Sharing Connections
Sharing Connections is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit furniture bank founded in 1986 in Downers Grove, Illinois. It collects donated furniture and household goods and distributes them to families in need across 13 Illinois counties through a partner-agency referral network and a direct assistance program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersDowners Grove, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sharing Connections does
Sharing Connections is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit furniture bank founded in 1986 and headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. The organization collects donated furniture and household goods from individuals and corporate donors, warehouses them, and redistributes them to families transitioning out of hardship such as homelessness, domestic violence, or poverty. Distribution is primarily routed through a referral network of partner social-service agencies across 13 Illinois counties, with a newer Direct Family Assistance Program enabling direct household engagement outside the traditional referral channel.
The organization's business model is that of a donation-funded nonprofit: cash revenue is generated through individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraisers, while the majority of goods distributed represent in-kind donations valued at approximately $6.1M annually. Operations are logistics-intensive, centered on warehouse intake, condition assessment, and scheduled distribution to verified recipients. A small staff of 1-10 employees coordinates a broader volunteer workforce and partner-agency ecosystem to execute the model.
Sharing Connections' recent strategic posture reflects geographic and operational scaling. The territory has expanded from its original DuPage County base to 13 counties, warehouse capacity has been increased to handle growing throughput, and the leadership transitioned from long-serving CEO Varju to Churma. These moves signal an organization moving from a localized single-county operation to a regional platform, though it remains a small nonprofit without disclosed technology infrastructure or AI capabilities.
Sharing Connections firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sharing Connections
- Legal name
- Sharing Connections, Inc.
- Website
- https://sharingconnections.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sharing Connections is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit furniture bank founded in 1986 in Downers Grove, Illinois. It collects donated furniture and household goods and distributes them to families in need across 13 Illinois counties through a partner-agency referral network and a direct assistance program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Sharing Connections is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Downers Grove
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sharing Connections business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donated Furniture and Household Items: The organization receives donations of gently used furniture, household items, clothing, and baby items from community members and businesses. These donations are then redistributed to families in need at minimal or no cost.
- Financial Donations: Individual donors contribute financial support through online donations, mail, and planned giving programs. The 'Providing Hope' monthly giving program allows recurring donations. Vehicle donations are also accepted through partner Careasy.org.
- Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for annual events including golf outings, Hops for Hope craft beer events, and other fundraising activities provide revenue and community visibility.
- Access Fees: Partner agents pay minimal access fees for referrals, with fee discounts of 20%-60% available depending on individual needs. Exact amounts are provided via the approved referral system.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Crib Only referral - time sensitive expedited scheduling |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Beds Only referral - time sensitive expedited scheduling |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Basic Furniture Only referral - sofa, chairs, dresser, table, etc. |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | All Inclusive referral - complete furniture package with mattress/box sets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Clothing Only referral - no access fee required |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sharing Connections product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sharing Connections operates as a furniture bank that collects donated furniture and household items from the community and redistributes them to families in crisis through a network of over 1,000 partner social service agencies. The organization provides essential items including beds, cribs, sofas, tables, chairs, dressers, and clothing, with services delivered via a 14,100 sq. ft. warehouse in Downers Grove, Illinois serving 13+ counties in Northern Illinois.
Product overview
Sharing Connections operates as a furniture bank non-profit offering a portfolio of referral-based services through a network of over 1,000 partner social workers and case managers. The core service includes furniture donation pickup and redistribution through service tiers: Crib Only (expedited), Beds Only (expedited), Basic Furniture Only, All Inclusive, and Clothing Only. In 2019, they launched a Direct Family Assistance Program enabling emergency direct applications without professional referral. Additional programs include an Annual Toy Program distributing over 2,000 toys to children, volunteer-powered operations with 300+ annual volunteers, monthly giving through the 'Providing Hope' program, and vehicle donation partnerships. Services are delivered from their 14,100 sq. ft. warehouse in Downers Grove, Illinois, serving families across 13+ counties in Northern Illinois.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Crib Only Referral Service Expedited referral service providing new cribs and crib mattresses to families with infants. Includes optional items like car seats, high chairs, diapers, and clothing when available.
- Beds Only Referral Service Expedited referral service for beds including mattress/box set combinations. Provides bedding, pillows, and other sleep-related items when available.
- Basic Furniture Referral Service Referral service providing essential furniture items such as sofas, living room chairs, dressers, tables, end tables, household items, decorative items, and clothing. Does not include cribs or mattress/box sets.
- All Inclusive Referral Service Comprehensive referral service combining all furniture items with new mattress/box sets. A once-in-a-lifetime service that includes everything needed in one trip.
- Clothing Only Referral Service Referral service providing clothing to individuals and families. Available up to four times per year with no access fee. Seasonal clothing changes offered.
- Direct Family Assistance Program In-house option for families to apply directly without a professional referral, available for emergency or time-sensitive situations requiring immediate help.
- Furniture Donation Pickup Service Volunteer-powered pickup service (operated through 'Big Yellow' truck) that collects gently used furniture from donors in the community, including sofas, loveseats, sectionals, recliners, tables, chairs, dressers, and small household items.
