St. Francis Center

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.

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

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

• Homeless services
• Day shelter
• Supportive housing
• Employment services
• Street outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Foley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Denver Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site partner providing social services and benefits assistance to guests. Helps individuals access public assistance programs.
• Veterans AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site partner providing services to veteran guests, including referrals and benefit assistance.
• Denver Health Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site partner providing public health services and resources to guests.
• Well Power (formerly Mental Health Center of Denver)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site partner providing mental health services and referrals for guests.
• Vivent HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free and confidential hepatitis C testing on-site with results in approximately 20 minutes.
• Colorado Coalition for the HomelesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner collaborating on homelessness services and advocacy.
• Downtown Denver PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to address concerns of downtown businesses regarding the homeless community and build bridges.
• Metro Denver Homeless InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coordination body for homeless services in the Metro Denver area.
• Denver's Road HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity program identifying and addressing the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, including the most vulnerable populations.
• Mile High United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner supporting the organization's mission and services.
• Women's Homeless Initiative (CHUM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on addressing homelessness among women in the Denver area.
• Community College of DenverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing customized job training opportunities for Employment Services participants.
• Red Rocks Gateway ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing training options for clients seeking employment.
• Emily Griffith Opportunity SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner offering training opportunities for employment program participants.
• Vehicles for CharityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit organization managing all aspects of vehicle donations and returning part of the proceeds back to St. Francis Center.
• Colorado Village CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization operating Safe Outdoor Spaces for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCth-RxfRxzgD618PLdc39dw
• Xx.com/StFrancisCenter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 St. Francis Center