Catholic Social Services

What Catholic Social Services does

Catholic Social Services (CSS) - Alaska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1965 and headquartered at 4600 Debarr Road in Anchorage, Alaska. The organization operates an integrated portfolio of 11 core programs serving Anchorage's most vulnerable populations: emergency shelters (Brother Francis Shelter for adults, Clare House for women and children, Complex Care), hunger relief (St. Francis House Food Pantry — one of the largest in Anchorage, distributing 350,000+ meals annually), refugee resettlement (Alaska Office for Refugees, Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services, Fresh International Gardens urban farm), behavioral health services, family disability services, veteran housing support (SSVF), and the Third Avenue Resource & Navigation Center opened in February 2023. In FY 2025, CSS reports serving more than 13,000 people with food, housing 350+ individuals out of homelessness, sheltering 2,000+, and placing 1,400+ in housing case management. The organization employs 51-100 staff and mobilizes a volunteer network of over 1,049 people contributing more than 21,000 hours annually.

CSS has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-staffed and volunteer-driven. The technology posture is administrative (website, donation processing, e-newsletter) rather than productized. All client-facing services are provided free of charge.

The business model is donation-and-grant-funded, not transactional. Revenue streams include: (1) individual and corporate donations via the website, mail, Pick.Click.Give., monthly giving, legacy gifts, gifts of stock, and vehicle donations; (2) foundation and corporate grants — historically including $5M from the Bezos Day One Fund (2019), $5M from Amazon (2020), $150K from ConocoPhillips (2019), $100K from Wells Fargo (2018), and a $40M anonymous donor pledge (2022); (3) federal/state government contracts for refugee resettlement (Alaska Office for Refugees), SSVF veteran services, and food bank programs (USDA); and (4) in-kind donations of food, clothing, and household goods. CSS is governed by an independent board of directors, operates as a separate legal entity from the Catholic Church, and is affiliated with Catholic Charities USA at the national level.

Name

Catholic Social Services

Legal name

Catholic Social Services

Website

https://cssalaska.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Catholic Social Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Anchorage, Alaska operating emergency shelters, food pantries, refugee resettlement, behavioral health, disability, and veteran support programs serving over 15,000 vulnerable Alaskans annually, funded by donations, grants, and government contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Social Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food Services (624210), 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 industry

Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Refugee resettlement services
• Food assistance programs
• Disability support services
• Behavioral health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Direct donations from individuals, corporations, and community members. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID: 92-0037322) and accepts financial contributions through its website, mail, and various giving programs including Pick.Click.Give., monthly giving, legacy gifts, and gifts of stock.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal, state, and local government funding for refugee resettlement programs, homelessness services, and other social services. The Alaska Office for Refugees administers the state refugee resettlement program.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Grants from foundations and corporations including Amazon (family homelessness initiative), ConocoPhillips ($150k community housing), Wells Fargo ($100K grant), and USDA grants.
4. In-Kind Donations: Physical goods donations including food, clothing, household items, and wishlist items for various shelter and program needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Catholic Social Services - Alaska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a portfolio of direct social services to Anchorage's most vulnerable residents free of charge, including emergency shelter, food pantry assistance, refugee resettlement, developmental disability family support, veteran housing assistance, and trauma-informed behavioral health case management. The organization operates 12 distinct programs under one integrated umbrella and is funded through individual donations, foundation and corporate grants, and federal/state government contracts.

