Now-Forward

What Now-Forward does

Now-Forward is a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 (originally as North Dallas Shared Ministries) that delivers integrated emergency aid and free healthcare services to low-income residents of Dallas County. Its operating model is volunteer-led: 175 active volunteers staff client intake, food and clothing distribution, ESL instruction, and clinical roles alongside a small paid staff, while partner institutions — including UT Southwestern Medical Center, Texas A&M University School of Dentistry, North Texas Food Bank, Texas Health Resources, St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy, Parkland Hospital, Lions Sight and Tissue Foundation, and 40+ Covenant Congregations — supply professional services, in-kind goods, and referrals. The organization operates from a single debt-free 20,322 sq ft facility at 2875 Merrell Road, serving over 135,000 people annually through food assistance, clothes, school supplies and uniforms, vision care, medical and dental clinics, counseling, ESL classes, tax preparation, and emergency rent/utility aid. Technology infrastructure consists of Salesforce CRM for client database management (deployed in 2018) and an electronic enrollment system for food distribution launched in June 2024; no proprietary AI or advanced automation is in use.

The revenue model is donation-dependent and 100% free to clients at the point of service. In 2024, Now-Forward received $4,858,988 in monetary donations, composed of 50% individual donors, 41% grants and foundations, 7% Covenant Congregations, and 2% other sources. The 2025 Board-approved operating budget is $3,021,000 on a cash basis and $7,246,000 inclusive of donated goods and services, with total assistance delivered in 2024 reported at $6.4M. Go-to-market is community- and event-led: client acquisition runs through 40+ partner churches, healthcare referrals, partner organization cross-referrals, word-of-mouth, and periodic community events (immunization fairs, mammogram screenings, school supply distribution), supported by a website, social media, and a published brand and media kit. The organization rebranded from NDSM to Now-Forward in 2025 and is mid-execution of a $10M, 5-year Strategic Financial Campaign launched in 2023. It has held Charity Navigator's highest rating for six consecutive years, a distinction achieved by fewer than 5% of rated charities.

Name

Now-Forward

Legal name

Now-Forward

Website

https://now-forward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Now-Forward is a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that delivers free, integrated emergency aid and healthcare (food, clothing, medical, dental, vision, counseling, ESL, tax prep, rent/utility assistance) to over 135,000 low-income residents of Dallas County annually, funded by donations and operated by 175 volunteers plus institutional partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Community Food Services (62421), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

Keywords

• Emergency assistance services
• Food pantry programs
• Free medical clinic
• Dental care services
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors provide 50% of monetary donations, representing the largest single revenue source for the organization
2. Grants and Foundations: Grants and foundations contribute 41% of monetary donations, representing the second largest revenue source
3. Covenant Congregations: Covenant Congregations provide 7% of monetary donations, representing faith-based institutional support
4. Other Donations: Other sources account for 2% of monetary donations
5. Total Monetary Donations: Total monetary donations in 2024: $4,858,988. Total organizational budget is $3,021,000 cash basis, $7,246,000 including donated goods and services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Now-Forward provides free emergency aid and integrated healthcare services to low-income residents of Dallas County, including weekly food distribution, clothing, vision/eyeglasses, medical care, dental care, mental health counseling, ESL classes, school uniforms and supplies, free tax preparation, and emergency rent/utility assistance. All services are delivered at no cost to qualifying clients from a single 20,322 sq ft facility supported by 175 volunteers and 40+ partner congregations.

