Name

The Wish Project

Legal name

The Wish Project

Website

https://thewishproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

North Chelmsford

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. In-Kind Donations: The organization receives donated clothing, household goods, baby items, and other supplies from community members. These goods are either distributed to clients or sold through the thrift shop to generate revenue.
2. Monetary Donations: Individual donors contribute money through the organization's website, by check, or in person. The organization also accepts recurring donations from supporters.
3. Thrift Shop Sales: A thrift shop operates inside the warehouse selling donated items at discounted prices. All proceeds go directly back into the organization to support operations.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise such as Yeti Tumblers ($75 each) that serve as fundraisers.
5. Legacy/Bequest Giving: Planned giving options including bequests through wills, life insurance beneficiary designations, retirement fund designations, and retained life estates.
6. Vehicle Donation Program: Partnership with CARS (Cars) vehicle donation program where donors can contribute used cars, trucks, RVs, or boats with proceeds going to The Wish Project.
7. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including golf tournaments, auctions, raffles, and galas that generate revenue for organizational operations and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Wish Project is a charitable nonprofit organization that collects donated clothing, household goods, baby items, and diapers from community members and distributes them free of charge to families and individuals in need across the Merrimack Valley. Services are delivered through direct warehouse visits by clients, referrals from partner social service agencies for larger household items, and seasonal project distributions including backpacks, Mother's Day bags, and toddler developmental kits. The organization also operates a thrift shop, accepts vehicle donations, and runs fundraising events and raffles to fund operations.

Product overview

The Wish Project is a charitable nonprofit organization, not a technology product company. It operates as a single integrated service model providing donated clothing, baby essentials, and household goods to families in need across the Merrimack Valley. The organization offers multiple assistance programs including clothing distribution, diaper/baby supplies, and household goods (via agency referrals), combined with fundraising activities such as a thrift shop, monetary donations, vehicle donations, and planned giving options. Signature project programs include Backpack Attack (school supplies), Holiday Magic (holiday gifts), BITS Bags (toddler development kits), and Mother's Day Gift Bags. The organization also runs seasonal fundraising events including an annual golf tournament, Valentine's auction, gift card raffles, and a 20th Anniversary Gala. All services are delivered through partnerships with over 20 social service agencies and supported by approximately 3,000 annual volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000 individuals served per year in the Merrimack Valley
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AgeSpancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service agency that submits referrals on behalf of clients needing household goods, baby gear, and car seats from The Wish Project.
• Arbour Counseling - LowellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health counseling service that refers clients in need of basic household goods and baby items.
• ClarendoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly education services organization that distributes project goods (backpacks, BITS bags, Mother's Day bags, holiday gifts) to their clients.
• DCF Lowell (Department of Children and Families)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment child welfare agency that refers families in need to receive household goods, baby items, and clothing.
• Dwelling House of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless services organization that submits referrals for clients transitioning to housing.
• Greater Lawrence Family Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider referring families in need of basic household and baby items.
• Haverhill Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through McKinney-Vento program for homeless students, distributing backpacks and school supplies.
• House of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless shelter and services organization that refers clients for basic necessities.
• International Institute of New EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee and immigrant services organization referring clients for household goods and clothing.
• JRI LowellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health services organization that submits referrals for clients needing basic goods.
• Lowell Alliance (YWCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity services organization referring clients for household goods and baby items.
• Lowell General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider that recognizes The Wish Project; serves as referral partner for families needing baby items and household goods.
• Lowell Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing authority referring families transitioning to permanent housing for basic household goods.
• Mass General BrighamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system that serves as a referral partner for families in need of baby and household items.
• MSPCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild and family services organization that distributes project goods (backpacks, BITS bags, Mother's Day bags) to clients.
• Project Kompass Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service agency that refers clients and is a sponsor of The Wish Project.
• Tufts Medical Center NICU/ObstetricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeonatal and obstetrics unit that refers families needing baby items and household goods.
• Valley CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational collaborative that serves as a referral partner for families.
• VinfencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServices for individuals with developmental disabilities that refers clients for basic household goods.
• CARS (Cars/Careasy)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation program partnership allowing donors to easily donate cars, trucks, RVs, or boats with proceeds going to The Wish Project.
• Charity NavigatorminorOthersThird-party charity rating organization that has rated The Wish Project.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cradles to Crayons: National nonprofit that collects donated clothing, shoes, books, and baby items and distributes them free to children and families living in low-income and homeless situations. Operates a warehouse-based "Gear Up" model through partner agencies — directly analogous to The Wish Project's referral-driven distribution approach.
• Baby2Baby: National nonprofit distributing diapers, clothing, and basic necessities to children living in poverty through a network of partner social service agencies, hospitals, and shelters. Closest large-scale analog to The Wish Project's baby-goods and household-goods distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• St. Vincent de Paul Society: National Catholic nonprofit operating thrift stores and direct-assistance programs providing clothing, furniture, and household goods to people in poverty. Overlaps on the thrift-funded goods-redistribution model, with local conferences operating in the same Merrimack Valley geography.
• The Salvation Army (Greater Lowell / Merrimack Valley): Operates thrift stores whose proceeds fund social services including emergency assistance, clothing, and household goods distribution. Broader scope than The Wish Project but directly overlaps on the thrift-funded social services model and serves the same Merrimack Valley geography.
• Goodwill Industries of Northern New England: Operates thrift retail stores that fund workforce development and community programs; also redistributes donated goods to people in need. Comparable business model overlap on the thrift-shop-funded-social-services axis, though Goodwill's primary mission is job training rather than direct goods distribution.

Others

• National Diaper Bank Network: Umbrella network of more than 200 diaper banks across the U.S. that distribute diapers and period supplies to families in need. The Wish Project runs its own diaper distribution program; the network is an enabling/ecosystem peer that influences funding flows, diaper manufacturer partnerships, and policy advocacy in the space.

Regional players

• Household Goods in Acton, MA: Massachusetts-based nonprofit that redistributes donated furniture and household goods to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness, domestic violence, and other crises. The Wish Project actively refers clients here after discontinuing its own furniture program, making it a direct functional substitute in the same regional ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Dignity Matters: New England nonprofit providing bras, underwear, and hygiene products to women and girls in crisis through partner agencies. Listed as an in-kind donor to The Wish Project and operates in the same basic-needs-for-women-and-girls sub-niche The Wish Project's clients rely on.
• Birthday Wishes: Regional nonprofit providing birthday parties and gifts to children experiencing homelessness and family crisis, primarily through partner agency referrals. Smaller in scope than The Wish Project but operates in the same partner-agency-driven basic-needs space for vulnerable children in New England.
• Hope and Comfort: Massachusetts-based nonprofit collecting and distributing hygiene products to people experiencing homelessness and poverty through partner agencies. Listed as an in-kind donor partner to The Wish Project and operates a closely adjacent model serving overlapping client populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thewishproject
• Xx.com/WishProject

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 The Wish Project