Society of St. Vincent de Paul

What Society of St. Vincent de Paul does

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Fort Wayne is a local chapter of the international Catholic lay charitable organization founded in Paris in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam; the Fort Wayne District Council has operated since 1944 and serves northeast Indiana through a network of 23 parish-based Conferences. The chapter delivers direct, person-to-person social services — emergency financial assistance with rent and utilities, food pantry distribution, furniture/household goods through a voucher program tied to its Thrift Store, free accessible medical transportation via the Care Van, free home accessibility modifications through the Carpenter's Sons ministry, jail and prison ministry in Allen County, and a five-week paid Build to Work carpentry training program for adults seeking employment. Spiritual and advocacy support is layered onto material aid through Voice of the Poor and parish-based Vincentian home visits, with the explicit goal of long-term self-sufficiency rather than short-term relief alone.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-staffed by paid personnel and a large volunteer base, supported by a standard website (svdpfortwayne.org), Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and basic event-registration infrastructure. Funding comes from a diversified mix including Thrift Store retail receipts (donated goods resold at low prices), a national vehicle donation program, planned giving and estate gifts (wills, charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, IRA rollovers, endowment), foundation grants (notably Foellinger Foundation and St. Joseph Community Health Foundation), annual fundraising events (Friends of the Poor Walk & Tailgate, Walk for Hope, Pins for a Purpose, Teen Service Week), and general cash and in-kind donations. Operationally, SVdP Fort Wayne partners with Allsup for SSDI claims support and with Matthew 25 Health and Care for prioritized Care Van medical transportation; it sits under the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend and the National Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Louis, MO).

The organization is governed by a District Council led by District President Sam Schenkel, with Lara Schreck serving as Executive Director; Jeremiah Otis as Program Director; Olivia Conn as Development Coordinator; and Clark Chandler as Thrift Store Manager, supported by a Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President, Spiritual Advisor, Honorary President (Bishop Kevin Rhoades), Committee Chairpersons, and a Board of Directors. A $2 million Legacy of Hope capital campaign is currently funding Thrift Store improvements, expansion of the Build to Work carpentry program, and accessibility upgrades for people with disabilities, while the 8th Annual Friends of the Poor Walk & Tailgate in 2024 generated over $89,000 and a 2019 Foellinger Foundation grant of $34,000 supports ongoing operations.

Name

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Legal name

Society of St Vincent de Paul – Fort Wayne

Website

https://svdpsfw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Fort Wayne is a Catholic charitable nonprofit operating 23 parish-based Conferences in northeast Indiana that provide direct emergency aid, food, furniture, accessible transportation, home repairs, jail ministry, and workforce training to low-income individuals and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Social Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Charitable social services
• Emergency financial assistance
• Food pantry services
• Thrift store retail
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Thrift Store Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of donated clothing, furniture, household items, and other goods at the Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Fort Wayne. 100% of store profits go directly to supporting neighbors in need with food, rent, utilities, and other assistance.
2. Vehicle Donations: The organization accepts car donations through a national vehicle donation program. Donated vehicles are either given to families in need or sold, with proceeds supporting local programs.
3. Planned Giving and Estate Donations: Donors can make planned gifts through wills, charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, endowment funds, and IRA charitable rollovers. These vehicles provide income to donors during their lifetime while ultimately benefiting the organization.
4. Foundation Grants: The organization receives grant funding from organizations such as the Foellinger Foundation and St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to support its programs.
5. Fundraising Events: Annual events such as the Friends of the Poor Walk & Tailgate, SVdP Walk For Hope, Pins for a Purpose bowling fundraiser, and Teen Service Week generate donations from participants, sponsors, and the community. The 2024 Friends of the Poor Walk raised over $89,000.
6. General Donations: The organization accepts cash gifts, check donations, credit card donations, gift cards, prepaid gas cards, prepaid grocery cards, and in-kind donations of goods and volunteer hours. All donations are tax-deductible.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Fort Wayne is a Catholic direct-service nonprofit providing free, person-to-person charitable assistance to individuals and families in need across northeast Indiana. Through 23 parish-based Conferences, a Thrift Store, food pantries, the Care Van, Carpenter's Sons home repair ministry, Wood Shop, Voucher Program, Jail Ministry, and workforce development programs, SVdP delivers emergency financial aid, food, clothing, furniture, transportation, home accessibility modifications, and vocational training — all funded by donations, grants, thrift store revenue, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Fort Wayne is a Catholic charitable organization operating as a network of local service locations called Conferences. The organization offers a integrated portfolio of social services including emergency assistance, food pantries, a thrift store, transportation via Care Van, home repairs through Carpenter's Sons, and workforce development programs. These services work together to provide comprehensive support: the Thrift Store generates funding, Wood Shop produces furniture for families, Voucher Program distributes aid, and volunteer programs engage the community. The organization serves vulnerable populations across northeast Indiana with financial, material, educational, and spiritual support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carpenter's Sons: Ministry providing homeowners assistance with repairs and building projects such as wheelchair ramps, deck rebuilds, and minor home modifications
• Care Van
• Food Pantries
• Jail Ministry
• Wood Shop
• Voice of the Poor
• Build to Work
• Teen Service Week
• Walk For Hope
• Pins for a Purpose
• Legacy of Hope Campaign

