Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

What Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County does

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1955 and headquartered at 2625 Zanker Road in San Jose, California. The organization delivers human services to residents across Santa Clara County — serving people of all cultures and beliefs who are working to move out of poverty and overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and wellness. Service lines span emergency relief, food distribution at multiple county sites, housing assistance, immigration legal services (including DOJ-accredited representation for Citizenship Application Assistance and Know Your Rights workshops), refugee resettlement, older adult and disability services, inmate reentry, jobs and tax assistance, youth programs (afterschool, CORAL, and Junior Giants), and Family Resource Centers that bundle multiple supports.

The business model is donation-funded, not transactional. Revenue streams include individual recurring and one-time donations (anchored by the Caritas Society, founded 1985), planned giving and estate/IRA gifts, vehicle donations, stock and securities gifts, corporate partnerships with local businesses, and event-based fundraising through annual Bocce, Cornhole, Golf, and Top Golf tournaments, plus the Annual Parish Appeal. Services are delivered free of charge to clients. Distribution is primarily direct, through physical sites (Family Resource Centers, food distribution points, immigration workshops at the Zanker headquarters and virtually) supplemented by volunteer mobilization and a digital presence (website, Voices of Hope newsletter, organic social media).

There is no proprietary technology product or platform; the organization operates a community-led go-to-market model emphasizing partnerships — notably with Santa Clara Family Health Plan on Medi-Cal enrollment/retention ahead of 2026 policy changes — and volunteer-driven service delivery. Operating geographies are limited to Santa Clara County, with a dedicated South County sub-site extending reach beyond the San Jose core. The organization holds a 2023 Charity Navigator Four Star Rating and the 2023 Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Transparency Seal, underscoring financial accountability and nonprofit transparency. Leadership transitioned during the period under review with the retirement of CEO Gregory R. Kepferle, whose legacy is commemorated via the Innkeeper Innovation Fund.

Name

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

Legal name

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

Website

https://catholiccharitiesscc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1955, delivering free social services — food distribution, immigration legal aid, housing, refugee resettlement, youth, and reentry programs — to low-income residents across Santa Clara County, funded primarily through donations, planned giving, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Human Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Social services
• Food assistance
• Immigration legal aid
• Housing support
• Youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Recurring monthly giving and one-time donations from individual donors. The Caritas Society, founded in 1985, provides foundational support through loyal donor network.
2. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Personalized estate plans, wills, IRA gifts, and planned giving programs. Donors direct gifts from IRAs through online tools.
3. Vehicle Donations: Accepts donations of working or non-working cars, trucks, trailers, fleets, or motorcycles to support programs.
4. Stock and Securities Gifts: Donations of stocks and securities with downloadable forms and Tax ID information.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Local businesses and corporations partner with organization. Three annual community events offer networking opportunities and sponsorship visibility.
6. Event Fundraising: Annual Bocce Tournament, Cornhole Tournament, and Golf Tournament events generate funds and community engagement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is a nonprofit social services organization that provides food distribution, immigration legal assistance, housing support, and youth programs to low-income individuals and families throughout Santa Clara County. The organization delivers essential human services to vulnerable populations, with funding sourced from donations, grants, corporate partnerships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is a non-profit social services organization offering a portfolio of community support programs. The organization provides direct client services including emergency relief, food distribution, housing assistance, immigration services, employment support, and youth programs. These programs are complemented by fundraising events (Bocce Tournament, Cornhole Tournament, Golf Tournament), volunteer opportunities, and various donation programs including car donations and planned giving. The organization does not offer a technology product platform but rather delivers human services through its network of Family Resource Centers and community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Distribution Program Provides food assistance and distribution services to low-income individuals and families facing food insecurity in Santa Clara County.
• Immigration Legal Services Offers immigration legal assistance and representation for low-income immigrants in Santa Clara County.
• Housing Support Services Provides housing assistance and support services to individuals and families experiencing housing instability in Santa Clara County.
• Youth Programs Delivers youth development programs serving young people in Santa Clara County.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Santa Clara Family Health Plan is partnering with community-based organizations including Catholic Charities to support residents in enrolling and retaining Medi-Cal coverage ahead of policy changes taking effect in 2026. The initiative includes expanded hours and targeted outreach to help eligible residents navigate enrollment processes and maintain coverage, with efforts focused on specific populations affected by upcoming regulations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of San Francisco: Direct peer under the Catholic Charities USA affiliate network, providing the same comprehensive social services (emergency relief, immigration, housing, food, refugee resettlement) in an adjacent Bay Area county with a comparable donor and volunteer model.
• Sacred Heart Community Service: Direct San Jose-based peer providing food distribution, immigration services, housing support, and family self-sufficiency programs to low-income residents—overlapping core service lines and serving many of the same Santa Clara County clients.
• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: Regional food bank serving Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. A direct peer in the food-distribution domain, the most visible overlapping program with Catholic Charities' food pantry network in the same geography.
• LifeMoves: Bay Area homeless-services nonprofit operating shelters and supportive housing across multiple counties including Santa Clara—comparable service line in housing assistance and emergency relief for vulnerable populations.
• Bill Wilson Center: Santa Clara County nonprofit serving youth, foster children, and families with counseling, housing, and after-school programs—a direct peer in the youth and family services segment of Catholic Charities' portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles: Larger Catholic Charities affiliate serving the LA region with the same core service portfolio (immigration, housing, food, health). Comparable mission and funding model but a much larger operational footprint and staff base.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network office for the Catholic Charities affiliate system; comparable mission and brand, supports affiliates like this one with advocacy, disaster response, and shared services—shaping the affiliate's funding and policy environment.

Regional players

• Destination: Home: Santa Clara County public-private partnership focused on preventing and ending homelessness. An adjacent peer in the housing/homelessness domain, often co-funding or coordinating with Catholic Charities on shared clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County