So Others Might Eat

What So Others Might Eat does

So Others Might Eat (SOME, legally SOME, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) interfaith nonprofit organization founded in 1970 by Fr. Horace McKenna, S.J., headquartered at 71 O Street NW in Washington, DC. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of social services under a "Whole Person Care" model that addresses the interconnected physical, behavioral, social, financial, and spiritual needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, and behavioral health challenges. Service lines include: Emergency Services (224,584 meals and 23,991 sets of clothing distributed annually at walk-in facilities); Housing Programs (971 operating units plus a total portfolio of 1,340 affordable, transitional, senior, and veteran housing units across 13+ DC locations plus a West Virginia residential addiction campus, with a strategic target of 2,000 units by 2026); Healthcare (22,890+ annual visits across medical, dental, behavioral health, and substance use disorder clinics); the Center for Employment Training (CET), a licensed post-secondary vocational school training approximately 130-300 adults annually in healthcare and building trades, with graduates averaging $21.40/hour and an 80% placement rate; and Social Services including case management, senior services, and McKenna's Legal Advocates. The LEED-certified Conway Center at 4430 Benning Road NE co-locates 182 affordable housing units, CET job training, and a Unity Health Care clinic on a single site, exemplifying the integrated delivery model.

SOME operates using a donation-and-grant-funded nonprofit business model rather than a commercial revenue model. Per the financial profile, individual contributions account for more than half of revenue, supplemented by federal, state, and local government grants, healthcare reimbursements from Medicare, DC Medicaid, Medstar, Alliance, Amerihealth, and Carefirst (with sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients), and corporate/foundation grants and sponsorships. All client services are delivered free of charge, and no client is turned away for inability to pay. The organization runs a multi-channel fundraising and engagement operation including the annual Break theycle Gala and America's Trot for Hunger 5K, digital channels (website, email newsletter, social), corporate engagement programs, peer-to-peer fundraising, and planned giving/legacy programs. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on decades-long relationships with DC government, area nonprofits, healthcare partners, employers, and faith-based networks. The organization is governed by a board of directors, is independently operated (no parent company), employs 251-500 staff, and holds Charity Navigator Four-Star (14 consecutive years), GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and CARF International accreditations. A leadership transition is in progress following the October 2025 retirement of President and CEO Ralph Boyd, with Troy Swanda serving as interim CEO.

Name

So Others Might Eat

Legal name

SOME, Inc.

Website

https://some.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

So Others Might Eat (SOME) is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that provides affordable housing, healthcare, addiction treatment, job training, emergency meals, and legal services to DC residents experiencing homelessness, poverty, and behavioral health challenges under an integrated Whole Person Care model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Poverty Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Homeless services nonprofit
• Workforce development training
• Community healthcare clinics
• Addiction recovery treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Contributions: Individual donations account for more than half of SOME's revenue. The organization receives contributions from individuals through various channels including online donations, mail-in contributions, stock donations, and planned giving.
2. Government Support: SOME receives governmental support from federal, state, and local sources including housing vouchers, healthcare reimbursements (Medicare, Medicaid), and grants for social services programs.
3. Earned Income: Revenue generated from healthcare services billed to insurance including Medicare, DC Medicaid, Medstar, Alliance, Amerihealth, and Carefirst, as well as sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients.
4. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from corporate partners and foundations through sponsorships, grants, and in-kind donations. The Building Hope Capital Campaign raised $20 million from over 1,000 donors.
5. Planned Giving and Bequests: Donors can make planned gifts through bequests, donor-advised funds, IRA distributions, and other estate planning vehicles as part of legacy giving programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SOME delivers integrated "Whole Person Care" services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty in Washington, DC. Core offerings include affordable and transitional housing (1,340 units), medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics, free daily meals and emergency services, the Center for Employment Training (CET) for healthcare and building trades, social services and case management, and free legal advocacy through McKenna's Legal Advocates. All services are provided free of charge to clients, funded through donations, government support, and healthcare reimbursements.

