Light of Life Rescue Mission

What Light of Life Rescue Mission does

Light of Life Rescue Mission is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 25-1056389) founded in 1952 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that operates a comprehensive faith-based continuum of care for homeless men, women, and children. Core service lines include emergency shelter (50 beds at Voeghtly Street Shelter), a meal ministry serving breakfast and dinner 365 days per year, long-term recovery programs (12-24 month Men's Life Recovery Program, Women's Long-Term Programs including Sister's Recovery House and Scattered Sites Housing), a Mental Health Program, a High Commitment Shelter, a 90-Day Jump Start Program, a Food Pantry, a Donation Center/Free Store, daily street outreach, and aftercare/alumni support. The organization runs from four primary physical hubs in Pittsburgh's North Side: Voeghtly Street Shelter (234 Voeghtly St.), Ridge Recovery Place (665 Ridge Ave.), the newly-opened 32,000 sq ft Outreach Center (720 E. Lacock St.), and off-site scattered housing across Allegheny County, and operates the wholly-owned subsidiary Off The Floor Pittsburgh for furniture recycling.

Underlying 'technology' is operational rather than digital: the proprietary Life Transformation Model integrates counseling, 12-step participation, job training (in partnership with the Energy Innovation Center and UPMC), case management, chapel services, and alumni mentorship into a tiered housing and recovery pipeline. The donor-facing technology stack is composed of third-party SaaS platforms: Every.org and Bloomerang for donations, QGIV for event registration, Double the Donation for employer matching, Lifelegacy.io for planned giving, Acuity Scheduling for food pantry appointments, and Samaritan for volunteer management; no proprietary platform or AI capability is present.

The revenue model is donation-driven across five streams: individual donations (including the monthly 'Beacon of Hope' recurring program), event revenue from three annual fundraisers (More Than a Meal Gala, Tunch & Wolf Memorial Golf Outing, Day of Hope), employer matching gifts, planned/legacy giving including IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, and corporate and foundation grants. Services are delivered free to recipients, with suggested donor contributions of $3.14 per meal and $49 per shelter experience. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining direct outreach, faith community partnerships, and referral networks across Allegheny County.

Name

Light of Life Rescue Mission

Legal name

Light of Life Rescue Mission

Website

https://lightoflife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Light of Life Rescue Mission is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating since 1952 that delivers emergency shelter, meals, long-term recovery programs, and outreach services to homeless men, women, and children in Allegheny County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food Services (624210), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Addiction recovery
• Food assistance
• Social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting the mission. Monthly giving program called Beacon of Hope, stock donations, and IRA charitable distributions.
2. Events and Galas: Revenue from annual events including More Than a Meal Gala, Tunch & Wolf Memorial Golf Outing, and Day of Hope community event with sponsorship opportunities.
3. Employer Matching Gifts: Double donation impact through employer matching gift programs facilitated through Double the Donation platform.
4. Planned Giving/Legacy Gifts: Estate planning donations including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and other planned giving vehicles.
5. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from foundations and corporate partners for specific programs and capital projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Light of Life Rescue Mission is a faith-based nonprofit that operates a continuum-of-care model for homeless and impoverished men, women, and children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Core offerings include 50 emergency shelter beds, daily meal service, long-term addiction and mental health recovery programs (12-24 months), transitional and supportive housing, and community outreach through a food pantry, donation center, free store, furniture recycling program, and street outreach team. All direct services are provided free of charge to recipients, funded by individual donations, corporate and foundation grants, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Light of Life Rescue Mission is a nonprofit organization (EIN: 25-1056389) providing a comprehensive continuum of care for homeless individuals and families in Pittsburgh. The organization operates multiple distinct programs and services organized into three main categories: Emergency Services (emergency shelter, meals, street outreach), Long-Term Programming (recovery programs for men and women, housing programs), and Outreach Services (food pantry, donation center, free store). Major facilities include Voeghtly Street Shelter (234 Voeghtly St.) for emergency services, Ridge Recovery Place (665 Ridge Ave.) for long-term programming, and the Outreach Center (720 E. Lacock St.) housing the food pantry, donation center, free store, and Off The Floor Pittsburgh. The organization also conducts annual fundraising events (More Than a Meal Gala, Golf Outing, Day of Hope) and offers multiple giving mechanisms (online donations, stock donations, legacy giving, employer matching, IRA distributions). Founded in 1952 as a soup kitchen, the organization has grown to serve over 3,100+ unique guests annually through emergency shelter and provides hundreds of thousands of meals through its kitchen and food pantry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Off The Floor Pittsburgh: Furniture recycling and delivery service that strengthens families and reduces poverty in the greater Pittsburgh area by providing gently used furniture free of charge.
• Ridge Recovery Place

