What Samaritan House does

Samaritan House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 that delivers a coordinated portfolio of health, housing, food, and supportive services to low-income and working-poor residents of San Mateo County. Operating from eight service locations across the county — including a main office in San Mateo and satellite sites in East Palo Alto, Burlingame, Redwood City, and South San Francisco — the organization provides free food distribution (pantries, daily dining, weekend lunch), free medical and dental care through clinic locations, emergency and transitional shelter (Safe Harbor 90-bed congregate shelter, Pacific Emergency Services 70+ rooms, El Camino House 45+ rooms), children's programs, case management, a worker resource center, school programs, holiday assistance, and financial empowerment services (including the 2025 LIFT pilot, Journey financial literacy program, and VITA free tax preparation). Service access is case-managed via a centralized intake line at (650) 347-3648.

The revenue model is donation- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Three funding streams are documented: private donations and grants from individual donors, family foundations, and corporate philanthropies (top-tier funders include the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Sobrato Family Foundation, Gilead Foundation, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation); public funding from San Mateo County and nine municipalities (Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco) plus county agencies including BHRS, Department of Housing, HSA, and FEMA emergency programs; and substantial in-kind contributions led by Second Harvest of Silicon Valley ($5M+), County of San Mateo ($1M+), and Dispensary of Hope ($1M+). All services are delivered free of charge to clients.

Operationally, the organization runs lean despite its footprint: 101–250 employees are supported by 3,350+ annual volunteers; technology stack and customer-facing software are not disclosed; no mobile apps or developer APIs exist. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors under CEO Laura Bent (11 years tenure, 35+ years in the nonprofit sector, formerly of YMCA of San Francisco) with a leadership team comprising COO Alec Raffin (joined July 2023), combined CFO/CIO Inessa Shishmanyan (2025 Bay Area CFO of the Year finalist), and functional VPs in HR, Advancement, Programs, Volunteer Engagement, and IT. The medical program is led by Stanford-based physician Dr. Baldeep Singh as Medical Director. Brand reputation is reinforced by 12 consecutive years of 4-star Charity Navigator ratings (top 1% nationwide), a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and a Top Rated Great Nonprofits designation.

Name

Samaritan House

Legal name

Samaritan House

Website

https://samaritanhousesanmateo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human and Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food Services (624210), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Food assistance programs
• Free healthcare clinics
• Emergency shelter services
• Financial empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Mateo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Private Donations and Grants: Samaritan House receives funding from individual donors, family foundations, and corporate philanthropies. The 2025 Annual Report lists major donors at various tiers including Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ($250,000+), Sobrato Family Foundation, Gilead Foundation, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, and hundreds of other private contributors ranging from $1,000 to $250,000+.
2. Public Funding: Government grants and public funding from cities within San Mateo County (Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco) and county agencies including Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Department of Housing, Human Services Agency, and FEMA emergency programs.
3. Gift In-Kind: Major in-kind contributions including Second Harvest of Silicon Valley ($5,000,000+), County of San Mateo ($1,000,000+), Dispensary of Hope ($1,000,000+), and various corporate and individual in-kind donors of food, medical supplies, and other goods.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Samaritan House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization that delivers a coordinated network of free essential services to low-income individuals and families in San Mateo County. Core offerings include food pantries and meal programs, free medical and dental clinics, emergency and transitional housing/shelter, case management, children's and school programs, a worker resource center, and financial empowerment programs (including LIFT, the Journey financial literacy program, and free VITA tax preparation).

Product overview

Samaritan House is a nonprofit social services organization serving San Mateo County, not a technology product company. The organization provides a coordinated network of essential services including food assistance, free healthcare clinics, housing and shelter programs, children's services, case management, financial empowerment, and worker resources. Services are delivered through multiple locations (main office in San Mateo, East Palo Alto, Burlingame Annex, and satellite clinics) with the goal of helping working poor individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency and stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Services Free food pantries, daily meal dining programs (Mon-Fri 4:30pm-5:30pm), and weekend lunch-to-go distribution for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in San Mateo County.
• Health & Dental Services Free medical and dental clinic services for uninsured and underinsured low-income residents, delivered through the San Mateo Free Clinic and Redwood City clinic (appointment only).
• Housing & Shelter Services Emergency and transitional housing including Safe Harbor Shelter (90-bed congregate shelter), Pacific Emergency Services (70+ room non-congregate hotel shelter), and El Camino House (45+ room non-congregate hotel shelter program).
• Case Management Individual and family case management providing needs assessments, goal planning, referrals to community resources, and ongoing guidance and accountability toward self-sufficiency.
• Financial Empowerment Program Financial literacy and empowerment services including the LIFT (Lifeline to Ignite Financial Transformation) pilot for single mothers, the Journey Program for financial literacy skills, and free VITA tax preparation.
• Children's Programs Programs supporting children and families, including the Wee Care school-based initiative that helps children build empathy through donating to needy children in their community.
• Worker Resource Center Support services for low-wage workers including job placement assistance, skills development, and resources to help working poor individuals maintain employment and stability.
• Holiday Program Seasonal assistance providing toys, food, and other holiday support to families in need during the December holiday period.
• School Programs Educational support programs serving schools and students throughout San Mateo County, including back-to-school drives and school-based partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26% increase in patients served at Free Clinic of San Mateo
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Stanford MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing medical expertise and support. Dr. Baldeep Singh serves as Medical Director and is a Clinical Professor at Stanford. Stanford Office of Community Engagement also listed as donor.
• County of San Mateo (and various cities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic funding partners including County of San Mateo, City of Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and various county agencies (BHRS, DOH, HSA).
• Second Harvest of Silicon ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor in-kind food partner ($5,000,000+) providing food supplies for distribution to families in need.
• Sutter Health/Mills-Peninsula Medical CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing in-kind support ($500,000+) and public funding for medical services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Peninsula Family Service: Multi-service human services nonprofit serving San Mateo County with similar programming across case management, senior services, and early learning. Direct peer in geography and service mix; Samaritan House's CFO/CIO previously led there.
• Abode Services: Bay Area nonprofit providing housing and supportive services for homeless individuals and families, including interim and permanent housing. Comparable mission focus and operating geography across multiple Bay Area counties.
• St. Anthony Foundation: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing a comparable integrated suite of services including free dining, free medical/dental clinic, social work, and recovery support. Closest direct analog to Samaritan House's one-stop service hub model.
• LifeMoves: Bay Area nonprofit focused on emergency and interim housing, shelter operations, and supportive services for homeless individuals and families. Direct peer in shelter/housing operations across multiple Silicon Valley counties.
• Glide Foundation: San Francisco-based nonprofit offering integrated services including meals, housing, healthcare, and social services to people experiencing poverty. Closely comparable one-stop service hub operating model.
• Sacred Heart Community Service: San Jose-area multi-service anti-poverty nonprofit offering food, clothing, case management, financial empowerment, and immigration services. Highly comparable program mix and free-of-charge service model.

Regional players

• San Mateo County Human Services Agency: Government counterpart providing public social services, benefits administration, and housing support in the same county. Comparable population served but operates as a public agency rather than a nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• HealthRight 360: Large Bay Area nonprofit integrating healthcare, mental health, housing, and substance use treatment for vulnerable populations. Comparable integrated service model with a broader geographic footprint.
• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: Major regional food bank that is both Samaritan House's largest in-kind partner and an adjacent peer in food distribution scale. Operates a much larger regional footprint across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Emerging players

• Midpen Housing: Bay Area nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Adjacent peer in the housing continuum but focused on development rather than emergency shelter operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/samaritan_house
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SamaritanHouseSM
• Facebookfacebook.com/samaritanhouse.smc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samaritan-house-of-san-mateo-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/Samaritan_House

Compliance4 records

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 Samaritan House