Product overview

So Others Might Eat (SOME) is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs under its Whole Person Care model. The organization operates as a coordinated portfolio of services including Emergency Services (daily meals, showers, clothing, food pantry), Housing Programs (1,340 units for single adults, families, veterans, and seniors), Healthcare Services (medical, dental, behavioral health, substance use treatment), the Center for Employment Training (vocational training in healthcare and building trades), Social Services (case management, senior services, legal advocacy), and the Conway Center (integrated housing-training-healthcare facility). These programs are designed to work together, with case management serving as the foundation for service access and delivery across all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Employment Training (CET): Licensed post-secondary vocational school offering free, hands-on training in healthcare and building trades fields. Graduates earn industry-recognized certifications.
• McKenna's Legal Advocates
• The Conway Center
• Together4Health

Products and services

• Whole Person Care An integrated service delivery model that coordinates housing, healthcare, social services, education, and workforce programs to address clients' interconnected physical, emotional, social, financial, behavioral, and spiritual needs under a trauma-informed, person-centered approach.
• Housing Programs Affordable and transitional housing for single adults, families, veterans, and seniors earning up to 30% of Area Median Income, with a portfolio of 1,340 units operating or in development across Washington, DC.
• Healthcare Services Comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment services for adults experiencing homelessness and poverty, accepting Medicare, Medicaid, and various insurance plans with sliding-scale fees for uninsured patients.
• Emergency Services & Daily Meal Service Free daily hot meals (breakfast and lunch), showers, clothing distribution, food pantry, and emergency hygiene kits provided to anyone in need at SOME's 71 O Street NW location without eligibility requirements.
• Center for Employment Training (CET) Licensed post-secondary vocational school offering free, open-entry, self-paced training in healthcare (Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant) and building trades (Building Maintenance, HVAC), with national certifications and job placement support.
• Social Services Case management, senior services, counseling, and referrals to help clients obtain identification, benefits, and housing, including coordination across SOME's programs and external partners.
• McKenna's Legal Advocates Free legal services program providing assistance with child custody, domestic violence, landlord-tenant issues, criminal expungements, wills, consumer debt, employment discrimination, and identification documents for SOME clients.
• Roberts Residences 139-unit affordable housing building in Ward 5 offering efficiency and junior 1-bedroom apartments for single adults, with amenities including computer lab, library, classrooms, fitness room, and laundry on each floor.
• Affordable Housing Development Initiative Strategic plan to expand affordable housing from 1,340 units to 2,000 units by 2026, targeting individuals and families at 0-30% of Family Median Income through properties in development across DC wards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 91.5% of every dollar donated goes directly to lifesaving services
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Unity Health CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership at Conway Center providing services to 10,000 patients annually. SOME CET graduates have externship opportunities at Unity facilities. The partnership enables co-location of affordable housing, job training, and healthcare in single location.
• Urban InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Social Return on Investment (SROI) study to measure and quantify SOME's program impact. The rigorous year-long evaluation assigned dollar values to services and demonstrated $53.61 return for every dollar invested.
• Martha's TablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four major nonprofit service providers founded by Fr. Horace McKenna, S.J. that McKenna's Legal Advocates serves. Collaborative network addressing poverty and homelessness in DC.
• House of RuthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four major nonprofit service providers founded by Fr. Horace McKenna, S.J. that McKenna's Legal Advocates serves. Collaborative network addressing domestic violence and poverty in DC.
• McKenna CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four major nonprofit service providers founded by Fr. Horace McKenna, S.J. that McKenna's Legal Advocates serves. Part of collaborative network of McKenna-founded organizations.
• Employer Partners (Miller and Long, Turner Construction, Clark Construction, Helix Electric)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction employers who invited SOME Building Trades trainees back for employment after DC Builds Hiring Event. These partnerships provide career pathways for CET graduates in building trades.