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services Emergency overnight shelter providing 50 beds for men, women, and children experiencing housing insecurity, with hot meals, showers, clean clothing, case management, and chapel services.
• Voeghtly Street Shelter Primary emergency shelter location at 234 Voeghtly St., Pittsburgh, providing shelter for men, women and children, hot meals, community resources, case management, off-site housing assistance, and clothing and hygiene products.
• Shelter+ Program A 90-day shelter option for those seeking to take the next steps toward permanent housing and sobriety, with enhanced case management and support services.
• Men's Life Recovery Program (LRP) A 12-18 month holistic recovery program for men with addiction, mental health issues, or chronic homelessness, including on-campus classes, chapel services, individual and group counseling, off-campus 12 Step meetings, and life-skills training.
• Men's Mental Health Program (MHP) A program for men experiencing chronic homelessness due to mental health challenges, with collaboration with mental health professionals for comprehensive, tailored care.
• High Commitment Shelter (HCS) A 6-9 month transitional living program for homeless men with no recent history of instability due to addiction or mental health issues, with case management, living quarters, and meals to help men work towards independence.
• Women's Long-Term Programs Comprehensive long-term programming at Ridge Recovery Place for women and children experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges.
• Sister's Recovery House An off-site apartment building owned and operated by Light of Life exclusively for women without children, providing a supportive living environment and fostering community among program participants. Program length: 18-24 months.
• Scattered Sites Housing Subsidized housing program in partnership with landlords across Allegheny County for women with children, providing a safe and stable living environment while women engage in recovery. Subsidized rent for 18-24 months.
• Women & Children Partial Program A 6-12 month program for women coming from outside facilities looking to join Light of Life's Long-Term Programs, allowing participation in educational programming twice weekly while following current facility protocol.
• 90-Day Jump Start Program A 90-day program providing women an opportunity to take their next step toward long-term recovery, after which they can enter long-term programming, halfway house, subsidized housing, or be referred to outside organizations.
• Outreach Center A 32,000 square foot facility housing multiple community programs under one roof: Donation Center, Food Pantry, Free Store, and Off The Floor Pittsburgh. Located at 720 E. Lacock Street, Pittsburgh.
• Donation Center Provides essential items including clothing, hygiene products, and other necessities to community members and partner organizations, with a Free Store where referred community members can shop for essentials.
• Food Pantry Provides a dignified 'shopping' experience for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, distributing over 509,600+ pounds of food annually through appointment-based weekly distributions.
• Free Store A space for referred community members to shop for clothing and hygiene products to improve their quality of life. Located at the Outreach Center.
• Off The Floor Pittsburgh Furniture recycling program that strengthens families and reduces poverty by delivering gently used furniture free of charge to those in need in the greater Pittsburgh area.
• Street Outreach Services Daily visits to homeless encampments to check on health and wellbeing, provide resources, transportation to shelter, assistance obtaining ID documents, housing, employment, clothing and hygiene products, case management, and community clean-ups.
• Meal Ministry Provides hot meals 365 days a year at the Voeghtly Street Shelter, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Over 527,900+ meals served through kitchen and food pantry in 2024.
• Aftercare Services Support services for graduates of long-term programs during the first year after graduation, maintaining contact with a Care Team Leader every two weeks and providing ongoing support and connection to alumni mentors.
• Chapel Services Daily chapel services providing spiritual support and community, with over 1,700+ chapel attendances recorded in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,100+ unique guests served through emergency shelter in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Geno Levi Salon / The Beauty Restores FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2025Partnership to open The Beauty Restores Foundation Light of Life Salon inside Light of Life Ridge Recovery Place, providing styling services for homeless individuals to restore dignity and confidence.
• 412 Food RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner working with Food Pantry to obtain food for individuals experiencing food insecurity served by the organization.
• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing food supplies for the Food Pantry distribution program serving Allegheny County residents.
• Energy Innovation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJob training partnership providing program participants with vocational training opportunities in partnership with UPMC.
• UPMCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing job training and employment opportunities for program graduates through Energy Innovation Center partnership.
• Off The Floor PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurniture recycling program housed at Outreach Center that strengthens families by delivering gently used furniture free of charge.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh: Faith-based social services agency in the same Pittsburgh market providing shelter, food assistance, case management, and recovery services — directly comparable mission, donor base, and continuum-of-care approach.
• The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania: National faith-based organization with strong Western PA presence providing emergency shelter, food service, addiction recovery, and Christmas/holiday programs — directly overlapping Light of Life's mission, target population, and faith-based service model in the same geography.
• Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania: Regional nonprofit operating workforce development, job training, and social services in the same Pittsburgh/Allegheny County market — directly comparable in mission (poverty alleviation), donor base, and geographic footprint.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit network providing shelter, housing prevention, and stabilization services for families experiencing homelessness — directly comparable operating model and target population, though primarily a network of affiliates rather than single-site operator.
• YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh: Women-and-family focused nonprofit providing shelter, domestic violence services, and economic empowerment programming in Pittsburgh — directly comparable to Light of Life's women/children recovery and housing programs.
• Bethlehem Haven: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit operating emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services primarily for women experiencing homelessness — directly overlapping Light of Life's women-and-children programming in the same city.
• East End Cooperative Ministry: Pittsburgh nonprofit providing emergency shelter, food pantry, case management, and supportive housing for homeless and food-insecure individuals — directly comparable model and target geography to Light of Life's continuum.

Others

• United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania: Regional funder and convener that allocates donations to partner agencies addressing poverty and homelessness — adjacent to Light of Life as both a potential grant funder and competitor for workplace giving campaigns in the same Pittsburgh market.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based affiliate focused on affordable homeownership and housing stability — adjacent comparable rather than direct competitor, addressing housing outcomes (a downstream Light of Life goal) through a different service model.

Emerging players

• Just Harvest: Pittsburgh-based food justice organization providing food assistance and anti-hunger advocacy — comparable to Light of Life's Food Pantry and food distribution programs with overlapping client base in Allegheny County.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lightoflife

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Light of Life Rescue Mission