What National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul does

The National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP USA) is a 501(c)(3) Catholic lay charitable nonprofit organization, legally incorporated in Missouri (EIN 13-5562362) and headquartered at 66 Progress Parkway, Maryland Heights, MO. The Society itself was founded in Paris in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam and established roots in the United States on November 20, 1845 at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France in St. Louis, Missouri. SVDP USA is the national coordinating body for a federated network of 4,000+ parish-based Conferences organized into nine U.S. regions and supported by 81,000–90,000 Vincentian volunteers. It reports distributing more than $1.7 billion in aid annually to over 5 million individuals and families, with $60 million in emergency financial assistance mobilized in 2023 specifically to prevent evictions and homelessness.

The organization operates a portfolio of direct-service programs rather than a technology product: in-person Home Visits, food pantries, thrift stores, charitable pharmacies, rental and utility assistance, transitional housing, disaster recovery (via its subsidiary Disaster Services Corporation), workforce development (Back2Work), reentry support (IMMERSION), and advocacy (Voice for the Poor). Services to beneficiaries are free of charge. Distribution is exclusively through local parish-based Conferences and local SVdP thrift stores; the National Council's role is governance, training, spiritual formation, financial assistance, and resources for those local units. A Washington DC office supports public-policy and advocacy engagement, and the National Council is affiliated with the International Council General in Paris as part of a 150+ country movement.

The business model is donation-funded rather than transactional. Revenue streams include individual one-time and recurring donations via the Everyday Saints monthly giving club, planned/legacy giving (wills, trusts, charitable gift annuities, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised fund grants via Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and Vanguard Charitable, and stock transfers brokered through Focus Partners), and SVdP thrift store proceeds redistributed to local Councils and Conferences. There are no commercial product fees, pricing tiers, or paid tiers; all charitable services are provided without charge to beneficiaries. Strategic vendor partnerships include Double the Donation for matching-gift intelligence and Disaster Services Corporation for disaster-response coordination.

Name

National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Legal name

National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc.

Website

https://ssvpusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1845

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul coordinates a national Catholic lay volunteer network of 4,000+ parish-based Conferences, delivering home visits, food pantries, thrift stores, and homelessness-prevention services to over 5 million individuals and families in poverty annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Cash & Voucher Assistance (CVA) and Emergency Livelihood Support (BPAGAAAJ), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Homelessness prevention services
• Food pantry assistance
• Charitable thrift stores
• Disaster recovery services
• Poverty relief programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: SVDP USA raises funds from individual donors through its website donation portal, monthly giving club (Everyday Saints), one-time gifts, and mailed checks.
2. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: The organization accepts planned gifts including wills, trusts, charitable gift annuities, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised fund grants, and stock transfers. The Frédéric & Amélie Ozanam Legacy Society recognizes major planned giving donors.
3. Thrift Store Profits: Local SVdP thrift stores generate profits that are reinvested into local Councils and Conferences to fund community charitable works. The national organization supports thrift store operations through best practices and resources.
4. Goods Donations: Donated goods (clothing, furniture, household items) are sold through SVdP thrift stores. The organization also accepts vehicle donations and other in-kind contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SVDP USA is a Catholic lay charitable organization that delivers direct person-to-person services to individuals and families living in poverty through a nationwide network of 4,000+ parish-based Conferences and 81,000-90,000 Vincentian volunteers. Core services include home visits, food pantries, thrift stores, rental and utility assistance for homelessness prevention, charitable pharmacies, disaster recovery (via the Disaster Services Corporation), workforce development (Back2Work), and re-entry support (IMMERSION). The National Council coordinates, trains, and funds local Conferences and Councils rather than delivering aid directly to end beneficiaries.

Product overview

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA operates as a network of charitable programs rather than a unified technology product. The organization offers direct service programs (Home Visits, Food Pantries, Thrift Stores, Homelessness Prevention, Disaster Recovery) alongside systemic change initiatives (Back2Work, IMMERSION), youth programs, international twinning, and advocacy. The donation infrastructure includes monthly giving (Everyday Saints), planned giving options, and an online merchandise store. These programs are coordinated through a national network of 4,000+ local Conferences and Councils serving more than 5 million people annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Friends of the Poor Walk: Annual fundraising and awareness walk/run event raising funds for the Society's work serving people living in poverty. Since 2008, the FOP Walk has raised more than $27 million.
• Everyday Saints
• Frédéric and Amélie Ozanam Legacy Society

