Project Place

What Project Place does

Project Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1967 and headquartered at 1145 Washington Street in Boston, Massachusetts. It delivers a structured workforce development and homelessness services pathway for homeless and low-income adults, including those with histories of incarceration, substance use, military service, and domestic violence. Its core program architecture follows a three-stage model — SPARRC (a 4-week stabilization program), Work Ready (a 4-week foundational job skills classroom), and the Industry Internship Program (1-6 months of industry-specific training leading to nationally recognized credentials such as ServSafe, OSHA 10, CDL, and Forklift). The organization supplements classroom training with three operating social enterprises that provide transitional employment: LEAP (logistics, vending, and delivery), WOW (business services for women including light assembly, packaging, and Home Plate food service), and CCBH (facilities maintenance and landscaping). Wraparound services include individualized case management, 2-year post-program alumni support, on-site housing via GateHouse (14 furnished studio apartments) and Betty's Place (transitional housing for up to 10 women), and specialized reentry programs delivered inside the Suffolk County House of Correction.

Project Place operates with approximately 50 staff across leadership, philanthropy, reentry and employment services, stabilization, workforce development, client services, and enterprise functions. Its revenue model is a hybrid of foundation grants (Cummings, Liberty Mutual, Yawkey, Highland Street, Smith Family Foundation), individual donations and annual gala fundraising (the 2017 gala raised $1.3 million), government contracts (U.S. Department of Labor, MA Department of Transitional Assistance, MA Department of Housing and Community Development), and earned revenue from the three social enterprises. All client-facing services are provided free of charge. Technology infrastructure is intentionally low-tech: computer labs with workplace-mirroring hardware, SMART boards, Google Classroom, and Zoom supporting both in-person and hybrid learning since July 2021. The organization does not develop proprietary software and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

The organization's measurable outcomes include a 6% recidivism rate (vs. 40% national average), 80% job and housing retention for clients placed in 2019, and 67,000+ people served with 1,000+ housed since 1967. It holds leadership positions in the Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals alongside Pine Street Inn, St. Francis House, and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, and has received national recognition including the 2016 U.S. Attorney General Model Reentry Program designation and the 2012 Harvard Kennedy School Bright Idea Award.

Name

Project Place

Legal name

Project Place

Website

https://projectplace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Project Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1967 in Boston that delivers workforce development, transitional employment, housing, and reentry services to homeless and low-income individuals through a multi-stage training pipeline and three social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Homeless Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Homeless services
• Job training programs
• Social enterprise
• Reentry services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Project Place receives grants from foundations and corporations including Cummings Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, Yawkey Foundation, Highland Street Foundation, and others to support programs and services
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations and annual gala fundraiser events. The 2017 gala raised $1.3 million to support future program growth with 400 guests in attendance
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue generated from three social enterprises - LEAP (logistics/vending), WOW (business services), and Clean Corners...Bright Hopes (facilities maintenance). In 2010, LEAP added contracts worth $60,000, CCBH added $200,000, and HomePlate added over $50,000
4. Government Contracts: Funding from government agencies including Department of Labor grants (Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program), Department of Transitional Assistance, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Project Place is a Boston-based nonprofit that provides workforce development services for homeless and low-income individuals, combining stabilization support, classroom-based job and life skills training (Work Ready), industry-specific internship programs, and paid transitional employment through three social enterprises (LEAP logistics/vending, WOW business services for women, and CCBH facilities maintenance). It also offers case management, supportive and transitional housing, reentry programs for the formerly incarcerated, and at least two years of post-graduation alumni retention support, all delivered free of charge to eligible clients.