Products and services

• Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
• Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
• Food Pantries
• Care Van Transportation Service
• Carpenter's Sons Ministry
• Wood Shop
• Jail Ministry
• Build to Work Carpentry Skills Program
• Teen Service Week
• Voucher Program
• Furniture Donation Pickup Service
• SSDI Disability Advocacy (via Allsup Partnership)
• Car Donation Program
• Home Visit Conferences (Advocacy & Direct Aid)
• Legacy of Hope Capital Campaign
• Endowment Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 million people served annually across the global SVdP organization
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 supporting.

• Allsup / SVdPAllsup.comcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllsup is a disability claims representation service with a national partnership with the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Through SVdPAllsup.com, SVdP can refer clients who have been denied Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to Allsup's assessment and application services. Allsup provides an instantaneous eligibility assessment and handles the application process on behalf of referred clients.
• Matthew 25 Health and CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatthew 25 Health and Care is a free health clinic serving uninsured and underinsured individuals in Fort Wayne. SVdP's Care Van program gives priority to Matthew 25 patients, transporting them to and from medical appointments. This partnership ensures patients can access the healthcare they need.
• National Society of St Vincent de PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVdP USA (headquartered in St. Louis, MO) is the national governing body of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in the United States. The Fort Wayne chapter operates under its umbrella, benefiting from national resources, brand identity, shared programs (such as the National Vehicle Donation Program), and collective advocacy efforts.
• Diocese of Fort Wayne/South BendcoreOthersThe Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend is the Catholic diocese under which many of the parish-based SVdP Conferences are organized. The organization maintains an association with the Diocese as part of its Catholic identity and mission.
• SVdP National Vehicle Donation Program (Careasy.org)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe national vehicle donation program run through SVdP USA allows donors to donate vehicles (running or non-running) which are then either assigned to local SVdP conferences for use or sold, with proceeds supporting local charitable programs. Contact: (800) 322-8284 or svdpusa.careasy.org.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Salvation Army of Allen County: Direct faith-based social service peer in Fort Wayne offering emergency assistance, food, and thrift stores. Highly comparable operating model centered on holistic poverty relief through community-rooted programs.
• Catholic Charities Fort Wayne / South Bend: Diocesan Catholic peer organization under the same Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend. Provides overlapping social services (food, housing, refugee support) to overlapping populations through faith-rooted channels.
• United Way of Allen County: Regional federated-giving peer funding and coordinating nonprofit services in the same Allen County market. Directly competes for workplace giving campaigns and corporate donations.
• Community Harvest Food Bank: Northeast Indiana food bank that distributes food to pantries including SVdP's own Conference pantries. Direct operational peer in food assistance supply chain.
• Goodwill of Northern Indiana: Operates thrift retail stores and workforce development programs in the same region. Closely comparable revenue model (thrift stores funding mission) and a parallel Build to Work-style training program.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne: Regional affordable housing peer serving the same northeast Indiana market. Overlaps with SVdP's housing assistance and home repair missions but focuses on home building/ownership rather than emergency aid.
• St. Vincent de Paul CARES: Sister Vincentian peer organization providing housing and homeless services in other U.S. regions. Comparable faith-based Vincentian mission and direct-service model, but operates in different geographies.

Emerging players

• Matthew 25 Health and Care: Free clinic partner in Fort Wayne carrying priority access on SVdP's Care Van. Operates in adjacent health-and-social-services space with shared client base.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella for diocesan Catholic social services. Comparable mission, funding model, and faith-based positioning, but operates at much broader scale across the United States.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul – National Council (USA): National governing body of the same organization under which the Fort Wayne chapter operates. Same mission, brand, and home-visit model, but with national reach, shared programs (e.g., National Vehicle Donation), and aggregated resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8j3hHsijkMKUexjWtRe1EQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/StVincentdePaulSocietyFortWayne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-vincent-de-paul-society-of-fort-wayne

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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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 Society of St. Vincent de Paul