Central Union Mission
Central Union Mission is a 140-year-old faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating emergency shelter, food distribution, workforce development, and family services programs across the Washington, DC metropolitan area, serving homeless men, families, seniors, and low-income children through five physical locations funded entirely by private donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1884
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Central Union Mission does
Central Union Mission is a faith-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1884, recognized as the oldest private social service agency in Washington, DC. It provides a comprehensive suite of programs across the Washington metropolitan area (DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia) addressing homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, and family instability. Core operations include a men's emergency shelter serving up to 170 men nightly with a structured 16-month Restoration & Transformation Program, the Comprehensive Family Resource Center (CFRC) serving approximately 5,000 individuals monthly with groceries, clothing, ESL/GED classes, job training, legal aid, and healthcare referrals, the Mission: NOVA outreach center in Arlington, a 220-acre Camp Bennett retreat and youth summer camp, a 24-bed Lambert House transitional housing program for men in recovery, and a Senior Fellowship program. Mission Muffins operates as a social enterprise bakery providing paid workforce training in baking, retail, and business operations for men overcoming homelessness, blending earned income with workforce development.
The organization operates with no proprietary technology platform, API, or mobile application; service delivery is delivered through five physical locations and human-intensive case management. Annual operational scale includes over 140,000 hot meals, more than 300,000 grocery bags distributed, and over 62,000 shelter bed-nights. The revenue model is 100% privately funded, with no government grants: income is generated through individual donations (including a recurring 'Miracle Movers' monthly program), corporate sponsorships ranging from $2,000 to $75,000, planned/legacy giving, Donor-Advised Funds (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, BNY Mellon), employer matching gifts, and in-kind contributions. The organization reports that more than 80% of every dollar goes directly to programs, holds a four-star Charity Navigator rating and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. Customers in the demand-side sense are a heterogeneous beneficiary base (homeless men, families, seniors, immigrant/refugee populations in Northern Virginia, and low-income children), while the funding-side customers are diversified across individual donors, churches, corporate sponsors, and foundations.
Central Union Mission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Central Union Mission
- Legal name
- Central Union Mission
- Website
- https://missiondc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1884
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Central Union Mission is a 140-year-old faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating emergency shelter, food distribution, workforce development, and family services programs across the Washington, DC metropolitan area, serving homeless men, families, seniors, and low-income children through five physical locations funded entirely by private donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Central Union Mission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless & Social Services
- NAICS
- Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)
Keywords
Where Central Union Mission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Central Union Mission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual donors. The organization emphasizes donor stewardship, with 80%+ of funds going directly to programs. Monthly giving program called 'Miracle Movers'.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships sponsoring meals, events, or programs. Includes employee engagement opportunities and recognition in newsletters and annual reports.
- Planned and Legacy Giving: Estate planning donations including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and beneficiary designations. Contact: Vice President of Development.
- Goods Donations: Accepts clothing, hygiene supplies, groceries, and household goods to directly serve guests. Also accepts vehicle donations.
- Donor-Advised Funds: Accepts grants from donor-advised funds through Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and BNY Mellon.
- Employer Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match employee donations. EIN: 53-0218650.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Donation-based funding model |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Central Union Mission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Central Union Mission is a faith-based nonprofit providing emergency overnight shelter for men, hot meals, grocery distribution, workforce development, education (GED, ESL), addiction recovery through a 16-month Restoration & Transformation Program, family resource services, transitional housing, and a Christian summer camp. All services are provided free of charge to individuals and families facing poverty and homelessness in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Product overview
Central Union Mission is a faith-driven nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs rather than a unified product platform. The organization operates multiple distinct programs including Men's Emergency Shelter & Recovery (offering overnight shelter, meals, medical care, and a 16-month Restoration & Transformation Program), the Comprehensive Family Resource Center (providing groceries, clothing, education, job training, legal aid, and healthcare referrals), Mission: NOVA (extending services to Northern Virginia), Camp Bennett (a 220-acre Christian summer camp and retreat center), Mission Muffins (a social enterprise bakery providing job training), Workforce Development & Education programs, Senior Fellowship, and Relief & Restoration programs. These programs collectively address homelessness, poverty, hunger, and family instability across the Washington, DC metropolitan area through emergency shelter, food distribution, job training, education, spiritual development, and wraparound social services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mission Muffins: Workforce development program training men overcoming homelessness in baking, retail, customer service, and business operations
- Mission: NOVA
- Camp Bennett
- Lambert House
- Comprehensive Family Resource Center (CFRC)
Products and services
- Men's Emergency Shelter & Recovery Emergency overnight shelter serving up to 170 men nightly, with nutritious meals, basic needs support, medical and mental health care, spiritual development, and a structured 16-month Restoration & Transformation Program for addiction recovery.
- Comprehensive Family Resource Center (CFRC) One-stop resource center providing groceries, clothing, education (ESL, GED, digital literacy), job training and placement, social work services, legal aid, parenting classes, and healthcare referrals for families in need.
- Mission: NOVA Northern Virginia outreach center providing emergency food and clothing distributions, ESL and education support, job training and placement, legal aid and housing assistance referrals, health information, and seasonal programs for families in Arlington, VA.
- Camp Bennett 220-acre Christian summer camp and ministry retreat center offering seven one-week summer camp sessions for children, family retreats, youth programs, and facility rentals with lodging, gymnasium, ropes course, swimming pool, and dining hall.
