Star of Hope

What Star of Hope does

Star of Hope Mission is a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Houston, Texas, founded in 1907 by Reverend Dennis R. Pevoto as the city's first shelter for men experiencing homelessness. The organization operates two primary facilities: the Doris and Carloss Morris Men's Development Center (1811 Ruiz Street, 70,000 sq. ft., capacity of 275 men nightly, expandable to 375) and the Women and Family Development Center at the Cornerstone Community Transformational Campus (2575 Reed Road, capacity of 510+ single women and single-parent families nightly, with 111 apartments and the June Waggoner House of Hope Day Care Center). Across these sites, Star of Hope delivers emergency shelter, hot meals, clothing, licensed childcare, after-school programs, multi-tier addiction recovery (30-day, 90-day, and 9-month programs), GED preparation, workforce development, computer-skills training, biblical counseling, case management, and housing placement support. In 2024 the organization served 473,320 meals and provided more than 400,000 nights of safe shelter, supported by a volunteer base of more than 7,300 individuals and a network of church, corporate, and media partners.

The organization is funded entirely through charitable contributions via a diversified donation infrastructure that includes individual one-time and recurring gifts, planned/legacy giving, donor-advised funds, securities and stock donations, employer matching programs, cryptocurrency, and physical goods. Donation processing is handled through a Blackbaud/Convio online platform, with volunteer management on Galaxy Digital, and client records maintained in a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) — no proprietary technology product is offered. Service delivery is walk-in based and free of charge to all clients; there is no pricing model because Star of Hope does not sell a product or service in the commercial sense. Credentialing includes 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, ECFA accreditation, a four-star Charity Navigator rating, BBB Wise Giving Alliance accreditation, Citygate Network membership, and an Excellence in Giving distinction. The organization is led by President and CEO Doug Meikle, with a 30+ member Board of Trustees drawn from Houston's business, legal, financial, and faith communities, and a recently appointed (December 2025) CFO, Michael S. Lade, who joined with prior NYSE-listed company CFO and M&A experience.

Operationally, Star of Hope's geographic footprint is concentrated in the Houston metropolitan area, and the organization has no disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, M&A activity, or funding rounds. Recent strategic emphasis is on donor diversification (cryptocurrency, DAFs, planned giving), content-driven engagement (the 'A Moment of Hope' weekly podcast, social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok), and major-gift fundraising events such as the annual banquet and the 'Bingo, Brunch and Brighter Futures' event co-hosted with Trees of Hope and Amegy Bank, which raised over $350,000 in a single event. The organization has no AI/ML capabilities and does not produce a technology product for external integration or consumption.

Name

Star of Hope

Legal name

Star of Hope Mission

Website

https://sohmission.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Star of Hope is a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Houston, Texas, founded in 1907, operating two shelter facilities that provide free emergency housing, meals, addiction recovery, workforce development, and childcare services to thousands of homeless men, women, and children annually, funded entirely through charitable donations and a 7,300+ volunteer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Substance abuse recovery
• Workforce development training
• Emergency housing services
• Faith-based nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individuals, accessible via online donation platform, phone, mail, ACH, wire transfer, and cryptocurrency. Donors can give on a monthly recurring basis or as single gifts.
2. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through wills or estate plans, allowing donors to leave a long-term charitable contribution.
3. Goods Donations: Physical donations of clothing, hygiene items, household goods, and other supplies that support operational needs.
4. Employer Matching: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee charitable contributions, amplifying donation impact.
5. Securities and Stock Donations: Donors can contribute stocks or mutual funds, potentially providing tax benefits while supporting the mission.
6. Donor-Advised Funds: Donors can direct grant distributions from their DAFs to Star of Hope (Federal Tax ID: 74-1152599).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Star of Hope is a Christ-centered nonprofit that provides free emergency shelter, hot meals, clothing, and hygiene services to homeless men, women, and families in Houston, Texas, through two main facilities: the Men's Development Center (serving up to 275 men nightly) and the Women and Family Development Center at Cornerstone Community (serving up to 510 women, single mothers, and fathers with children nightly). The mission supplements shelter with multi-tier substance abuse recovery programs (30-day, 90-day, and 9-month tracks), workforce development and GED preparation, faith-based biblical counseling, and licensed childcare and after-school programs, all funded by charitable donations.

Product overview

Star of Hope is a Christ-centered homeless mission in Houston, Texas, offering a comprehensive suite of shelter and recovery services rather than a unified technology product. The organization operates two primary shelter facilities—the Men's Development Center (up to 275 men) and the Women's and Family Development Center at Cornerstone Community (up to 510 individuals)—providing emergency shelter, meals, and essential supplies. Core programs include the New Hope 90-day substance abuse recovery program, the 9-month Spiritual Recovery Program, the New Pathways 30-day program, Workforce Development (GED, job training, computer skills), Biblical Counseling, and Children & Teens programming. Supporting operations include an online donation platform (Convio/Blackbaud), volunteer management portal (Galaxy Digital), an Amazon wishlist for goods donations, and a downloadable Street Help Guide resource. A Moment of Hope podcast provides inspirational content. The organization does not offer a technology product for external integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cornerstone Community: Transformational campus serving women and families, centralizing housing and comprehensive services including childcare, recovery programs, and educational services.
• Men's Development Center
• Women and Family Development Center
• Transitional Living Center