Product overview

Project Place is a social services organization offering a multi-stage workforce development program. The core pathway includes SPARRC (stabilization), Work Ready (foundational skills), and the Industry Internship Program (IIP) with industry-specific training. Transitional employment is provided through three social enterprises: LEAP (logistics/vending), WOW (women's business services), and CCBH (facilities maintenance). Additional services include career services, case management, housing assistance, and 2-year alumni retention support. Specialized reentry programs serve formerly incarcerated individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SPARRC (Stabilization Programming Around Recovery and Resilience Coaching) A 4-week supportive and inclusive program that helps individuals build basic skills and find supports for stability in recovery, mental health, and securing basic needs. Serves as an entry point for those not yet ready for the Work Ready job training program.
• Work Ready A 4-week foundational job and life skills program taught in classroom and computer lab settings. Covers resume writing, cover letters, workplace professionalism, basic computer skills, math, reading, and interview preparation for homeless and low-income adults.
• Industry Internship Program (IIP) A 1-3 month (up to 6 months) advanced training program following Work Ready that focuses on specific industries including Logistics, Food Service, Public Maintenance, Customer Service, and Human Services. Includes preparation for national credentials.
• LEAP (Logistics Enterprise Apprenticeship Program) A logistics and vending social enterprise providing hands-on transitional employment for trainees. Provides vending and delivery services throughout Greater Boston, preparing clients for careers in transportation and delivery.
• WOW (Working Opportunities for Women) A business services enterprise for producers of specialty products that trains women in small business operations including light assembly, packaging, labeling, order processing, order fulfillment, and sales. Includes the Home Plate food preparation internship.
• CCBH (Clean Corners...Bright Hopes) A facilities maintenance and landscaping social enterprise providing beautification services and property maintenance throughout Boston through fee-for-service contracts, recognized with the Walk Boston Golden Shoe Award.
• Home Plate A food service training and catering social enterprise within WOW that provides food preparation internships and catering services, including daily meals for WOW trainees.
• Career Services & Employment Job search assistance, career advancement, and retention services centered around helping clients find and keep employment. Includes monthly job fairs, bi-weekly employer updates, resume assistance, and computer lab access.
• Case Management One-on-one wraparound case management support throughout programming and for two years post-graduation, including intake and assessment, Individual Development Plan creation, and coordination of client needs.
• Housing Programs (GateHouse and Betty's Place) GateHouse offers 14 furnished studio apartments for permanent supportive housing on the top two floors of the headquarters. Betty's Place provides transitional housing for up to ten women leaving shelters, with daily meals and wraparound services for up to six months.
• Alumni & Retention Services Post-program alumni support continuing for at least two years after graduation, including access to case management, resume reviews, counseling, workshops, computer lab access, and financial assistance programs (rent, tuition, clothing, certification fees).
• Reentry Services (CREW, POWR, BCPC) Services for individuals returning from incarceration, including the Community Reentry for Women (CREW) program, Partnerships to Opportunities for Women in Re-entry (POWR), and Boston Career Pathway Collaborative (BCPC). Combines in-facility programming with post-release employment support; recognized by the U.S. Attorney General as a model reentry program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6% recidivism rate vs 40% national average and 22% projected rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Social Innovation ForumcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 January 2021Selected for 2021 Social Innovator Accelerator - a 24-month capacity-building program providing access to over $150,000 of cash and in-kind services including training, coaching, and consulting. One of six nonprofits selected from 103 applicants.
• Access to Recovery (ATR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Place works as part of ATR's Career Building Initiative program. Individuals in recovery can enroll in Project Place services while under ATR and receive stipends while working toward change.
• Boston Healthcare for the Homeless ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals working collectively to address homelessness. Coalition hosted 'Pathways Out of Homelessness' forum with mayoral candidates.
• Pine Street InncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals collaborating on advocacy and service coordination for homeless populations.
• St. Francis HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals working on collective advocacy and service delivery for homeless individuals.
• Suffolk County House of CorrectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Place has worked with Suffolk County House of Correction since 2003 providing pre-release programming, case management, and discharge planning. CREW program delivered inside the facility.
• Hope HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidential treatment program where Project Place delivers Work Ready class content as people begin recovery process.
• Gavin HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidential treatment program partner where Project Place provides educational content and life skills programming.
• Bethany House MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing holistic case management supports and workforce development programming. Bethany House serves as supportive transitional community with access to The Hope Chest for transitional employment opportunities. Collaborative client stories include Nicole and Michael.
• Boston University Prison Education ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBU program operated at Norfolk prison where Michael, a Project Place client, was working toward bachelor's degree. Case managers coordinated with BU MET to help Michael continue education post-release, enrolling him in January to finish remaining 12 credits.
• Massachusetts Department of Transitional AssistancecoreOthersGovernment partner providing support and empowerment to low-income individuals and families. Recognized Project Place for Employment & Training services during COVID-19 pandemic.
• Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)coreOthersState agency partner supporting housing and community development initiatives for homeless and low-income populations.
• Boston Public Health CommissionminorOthersCity health agency partner providing public health resources and coordination for Boston populations.
• Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide alliance working to end homelessness through advocacy and collaborative initiatives.
• MassHire Career Center BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer services partner providing job training resources and employment connections for clients.
• Timothy Smith NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided state-of-the-art computer lab equipment supporting technology training for clients.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pine Street Inn: Pine Street Inn is Boston's largest homeless services organization, providing shelter, housing, and workforce development. Both organizations co-lead the Boston Coalition for Homeless Individuals and refer clients between programs, making them the most direct local peer.
• Homeboy Industries: Homeboy Industries operates social enterprises (cafe, manufacturing, retail) that provide transitional employment and wraparound services to formerly incarcerated and high-barrier individuals in Los Angeles — directly analogous to Project Place's LEAP/WOW/CCBH model.
• Roca, Inc. Roca is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that works with high-risk young people and formerly incarcerated individuals on workforce development, behavioral change, and reentry, with a similar multi-stage model anchored by transitional employment. Very direct functional peer.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): CEO is a national nonprofit providing immediate paid transitional employment, job coaching, and retention services to people returning home from incarceration — closely comparable to Project Place's reentry and Industry Internship Program.
• The Fortune Society: Fortune Society is a New York-based nonprofit providing reentry, workforce development, housing, and case management to formerly incarcerated individuals — a near-direct functional peer to Project Place's reentry and CREW programming.
• Bethany House Ministries: Bethany House Ministries is a Boston-area nonprofit providing supportive housing and workforce development for individuals in recovery — a stated Project Place partner offering overlapping reentry and housing services.
• St. Francis House: St. Francis House is a Boston-based nonprofit serving homeless and low-income individuals with day services, workforce development, and housing support. It is a fellow Coalition member and the closest like-for-like peer in model and mission to Project Place.

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: Year Up is a national workforce development nonprofit providing skills training and corporate internships to young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds — a broader-scope, federally-recognized peer operating adjacent in the urban workforce development space.
• Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill runs the largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development network, operating social enterprises (retail/industrial) and job training programs serving individuals with barriers to employment — the same niche Project Place occupies, but at national scale.

Others

• MassHire Career Centers: MassHire is the Massachusetts public workforce system providing job search, training, and career services. Project Place coordinates with MassHire Boston as a referral channel, making it an enabling/ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/project_place
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ProjectPlaceBoston
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectPlaceBoston
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectplaceboston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Project Place