Products and services

• Home Visits Face-to-face encounters in which Vincentian volunteers visit individuals and families in their homes to build friendships, listen, pray, and provide emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, food, and clothing.
• Food Pantries Community food distribution programs operated by local Conferences that provide fresh and non-perishable goods to families affected by poverty.
• SVdP Thrift Stores Retail thrift stores selling donated clothing, furniture, and household goods; provide meaningful employment and volunteer opportunities, with profits funding local Council and Conference charitable programs.
• Homelessness Prevention Rental and utility assistance, food pantries, charitable pharmacies, day centers, and transitional housing programs that prevent homelessness across the United States.
• Disaster Services Corporation Long-term recovery support through person-to-person services for individuals in situational poverty caused by natural and man-made disasters.
• Friends of the Poor Walk Annual walk/run events held each September that raise funds and awareness for the Society's work serving people living in poverty.
• Back2Work Program Workforce development program providing customized training and mentoring to low-income unemployed or underemployed individuals.
• IMMERSION Program Program assisting incarcerated individuals returning to society with reintegration support.
• Youth & Young Adult SVdP Conferences Service and social connection opportunities for young people through 125 Youth and Young Adult SVdP Conferences across the United States.
• International Twinning Program connecting U.S. Conferences and Councils with those in countries lacking the means to conduct local works of charity, sharing financial resources and prayers.
• Voice For the Poor Advocacy arm of the Society that identifies issues critical to those living in poverty and brings attention to reduce or eliminate poverty through systemic change.
• Everyday Saints Monthly Giving Monthly giving club that provides recurring donations to support families without food, clothing, or shelter.
• Planned Giving Legacy giving options including wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, IRA charitable rollovers, donor-advised funds, and charitable gift annuities.
• Online Store E-commerce platform selling formation materials, books, gifts, awards, prayer devotionals, Spanish resources, and supplies for Vincentians.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.7 billion in aid provided to more than 5 million people every year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Disaster Services Corporation (DSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026DSC (Disaster Services Corporation) is a separate nonprofit entity collaborating with SVDP USA, local Councils, and Conferences on disaster relief efforts. An example is the July 2026 earthquake relief collaboration in Venezuela, where SVDP USA, DSC, and local Councils coordinated response efforts.
• Double the DonationminorOthersDouble the Donation provides matching gift information services for SVDP USA's donation platform, helping donors determine if their employer offers payroll giving or matching gift programs to multiply their charitable contributions.
• Focus PartnersminorOthersFocus Partners serves as the broker/agent for stock transfer gifts to SVDP USA. Donors are directed to transfer stock to Fidelity (DTC #: 0226, Account #: 628-178643) or mail physical certificates to Focus Partners at 190 Carondelet Plaza, Ste. 600, St. Louis, MO 63105.
• Fidelity Charitable Gift FundminorOthersOne of the most common Donor Advised Fund sponsors listed on SVDP USA's DAF giving page. Donors can recommend grants to SVDP USA through their Fidelity Charitable accounts.
• Schwab Charitable FundminorOthersOne of the most common Donor Advised Fund sponsors listed on SVDP USA's DAF giving page. Donors can recommend grants to SVDP USA through their Schwab Charitable accounts.
• Vanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramminorOthersOne of the most common Donor Advised Fund sponsors listed on SVDP USA's DAF giving page. Donors can recommend grants to SVDP USA through their Vanguard Charitable accounts.
• International Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Global)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVDP USA is part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing. The International Twinning program connects U.S. Conferences with those in countries lacking means to conduct local charitable works. The organization operates in over 150 countries worldwide.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities USA: The national office for the U.S. Catholic Charities network, providing direct social services (food, housing, immigration, refugee resettlement) through diocesan agencies. Most direct comparable to SVdP given shared Catholic identity, national scope, and emergency-assistance focus, though it serves a broader service portfolio.
• Goodwill Industries International: Nonprofit operating thrift stores whose profits fund workforce development and community programs. Comparable thrift-store-funded mission model, though secular and focused on employment rather than emergency assistance.
• United Way Worldwide: National fundraising and grantmaking organization supporting local United Way affiliates that fund community anti-poverty programs. Comparable national-to-local federation model and donor-driven funding approach.
• Catholic Relief Services: The U.S. Catholic bishops' international humanitarian agency, operating global relief and development programs. Comparable as the international arm of U.S. Catholic charitable work, though focused overseas rather than domestic direct service.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Faith-inspired nonprofit building affordable housing through volunteer labor and local affiliate networks. Comparable grassroots volunteer-driven model addressing poverty, though focused on housing construction rather than direct emergency aid.
• Feeding America: National food bank network distributing food through 200+ member food banks and 60,000 pantries. Directly comparable in food pantry programs serving food-insecure populations across the U.S.
• The Salvation Army USA: Faith-based (Evangelical) nonprofit delivering emergency assistance, food, housing, and disaster relief nationwide through a parish-equivalent congregational model. Comparable in scale, religious affiliation, and thrift store fundraising, but with broader social services and an employment-focused rehabilitation model.
• Volunteers of America: Faith-based nonprofit providing housing, reentry, and poverty services through local affiliates with a strong volunteer and donation model. Comparable faith-rooted, affiliate-based structure and anti-poverty mission.

Emerging players

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital / LDS Charities: Other large faith-affiliated U.S. charities (St. Jude for pediatric health, LDS Charities for humanitarian aid) operating under faith-based philanthropy models at national scale. Comparable only on faith-driven fundraising and volunteer engagement, not on service mix.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: Largest U.S. humanitarian organization providing disaster relief, emergency assistance, and health/safety training. Comparable scale and disaster-response work, with broader mission scope and more diversified volunteer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/svdpusacouncil

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul