Stepping Stone Emergency Housing

What Stepping Stone Emergency Housing does

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 20-3226868), founded in 1994 and headquartered in Anoka, Minnesota. The organization provides emergency shelter, housing support, and case management services to adults aged 18 and over experiencing homelessness, primarily serving Anoka and Washington counties in Minnesota. It operates two physical shelter sites: the main Anoka shelter at 3300 4th Avenue North (Cronin Building #14) and the Emergency Housing Services Building (EHSB) in Stillwater at 15055 60th St. N. The organization is described as the only licensed single adult shelter in Anoka County and integrates shelter accommodation, daily meals, and case management within a single program model aimed at moving residents toward stable housing and renewed independence.

The organization does not operate proprietary technology. Its digital infrastructure consists of the Giveffect nonprofit software platform, which powers its donor CRM, fundraising campaigns, peer-to-peer fundraising pages, volunteer management, and event ticketing, along with standard payment integrations (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo) and reCAPTCHA on checkout forms. The core product portfolio comprises Emergency Shelter Services, Case Management Services, Housing Support Programs, and the Volunteer Program, supplemented by structured giving programs (Pillars of Hope, Homeward Legacy Council) and an online Donation Portal.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions — individual donations, corporate sponsorships, event ticket sales (golf tournament, annual gala, community walks), and planned giving. There is no product or service pricing for beneficiaries; suggested giving amounts include $103 for one night of shelter per bed and $721 for one week of shelter per bed. The staff is lean at 1–10 employees, including a Development Officer (Jeff Conner) and Business Manager (Steve Griffiths). Distribution is entirely direct at the two physical shelter locations, with intake via walk-in or referral through the How to Get Help process.