Product overview

Catholic Social Services - Alaska is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a multi-program social services agency. The organization provides an integrated portfolio of programs serving Anchorage's most vulnerable populations, including homelessness services (Brother Francis Shelter, Clare House, Complex Care), hunger relief (St. Francis House Food Pantry), refugee resettlement (Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services, Alaska Office for Refugees, Fresh International Gardens), behavioral health services, family disability services, veteran services, and a centralized resource navigation center. These programs work together to provide comprehensive support from emergency shelter and food assistance through case management, employment services, and permanent housing placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Behavioral Health Services Provides trauma-informed care and Critical Time Intervention to clients and clinicians working directly with individuals and families to overcome obstacles to permanent stability; serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness and other crises in Anchorage.
• 3rd Avenue Resource & Navigation Center Resource center providing services for people experiencing homelessness under one roof, helping connect individuals with various support services and assistance programs.
• Alaska Office for Refugees Administers the state refugee resettlement program for Alaska, providing coordination and oversight for refugee services statewide.
• Brother Francis Shelter Emergency shelter for adults providing overnight accommodation, case management, and transition support toward permanent stability for individuals experiencing homelessness; can help over 270 men and women every night.
• Clare House Shelter for women with children and expectant mothers experiencing homelessness, offering 24-hour support, case management, and assistance finding permanent housing; serves 60 moms and kids each day.
• Complex Care Emergency shelter and support services for individuals with complex needs, providing specialized care and case management for vulnerable populations.
• Family Disability Services Provides developmental disability resources, trained respite providers, and support services working with individuals in their homes and out in the community.
• Refugee Assistance & Immigration Services (RAIS) Provides new refugee arrivals with resources, employment assistance, and support services as they settle in Alaska, helping connect them with jobs and community integration.
• St. Francis House Food Pantry One of the largest food pantries in Anchorage providing hunger relief to 50-150 families daily, offering a 2-day emergency supply of food to anyone in need; volunteers distribute over 350,000 meals annually.
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Provides housing assistance and support services to veteran families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, helping them achieve stable housing through housing vouchers, employment assistance, and stability services.
• Fresh International Gardens (FIG) Urban farming program providing refugee farmers with agricultural training and economic opportunity, producing fresh produce that is donated to St. Francis House Food Pantry via the Grow Local, Give Local campaign.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 13,000 people provided with nourishing food annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Food Bank of AlaskacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Lead organization for Thanksgiving Blessing annual food distribution program. CSS coordinates volunteers for the initiative which distributed 2,033 Thanksgiving meal boxes in 2025. Long-standing collaboration supporting food-insecure families across Anchorage.
• St. Patrick's ParishcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Faith community partner for Thanksgiving Blessing program for 20 years. Parishioner Dave Patterson has led distribution site for nearly two decades. Parish collects food baskets and coordinates with CSS volunteers.
• Providence Health & ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2017Partner in Healthcare and Homelessness Partnership formed April 2017 to address homelessness as a public health issue. Collaboration includes medical respite program at Brother Francis Shelter.
• Catholic Charities USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization. CSS programs help refugees flourish with community support. Featured in Catholic Charities USA magazine coverage.
• Fresh International Gardens (FIG) and Grow North FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee farming programs that collaborate with St. Francis House Food Pantry for Grow Local, Give Local campaign. Farmers grow produce which is purchased and donated to food pantry, providing income for refugees and nutritious food for families.
• Knights of Columbus - St. Benedict's ParishminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuarterly donation drives for CSS programs including gloves, hats, socks, toiletries, and other essential items. Expanded from annual glove drive to four drives per year over 8 years.
• Bean's CafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides meals at Clare House shelter. Collaboration ensures mothers and children receive daily nutrition. CSS volunteers supplement meal services.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities USA: National Catholic social services network of which CSS Alaska is an affiliate member. Operates the same integrated social services model (shelter, food, refugee, immigration, disability) and provides shared mission, brand, and grantmaking infrastructure to local affiliates.
• Lutheran Social Services of Alaska: Faith-based social services nonprofit operating in Anchorage with a comparable portfolio of refugee resettlement, family services, and community support programs. Directly competes for the same government refugee contracts and donor dollars in the Alaska market.
• Bean's Cafe: Anchorage-based nonprofit providing daily meal services to homeless individuals and a direct program partner of CSS (Bean's Cafe provides meals at Clare House). Operates the same donation-and-volunteer-driven meal service model in the same Anchorage market.
• Food Bank of Alaska: Anchorage-based hunger relief organization and direct partner of CSS through the Thanksgiving Blessing program. Operates comparable food distribution, USDA-funded, and donation-supported model serving overlapping food-insecure populations.
• Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Direct Catholic Social Services affiliate operating in another major U.S. market with a similar integrated portfolio of adoption, refugee resettlement, housing, and family services. Closest direct operational analog among CSS affiliates for benchmarking scale and program model.
• Salvation Army Alaska: Direct local competitor operating similar emergency shelter, food service, and case management programs across Anchorage. Comparable faith-based, donor-funded, volunteer-driven operating model serving overlapping homeless and food-insecure populations.
• Covenant House Alaska: Anchorage-based nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and supportive services primarily to youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Operates the same donation-and-grant funding model with overlapping donor base and government funding streams.

Others

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Anchorage: Local Catholic-affiliated nonprofit offering pregnancy and family support services in Anchorage. Closely related faith-based organization sharing the Catholic social ministry mission and overlapping donor/funder relationships with CSS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CSSAlaska
• Facebookfacebook.com/cssalaska
• Instagraminstagram.com/cssalaska
• Xx.com/cssalaska
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-social-services-ak

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catholic Social Services