St. Francis Center
Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that delivers day shelter, permanent supportive housing, employment, and street outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Metro Denver, operating 209+ housing units and serving approximately 12,000 people annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What St. Francis Center does
St. Francis Center (SFC) is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 by Fr. Bert Womack as a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. It provides direct services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Metro Denver, organized around four program areas: Day Center Services (a drop-in day shelter at 2323 Curtis Street serving approximately 600 guests daily with showers, mail, storage, clothing, phones, and notary services), Housing (209+ units of permanent supportive housing across four facilities — Cornerstone Residences, Saint Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square, The Warren Residences, and St. Francis Apartments West), Employment Services (job readiness training, soft skills, and placement via partnerships with Community College of Denver, Red Rocks Gateway, and Emily Griffith), and Street Outreach (relationship building and referrals across Downtown Denver). The organization supplements these with off-site storage for 550 individuals and non-congregate shelter operations at hotels in Northfield.
The business model is donation-funded: SFC is a 501(c)(3) that does not charge fees for services, with revenue derived from individual donations, corporate and workplace giving matches, foundation grants, vehicle donations through Vehicles for Charity, and government funding from the City of Denver and Colorado Department of Housing. The organization reports 86 cents of every donated dollar going to programs and services (91% on direct services for in-kind contributions) and is HCTC-designated, allowing donors a 25% state tax credit. Operations are supported by 300+ annual volunteers and led by CEO Nancy Burke (since 2023). Average annual reach is approximately 12,000 individuals across programs. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-intensive and relies on a network of on-site partners including Denver Human Services, the Veterans Administration, Denver Health, and Well Power.
St. Francis Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- St. Francis Center
- Legal name
- St. Francis Center
- Website
- https://sfcdenver.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that delivers day shelter, permanent supportive housing, employment, and street outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Metro Denver, operating 209+ housing units and serving approximately 12,000 people annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
St. Francis Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless and Social Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE)
Keywords
Where St. Francis Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
St. Francis Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Financial donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with roots in the Episcopal Church. 86 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to programs and services. In-kind donations of goods are also accepted.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
St. Francis Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
St. Francis Center is a Denver-based nonprofit that operates a daytime shelter and a continuum of programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. Its services include a Day Center providing basic needs (showers, mail, storage, clothing, phones) for ~600 guests daily, permanent supportive housing across four facilities totaling roughly 209 units, employment-readiness and job placement services, street outreach to unsheltered individuals, off-site storage, and non-congregate hotel-based shelter. All services are delivered free of charge and funded through donations, grants, and government contracts.
Product overview
St. Francis Center is a nonprofit homeless services organization offering a portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include Day Center Services (day shelter providing basic needs for ~600 guests daily), Employment Services (job readiness and placement), Housing (multiple permanent supportive housing facilities totaling over 200 units), Outreach (street-based services), and Off-Site Storage. The organization also operates Non-Congregate Shelter Services in hotel settings. The housing portfolio includes Cornerstone Residences (50 units, 2010), Saint Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square (49 units, 2018), The Warren Residences (50 residents, 2020), and St. Francis Apartments West (60 units, 2025).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Day Center Services Daytime shelter providing immediate basic needs for men and women experiencing homelessness, including showers, phones, mail, storage (550 spaces), clothing, cell phone charging, notary services, and on-site social services.
- Housing Programs Comprehensive permanent supportive housing program encompassing Cornerstone Residences (50 units), Saint Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square (49 units), The Warren Residences (50 residents), and St. Francis Apartments West (60 units), totaling approximately 209 units.
- Employment Services Employment program that helps adults develop soft skills, gain work experience, and connect with full-time employment through specialized career training, resume preparation, and job placement, in partnership with Community College of Denver, Red Rocks Gateway Program, and Emily Griffith Opportunity School.
- Outreach Program Street outreach service for people experiencing homelessness in Downtown Denver, offering relationship building, medical and mental health referrals, assistance obtaining IDs and benefits, and referrals to shelters and housing.
- Off-Site Storage Supplemental storage facility at 2314 North Broadway for individuals needing additional storage space beyond the Day Center, providing 550 storage spaces that must be renewed every 30 days.
- Non-Congregate Shelter Services Short-term, non-congregate shelter operated in a hotel setting, providing services at the Comfort Inn in Northfield (2025) and Stone Creek NCS facility in Northfield (2026).
- Cornerstone Residences 50-unit housing facility at 2323 Curtis Street for people transitioning out of homelessness and poverty, opened in 2010.
- Saint Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square 49 units of permanent supportive housing at Washington St. and Colfax Ave., opened in 2018 through collaboration with community partners.
- The Warren Residences 49 studio apartments created by converting the historic Warren Methodist Church on 14th and Gilpin in 2020, offering one-bedroom spaces and congregate living for 50 residents.
