San Diego Rescue Mission

What San Diego Rescue Mission does

San Diego Rescue Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit faith-based homeless services organization founded in 1955 and headquartered at 120 Elm Street in San Diego, California. It operates a coordinated multi-program platform serving homeless men, women, families, single parents, and children across San Diego County. Core programs include the 162-bed South County Lighthouse emergency shelter (opened June 2024 in National City), the 12-month Mission Academy residential recovery program, the Children's Resource Center, the Partners for Hunger Relief food recovery and redistribution network, and a Mobile Shower Ministry. All services are provided free of charge on a referral-only basis.

The organization runs no proprietary software platforms; its 'technology' is operational rather than digital — a refrigerated truck-based food recovery logistics system serving 37 nonprofit partner agencies, alongside street outreach, mobile shower trailers, and case management across multiple physical facilities including the Oceanside Navigation Center acquired through the October 2020 merger with Bread of Life Rescue Mission. The Mayors Symposium coordinates regional bed availability through the Shelter Ready app, though no in-house AI or ML capabilities are disclosed.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving — individual donations (including a Home Team monthly recurring program), corporate partnerships (121 active corporate donors), church partnerships, in-kind material and food donations, vehicle donations, thrift store revenue, and a President's Council major-gift tier ($10,000–$100,000+). Total income for fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $28,055,526 against expenses of $28,665,343, with no government funding received. The organization is led by President & CEO Donnie Dee (appointed 2017) and a Board of Directors, holding Charity Navigator's Four Star rating and Candid Platinum Transparency recognition.

Name

San Diego Rescue Mission

Legal name

San Diego Rescue Mission, Inc.

Website

https://sdrescue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

San Diego Rescue Mission is a 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit founded in 1955 that operates emergency shelters, a 12-month residential recovery program, children's services, and food redistribution across San Diego County, serving homeless men, women, families, and children free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Emergency housing programs
• Residential addiction recovery
• Food recovery distribution
• Faith-based social services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting homeless services, meals, shelter, and recovery programs. Monthly giving program (Home Team) provides recurring support.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donations, matching gifts, workplace giving programs, event sponsorships, and volunteer programs from businesses throughout San Diego County.
3. In-Kind Donations: Material donations including food, clothing, household items, and other essential goods from individuals and businesses.
4. Vehicle Donations: Car, van, and vehicle donation program where proceeds fund critical programs and services.
5. Thrift Store Revenue: Revenue from thrift stores established to process donated goods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

San Diego Rescue Mission operates a coordinated suite of free, faith-based programs serving homeless and food-insecure individuals across San Diego County. Core offerings include 30-day emergency shelter at South County Lighthouse (162 beds) and Oceanside Navigation Center, a 12-month residential recovery program (Mission Academy), children's educational services, and a refrigerated-truck food recovery program (Partners for Hunger Relief) that redistributes surplus food to 37 nonprofit partner agencies. All client services are provided at no cost; the organization does not receive government funding.