- Mission Muffins Social enterprise bakery providing paid job training in baking, retail, customer service, and business operations for men overcoming homelessness. Includes onsite housing and meals during the program, savings toward permanent housing, spiritual mentoring, and job placement after graduation.
- Workforce Development & Education Comprehensive workforce readiness program featuring Ready2Succeed paid work therapy, GED preparation, literacy and ESL classes, vocational training (culinary arts, maintenance, office skills), life skills workshops, career coaching, and housing transition support.
- Senior Fellowship Program Monthly fellowship program for seniors ages 55+, offering bimonthly gatherings with meals, birthday celebrations, prayer requests, life skills, counseling, spiritual inspiration, and special events including an annual Senior Prom.
- Relief & Restoration Program (R&R) Bilingual Christian fellowship program providing access to free food, clothing, pastoral counsel, encouragement and prayer, on-site social worker support, and special events throughout the year for needy families and individuals.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80%+ of every dollar goes directly to programs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Central Union Mission
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Central Union Mission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Central Union Mission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered significant, moderate and core.
- FedExsignificantFedEx volunteers participated in large-scale Resource Rally at Comprehensive Family Resource Center, providing essential food and hygiene supplies to 400 families. 30-40 FedEx volunteers collaborated with Mission staff.
- Feed the ChildrensignificantPartnership with Feed the Children for Resource Rally event, combining resources to serve 400 DC families with food and hygiene essentials.
- Capitol Hill Pregnancy CentermoderateJoint 'Gracefully Restored' Mother's Day celebration event for women in need, combining resources for pampering services, lunch, raffles, and gifts.
- Corporate SponsorscoreCorporate sponsors for meals, events, and programs. Includes employee engagement opportunities and recognition benefits. Sponsorships range from $2,000 to $75,000.
- Christian Legal AidmoderateFree legal services partnership providing legal aid to those in need at the Comprehensive Family Resource Center.
- Georgetown University HospitalmoderateHealthcare partners providing on-site medical and mental health services at CFRC through their staff.
- Unity HealthcaremoderateHealthcare partners providing on-site medical exam room and services at CFRC.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Central Union Mission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Community of Hope: DC-based nonprofit providing housing, family services, and healthcare to families experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable in family shelter, supportive housing, and on-site services model across DC.
- Martha's Table: DC-based nonprofit focused on poverty relief through healthy food access, education, and family supports. Comparable in mission focus on food insecurity and family services within the DC metro.
- SOME (So Others Might Eat): DC-based nonprofit providing meals, shelter, housing, and workforce development to people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Directly comparable in service mix (food, shelter, recovery, job training) and DMV geography to Central Union Mission.
- Bread for the City: DC-based nonprofit providing food, clothing, medical care, dental care, and social services to low-income residents. Directly comparable food/clothing/healthcare referral service mix in DC to Central Union Mission's CFRC.
- N Street Village: DC-based nonprofit serving women experiencing homelessness with shelter, housing, and supportive services. Comparable as a DC-focused emergency shelter and wraparound services provider, though serving a different primary population (women vs. men).
- Volunteers of America Chesapeake: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit operating housing, recovery, and behavioral health programs across the DC/MD/VA region. Comparable in faith-informed social services, recovery/transitional housing, and regional footprint that overlaps CUM's DMV service area.
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Faith-based social services nonprofit serving the DC region with food assistance, shelter, family services, refugee resettlement, and workforce development. Comparable in multi-program wraparound model, faith identity, and DMV geographic focus.
- Salvation Army National Capital Area Command: Faith-based organization operating shelters, food programs, and recovery services across the DC metro area. Closely comparable to Central Union Mission in faith-based identity, emergency shelter, addiction recovery, and workforce development offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC: DC affiliate of the larger Habitat for Humanity network, focused on affordable housing and home repair in the DC region. Comparable as a faith-rooted, DMV-area nonprofit addressing housing insecurity, though oriented toward ownership rather than emergency shelter.
- United Way of the National Capital Area: Regional umbrella nonprofit that raises and distributes funds to a wide network of partner agencies across DC, MD, and VA. Comparable as a DMV-area private fundraising entity but operates at a much broader portfolio level rather than as a direct service provider.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Central Union Mission social profiles
Digital presenceCentral Union Mission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Central Union Mission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Central Union Mission subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Central Union Mission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Central Union Mission 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 Central Union Mission
What does Central Union Mission do?
Central Union Mission is a faith-based nonprofit providing emergency overnight shelter for men, hot meals, grocery distribution, workforce development, education (GED, ESL), addiction recovery through a 16-month Restoration & Transformation Program, family resource services, transitional housing, and a Christian summer camp. All services are provided free of charge to individuals and families facing poverty and homelessness in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Is Central Union Mission a public or private company?
Central Union Mission is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Central Union Mission founded?
Central Union Mission was founded in 1884.
Where is Central Union Mission based?
Central Union Mission is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Central Union Mission make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, planned and Legacy Giving, goods Donations, donor-Advised Funds and employer Matching Gifts.
Who are Central Union Mission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Community of Hope, Martha's Table, SOME (So Others Might Eat), Bread for the City, N Street Village, Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and Salvation Army National Capital Area Command. Broad incumbents are Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC and United Way of the National Capital Area.
Does Central Union Mission have an API?
No public API is recorded for Central Union Mission.
What industry is Central Union Mission in?
Central Union Mission's product category is Homeless & Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAC, Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI), with a secondary code of HLAFACAC, Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers. Its NAICS code is 624221 and its SIC code is 8300.