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services Provides safe overnight shelter, hot meals, showers, clothing, and essential supplies free of charge to homeless men, women, and families in Houston at two primary facilities: the Men's Development Center and the Women and Family Development Center at Cornerstone Community.
• New Hope Program (90-Day Substance Abuse Recovery)
• Spiritual Recovery Program (9-Month) A 9-month recovery program for men rooted in biblical truth and 12-step principles, providing freedom from addiction through spiritual counseling and life-skills development.
• New Pathways 30 Program A 30-day Christ-centered program for emotional, spiritual, and substance abuse recovery, including chapel, Bible study, and licensed care services.
• Workforce Development Program Comprehensive employment readiness program offering GED courses, job readiness training, computer skills, resume building, and dedicated tracks including Rise, Restore, Source I & II, and Transitional Aged Youth.
• Biblical Counseling Program Faith-based counseling and life-skills courses rooted in scripture, helping residents develop emotional wellness, personal growth, and spiritual maturity.
• Children and Teens Program Licensed early childhood care, after-school programs, Bible studies, music, art, and college preparation for children ages 6 weeks to 17 years at the June Waggoner House of Hope Day Care Center.
• Cornerstone Community Transformational Campus Purpose-built campus at Reed Road and Highway 288 centralizing housing and services for women and families, featuring 111 apartments and dedicated program centers.
• Doris and Carloss Morris Men's Development Center A 70,000 sq. ft. facility at 1811 Ruiz Street offering holistic recovery services for men experiencing homelessness, with capacity for up to 275 men nightly (expandable to 375 during extreme weather).
• June Waggoner House of Hope Day Care Center On-site day care and after-school programs providing licensed childcare and developmental support for children living at the shelter.
• A Moment of Hope Podcast Weekly podcast produced by Star of Hope featuring devotionals, client testimonials, and special interviews, available on iTunes and Android platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400,000+ nights of safe shelter provided annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and supporting.

• Amegy BanknotableGTM or Marketing PartnerAmegy Bank was honored at the Bingo, Brunch and Brighter Futures fundraising event as a longtime Star of Hope partner whose continued support helps ensure the mission's work reaches those who need it most.
• Trees of HopenotableGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Boards of Trustees of Star of Hope and Trees of Hope co-hosted the Bingo, Brunch and Brighter Futures event, raising over $350,000 to benefit children at the shelter.
• Houston Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston Food Bank serves 18 counties and reports that 1 in 5 people struggle to access enough food. Star of Hope served 473,320 meals through residential programs, helping address food insecurity.
• Radio One Houston (93Q KKBQ, The Eagle 106.9, Majic 102.1)notableGTM or Marketing PartnerThree major Houston radio stations reached combined audience of 2+ million for Operation Hydration bottled water drive to benefit homeless during summer heat. Radio One Director of Operations Travis Moon: 'Every drop counts.'
• Society of St. Vincent de PaulsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner agency supporting those experiencing food insecurity alongside Star of Hope and Houston Food Bank.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing mental health support resources for individuals and families facing food insecurity and homelessness.
• Blackbaud Inc.supportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party vendor serving as secure online receptacle for donor information provided through the website, processing donations and maintaining contact information.
• Local ChurchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner network of churches providing spiritual support, volunteers, donations, and community connections. Featured in outreach and community-based solutions for Houston's homeless population.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SEARCH Homeless Services: Houston-based homeless services organization providing shelter, housing navigation, and workforce development; competes directly with Star of Hope for clients, donors, and grants in the same Houston market.
• Phoenix Rescue Mission: Citygate Network rescue mission peer providing shelter, addiction recovery, and meals in a major Sun Belt metro; closely aligned operating model and donor engagement tactics.
• Atlanta Mission: Citygate Network member operating the same rescue mission model (shelter + Christ-centered recovery + workforce programs) in a different major metro; a near-clone peer in mission, programmatic structure, and funding sources.
• Los Angeles Mission: Fellow Citygate Network member and faith-based urban rescue mission offering emergency shelter, recovery programs, and workforce development — directly comparable programmatic model and donor base structure.
• Volunteers of America Texas: National faith-rooted nonprofit providing housing, recovery, and supportive services across Texas; comparable service lines (emergency shelter, addiction recovery, workforce) and overlapping Texas donor and government funding pools.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston: Faith-based social services provider operating shelter, refugee, and emergency assistance programs in the Houston region; comparable funding model (donations + parish support) and overlapping service population.
• The Salvation Army Houston: Houston chapter of the most prominent faith-based homeless and social services organization; operates emergency shelters, recovery programs, and food services in the same market with overlapping donor pools and federal funding streams.

Regional players

• Houston Coalition for the Homeless: Regional advocacy and coordination body supporting Houston's homeless service ecosystem through research, funding coordination, and policy — adjacent rather than direct competitor, but a key ecosystem partner and potential grantee/contractor.

Emerging players

• Covenant House (Houston): National nonprofit operating shelter and supportive services for homeless youth (18-24) — a segment Star of Hope addresses via its Source program; partial overlap on transitional aged youth services with different primary population focus.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army (National): National umbrella organization that operates homeless shelters, recovery programs, and emergency assistance globally; overlaps significantly with Star of Hope's service categories but at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgM8BtMvJ2s4QvGrP7_TGHg
• Facebookfacebook.com/StarOfHopeMission
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/547370
• Instagraminstagram.com/StarOfHopeMission/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
• TikToktiktok.com/@starofhopehtx
• Xx.com/StarOfHope

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Star of Hope