The Allentown Rescue Mission

What The Allentown Rescue Mission does

The Allentown Rescue Mission (legal name: Allentown Rescue Mission, Inc.; EIN 23-6005983) is a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit founded in 1900 by Obadiah and Rose Becker and headquartered at 355 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania. It delivers a three-stage Rescue–Rehabilitate–Restore continuum for men aged 18 and older experiencing homelessness in the Greater Lehigh Valley: a 123-bed Emergency Shelter providing meals (1,680 per week; ~42,000+ annually), clothing, and showers; an 8-week residential Transformation Program combining Bible-based counseling, mental health treatment, job-readiness, and case management; and the Clean Team Workforce, a transitional employer paying above Pennsylvania minimum wage for landscaping, junk removal, estate cleanouts, and municipal litter pickup.

The operating model is funded primarily through charitable giving — individual donations, corporate matching gifts, donor-advised funds (Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard), vehicle donations, legacy planned gifts, and the Changed Lives Champions monthly giving program — augmented by earned revenue from Clean Team Workforce contracts with the City of Allentown and 789 cumulative private-sector customers over 15 years. Augmenting the core pipeline are the DeSales Free Medical Clinic (since 2007, staffed by 50+ DeSales University volunteers), Therapeutic Art Classes, Chapel Services, Books to the Rescue (early-literacy book distribution), and the 2023-launched Wheelchairs to the Rescue initiative.

The technology footprint is intentionally minimal: Bloomerang underpins donation processing, Double the Donation handles employer matching-gift lookups, and an Amazon Wishlist front-ends in-kind giving. Distribution is entirely on-site at the Mission's facilities and at Clean Team customer locations; the organization does not operate mobile apps, APIs, or proprietary software products.

Name

The Allentown Rescue Mission

Legal name

Allentown Rescue Mission, Inc.

Website

https://allentownrescuemission.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Allentown Rescue Mission is a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit founded in 1900 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, operating a 123-bed Emergency Shelter, an 8-week Transformation Program, and the Clean Team Workforce to rescue, rehabilitate, and restore men experiencing homelessness across the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (624210), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK), Evacuation, Shelter, Mass Care & Family Reunification (HLAJAGAG), Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Emergency shelter programs
• Addiction rehabilitation services
• Workforce development programs
• Faith-based nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Allentown

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization relies heavily on individual charitable donations from the community. Donors can give online, by mail, or in person. The organization operates a Changed Lives Champions monthly giving program for recurring donations.
2. Corporate Matching Gifts: Hundreds of corporations match employee donations to the Allentown Rescue Mission, effectively doubling individual contributions at no cost to the donor.
3. Vehicle Donations: The organization accepts vehicle donations including pickup trucks and passenger vans (2004 or newer), which are used to transport clients and donations.
4. Donor Advised Funds: The organization receives grants through various donor advised funds including Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, Vanguard, and others. EIN: 23-6005983.
5. Legacy Giving: The organization accepts planned giving and legacy gifts through their legacy will program.
6. Clean Team Workforce Revenue: The Clean Team Workforce earns revenue by providing paid labor services (landscaping, junk removal, estate cleanouts) to businesses and government entities. Employers pay no agency fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Allentown Rescue Mission operates a Gospel Rescue Mission providing emergency shelter, meals, clothing, and showers to men in crisis, an eight-week residential Transformation Program with Bible studies, counseling, and job-readiness training, and the Clean Team Workforce transitional employment program that pays above Pennsylvania minimum wage for landscaping, junk removal, and cleanout services. Support services include a free medical clinic, therapeutic art classes, and chapel services, with community outreach programs distributing books and mobility devices.

Product overview

The Allentown Rescue Mission operates a Gospel Rescue Mission providing shelter and rehabilitation services to men in crisis across the Greater Lehigh Valley since 1900. The organization offers three core programs: Emergency Shelter (providing immediate refuge with meals, clothing, and showers), the Transformation Program (an eight-week residential life-skills and Bible-based rehabilitation program), and the Clean Team Workforce (transitional employment for graduates). Additional support services include the DeSales Free Medical Clinic, Therapeutic Art Class, and Chapel Services. Community outreach programs include Books to the Rescue (book distribution to schools) and Wheelchairs to the Rescue (mobility device donation to Joni and Friends). Donation programs include Changed Lives Champions (monthly giving), Vehicle Donation, and Amazon Wishlist for in-kind gifts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clean Team Workforce: A workforce development program offering transitional employment to graduates of the Transformation Program. Participants are paid above Pennsylvania state minimum wage and perform real work in the community while learning valuable life skills.
• DeSales Free Medical Clinic
• Books to the Rescue
• Therapeutic Art Class

