Bethesda Project
Bethesda Project is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that provides emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and case management across 11 sites to over 1,200 adults experiencing homelessness annually, with 65% of funding from government sources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bethesda Project does
Bethesda Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that operates a continuum of care for adults experiencing homelessness. The organization delivers emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, independent housing, and individualized case management services across 11 physical sites in Center City Philadelphia, including Our Brothers' Place (run in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia), Connelly House (in partnership with Project HOME), My Brother's House, Bethesda North Broad, Bethesda Spruce, the Church Shelter Program, and several additional supportive and independent housing locations. It applies a Housing First approach that minimizes barriers to access and pairs each guest with case management designed to support transitions to stable housing, healthcare enrollment, and increased independence. The organization serves more than 1,200 individuals annually, including chronically homeless adults, veterans, individuals with mental illness or disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence.
Operationally, Bethesda Project has 101-250 employees and is led by CEO Tina Pagotto. Its funding mix is anchored by government contracts at 65% of FY2024 revenue (including City of Philadelphia shelter funding and HUD-aligned programs), with the remaining ~35% sourced from individual donations, corporate partnerships (Philadelphia Eagles, Independence Blue Cross, PayPal, Keller Williams, MVP Dental, University of Pennsylvania), foundation grants, merchandise sales, planned giving, and the Domenic Fund (an endowed sustainability mechanism established in 2015). Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: outreach through volunteer programs, church partnerships, corporate matching gifts, the annual Party & Auction, Giving Tuesday campaigns, and third-party fundraisers organized by community partners. Bethesda Project holds a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating, a Candid/GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and Points of Light Service Enterprise certification, signaling strong operational accountability within the nonprofit sector.
Bethesda Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bethesda Project
- Legal name
- Bethesda Project
- Website
- https://bethesdaproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Bethesda Project is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that provides emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and case management across 11 sites to over 1,200 adults experiencing homelessness annually, with 65% of funding from government sources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bethesda Project 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
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)
Keywords
Where Bethesda Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
Bethesda Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Direct monetary donations from individuals via the organization's website, mail-in checks, and donor-initiated fundraisers. Includes employer matching gifts and one-time or recurring contributions.
- Government Funding: Government grants and contracts constitute 65% of Bethesda Project's funding (FY2024). This includes City of Philadelphia funding for shelter operations and partnerships with government housing programs.
- Planned Giving & Endowments: Planned gifts, bequests, retirement plan designations, life insurance beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, and endowment contributions provide long-term sustainable funding.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, mugs, water bottles, umbrellas, blankets, tote bags, stickers, keychains, and cookbooks. Proceeds support essential services.
- Third-Party Fundraising Events: Community partners organize fundraisers including percentage of sales events, milestone celebrations, parties with purpose, and school/office fundraisers. Bethesda Project receives proceeds without primary planning responsibility.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | T-shirts from $12.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sweatshirts from $19.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hats from $15.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories from $1.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tote bags and blankets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mystery Bundles from $10.00 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cookbook from $14.50 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bethesda Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bethesda Project provides emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, independent housing, and individualized case management services to adults experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. The organization operates a continuum of care across 11 locations, including emergency shelters (Our Brothers' Place, Church Shelter Program, My Brother's House), permanent supportive housing sites (Connelly House, Bethesda North Broad, Bethesda Spruce), and independent housing (Mary House). It also runs a branded merchandise e-commerce store and planned giving programs to support operational funding.
Product overview
Bethesda Project is a nonprofit organization offering a continuum of care for individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia through emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, and case management services. The organization operates 11 locations across Center City including emergency shelters (Our Brothers' Place, Church Shelter Programs, My Brother's House), permanent supportive housing sites (Connelly House, Bethesda North Broad, Bethesda Spruce, Bethesda Bainbridge, Bethesda Sanctuary, Domenic House, Mary House), and independent housing options. Core services include overnight shelter with meals, individualized case management, housing placement assistance, and community support. Additionally, the organization operates a merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories, and offers planned giving programs for donors. The Housing First approach minimizes barriers to access, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace toward stability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Emergency Shelter Services Provides emergency overnight shelter for men and women experiencing homelessness at multiple locations including Our Brothers' Place and Church Shelter Programs, operating year-round with intake services.
- Permanent Supportive Housing
- Case Management Services
- Merchandise Store
- Planned Giving & Real Estate Donations
- Church Shelter Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,200+ individuals served annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bethesda Project
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Bethesda Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Bethesda Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Daylesford AbbeycoreDaylesford Abbey in Paoli, Pennsylvania is where founder Reverend Domenic Rossi and his prayer group originated. The abbey's prayer group initially reached out to women experiencing homelessness in 1979, rented the first apartment at 12th and Sansom Streets, and has been foundational to Bethesda Project's spiritual mission.