Product overview

San Diego Rescue Mission offers a coordinated suite of homeless services structured as a multi-program platform. Core programs include South County Lighthouse (30-day emergency shelter with 162 beds), Mission Academy (12-month residential rehabilitation), Children's Resource Center, Partners for Hunger Relief food redistribution, and Mobile Shower Ministry. The organization operates a monthly giving program (Home Team) and accepts in-kind donations through Amazon Wish Lists. All programs operate referral-only with no government funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• South County Lighthouse A 30-day referral-only emergency shelter offering 162 beds for men, women, and families experiencing homelessness in National City. Provides trauma-informed care, case management, and wrap-around services including addiction recovery, physical and mental health services, and peer support. No drug test is required and up to two pets are allowed.
• Mission Academy A 12-month residential rehabilitation program for homeless men, women, and single parents with children. Uses a holistic three-semester approach focused on wellness (medical, dental, therapy), education and vocational training, and employment and housing placement, with Biblical principles woven into the curriculum. Admission is by application with eligibility review.
• Children's Resource Center Serves the educational and emotional needs of children from birth to 18 years who are staying in emergency shelters or the residential program. Provides parenting classes, school enrollment support, transportation, counseling, and play therapy for children of homeless families.
• Partners for Hunger Relief A refrigerated truck-based food recovery and redistribution program that collects surplus food from over 35 grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, universities, hotels, and hospitals. Distributes recovered food weekly to nearly 37 nonprofit partner organizations operating hunger relief programs across central and southern San Diego County.
• Mobile Shower Ministry Provides mobile hot showers to unsheltered individuals through shower trailers deployed at locations across San Diego County, meeting basic hygiene needs for people living on the streets.
• Oceanside Navigation Center A 30-day emergency shelter for men, women, and families in Oceanside (North County), serving as the Mission's North County hub following the 2020 merger with Bread of Life Rescue Mission. Provides low-barrier access with shelter, meals, clothing, and case management services to support guests' transition to long-term stability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 402 people secured permanent housing over 3 years through monthly giving program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, provides food items at no cost to nearly 37 nonprofit organizations operating hunger relief programs. Food is distributed weekly from a central location allowing accessibility to organizations across central and southern San Diego.
• San Diego Community College DistrictsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership initiated in 2017 to build upon tradition of providing practical help with stronger emphasis on education as a means of improving clients' employment opportunities post-graduation.
• Venture ChurchsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenture Church volunteers renovated two rooms at the Mission. The hearts of volunteers were captured by amazing staff and thankfulness of those they were able to bless.
• Tacos by MannyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatering partner for South County Huddle Luncheon events, providing lunch for community gatherings.
• Mayors Across San Diego CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe San Diego Rescue Mission hosts an annual Mayors Symposium uniting leaders from every San Diego city to build a coordinated regional response to the homelessness crisis. Leaders share resources, align on best practices like the Shelter Ready app for real-time bed availability, and break down siloed efforts.

Scale indicators29 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Father Joe's Villages: San Diego's largest homeless services provider operating emergency shelter, transitional housing, and recovery programs. Directly comparable given same geography, similar multi-program platform (shelter + recovery + housing), and overlapping donor base in San Diego County.
• Alpha Project for the Homeless: San Diego-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, housing navigation, and rehabilitation services. Directly comparable as a regional peer offering low-barrier shelter and recovery programs targeting the same unhoused population.
• Union Rescue Mission (Los Angeles): Faith-based Los Angeles rescue mission providing emergency shelter, residential recovery, and hunger relief. Directly comparable as a peer mission model with the same 70+-year-old faith-based programmatic approach and California footprint.
• Los Angeles Mission: Faith-based mission serving Skid Row with emergency shelter, recovery programs, and meal services. Directly comparable as a peer faith-based rescue mission with similar shelter-plus-recovery program architecture and California geographic overlap.

Regional players

• McAlister Institute: San Diego County's primary substance-use disorder treatment provider with residential and outpatient recovery programs. Comparable as a regional peer focused on the addiction recovery side of SDRM's Mission Academy continuum.
• Interfaith Community Services: North County San Diego nonprofit providing homeless services, recovery housing, and food assistance. Comparable as a regional peer in Escondido/North County operating overlapping shelter and hunger-relief programs to Bread of Life's legacy footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army San Diego: Nationwide faith-based social services organization operating shelter and recovery programs in San Diego. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping emergency shelter and addiction recovery offerings in the same geography.
• Catholic Charities of San Diego: Regional social services arm of the Catholic Church providing shelter, refugee support, and family services in San Diego. Comparable as an incumbent multi-program nonprofit addressing overlapping community needs across the same county.
• Volunteers of America San Diego: National nonprofit operating housing, recovery, and veteran services across San Diego. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping shelter and recovery programs in the same metropolitan area.

Others

• Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank: San Diego's largest hunger relief organization and a strategic partner of SDRM's Partners for Hunger Relief program. Comparable as a hunger-relief operator within the same regional food-distribution ecosystem, though not a shelter provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SD_Rescue
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SDRescueMission
• Facebookfacebook.com/SanDiegoRescueMission
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdrescue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 San Diego Rescue Mission