to senior residents and families. Partners to promote healthier settings and food choices.
• Your Passion 1stminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) that empowers under-resourced young adults to find, define, and follow their passion into workforce or entrepreneurship through mentorships, workshops, and coaching programs.
• After School MattersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school students spend summer and spring engaged in horticulture career activities under the instruction of Bethel's horticulture specialist, gaining hands-on experience in horticulture.
• ACCESScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider that will expand physical and behavioral health services at the new 10,000 square foot health center as part of the Mildred Wiley Wellness Campus.
• Top Box FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood distribution partner for Daily Bread Food Pantry, delivering food shipments to participants' homes during the 3-month emergency food assistance period.
• Rush University Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner collaborating with Bethel on the Daily Bread Food Pantry to support community health outcomes.
• Lurie Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to provide vouchers to individuals and families to increase access to healthy produce. Vouchers distributed as incentive for healthy cooking class participation.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to support connecting or reconnecting West Side residents to critical benefits such as SNAP and Medicaid.
• American Heart AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides blood pressure testing stations on campus along with literature and informational sessions to support residents monitoring and self-care.
• Wellness WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth initiative partner supporting blood pressure testing stations and wellness programming on campus.
• Chicago Botanical Garden/Windy City HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaches gardening and healthy food choices as part of the wellness campus programming.
• Christ the KingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school students spend full days at the Wellness Campus performing specific roles to gain knowledge of workplace constructs.
• U of I HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with DePaul to plan activities for senior stimulation - mentally and physically engaging activities on a regular basis.
• DePaul UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with U of I Health to plan activities for senior stimulation on campus.
• CPR Life Safety 365minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with the campus to provide community workshops for CPR lifesaving techniques.
• Bigelow HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partnership for development of new energy efficient homes in the 1990s.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Centers for New Horizons: Chicago-based community development nonprofit on the South Side offering workforce development, early childhood education, and family services. Comparable as a peer nonprofit providing multi-program community wellness services in a single Chicago neighborhood footprint.
• Erie Neighborhood House: Chicago nonprofit delivering wraparound community services including adult education, youth programs, and family support. Closely comparable in operating model as a multi-service neighborhood-based social services nonprofit serving a specific Chicago community.
• Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing, healthcare, and social services to people affected by poverty. Comparable as a peer Chicago nonprofit with a senior housing and community services portfolio, though significantly larger in scope.
• National Church Residences: Faith-based nonprofit operator of affordable senior housing and supportive living facilities across multiple states. Directly comparable to Beth Anne Place and Beth Anne Residences in mission, faith-based positioning, and supportive/independent living service model.
• Greater Southwest Development Corporation: Chicago community development nonprofit providing housing, workforce development, and commercial corridor revitalization. Comparable as a peer Chicago-based nonprofit delivering integrated community development and housing services.
• The Resurrection Project: Faith-based Chicago nonprofit focused on community organizing, immigrant rights, and neighborhood development on the West Side. Comparable as a peer faith-rooted Chicago nonprofit with neighborhood revitalization and community programming focus.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: National faith-based nonprofit developing and operating affordable housing including senior and supportive living. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the faith-rooted affordable/senior housing space with significantly larger national footprint.
• Volunteers of America: National faith-based nonprofit providing senior living, housing, and community services. Comparable as an incumbent faith-based operator with senior housing and community services programs, but operating at national scale.
• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based umbrella organization providing senior services, housing, food assistance, and community programs. Comparable as a large-scale faith-based social services operator with overlapping programs in food, housing, and senior care.

Regional players

• Esperanza Health Centers: Chicago-based federally qualified health center providing primary care and behavioral health on the Southwest Side. Comparable as a community health provider partnering on West/South Side wellness programs, though more clinically focused than Bethel's broader community services model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bethelnewlife
• Xx.com/bethelnewlife

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Bethel New Life