Shanti Project

What Shanti Project does

Shanti Project is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization founded in 1974 that delivers community-based peer support services to vulnerable populations across the San Francisco Bay Area. Its core methodology is the proprietary Shanti Model of Peer Support, a structured one-on-one volunteer-matching framework that pairs trained volunteers with clients facing health challenges, isolation, or life difficulties, emphasizing emotional support, companionship, and practical assistance. The organization operates approximately nine named programs spanning HIV Programs, the LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN), the Margot Murphy Women's Cancer Program, Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), the Peer Advocate Care Team (PACT), the COVID-19 Emergency Response Volunteer Program (CERV), Community Services, Meals Heal, and the Faces of Pride storytelling initiative.

Shanti's service portfolio is built around four primary beneficiary segments: people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+ older adults and adults with disabilities, women and LGBTQ individuals affected by cancer, and low-income pet owners. Services are delivered free of charge to individual clients through trained volunteers and paid program staff headquartered at 27 Maiden Lane, Suite 400, San Francisco. The organization employs 101-250 staff and operates a substantial volunteer network.

Its business model is nonprofit philanthropy-based: revenue is generated through individual donations (monthly giving, stock, legacy), corporate and private foundation grants, and community partnerships (e.g., Community Thrift Store, Avon Walk, Full Belly Bus). No fees are charged to clients. The organization also provides administrative and needs-assessment support to the San Francisco HIV Community Planning Council. Programs are funded in alignment with restricted-purpose foundation grants, and the Shanti Model of Peer Support itself has been replicated by organizations worldwide as a recognized methodology.

Name

Shanti Project

Legal name

Shanti Project

Website

https://shanti.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Shanti Project is a 1974-founded San Francisco nonprofit that delivers free, volunteer-based peer support and care navigation to people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+ older adults, cancer patients, and low-income pet owners through the proprietary Shanti Model of Peer Support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peer Support and Community Social Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Peer support services
• HIV care navigation
• Community health programs
• Pet assistance services
• Cancer support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

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, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Shanti Project generates revenue primarily through individual donations, monthly giving programs, stock donations, legacy giving, and corporate foundation partnerships. Services are provided free to clients.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: The organization receives grant funding from corporate and private foundations as part of its corporate and foundation partners program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shanti Project is a community-based nonprofit that delivers free peer support programs to vulnerable populations in San Francisco, including people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+ older adults, women affected by cancer, and low-income pet owners. Core services include one-on-one volunteer matching, care navigation, support groups, and practical assistance such as pet food banks and veterinary care vouchers, all delivered through the proprietary Shanti Model of Peer Support.

Product overview

Shanti Project is a community-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of social support programs united by the Shanti Model of Peer Support. The organization operates multiple distinct service programs including HIV Programs, LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN), Margot Murphy Women's Cancer Program, and Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS). These programs are complemented by the Peer Advocate Care Team (PACT), the COVID-19 Emergency Response Volunteer Program (CERV), Community Services, Meals Heal, and the Faces of Pride storytelling initiative. The programs share a common framework of peer-based support, care navigation, and volunteer matching to reduce isolation and improve quality of life for vulnerable populations in San Francisco.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS): Program providing pet food, veterinary care assistance, and pet-related support services to help clients keep their animal companions
• LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN)
• Peer Advocate Care Team (PACT)
• Margot Murphy Women's Cancer Program
• CERV Program
• Faces of Pride

Products and services

• HIV Programs Comprehensive HIV care services including peer support, care navigation, home companion services, and support groups for long-term HIV/AIDS survivors and newly diagnosed individuals in San Francisco.
• LGBTQ+ Aging & Abilities Support Network (LAASN)

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 years of continuous service to the community
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Thrift StorecoreOthers · 1 April 202340-year partnership celebrating four decades of collaboration. Community Thrift Store supports Shanti's mission through fundraising and community engagement.
• Koya Partners | Diversified Search GroupminorOthers · 1 August 2022Nonprofit executive search firm engaged to find Shanti's new CEO following leadership transition.
• San Francisco HIV Community Planning Council (HCPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Shanti provides administrative and needs assessment support to the HCPC, which guides use of federal HIV care funding for San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties.
• Ladybird MorgancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for the Brother's Keepers Project at San Quentin State Penitentiary. Ladybird Morgan serves as Executive Director of Humane Prison Hospice Project and co-facilitates the peer support training program for incarcerated individuals.
• Full Belly BuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2020Partnership to distribute pet food and supplies during COVID-19 pandemic. The 'Food Is Essential' collaboration distributes pet food to pet owners experiencing homelessness or living in SROs. Full Belly Bus provides free veterinary care and pet supplies to Navigation Centers and city hotels in San Francisco.
• WOMEN Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases (WORLD)minorOthers · 1 January 2020Hulda, a Shanti client, serves as a board member. Shanti collaborates with HIV-focused women's organizations.
• Black Health Center of ExcellenceminorOthers · 1 January 2020Hulda, a Shanti client, serves as a board member. Collaboration on health equity initiatives.
• Avon Walk for Breast CancerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Shanti was an Avon Walk grant recipient. Kristin Crosland, a donor, was a walker, team leader, and patient speaker for the event.
• abreastminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Small informal community founded by donor Kristin Crosland to host interactive experiences and donate funds to nonprofits aiding breast cancer patients. Partnered with Shanti for #abreast100milemonth and Meditative Nature Walk events.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pets of the Homeless: National nonprofit providing pet food and veterinary care assistance to people experiencing homelessness — directly comparable to Shanti's PAWS program in mission and service model, including the Full Belly Bus partnership-style distribution approach.
• Openhouse: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing housing, programs, and community services for LGBTQ+ seniors — directly comparable to Shanti's LAASN program in mission and geography, serving overlapping client populations in the Bay Area.
• Maitri: San Francisco-based organization providing residential care and supportive services for people living with HIV/AIDS — serving overlapping client populations in the same city, including those experiencing housing insecurity and illness.
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS services organization providing peer support, care navigation, and community resources to overlapping populations in the same geography — the closest direct peer for Shanti's HIV Programs and HCPC-administered federal funding.

Broad incumbents

• Cancer Support Community: National organization providing psychosocial and emotional support to cancer patients and families across a nationwide network — directly comparable to Shanti's Margot Murphy Women's Cancer Program at much larger scale.
• National Council on Aging: National advocacy and service organization for older adults operating at significantly larger scale with a broader portfolio of programs — comparable to LAASN at incumbent scale, providing useful peer reference for organizational maturation.
• SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders): National organization providing advocacy, programs, and services for LGBTQ+ older adults at much larger scale across many cities — a broader incumbent in the same LGBTQ+ aging space as Shanti's LAASN program.

Regional players

• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): Pioneering NYC-based HIV/AIDS peer support and care organization founded in 1982 — comparable HIV peer support model and historically significant mission, but serving the New York region rather than San Francisco.
• APLA Health: Los Angeles-based HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ health services provider with a similar program mix including peer support, aging services, and care navigation — comparable offerings but geographically separate from Shanti's SF base.
• Cascade AIDS Project: Pacific Northwest HIV/AIDS services and peer support organization serving Oregon and SW Washington — comparable HIV services, peer support model, and care navigation programs in a different region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCc3DMrL7_KDOzeJNVkoFrsA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShantiProjectSF
• Instagraminstagram.com/shantiprojectsf
• Xx.com/shantiprojectsf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shanti

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Shanti Project