- Project HOMEcoreProject HOME partners with Bethesda Project to operate Connelly House, a supportive housing location at 1212 Ludlow Street. This partnership provides permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- City of PhiladelphiacoreBethesda Project runs Our Brothers' Place emergency shelter in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia. The City also prioritizes veterans through the Coordinated Entry Assessment-Based Housing Referral System.
- Philadelphia Film SocietyminorPartnership formed when a case manager connected a guest (Purvis) with the Philadelphia Film Society. Led to organized outings and ongoing partnership to highlight stories and films from marginalized groups.
- Veterans Multi-Service CenterminorVeterans Multi-Service Center helped connect Maynard, a veteran, with HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program for his permanent housing placement.
- Local Churches (Church Shelter Program)corePartnerships with local churches including Trinity Memorial Church, Old First Reformed Church, and St. Mary's Church enable the Church Shelter Program providing year-round and seasonal shelter for chronically homeless individuals.
- MANNAminorCommunity partner where Bethesda Project resident Harry volunteers. Bethesda Project staff also volunteer at MANNA, packing lunches for individuals who cannot cook for themselves.
- Philadelphia EaglesminorPhiladelphia Eagles leadership team conducts annual holiday service at Our Brothers' Place. Team members including kicker Jake Elliott visit to deliver meals through Little Caesars Love Kitchen.
- Independence Blue CrossminorIndependence Blue Cross Blue Crew members make care bags for Bethesda Project guests as part of corporate volunteer engagement.
- PayPalminorPayPal staff volunteer at Bethesda Project's Annual Family Picnic Event.
- MVP DentalminorMVP Dental hosts annual coat drive during colder months to donate winter outerwear to Bethesda Project guests.
- Keller WilliamsminorKeller Williams participates in KW Red Day volunteer activities at Bethesda Project sites.
- University of PennsylvaniaminorUPenn students host bake sales on behalf of Bethesda Project. PennPraxis and Civic House Design Fellows collaborate on art projects with residents.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bethesda Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Back on My Feet: Philadelphia-headquartered nonprofit that uses running and community engagement to help individuals experiencing homelessness transition to independent living. Although methodology differs, both organizations target the same adult homeless population in Philadelphia with case management and housing stability outcomes.
- Project HOME: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing, case management, and employment services to individuals experiencing homelessness and chronic poverty. Project HOME is both a direct peer and operational partner to Bethesda Project (they co-run Connelly House), serving the same client population in overlapping Center City geographies.
Emerging players
- Pathways to Housing PA: Pennsylvania affiliate of the national Pathways to Housing model, dedicated to using the Housing First approach to end homelessness for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Targets overlapping client populations in the Philadelphia region with a more clinically focused service model.
Others
- Mural Arts Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based nonprofit that engages marginalized populations (including those experiencing homelessness) through arts programming. Not a direct shelter competitor but a similar Philadelphia-focused nonprofit that engages overlapping beneficiary populations and shares a partnership/board ecosystem with Bethesda Project.
Broad incumbents
- The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia: National faith-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and social services across dozens of U.S. cities including Philadelphia. Operates overlapping emergency shelter and supportive housing programming with broader service breadth (food, rehabilitation, disaster relief).
- Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Catholic Social Services operates emergency shelters, housing programs, and case management for vulnerable populations across the Philadelphia region. Comparable faith-based nonprofit operating emergency and supportive housing under a similar Housing First-compatible model with multi-site delivery.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bethesda Project social profiles
Digital presenceBethesda Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bethesda Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Bethesda Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bethesda Project 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 Bethesda Project
What does Bethesda Project do?
Bethesda Project provides emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, independent housing, and individualized case management services to adults experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. The organization operates a continuum of care across 11 locations, including emergency shelters (Our Brothers' Place, Church Shelter Program, My Brother's House), permanent supportive housing sites (Connelly House, Bethesda North Broad, Bethesda Spruce), and independent housing (Mary House). It also runs a branded merchandise e-commerce store and planned giving programs to support operational funding.
Is Bethesda Project a public or private company?
Bethesda Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bethesda Project founded?
Bethesda Project was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Bethesda Project based?
Bethesda Project is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bethesda Project make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Funding, planned Giving & Endowments, merchandise Sales and third-Party Fundraising Events.
Who are Bethesda Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Back on My Feet and Project HOME. Pathways to Housing PA is listed as an emerging player. Mural Arts Philadelphia is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia and Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Does Bethesda Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bethesda Project.
What industry is Bethesda Project in?
Bethesda Project's product category is Homeless and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.