Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul

What Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul does

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1906 as the Saint Paul Council of Churches and rebranded under its current name in 2015 to reflect expanded interfaith membership. The organization mobilizes volunteers from more than 65 faith communities and partners with over 150 organizations to deliver poverty-relief services in the Greater Saint Paul and East Metro region of Minnesota, serving more than 6,000 residents annually. It operates four core program areas: Project Home (24/7 emergency family shelter providing rapid-exit case management, meals, mental health therapy, and housing placement — one of only two emergency family shelters in Ramsey County's Coordinated Entry System); the Department of Indian Work (culturally specific emergency services, food shelf, diabetes education, and youth enrichment programs for the American Indian community, operating for 70 years); Interfaith Service and Learning (community engagement programs including I Heart Saint Paul and School Tools); and Career Pathways (free CFSS and CNA healthcare workforce training offered in Spanish and English). The organization is funded through a mix of government contracts, foundation grants, individual and faith-community donations, and substantial in-kind volunteer labor. Recent strategic activity includes the March 2025 acquisition of a permanent headquarters and consolidated shelter facility at 1010 Bandana Blvd W (former Best Western Plus Como Park Hotel) using $6 million in American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery Funds, and the July 2026 appointment of Jody Emmings as permanent CEO following her tenure as Interim CEO that began in January 2025.

Name

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul

Legal name

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul

Website

https://interfaithaction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul is a 120-year-old nonprofit that mobilizes 65+ faith communities and 150+ partner organizations to deliver emergency family shelter, culturally specific American Indian services, healthcare workforce training, and poverty-relief programs to over 6,000 East Metro residents annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Social Assistance (624), Religious Organizations (8131), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ), Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Emergency family shelter
• Community food shelf
• Career pathways training
• Culturally specific services
• Interfaith volunteer coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Foundation Grants: Government contracts and foundation grants provide partial funding for programs including Project Home, Department of Indian Work, and youth enrichment programs.
2. Individual and Faith Community Donations: Individual donations and contributions from faith communities form a key funding stream, critical to program survival alongside government and foundation sources.
3. Volunteer Services (In-Kind): Thousands of volunteers provide high-impact tutoring, job coaching, and other professional services, representing significant in-kind support for operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul provides free, community-powered social services that address the causes and consequences of poverty in the Greater Saint Paul area. Its core offerings include 24/7 emergency family shelter with rapid-exit case management, a culturally specific food shelf and emergency services for the American Indian community, free healthcare workforce training (CFSS and CNA), and volunteer-driven interfaith service and learning programs. All services are delivered at no cost to participants and funded through government contracts, foundation grants, and donations.

Product overview

Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul offers a portfolio of social service programs addressing poverty and economic mobility in the Greater Saint Paul area. The organization operates four core program areas: Project Home (emergency family shelter), Department of Indian Work (culturally specific services for American Indians), Interfaith Service and Learning (faith community engagement), and Career Pathways (healthcare workforce training). Project Home provides 24/7 shelter and case management, while DIW encompasses emergency services, diabetes education, youth enrichment, and economic mobility support. The organization serves over 6,000 East Metro residents annually through direct services and partnerships with 150+ organizations and 65+ faith communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Home 24/7 emergency family shelter providing rapid exit case management, meals, laundry, financial education, mental health therapy, and case management for housing, employment, daycare, and school for families experiencing homelessness in Ramsey County.
• Department of Indian Work (DIW) Culturally specific programs partnering with American Indian families in the Twin Cities East Metro, including emergency services, health services, youth enrichment, and an economic mobility hub.
• Career Pathways Free training program in Spanish and English for front-line healthcare jobs, including Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, with career coaching and professional development workshops.
• Interfaith Service and Learning Programs engaging faith and spiritual communities in interfaith action efforts to address the causes and consequences of poverty, including I Heart Saint Paul, WinterPlay/WinterWalk & Roll, and School Tools.
• DIW Emergency Services (Food Shelf and Clothing Closet) Food shelf with healthy, culturally informed choices, clothing closet, and referrals to employment, transportation, education, and other community resources for American Indian families and the broader Saint Paul community.
• American Indian Youth Enrichment After-school and summer programs focused on Indigenous cultural, wellness, and educational activities for American Indian youth.
• Economic Mobility Hub Resources to build stability and economic strength for American Indians in the Twin Cities East Metro area, including financial education and economic mobility support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26,183 shelter-bed nights provided; 57 families moved to permanent housing; 96% retained housing after 6 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ramsey CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partner providing emergency shelter to families experiencing homelessness. Ramsey County Housing Stability Department and Board of Commissioners support the Project Home acquisition and ongoing shelter operations.
• Catholic CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ramsey County's Coordinated Access to Housing and Shelter (CAHS) pilot program, working together to provide streamlined access to emergency shelters and supportive housing.
• YWCA of Saint PaulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Ramsey County's Coordinated Access to Housing and Shelter (CAHS) pilot program for families in crisis.
• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Community Power-Ups program providing legal aid services including landlord-tenant matters, public benefits advocacy, and criminal record expungement.
• Lutheran Social ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing Financial Counseling services in Community Power-Ups program, helping community members with budgeting, debt management, and financial planning.
• Sunrise BanksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development partner providing affordable financial tools for low-income individuals including check cashing, savings development, and credit building. Sponsor of Community Power-Ups events.
• Twin Cities Mobile Jazz ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides musical entertainment at Interfaith Action events including Community Power-Ups and Bringing Faith to Life breakfast, adding cultural enrichment to community gatherings.
• Morning Star Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Community Power-Ups (CPUs) program providing community education on legal, financial, and social services topics. Co-founder of Walker West Music Academy and board member of Ujamaa Place.
• Hamline UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated for 2026 Mahle Lecture on 'Just Resilience' bringing together academic and community perspectives on resilience and social justice.
• Saint Paul CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulinary Arts program students prepare and serve meals at Annual Assembly events, supporting both community engagement and student education.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Keystone Community Services: Saint Paul-based nonprofit operating food shelves, senior services, and community programs serving overlapping low-income and elderly populations in the East Metro.
• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota: Faith-rooted statewide nonprofit delivering housing, refugee services, financial counseling, and youth programs; LSS is even a named Interfaith Action partner in the Community Power-Ups program, signaling close operational overlap.
• Catholic Charities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: Largest faith-based social services provider in the Twin Cities, operating shelter, housing, food, and refugee services directly comparable to Interfaith Action's portfolio and serving the same Ramsey/Hennepin County market.
• YWCA of Saint Paul: Co-located Ramsey County emergency shelter and supportive services provider partnering with Interfaith Action in the CAHS coordinated entry system; directly overlapping in housing and family services.
• Amherst H. Wilder Foundation: Long-established Saint Paul-based nonprofit offering housing, mental health, and family services across the same East Metro geography, with a comparable aging institutional footprint and donor base.

Others

• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits: Statewide association supporting and convening nonprofits like Interfaith Action; comparable only as a member-of-the-ecosystem rather than direct service delivery peer.
• United Way of Ramsey County: Local funder and convening body that channels capital to Interfaith Action and similar nonprofits; relevant as a counterparty/peer in the same funding ecosystem rather than direct service competition.

Emerging players

• Aeon (Housing): Minneapolis-based affordable housing nonprofit that complements (rather than directly competes with) Interfaith Action's shelter-to-housing pipeline, partnering on permanent housing placements for Project Home families.

Regional players

• RS EDEN (AMAZON): Minneapolis-based nonprofit providing housing and recovery services; shares a similar shelter-to-housing and supportive services model but primarily serves Hennepin County rather than Ramsey County.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Northern USA: National faith-based provider of emergency shelter, food, and family services with a major Twin Cities presence; comparable model but operates at much broader geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SPACCtube/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/interfaithactionofgreatersaintpaul
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/interfaith-action-of-greater-saint-paul
• Instagraminstagram.com/interfaith_action
• Xx.com/interfaithact

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul