Garces Foundation

What Garces Foundation does

The Garces Foundation is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Chef Jose Garces and Dr. Beatriz Mirabal Garces to serve Spanish-speaking immigrant communities in South Philadelphia. The foundation operates four core programs: the IDIOMA/EREL English language instruction program tailored to restaurant and hospitality workers (with $60 per 10-week course fees and need-based scholarships), quarterly Community Health Days delivering free medical and dental screenings to uninsured and underinsured immigrants, the Sonrisa Dental Program providing free or low-cost dental care through a partner clinic, and a Food Pantry Program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to address food insecurity. Adjunct offerings include GED preparation, computer classes, and a laptop distribution initiative. Underlying technology consists of the third-party EnGen English learning platform for instruction and placement testing, plus Voxy Proficiency Assessment for outcome measurement; the organization does not develop proprietary software.

The foundation is funded through a mix of individual donations (via credit, stock, car, and Venmo), recurring grants from a portfolio of corporate and family foundations including Henry Niles Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Acme Foundation, Aramark, PNC Charitable Trusts, and Dolfinger-McMahon, plus an annual benefit gala featuring 40+ Philadelphia restaurant partners. Direct services are delivered in person at the BOK Building headquarters in South Philadelphia (1901 South 9th Street), with Community Health Days hosted at Race Street Dental in Old City. In 2025 the foundation enrolled 724 English students, treated 221 Community Health Day patients, and delivered $334,020 in retail value of care, with 90% of students reporting improved workplace English ability and 88% reporting reduced stress in English-required situations.

Name

Garces Foundation

Legal name

Garces Family Foundation

Website

https://garcesfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Garces Foundation is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering English instruction, free dental care, Community Health Days, and a food pantry to Spanish-speaking immigrants in South Philadelphia. Founded in 2011 by Chef Jose Garces and Dr. Beatriz Mirabal Garces, it operates with 1-10 staff from the BOK Building.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Community Food Services (62421), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

School/Community-Based Preventive Dental Programs (HLABAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health Promotion & Public Health Education (Community Workshops) (EDAAAFAG)

Keywords

• English language instruction
• Community health services
• Dental care programs
• Food pantry assistance
• Immigrant community support

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the foundation's mission. Multiple giving options including credit/debit, stock donations, car donations, and Venmo.
2. Foundation Grants: Support from foundations including Henry Niles Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Acme Foundation, Aramark, CCRES, PNC Charitable Trusts, Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation, and others at various giving levels.
3. Program Fees: $60 course fee for English language classes (IDIOMA). Need-based scholarships and payment plans available. Additional revenue from Fall Spanish Course at $150.
4. Annual Benefit Event: Annual fundraising gala featuring restaurant partners, artists, musicians, and community supporters. Includes sponsorship packages and ticket sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Garces Foundation is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that delivers four core programs to the city's immigrant community: IDIOMA/EREL English language instruction (tailored to the restaurant and hospitality industry), quarterly Community Health Days providing free medical and dental screenings, the Sonrisa Dental Program offering free or low-cost routine and emergency dental care, and a Food Pantry addressing food insecurity. Supplementary offerings include GED preparation courses and digital literacy/computer classes.

Product overview

Garces Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community service programs supporting Philadelphia's immigrant population. The core offerings include: English language instruction (IDIOMA/EREL) with digital literacy and GED preparation classes; Community Health Days providing free medical and dental screenings; the Sonrisa Dental Program delivering low-cost dental care; and a Food Pantry addressing food insecurity. These programs are delivered as separate service offerings, not as a unified technology product or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• English for the Restaurant and Everyday Living (EREL) / IDIOMA
• Community Health Days
• Sonrisa Dental Program
• Garces Foundation Food Pantry
• GED Classes
• Computer Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• 49% of students report raise or promotion due to language classes
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Dr. Steve Larson / Puentes de SaludcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Dr. Steve Larson, founder of Puentes de Salud, helped admit and care for Felipe at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania during his illness. Puentes de Salud continues to serve as a healthcare partner for the immigrant community. Dr. Garces maintains professional relationships with healthcare providers who support the foundation's mission.
• Partner Dental Clinic (Sonrisa Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sonrisa program operates in concert with a partner dental clinic, delivering both routine dental care and emergency treatment for free or at low cost. Many community members without dental insurance receive care through this partnership.
• Race Street DentalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Health Days are hosted at Race Street Dental in Old City, Philadelphia. The facility provides space for quarterly healthcare events offering free dental and medical services.
• Various Healthcare OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Health Days partner with other organizations to offer free dental services and medical testing to anyone in need, including dental exams, physical exams, glucose/cholesterol screenings, vaccinations, and cancer screenings.
• Philadelphia Restaurant PartnersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual benefit features 40+ Philadelphia restaurants including Amada, Village Whiskey, Garces Trading Co., and others donating food for the event. Tito's Handmade Vodka provides cocktail program support. These partnerships are essential to the foundation's largest annual fundraiser.
• Volunteer Medical/Dental ProfessionalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Health Days rely on volunteer medical doctors, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. Bilingual Spanish speakers are especially valued. Pennsylvania Radiology Certification is required for dental volunteers.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Welcome.US: National initiative mobilizing the private sector and nonprofits to support refugee and immigrant welcome efforts. Comparable as a complementary ecosystem actor connecting newcomers to local services like those Garces Foundation provides.

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: Global Jewish refugee resettlement and immigrant-services agency providing education, legal aid, and health navigation. Comparable as an established immigrant-services nonprofit with overlapping integration, education, and case-management functions.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic Charities agencies providing immigrant services, adult education, food assistance, and healthcare navigation. Comparable for multi-service immigrant supports including ESL, food pantries, and case management.
• International Rescue Committee: Large international humanitarian organization delivering refugee resettlement, education, and health programs in the U.S. Comparable for adult education, health access, and food/security supports for newly arrived immigrant communities.
• Hispanic Federation: National Latino nonprofit umbrella providing grants, advocacy, and direct services across education, health, and immigration. Comparable as a larger-scale Hispanic community-services operator with similar programmatic pillars.

Emerging players

• CASA: Mid-Atlantic and beyond Latino and immigrant advocacy organization offering ESL, workforce development, legal services, and health access. Comparable for adult language education and immigrant integration programming.

Direct peers

• Nationalities Service Center: Philadelphia nonprofit serving immigrants and refugees with education, legal, health, and social services. Comparable as a Philadelphia-based multi-program immigrant-services organization with overlapping educational and case-management offerings.
• Esperanza: Philadelphia-based Hispanic community development nonprofit offering education, workforce, and health programs. Comparable for serving the same South Philadelphia Latino population with adult education and community-based services.
• Puentes de Salud: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing healthcare and wellness services to Latino immigrants. Directly comparable as a same-city immigrant health partner, with explicit referral and co-service relationships documented in Garces Foundation history.

Regional players

• Make the Road New York: New York-based immigrant and working-class community organization providing adult education, legal, and health services. Comparable in mission and service mix but operates primarily in a different metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garces-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garces Foundation