- Annual Toy Program Annual holiday program that transforms the warehouse into 'Sharing Toy Land' and provides new toys, books, stuffed animals, hats, gloves, and gift cards to over 2,000 local children in need.
- Monthly Giving Program (Providing Hope) Recurring donation program called 'Providing Hope' that allows donors to contribute monthly to ensure sustained long-term support for families.
- Vehicle Donation Program Partnership with Careasy.org allowing donors to donate vehicles (running or not), with proceeds funding Sharing Connections programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 8,180 households impacted in 2025
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Sharing Connections
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sharing Connections technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Sharing Connections partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ARCO/MurraycoreTitle sponsor for Annual Golf Outing events (21st, 22nd, 23rd). Major corporate sponsor providing significant financial support for fundraising events.
- NEUCO, Inc.corePresenting sponsor for Annual Golf Outing events. Corporate sponsor for fundraising activities.
- Skeleton Key BrewerycoreCommunity partner hosting multiple fundraising events including Hops for Hope, Battle of the Bottle Shops, and Sleepover FOR HOPE. Created collaboration beer 'Shared Hope' with 100% of profits donated.
- Cornerstone National Bank & Trust CompanyminorSponsor for Hops for Hope 2025 event and hole sponsor for golf outings.
- Careasy.orgminorVehicle donation partner allowing donors to contribute vehicles with proceeds funding Sharing Connections programs.
- Partner Social Service AgenciescoreOver 340 hospitals, municipalities, and social service agencies including domestic violence shelters, housing organizations, food pantries, schools, veteran organizations, and teen parent organizations. These partners refer clients to receive furniture and household items.
- Various Event SponsorsminorSponsors including The R-B Financial Group, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Bornquist Inc., Northern Trust, Hinsdale Bank and Trust, Woody Buick GMC, Old National Bank, Meyers & Flowers, Schulte and Cleland Wealth Management, Lerman Business Services, Vanee Foods, GreenState Credit Union, and others for golf outings and events.
- Tivoli TheatreminorPartnership for It's A Wonderful Life film screenings where 50% of ticket proceeds are donated to Sharing Connections.
- AmazonminorAmazon Wish List enables online shopping with items shipped directly to Sharing Connections for toy program and general donations.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Sharing Connections competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baby2Baby: National nonprofit distributing essential items including clothing, beds, and baby gear to children living in poverty. Comparable donation-supply model, social worker referral channel, and focus on furnishing children in need.
- Cradles to Crayons: Nonprofit providing clothing, beds, and essential items to children living in low-income and homeless situations through a partner referral network. Highly comparable mission, referral-based distribution model, and child-focused impact metrics.
- Furniture Bank (Toronto): Canadian nonprofit furniture bank that collects donated furniture and household items and provides them to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and crisis — same core furniture bank model with partner referral intake.
- Purple Heart Pickup: Donation pickup service that collects gently used furniture and household items from donors and redistributes to families in need, often supporting veterans. Direct functional overlap with Sharing Connections' volunteer-powered 'Big Yellow' truck pickup operation.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Large nonprofit operating donation-based retail and workforce programs that collect donated household goods and resell or redirect them to people in need. Comparable donation-recycling model and mission overlap with Sharing Connections' furniture bank.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStores: Nonprofit home-furnishings retail channel operating across the U.S. that resells donated furniture and household items to fund affordable housing. Closest peer in terms of donated furniture redistribution and nonprofit fundraising model.
- The Salvation Army: National nonprofit providing furniture, household items, and social services to families in crisis via donated goods and thrift operations. Directly comparable donation-based assistance model and family-support mission.
Emerging players
- Dress for Success: Global nonprofit that collects donated professional clothing and provides it to individuals transitioning into the workforce, often via partner agency referrals. Comparable donation-driven model with referral-based distribution to people in transition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sharing Connections social profiles
Digital presenceSharing Connections compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Sharing Connections financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sharing Connections leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Sharing Connections funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sharing Connections M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sharing Connections
What does Sharing Connections do?
Sharing Connections operates as a furniture bank that collects donated furniture and household items from the community and redistributes them to families in crisis through a network of over 1,000 partner social service agencies. The organization provides essential items including beds, cribs, sofas, tables, chairs, dressers, and clothing, with services delivered via a 14,100 sq. ft. warehouse in Downers Grove, Illinois serving 13+ counties in Northern Illinois.
Is Sharing Connections a public or private company?
Sharing Connections is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sharing Connections founded?
Sharing Connections was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sharing Connections based?
Sharing Connections is headquartered in Downers Grove, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sharing Connections make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donated Furniture and Household Items are the primary driver. The others are financial Donations, event Sponsorships and access Fees.
Who are Sharing Connections's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Baby2Baby, Cradles to Crayons, Furniture Bank (Toronto) and Purple Heart Pickup. Broad incumbents are Goodwill Industries International, Habitat for Humanity ReStores and The Salvation Army. Dress for Success is listed as an emerging player.
Does Sharing Connections have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sharing Connections.