- St. Francis Apartments West 60-unit supportive housing complex at 221 Federal Boulevard serving older adults experiencing homelessness and co-morbidities, opened January 2025 with funding from the Colorado Department of Housing, the City of Denver, and private donors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serves approximately 600 individuals daily at the Day Center
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use St. Francis Center
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
St. Francis Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
St. Francis Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Denver Human ServicescoreOn-site partner providing social services and benefits assistance to guests. Helps individuals access public assistance programs.
- Veterans AdministrationcoreOn-site partner providing services to veteran guests, including referrals and benefit assistance.
- Denver Health Public HealthcoreOn-site partner providing public health services and resources to guests.
- Well Power (formerly Mental Health Center of Denver)coreOn-site partner providing mental health services and referrals for guests.
- Vivent HealthminorProvides free and confidential hepatitis C testing on-site with results in approximately 20 minutes.
- Colorado Coalition for the HomelesscoreRegional partner collaborating on homelessness services and advocacy.
- Downtown Denver PartnershipminorPartnership to address concerns of downtown businesses regarding the homeless community and build bridges.
- Metro Denver Homeless InitiativecoreRegional coordination body for homeless services in the Metro Denver area.
- Denver's Road HomecoreCity program identifying and addressing the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, including the most vulnerable populations.
- Mile High United WaycoreMajor community partner supporting the organization's mission and services.
- Women's Homeless Initiative (CHUM)minorCoalition focused on addressing homelessness among women in the Denver area.
- Community College of DenverminorEducational partner providing customized job training opportunities for Employment Services participants.
- Red Rocks Gateway ProgramminorEducational partner providing training options for clients seeking employment.
- Emily Griffith Opportunity SchoolminorEducational partner offering training opportunities for employment program participants.
- Vehicles for CharityminorNonprofit organization managing all aspects of vehicle donations and returning part of the proceeds back to St. Francis Center.
- Colorado Village CollaborativeminorPartner organization operating Safe Outdoor Spaces for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights2 records
St. Francis Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: Largest nonprofit provider of housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness in Metro Denver. Listed as a core strategic partner of St. Francis Center and operates permanent supportive housing and integrated health services in the same geography.
- Denver Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Metro Denver through emergency shelter, meals, recovery programs, and transitional housing. Directly comparable mission, geography, and beneficiary population to St. Francis Center.
- Catholic Charities of Denver: Operates Samaritan House and other emergency shelters, housing, and case management for people experiencing homelessness in Denver. Comparable mission and service mix with multi-site shelter and housing operations.
- Volunteers of America Colorado: National-affiliated nonprofit operating emergency shelters, supportive housing, and reentry/employment services across the Denver region. Similar portfolio of shelter, housing, and workforce programs.
Emerging players
- Colorado Village Collaborative: Partner organization operating Safe Outdoor Spaces (managed encampments) for people experiencing homelessness in Denver. Complementary to St. Francis Center's outreach program and shares the same population.
- Urban Peak: Denver-based nonprofit serving youth and young adults experiencing homelessness with shelter, housing, and education/employment support. Adjacent continuum-of-care model targeting a narrower age segment.
- Family Tree: Metro Denver nonprofit addressing homelessness among families with children through shelter, housing, and case management. Comparable service model focused on a specific homeless sub-population.
Others
- Mile High United Way: Major regional funder that supports St. Francis Center and other homeless service organizations. Comparable in nonprofit scale and Denver footprint, but functions as a grantmaker and convener rather than direct service provider.
- National Alliance to End Homelessness: National policy and advocacy organization advancing evidence-based solutions to homelessness. Functions at the systems/funder level rather than direct service, but frames best practices SFC aligns with.
Broad incumbents
- Salvation Army Intermountain Division: Large faith-based social services organization with shelter, transitional housing, and addiction recovery programs in Metro Denver. Less specialized in supportive housing but overlaps on day shelter and basic needs service delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
St. Francis Center social profiles
Digital presenceSt. Francis Center compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
St. Francis Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
St. Francis Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
St. Francis Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
St. Francis Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about St. Francis Center
What does St. Francis Center do?
St. Francis Center is a Denver-based nonprofit that operates a daytime shelter and a continuum of programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. Its services include a Day Center providing basic needs (showers, mail, storage, clothing, phones) for ~600 guests daily, permanent supportive housing across four facilities totaling roughly 209 units, employment-readiness and job placement services, street outreach to unsheltered individuals, off-site storage, and non-congregate hotel-based shelter. All services are delivered free of charge and funded through donations, grants, and government contracts.
Is St. Francis Center a public or private company?
St. Francis Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was St. Francis Center founded?
St. Francis Center was founded in 1983.
Where is St. Francis Center based?
St. Francis Center is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does St. Francis Center make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Contributions.
Who are St. Francis Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities of Denver and Volunteers of America Colorado. Emerging players are Colorado Village Collaborative, Urban Peak and Family Tree. Others are Mile High United Way and National Alliance to End Homelessness. Salvation Army Intermountain Division is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does St. Francis Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for St. Francis Center.
What industry is St. Francis Center in?
St. Francis Center's product category is Homeless and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.