• Healthcare Employer PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare facilities and businesses serving as externship sites for SOME CET trainees in Medical Administrative Assistant and Medical Assistant programs. Trainees are pre-screened to meet employer requirements.
• AmeriHealth Caritas DCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedicaid plan partner for Together4Health program providing care for individuals living with chronic health challenges. The program offers transportation assistance, prescription copay help, case management, and personalized care at no cost to participants.
• Corporate Sponsors (BGR Group, TLYNN, BTI, DCHFA, Andrews FCU, Clark Construction, Hilton, Marriott, KPMG, and 30+ others)majorGTM or Marketing Partner2025 sponsors providing financial support, event sponsorship, employee engagement, and corporate volunteer opportunities. Includes major DC-based corporations, financial institutions, and professional services firms.
• City of Washington DC / DC GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing funding through Housing Production Trust Fund, Local Rent Supplement Program, Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and other social services funding. SOME advocates for budget allocations and policy changes.
• Sursum Corda CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer residents of Sursum Corda Cooperative are served by McKenna's Legal Advocates. Fr. McKenna founded this cooperative as part of his legacy of service.
• Coalition of Housing and Homeless Organizations (COHHO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for Project Homeless Connect annual service fair, coordinated by United Way of the National Capital Area. SOME participates in collaborative outreach efforts.
• The Madison and Mission - Navy YardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that hosted fundraising event bringing people together in support of SOME. Guests wrote handwritten notes for staff and neighbors served; proceeds supported meals, housing, healthcare, and hope programs.
• Farmer MacminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate employees showed commitment to service through volunteer and fundraising activities for SOME, demonstrating employee engagement partnership.
• CityWorks DCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted DC Builds Hiring Event where SOME Building Trades trainees were invited back by top construction employers. Featured SOME trainees in Spring 2026 Impact Report.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DC Central Kitchen: DC nonprofit tackling hunger through meal distribution, culinary job training, and healthy food access; directly comparable as a DC food-and-workforce-development operator with a workforce training pipeline analogous to SOME's CET.
• Bread for the City: DC nonprofit providing food, clothing, medical and dental care, and social services to low-income residents. Closely comparable integrated-service, walk-in-clinic, and food-distribution model for DC's underserved.
• Thrive DC: DC nonprofit providing day services, meals, showers, and case management to people experiencing homelessness. Direct peer in walk-in basic-needs and case-management service delivery in DC.
• Martha's Table: DC-based anti-poverty nonprofit founded by the same Fr. Horace McKenna; provides healthy food, clothing, education, and family supports to DC neighbors experiencing poverty. Direct peer given shared origin, geography, and overlapping Whole-Person-style service model.
• N Street Village: DC nonprofit serving women experiencing homelessness with housing, day services, and behavioral health support. Comparable as a DC-located housing-and-social-services operator with a defined vulnerable-population focus.
• Friendship Place: DC nonprofit providing housing, outreach, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Comparable in service mix and DC geography, including affordable and supportive housing operations.

Broad incumbents

• Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food-bank serving the DC metro area with food distribution, nutrition education, and capacity-building for partner pantries. Overlaps SOME's food pantry and meal services at a much larger regional scale.
• Salvation Army National Capital Area Command: National faith-based social services organization running shelters, food programs, and addiction recovery services in DC. Comparable in scale and service mix (housing, recovery, feeding), though part of a broader national network.
• Catholic Charities of Washington DC: Regional branch of a national faith-based social services network delivering housing, immigration, homeless, and case management services across the DC area. Broader incumbent operating an overlapping portfolio of homeless services, refugee resettlement, and family support.

Emerging players

• House of Ruth: DC nonprofit founded by the same Fr. Horace McKenna providing housing and supportive services to abused women and children. Overlapping founder network and complementary housing/services model in DC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/60431381113
• Xx.com/SOME_DC

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 So Others Might Eat