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Emergency shelter providing safe refuge to men 18+ in crisis across the Greater Lehigh Valley. Offers nutritionally balanced meals, clothing, hot showers, and access to medical care. Operates 4:30 PM to 8:00 AM daily with 123 beds.
• Transformation Program Eight-week residential life-skills and Bible-based rehabilitation program for Emergency Shelter guests. Includes Bible studies, counseling, case management, mental health treatment, medical care, job readiness, computer skills, personal finance, and resume building.
• Clean Team Workforce Workforce development program offering paid employment above Pennsylvania minimum wage to Transformation Program graduates. Provides general labor, junk removal, landscaping, estate cleanouts, and light construction services to the community. 53% of participants transition to permanent employment.
• DeSales Free Medical Clinic Free medical services operated by DeSales University physician assistant program since 2007. Staffed by 50+ volunteer doctors, physician assistants, faculty, and students, providing acute illness treatment, prevention, and chronic illness management on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
• Therapeutic Art Class Biweekly painting classes for men in the Transformation Program and Clean Team Workforce, providing creative expression, stress relief, and confidence building through art instruction.
• Chapel Services Spiritual renewal services where local churches and ministries preach and teach the Word of God, helping men connect with faith communities.
• Books to the Rescue Program where Transformation Program participants collect, catalog, and distribute donated early learning books to local elementary schools for needy students.
• Food Service Provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner to men in programs, serving an average of 1,680 meals weekly and approximately 42,000+ meals annually.
• Wheelchairs to the Rescue Initiative where Clean Team Workforce employees acquire wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches through cleanouts and donations, distributing them to Joni and Friends for people impacted by disability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ men rescued through emergency shelter since 1900
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Joni and FriendscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Wheelchairs to the Rescue program collects wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches through property cleanouts and donations, then donates them to Joni and Friends for worldwide distribution to people impacted by disability. Over 150,000 wheelchairs have been delivered through Joni and Friends programs.
• DeSales UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Since 2007, DeSales University has operated the DeSales Free Medical Clinic at the Mission, staffed by over 50 volunteer doctors, physician assistants, faculty, and physician assistant students. The clinic provides free acute illness care, prevention, and chronic illness management. No client is ever charged for services.
• Ready Willing Able (New York)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Team Workforce was modeled after the New York-based Ready Willing Able program, which combines social services with paid work to help men become self-sufficient.
• City of AllentowncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst city contract received in 2011 for litter collecting, trash and recyclables pickup. The partnership has grown to include multiple municipal services.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based social services organization providing family support, refugee services, and counseling — overlaps in faith-based nonprofit social services targeting vulnerable populations but with different program focus.

Direct peers

• The Bowery Mission: New York City-based faith-based Gospel Rescue Mission providing emergency shelter, residential recovery programs, and workforce development to men in crisis — operates the same Rescue/Rehabilitate/Restore model as the Allentown Rescue Mission.
• Wheeler Mission: Indianapolis-based Christian rescue mission offering emergency shelter, addiction recovery, and workforce development programs to men experiencing homelessness, with comparable three-stage continuum of services.
• Union Rescue Mission: Los Angeles-based faith-based rescue mission serving men, women, and children with shelter, recovery programs, and job training — operates an analogous faith-integrated continuum of services.
• City Rescue Mission (New Castle, PA): Western Pennsylvania-based faith-based rescue mission providing shelter, meals, and recovery programming to men in crisis — closely comparable in scope, faith model, and regional Pennsylvania footprint.
• Ready Willing Able (NYC): New York-based workforce development program that directly served as the model for Allentown Rescue Mission's Clean Team Workforce — combines paid transitional employment with social services for men experiencing homelessness.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Major nonprofit workforce development operator with employment placement, training programs, and social enterprise revenue — comparable workforce-development arm to Allentown's Clean Team Workforce at much larger scale.
• The Salvation Army USA: Large international faith-based social services organization operating emergency shelters, recovery programs, and workforce development across the U.S., serving overlapping populations with broader scope and scale than Allentown Rescue Mission.
• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-inspired social services network providing shelter, food, and recovery services across the U.S. — comparable in service breadth and target population but vastly larger scale.

Others

• Joni and Friends: International disability ministry that partners with Allentown Rescue Mission's Wheelchairs to the Rescue program for distribution of donated mobility devices — thematically related faith-based nonprofit and direct program partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheMission2pt0
• Facebookfacebook.com/AllentownRescueMission
• Instagraminstagram.com/allentownrmission
• Xx.com/AtownRmission

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Allentown Rescue Mission