Friends In Service Helping

What Friends In Service Helping does

Friends In Service Helping offers the services in providing food, instruction, shelter, and healthcare to community members.

Name

Friends In Service Helping

Legal name

Friends In Service Helping

Website

https://www.nvfish.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends In Service Helping provides Food and Instruction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Emergency food assistance
• Homeless shelter services
• Community healthcare access
• Affordable thrift retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Nevada

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Approximately 98% of FISH's multi-million dollar budget is funded through local and regional donations and grants. 99% of funding comes from local sources.
2. Thrift Store Operations: Three thrift stores in Northern Nevada generate nearly 20% of FISH revenues. Stores sell donated clothing, furniture, and household items.
3. Sponsorships: Customizable sponsorship opportunities for community members and businesses to support specific programs like student housing and emergency shelter.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Friends In Service Helping (FISH) is a nonprofit social services organization that provides an integrated continuum of food, instruction, shelter, and healthcare to individuals and families experiencing hardship in rural Northern Nevada. Core offerings include food bank and family dining, emergency and transitional housing, free medical/dental/vision care through the Ross Medical Center, student housing and learning programs, life skills instruction, utility assistance, and revenue-generating thrift stores.

Product overview

FISH (Friends In Service Helping) is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programs aimed at addressing food insecurity, housing instability, healthcare access, and life skills development. The organization operates as a single unified service model rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Food Bank and Family Dining providing emergency groceries and hot meals, Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing (FOCUS House for men and Wylie House for families), the Ross Medical Center offering medical/dental/vision care, Student Housing and Learning Center with reduced-cost housing and tutoring for students, and three FISH Thrift Stores generating revenue while providing affordable goods. Additional support services include utility assistance, dental and vision assistance, laundry facilities, and showers. The portfolio is designed to provide a holistic 'hand up' approach, with services often serving as entry points to connect clients with additional FISH programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FOCUS House: Emergency shelter for men
• Wylie House
• Ross Medical Center

Products and services

• Food Bank and Family Dining Emergency grocery and pantry staple distribution plus hot nutritious meals served in the Family Dining Room for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
• Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing Emergency shelter offering immediate refuge plus transitional housing for individuals and families working toward long-term independence. Operates FOCUS House for men and Wylie House for women and families.
• Ross Medical Center (Healthcare, Vision, and Dental) Medical, vision, and dental services provided through the Ross Medical Center to individuals in need, including free diagnoses, treatment plans, education, and referrals.
• Student Housing and Learning Center Reduced-cost housing for students pursuing education or workforce training, with on-site Learning Center offering tutoring, mentoring, and childcare.
• Life Skills Instruction Training programs in budgeting, job readiness, parenting, and wellness that equip participants with practical knowledge for long-term independence.
• FISH Thrift Stores Three regional thrift stores in Minden, Carson City, and Mound House that generate nearly 20% of FISH revenues while providing affordable clothing, furniture, and household items to the community.
• Utility Assistance Partial utility assistance on past due and current utility bills (gas, water, electric) for qualifying individuals and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of every dollar donated goes directly into programs and services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Capital City CIRCLES InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2025Capital City CIRCLES has moved its offices to the FISH Learning Center at 1455 N. Carson St., Suite 300. The partnership enhances instruction initiatives through CIRCLES' expertise in mentoring and breaking the cycle of poverty, offering comprehensive learning and life-skills development programs.
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal nutrition program that helps supplement the diets of individuals and families with low income. FISH distributes USDA-provided items including shelf-stable staples, fresh produce, canned meats, and pasta to eligible households.
• Ross Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free medical and dental care to individuals facing critical need or managing chronic health conditions. Serves as training environment for medical, nursing, and social work students.
• University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) School of Medicine and NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides hands-on, community-based clinical experience for medical and nursing students at FISH facilities including Ross Medical Clinic.
• Local Colleges and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFISH provides training opportunities for medical, nursing, and social work students who collaborate with staff and volunteers to deliver services.
• Government EntitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with government entities for database access and referrals to help community members access services more effectively.
• Other Social Service OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with local social service organizations for referrals and coordinated care for community members in need.
• Ogres Holm PotteryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Empty Bowls event partner. Local artisans and potters create handmade bowls for the food insecurity fundraising event.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Food Bank of Northern Nevada: Regional food bank serving the same Northern Nevada geography. Directly comparable on food distribution, hunger relief, and donor-supported nonprofit model, though without FISH's integrated shelter and healthcare services.
• Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada: Faith-affiliated social services nonprofit serving the same Northern Nevada region. Provides overlapping services including food assistance, housing support, and case management with a comparable fundraising-and-grants revenue model.
• Goodwill Industries of Northern Nevada: Operates thrift retail stores and workforce development programs in the same Northern Nevada footprint. Closely comparable on thrift-store revenue generation, job training for vulnerable populations, and donor-supported nonprofit operations.
• United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra: Regional funder and convener of social services in the same geography. Comparable as a donor-supported organization coordinating across food, housing, and emergency relief, though it primarily funds partner agencies rather than operating direct service programs.
• Community Health Alliance: Federally qualified health center serving uninsured and underinsured populations in Northern Nevada. Directly comparable as a nonprofit medical services provider for vulnerable populations, paralleling FISH's Ross Medical Center offering.
• Northern Nevada HOPES: Nonprofit community health center in Reno serving low-income and underserved populations. Directly comparable in combining healthcare access with social support services in the Northern Nevada region.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army (Northern Nevada): National faith-based nonprofit with regional presence providing emergency shelter, food, and social services. Operates at much larger scale and broader geography but offers overlapping services — shelter, food assistance, utility aid — that directly mirror FISH's portfolio.
• Volunteers of America (Northern Nevada): National nonprofit with regional programs in housing, shelter, and social services. Overlaps with FISH on emergency shelter operations and case management but operates at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wix
• Facebookfacebook.com/nvfish
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-in-service-helping-emergency-referral-service
• Instagraminstagram.com/wix

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Friends In Service Helping