Shepherd Community

What Shepherd Community does

Shepherd Community Center is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 on the near Eastside of Indianapolis. The organization operates a Continuum of Care model addressing physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs across the lifespan, from cradle to career. Its service portfolio spans early childhood education (Shepherd Community Academy Preschool-5th grade; Shepherd Community Early Learning Scholars childcare with 140-child capacity at the Minnie Hartmann Center), youth development (Education to Employment / E2E for 6th-12th graders; Summer EXCEL serving 200+ students), adult economic empowerment (Center for Working Families with financial/employment coaching; HomeOwner University lease-to-own program targeting ~$200,000 homes), food security (Shepherd's Kitchen serving 65,000+ meals annually; Food Pantry; 300+ weekly deliveries), mental health and addiction recovery, and mobile outreach via the Shalom Project (IMPD officer + paramedic). The organization also hosts ONU @ Shepherd, an Olivet Nazarene University extension site offering accredited four-year degrees at ~$10,000/year.

From a capability perspective, Shepherd's core operating infrastructure is physical rather than digital: a main community center at 4107 East Washington Street, a satellite 11,000-square-foot child care center, a Teaching Kitchen, a Shared System Library (Indianapolis Public Library partnership), and mobile outreach vehicles. The organization has developed a proprietary 10 Assets framework for poverty alleviation and a Poverty 101 training curriculum, refined over 40 years, which constitutes its principal intellectual property. Digital channels (podcast, YouTube, social media, blog, newsletter) support donor engagement and storytelling rather than service delivery.

Shepherd's revenue model is donation- and grant-driven, not fee-based. Approximately 80%+ of services are free to beneficiaries. Revenue streams include individual donations (website, newsletter, direct mail), corporate sponsorships (Elanco Animal Health for food distribution; Charter/Spectrum for no-cost internet; a food-industry coalition with Fair Oaks Farms, Indiana Pork Producers, Midwest Poultry, Harlan Bakeries, Rose Acre Farms), foundation and government grants (e.g., $120,000 from Gleaners Food Bank), and non-cash donations (land, houses, estate valuables). Program-generated revenue is modest: ~$1,100/month HomeOwner University rent, $2/week Food Co-Op fees, and reduced ONU tuition. The organization maintains a 10-member Board of Directors, a ~15-person senior leadership team, total headcount of 101-250, and an average staff tenure of 9.2 years. Executive Director Jay Height has led continuously since Fall 1997. Shepherd holds GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Name

Shepherd Community

Legal name

Shepherd Community Center

Website

https://shepherdcommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Shepherd Community Center is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 serving low-income children and families on Indianapolis' near Eastside through a Continuum of Care spanning childcare, K-12 education, food security, homeownership pathways, employment coaching, and mobile outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services and Nonprofit Poverty Alleviation

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Community poverty alleviation
• Faith-based nonprofit services
• Early childhood education
• Affordable housing programs
• Food security outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to Shepherd's annual operating budget through one-time and recurring donations. The organization actively solicits donations via its website, email newsletter, and direct mail campaigns.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor specific programs, events, or capital projects. Examples include Elanco's food distribution support and Charter Communications' internet connectivity partnership.
3. Program Revenue: Some programs generate modest revenue including the HomeOwner University rental program ($1,100/month from participants), Food Co-Op fees ($2/week), and ONU @ Shepherd tuition support.
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Shepherd receives grant funding from foundations and government sources. Gleaners Food Bank awarded $120,000 to help feed hungry families.
5. Non-Cash Donations: The organization accepts non-cash donations including land, houses, and estate valuables, which can be converted to cash or used to reduce operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Shepherd Community Center is a faith-based nonprofit providing a holistic Continuum of Care to families on the near Eastside of Indianapolis, including early childhood education (infants through 5th grade), K–12 after-school and summer programs, college and career access, adult financial and employment coaching, lease-to-own homeownership support, food access (pantry, deliveries, kitchen), mental health and counseling services, and mobile outreach. Programs are delivered at the main community center, the Minnie Hartmann Child Care Center, partner schools, partner churches, and via home-based case management, with the majority of services offered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Product overview

