Knock Knock Give a Sock
Knock Knock Give a Sock is a NYC-based nonprofit that collects and distributes socks to homeless shelters via corporate and college sock drives, and runs Meet Your Neighbor Dinners to humanize homelessness through direct community engagement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Knock Knock Give a Sock does
Knock Knock Give a Sock (KKGS) is a New York City-based nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Adina Lichtman, then a sophomore at NYU. The organization collects new socks — identified as the most needed but least donated article of clothing for people experiencing homelessness — from corporate offices, college campuses, and community groups, and distributes them to homeless shelters across NYC. Since founding, KKGS reports collecting and distributing over 3,000,000 pairs of socks, with current annual throughput exceeding 1,000,000 pairs across 523 schools and offices.
The core product is a two-step engagement model: partner organizations first host a sock drive (KKGS provides branded bins and pickup logistics in NYC), and are then offered a "Meet Your Neighbor Dinner" — a sit-down event pairing corporate employees with shelter residents to humanize homelessness through direct interaction. The portfolio is broadened by Meet Your Neighbor Game Nights at shelters, the Sockcess Job Program (which hires shelter residents to help distribute socks), the annual Happy Holiday Carnival serving ~300 shelter children, the Woodsock Music Festival pairing shelter artists with mainstream artists, and books sold via a Shopify storefront.
The business model is donation-driven, supported by a corporate partner roster that includes Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Blackstone, Deloitte, Salesforce, Accenture, WeWork, Facebook NY, Hilton, Nike, Toyota, and others. Secondary revenue comes from Shopify book sales and Givebutter-based online donations. Operations are run by a small core team (Founder, Administrative Associate, Program Director) and governed by a board drawing from Bessemer Venture Partners, Bank of America, KPMG, Stonepeak Partners, Adobe, Salesforce, and Newmark. There is no proprietary technology platform, and the organization operates exclusively within the United States with geographic concentration in NYC.
Knock Knock Give a Sock firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Knock Knock Give a Sock
- Legal name
- Knock Knock Give A Sock
- Website
- https://knockknockgiveasock.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Knock Knock Give a Sock is a NYC-based nonprofit that collects and distributes socks to homeless shelters via corporate and college sock drives, and runs Meet Your Neighbor Dinners to humanize homelessness through direct community engagement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Knock Knock Give a Sock industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless Services
- NAICS
- Other Community Housing Services (624229)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
Keywords
Where Knock Knock Give a Sock is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Knock Knock Give a Sock business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: KKGS relies primarily on donations from individuals and corporate sponsors to fund sock collection and distribution operations. Donations also support the Sockcess Job Program which employs shelter residents.
- Book Sales: KKGS sells books through their Shopify storefront as a secondary revenue stream.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Knock Knock Give a Sock product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Knock Knock Give a Sock (KKGS) is a nonprofit that collects new socks from corporate offices, college campuses, and community sock drives, and distributes them to individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City shelters. It complements sock distribution with relationship-building programs such as Meet Your Neighbor Dinners and Game Nights, the Sockcess Job Program that employs shelter residents, and community events including the Happy Holiday Carnival and WoodSock Music Festival.
Product overview
Knock Knock Give a Sock operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs centered on sock collection and community engagement to humanize homelessness. The core offering consists of a Sock Collection and Distribution Program that collects socks from corporate offices and college campuses and distributes them to homeless individuals. This is complemented by Meet Your Neighbor programs (Dinners and Game Nights) that facilitate direct interaction between housed and unhoused neighbors. The organization also runs annual signature events including the Happy Holiday Carnival for shelter children and the Woodsock Music Festival. A key differentiator is the Sockcess Job Program, which employs shelter residents to help distribute socks. Additionally, the organization sells published books through a Shopify store. The products work together to transform simple sock donations into meaningful human connections while addressing both immediate material needs and longer-term community integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sock Collection and Distribution Program
- Meet Your Neighbor Dinners
- Meet Your Neighbor Game Nights
- Sockcess Job Program
- Happy Holiday Carnival
- Woodsock Music Festival
- KKGS Books
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,000,000+ pairs of socks collected and distributed since founding
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Knock Knock Give a Sock
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Knock Knock Give a Sock technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Knock Knock Give a Sock partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- MyGradPadminorCorporate partner that has helped KKGS turn transactions into interactions through Meet Your Neighbor programs.
- WeWorkcoreCorporate partner that has provided space and support for KKGS sock drives and community events.
- ToyotaminorCorporate partner that has supported KKGS sock collection efforts.
- Girl ScoutsminorPartner organization involved in sock donation initiatives.
- ForbesminorFeatured in Forbes coverage for Giving Tuesday impact organizations.
- LinkedInminorCorporate partner supporting KKGS community engagement programs.
- Goldman SachscoreMajor corporate partner that has helped KKGS turn transactions into interactions through Meet Your Neighbor programs.
- SalesforcecoreCorporate partner listed as having helped KKGS scale operations.
- DeloittecoreMajor corporate partner involved in KKGS sock drives and community programs.
- JP Morgan & ChasecoreMajor corporate partner that has participated in Meet Your Neighbor Dinners.
- Morgan StanleycoreCorporate partner supporting KKGS community engagement initiatives.
- ChasecoreCorporate partner involved in KKGS sock drives and programs.
- BlackstonecoreCorporate partner supporting KKGS community programs.
- AccenturecoreMajor corporate partner involved in KKGS sock collection efforts.
- Facebook Offices NYcoreCorporate partner (Facebook NY office) participating in KKGS programs.
- Hello FreshminorCorporate partner supporting KKGS sock donation initiatives.
- HiltonminorCorporate partner involved in KKGS community programs.
- Warner BrothersminorCorporate partner supporting KKGS.
- Nike SohominorCorporate partner (Nike Soho location) involved in KKGS programs.
- UJA-Federation of New YorkcoreStrategic partner (Jewish Federation) supporting KKGS mission and operations.
- Business InsiderminorMedia partner covering KKGS impact and programs.
- IBMminorCorporate partner supporting KKGS community initiatives.
- Capital One BankminorCorporate partner involved in KKGS programs.
- TD BankminorCorporate partner supporting KKGS.
- General ElectricminorCorporate partner involved in KKGS sock drives.
- IndeedminorCorporate partner supporting KKGS programs.
- The Mars AgencyminorMarketing agency partner supporting KKGS.
- 21st Century FoxminorCorporate partner (now part of Disney) supporting KKGS.
- W MagazineminorMedia partner covering KKGS.
- Bustle Digital GroupminorDigital media partner that covered KKGS founder story.
- Kartell, CBRE, Deloitte DigitalminorVarious corporate partners supporting KKGS community engagement.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Knock Knock Give a Sock competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Volunteers of America Greater New York: Large national-affiliate nonprofit operating housing, behavioral health, and veteran services in NYC. Comparable mission serving homeless populations in NYC but as part of a much broader multi-service portfolio.
- Habitat for Humanity New York City: NYC affiliate of Habitat for Humanity focused on affordable housing development and home repairs. Comparable in NYC homelessness/affordable-housing focus and corporate volunteer engagement, though centered on housing construction rather than direct service.
Others
- UJA-Federation of New York: Large NYC Jewish federation and core strategic partner/funding organization for KKGS. Comparable as a NYC-based social services funder that supports homeless services, while serving primarily as KKGS's fiscal/strategic umbrella rather than direct competitor.
Emerging players
- Socks for Souls: Smaller nonprofit focused specifically on sock collection for homeless individuals. Direct niche overlap with KKGS's core product, though with a more transactional donation model lacking the Meet Your Neighbor engagement layer.
Direct peers
- Covenant House: Large NYC-based nonprofit serving homeless and trafficking-survivor youth with shelter, housing, and employment programs. Directly comparable as a NYC homelessness-services organization pursuing corporate partnerships and donor engagement, though operating at much greater scale.
- New York Cares: NYC's leading volunteer-mobilization nonprofit connecting corporate employee volunteers with nonprofits. Comparable in NYC-focused corporate volunteer activation model, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope than KKGS.
- Project Renewal: NYC nonprofit focused on ending homelessness through housing, healthcare, and employment programs. Directly comparable in mission and NYC focus, with stronger emphasis on durable housing outcomes versus KKGS's sock-and-engagement approach.
- Bowery Mission: Historic NYC nonprofit providing shelter, meals, clothing, and recovery programs to homeless individuals. Directly comparable mission and NYC geography, with a broader service portfolio and similarly active corporate partner network.
- Help USA: NYC-based national nonprofit operating transitional and permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families. Comparable in mission and NYC operating geography with a housing-first model contrasting KKGS's donations-and-engagement model.
- The Doe Fund: NYC nonprofit offering transitional housing, workforce development, and dignity-driven programs (including Ready, Willing, Able) for formerly homeless and incarcerated individuals. Comparable NYC base and emphasis on employment pathways similar to KKGS's Sockcess program.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Knock Knock Give a Sock social profiles
Digital presenceKnock Knock Give a Sock financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Knock Knock Give a Sock leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Knock Knock Give a Sock funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Knock Knock Give a Sock M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Knock Knock Give a Sock
What does Knock Knock Give a Sock do?
Knock Knock Give a Sock (KKGS) is a nonprofit that collects new socks from corporate offices, college campuses, and community sock drives, and distributes them to individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City shelters. It complements sock distribution with relationship-building programs such as Meet Your Neighbor Dinners and Game Nights, the Sockcess Job Program that employs shelter residents, and community events including the Happy Holiday Carnival and WoodSock Music Festival.
Is Knock Knock Give a Sock a public or private company?
Knock Knock Give a Sock is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Knock Knock Give a Sock founded?
Knock Knock Give a Sock was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Knock Knock Give a Sock based?
Knock Knock Give a Sock is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Knock Knock Give a Sock make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are book Sales.
Who are Knock Knock Give a Sock's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Volunteers of America Greater New York and Habitat for Humanity New York City. UJA-Federation of New York is listed as an others. Socks for Souls is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Covenant House, New York Cares, Project Renewal, Bowery Mission, Help USA and The Doe Fund.
Does Knock Knock Give a Sock have an API?
No public API is recorded for Knock Knock Give a Sock.
What industry is Knock Knock Give a Sock in?
Knock Knock Give a Sock's product category is Homeless Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 624229.