Name

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing

Legal name

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing

Website

https://steppingstoneeh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 that provides emergency shelter, housing support, and case management to adults 18+ experiencing homelessness in Anoka and Washington counties, Minnesota, operating two licensed shelter sites in Anoka and Stillwater and funded primarily through donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Housing and Homeless Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homelessness support programs
• Case management services
• Affordable housing support
• Community nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Anoka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and community supporters providing monetary contributions to fund shelter operations, meals, case management, and housing programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing operates emergency shelter and housing support services for adults aged 18 and over experiencing homelessness, with locations in Anoka and Stillwater, Minnesota. The organization provides safe shelter accommodation, daily meals, and compassionate case management aimed at helping residents build stability and transition toward permanent housing. Services are delivered free of charge to qualifying individuals and funded entirely through charitable donations, grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Stepping Stone Emergency Housing operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing emergency shelter and housing support services. The organization offers a unified set of services centered on its core shelter operations in Anoka and Stillwater, supplemented by fundraising campaigns and events managed through the Giveffect nonprofit software platform. The core product portfolio includes Emergency Shelter Services, Case Management Services, and Housing Support Programs, all working together to help adults experiencing homelessness build stability and move toward stable housing. Fundraising is facilitated through various programs including the annual ParTee Fore a Purpose Golf Tournament, The Ranch Gala, Pillars of Hope planned giving program, and a Donation Portal. The organization also offers a Volunteer Program for community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services Emergency shelter accommodation for adults experiencing homelessness at locations in Anoka and Stillwater, providing safe housing, regular meals, and consistent support services.
• Case Management Services Compassionate case management that helps adults build stability one day at a time, working alongside residents to remove barriers, strengthen connections, and create a path toward stable housing.
• Housing Support Programs Housing support services that help individuals move from homelessness toward stable housing and renewed independence through education and solutions to homelessness.
• Donation Portal Online donation platform powered by Giveffect allowing one-time, monthly, and pledge contributions with various payment methods including credit card, bank payment, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
• Pillars of Hope Giving Program Structured giving program enabling donors to support Stepping Stone Emergency Housing's mission through planned giving and legacy contributions.
• Volunteer Program Program enabling community members to volunteer, provide meals, or donate needed items to help adults build a path toward stability.
• ParTee Fore a Purpose Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament fundraiser that brings together community members, businesses, and supporters to raise funds for shelter, meals, case management, and stability-focused support.
• The Ranch Gala Annual fundraising gala event bringing together friends, supporters, and community partners committed to helping individuals experiencing homelessness find stability, dignity, and hope.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66-bed shelter capacity referenced in fundraising materials
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HOPE 4 YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner organization addressing homeless youth and young adults in Anoka County. Co-hosts the annual Stepping Up 4 Hope awareness walk. HOPE 4 Youth operates Hope Place with room for 22 young people and provides services alongside Stepping Stone for the shared mission of ending youth homelessness.
• Chain of Lakes ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner and co-host for the Stepping Up 4 Hope community walk events, providing venue space and organizing support.
• Illusion TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional theater company that wrote and directed the Real Stories | One Stage live performance events featuring real-life experiences of homelessness, starring professional actors.
• The Refuge Golf ClubminorOthersVenue partner for the annual ParTee Fore a Purpose golf tournament held at their Oak Grove, MN facility.
• Courtyards of AndoverminorOthersVenue partner for the A Roaring Night annual gala and the 2024 Reel Stories event.
• Vadnais Heights CommonsminorOthersVenue partner for the 2027 The Ranch Gala and 2025 Keys to Strengthen Our Communities event.
• Bunker Hills Event CenterminorOthersVenue partner for 2022 and 2023 Real Stories | One Stage/Reel Stories gala events.
• Steven Cade / Giving Guitars FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning country artist who visited Stepping Stone on April 10, 2025 as part of his national Giving Guitars Tour, donating a new guitar and performing live for residents. Has visited over 135 shelters in 22 states and gifted more than 250 guitars.
• GiveffectcoreTechnology or IntegrationModern nonprofit software platform powering Stepping Stone's donor management, CRM, fundraising campaigns, volunteer management, and event ticketing. Used for the donation portal, campaign pages, peer-to-peer fundraising, and event registration.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harbor Light Center: Downtown Minneapolis emergency shelter operated by The Salvation Army, serving single adults experiencing homelessness — directly comparable service population in the same metro area.
• Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities: Twin Cities faith-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, meals, and recovery programs to adults experiencing homelessness — overlapping service mix and target population.
• Simpson Housing Services: Minneapolis-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and case management to adults experiencing homelessness — a closely comparable operating model (shelter + case management) in the broader Twin Cities metro.
• HOPE 4 Youth: Anoka County-based nonprofit addressing homeless youth and young adults, operating a 22-bed Hope Place. Stepping Stone and HOPE 4 Youth are explicit co-programming partners on the Stepping Up 4 Hope walk, serving overlapping populations in the same county.
• Sharing and Caring Hands: Minneapolis nonprofit offering emergency shelter, meals, and basic-needs support to adults experiencing homelessness, with a similarly donation-driven operating model.

Regional players

• People Serving People: Largest emergency shelter in Minnesota, focused on families with children in Minneapolis. Comparable emergency-shelter operating model and donor-engagement approach in the same Twin Cities region.

Emerging players

• Avivo: Minneapolis nonprofit focused on employment, housing, and chemical-and-mental-health services for adults experiencing barriers including homelessness. Overlaps with Stepping Stone on case management and pathways to stable housing and employment.
• Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative: Twin Cities collaborative of congregations providing shelter, transitional housing, and supportive housing. Comparable adult-homelessness service model with a faith-rooted partnership structure similar to Stepping Stone's community-partner approach.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army Northern Division: Regional arm of a national nonprofit operating Harbor Light Center and other emergency housing programs in Minnesota. Overlapping emergency shelter offerings but with a much wider portfolio (food, recovery, family services).
• Catholic Charities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: Large regional social services organization operating shelter, housing, and case management programs across the Twin Cities. Overlaps with Stepping Stone in adult emergency services but operates at significantly greater scale and program breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SteppingStoneEH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-n9U5JEVYvTzttAIlo3gew
• Facebookfacebook.com/Stepping-Stone-Emergency-Housing-174927885968470
• Instagraminstagram.com/steppingstoneeh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stepping-stone-emergency-housing1

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Stepping Stone Emergency Housing