Shepherd Community Center is a faith-based nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive Continuum of Care programs focused on breaking the cycle of poverty on Indianapolis' near Eastside. The organization provides educational services (Shepherd Community Academy K4-5th grade, Shepherd Community Early Learning Scholars childcare, Education to Employment E2E, Summer EXCEL & YLIFe, College Access, ONU @ Shepherd university program), family support (Center for Working Families, HomeOwner University, Project Jordan), health services (Mental Health/Trauma/Addiction Care, Shalom Project), and food programs (Food Access, Shepherd's Kitchen, Teaching Kitchen, Food Co-Op). The organization also offers Poverty 101 training and Learning Pods. These programs work together holistically to address physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs from cradle to career.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shepherd Community Academy A Christ-centered primary school serving preschool through 5th grade with small class sizes, wrap-around support, and full accreditation for children on the near Eastside of Indianapolis.
• Shepherd Community Early Learning Scholars Flexible full-day childcare for children from 6 weeks old through kindergarten at the Minnie Hartmann Center, with capacity for 140 children.
• Education to Employment (E2E) After-school and college/career program for middle and high school students (6th–12th grade) offering tutoring, college and career coaching, mentoring, business and college visits, and community programming at Shepherd and partner schools.
• Summer EXCEL & YLIFe Summer programs for K–5 students (EXCEL) focused on math, reading, writing, science, Bible, and mentoring, and YLIFe for grades 6–12 with career and employment focus.
• Before-School and After-School Programs School-year before-school and after-school programming at Shepherd Community Center and partner schools (including T.C. Howe Middle School) providing homework help, tutoring, interest clubs, and meals.
• Center for Working Families Comprehensive support for adults including financial coaching, employment coaching, job fairs, budgeting classes, continuing education, skills training, and housing assistance.
• HomeOwner University (HOU) Lease-to-own program guiding families on the near Eastside from renting to homeownership through weekly classes, mentor support, and community engagement, with participants paying approximately $1,100/month rent plus $150/month savings contribution.
• Food Access Program (Food Pantry, Deliveries, Food Co-Op) Saturday food pantry (8:30–10:30 am), 300+ weekly food deliveries to neighbors without transportation, weekend packs for students, holiday totes, and a Food Co-Op ($2/week for fresh produce).
• Shepherd's Kitchen On-site kitchen serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to Shepherd programming participants, averaging 65,000 meals annually.
• Teaching Kitchen Educational facility teaching families cooking skills to help food budgets go further and improve health outcomes.
• Project Jordan Supports mothers and helps babies develop foundational skills through personal visits, group meetings, and regular screenings for ages 0–3.
• Mental Health, Trauma & Addiction Care Monthly support groups on trauma and domestic violence, counseling services, weekly Christ-centered recovery program, and student support counseling.
• Shalom Project Mobile outreach partnership with an IMPD officer and IEMS paramedic that brings Shepherd resources directly to neighbors' homes to develop relationships and provide health, safety, and social service support.
• ONU @ Shepherd Affordable accredited four-year degree program operated as an Olivet Nazarene University extension site at Shepherd, with $10,000/year tuition for up to 30 credit hours and ONU Plus service-learning stipends up to $20,000/year.
• College Access Program Program connecting students to college through visits, scholarships, financial aid, community connection, and mentoring support.
• Poverty 101 Educational program helping donors, partners, and community members understand poverty through research, perspectives, and 40 years of Shepherd experience.
• Shared System Library Partnership with Indianapolis Public Library providing students and neighbors access to thousands of books and library resources at Shepherd.
• Learning Pods Small-group tutoring and enrichment program for students during COVID-19, serving approximately 125 students at partner church and community locations.
• Senior Luncheons and Shut-in Meal Deliveries Senior adult services including luncheons and home-delivered meals to address food insecurity and social isolation among elderly neighbors.
• Legal Clinic Legal clinic embedded in Shepherd's Family Engagement programming to provide neighbors with access to legal support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65,000+ meals served annually through Shepherd Kitchen
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Gleaners Food Bank of IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2022Gleaners awarded Shepherd $120,000 to help feed hungry families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnership enables Shepherd to make 300+ food deliveries per week to neighbors and distribute thousands of food boxes, sack breakfasts, and lunches.
• Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMPD partners with Shepherd through the Shalom Project, deploying an officer and paramedic team to provide mobile outreach directly to neighbors' homes. Addresses health, safety, and social service needs while building community trust.
• Eskenazi HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEskenazi Hospital and Clinics provides a mobile clinic on Shepherd property two days per week, offering quality healthcare to neighbors without financial burdens or long waiting room experiences.
• Near East Area Renewal (NEAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project on the Minnie Hartmann Center, a child care facility serving infants through 4-year-olds. NEAR and Shepherd collaborate on neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• Olivet Nazarene UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONU @ Shepherd is an extension site offering Olivet's fully accredited 4-year degrees at reduced cost ($10,000/year for up to 30 credit hours). Students gain hands-on urban ministry experience while earning degrees.
• HATCHsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHATCH provides eggs to Shepherd neighbors through the food access program. Research shows children who eat animal protein five times weekly perform better cognitively.
• Charter Communications (Spectrum)coreTechnology or IntegrationSpectrum provides internet access at no cost to Shepherd community center neighbors. Shepherd pays for connections, ensuring children can learn from home and families can access online services.
• Indianapolis Public LibrarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create a Shared System Library at Shepherd, providing access to thousands of books and resources including VOX books. Construction converting office/storage space to library.
• Cornerstone Lutheran ChurchsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch hosts middle/high school learning pods during COVID-19, providing space for tutoring and enrichment for approximately 125 students.
• Kids IncsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization hosting elementary learning pods in Fountain Square area. Shepherd shares supportive materials and staff to help Kids Inc serve urban students.
• Fair Oaks FarmssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood partner in Elanco-organized COVID-19 response providing protein to thousands of families through Shepherd's distribution network.
• Indiana Pork ProducerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in corporate coalition providing food for thousands of families during pandemic relief efforts.
• Midwest PoultrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in corporate coalition providing food for thousands of families during pandemic relief efforts.
• Harlan BakeriessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in corporate coalition providing food for thousands of families during pandemic relief efforts.
• Rose Acre FarmssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in corporate coalition providing food for thousands of families during pandemic relief efforts.
• Fuller Center for HousingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Shalom Project providing housing support and assistance to neighbors in need.
• Community East HospitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner working with Shepherd to address neighborhood health challenges through collaborative initiatives.
• SpringHillsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing creative programming activities for children during summer camp sessions at Shepherd.
• Ivy Tech Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighbors train at Ivy Tech in preparation for employment at the Minnie Hartmann Child Care Center, creating career pathways for local residents.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShepherdIndy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@shepherdindy
• Facebookfacebook.com/shepherdindy
• Instagraminstagram.com/shepherdindy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Shepherd Community