Product overview

Now-Forward is a nonprofit community support organization offering a comprehensive suite of emergency assistance and healthcare services. The organization operates multiple distinct programs including a food pantry, clothes closet, vision services, medical clinic, dental clinic, counseling, ESL classes, school uniforms and supplies distribution, tax preparation assistance, and rent/utility financial assistance. These services are designed to help low-income individuals and families achieve stability through temporary emergency aid and access to medical and dental care. The organization primarily serves residents of Dallas County and surrounding areas through its Primary Service Area of 24 zip codes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Assistance Provides households with food and diapers once a week to Dallas County residents and those in specified zip codes (75023, 75074, 75075). Distribution hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30am-Noon, with a Friday FoodBasket program available for individuals aged 60 and older.
• Clothes Closet Provides clothes, shoes, and accessories for adults and children in Dallas County. Distribution hours are Monday-Friday with early morning hours on Wednesday and Friday.
• Vision Services Provides glasses to improve quality of life for residents in the Primary Service Area or Dallas County. Includes pre-screening, optometrist visits, and glasses pick-up services delivered via a partnership with Lions Sight and Tissue Foundation mobile eye unit.
• Medical Clinic Provides preventative, acute, and chronic care for uninsured adults and children, including acute minor illnesses, chronic care (diabetes, hypertension), mental health, women's health, immunizations, and orthopedics. Open Monday-Thursday 7:30am-6:00pm. Staffed by UT Southwestern Medical Center under a contractual partnership.
• Dental Clinic Provides preventative, emergency, and restorative care for uninsured adults and children, including new patient exams, extractions, fillings, deep cleaning, and dentures for those aged 60 and older. Open Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. Staffed by Texas A&M University School of Dentistry in six operatories.
• Counseling Services Offers mental health assistance to individuals, couples, and families to address anxiety, depression, stress, and related issues. Available Monday-Friday by appointment only. Delivered in partnership with Cannenta Center for Healing and Empowerment.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Provides evening conversational English classes for adults. Classes held Tuesday and Thursday 6:30pm-8:00pm.
• School Uniforms & Supplies Provides school supplies and uniforms to children in Dallas County. Includes plain white polos and khaki/navy blue shorts and/or pants for students in grades Pre-K through 12. Distributed seasonally in August.
• Tax Preparation Assistance Provides free assistance for filing Federal Income Tax Returns. Summer hours are Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00pm-6:00pm, with 3rd Saturday of the month 10:00am-2:00pm. Operated with staffing from Foundation Communities Community Tax Centers.
• Rent & Utility Assistance Provides financial assistance for emergency situations related to rent and utilities. Requires verifiable income (employment, SSI, SSDI, disability, workers comp, unemployment) and residency in the Primary Service Area.

Quantifiable outcome

• 135,000+ people served annually
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Covenant Congregations (40+ churches)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983In 1983, five Covenant Congregations conceived of North Dallas Shared Ministries as a secular partnership. Today over 40 congregations remain the strength and backbone of Now-Forward, providing volunteer support, funds, goods, and community connections.
• North Texas Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Texas Food Bank is the primary provider of no-cost food for the pantry, supplying essential food items for weekly distribution to families in need across Dallas County.
• Hope Supply Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope Supply Co. provides no-cost diapers monthly, meeting a critical need identified during COVID when at least 50% of households requested diapers.
• Lions Sight and Tissue FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLions Sight and Tissue Foundation volunteers and mobile eye exam unit make the eyeglasses program possible, providing vision exams and glasses to those in need.
• Texas A&M University School of DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides dental students, faculty and dental assistants to staff the Dental Clinic full time, enabling comprehensive dental care five days a week with six operatories.
• Foundation Communities (Community Tax Centers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Tax Centers of Foundation Communities provides staffing support and oversight for the Tax Preparation Assistance program, enabling free tax filing for low-income residents.
• UT Southwestern Medical Center (Department of Family and Community Medicine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContractual relationship with UTSW Department of Family and Community Medicine for provision of Medical Clinic staff. In 2023, partnership shifted from DSRIP funding to contract where Now-Forward pays for six medical staff positions.
• Texas Health ResourcessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas Health Resources provides on-site screening mammograms monthly and follow-up diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies at no cost to patients.
• Moncrief Cancer Institute at UT SouthwesternsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoncrief Cancer Institute provides on-site screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and monthly colposcopies for cervical cancer detection.
• St. Vincent de Paul PharmacycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy provides no-cost prescription medications for Medical Clinic patients, eliminating a significant barrier to healthcare access.
• Dallas County Health and Human ServicessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDallas County Health and Human Services hosts on-site flu, COVID and back-to-school immunization fairs, and provides verifiable income verification support for rent/utility assistance.
• Parkland HospitalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerParkland provides credentialing services for all volunteer physicians and licensed allied health professionals at no cost, enabling qualified volunteer medical staff.
• Cannenta Center for Healing and EmpowermentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNow-Forward collaborates with Cannenta Center for the services of a full-time, on-site mental health clinician, providing counseling services to individuals, couples, and families.
• Texas Vaccines for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas Vaccines for Children provides all childhood vaccines at no cost, supporting the immunization program for uninsured children.
• ProPath LabssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProPath provides pro bono diagnostic services for women patients, supporting cancer screening and diagnostic needs.
• Dallas Research InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Medical Clinic partners with Dallas Research Institute for the benefit of patients with liver disease.
• TXU Energy AidsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTXU Energy Aid provides funding annually for the payment of TXU bills of Now-Forward clients, enabling utility assistance program.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Community Council of Greater Dallas: Long-standing Dallas social services umbrella and convener addressing poverty, health access, and aging services; comparable in target population and integrated service orientation.

Direct peers

• Brother Bill's Helping Hand: West Dallas faith-rooted nonprofit providing food, clothing, ESL, medical, and financial assistance to low-income families; closely comparable in service mix and church-led DNA.
• Salvation Army of North Texas: Operates integrated emergency assistance, food, rent/utility, and social services across the Dallas metro, with a similar volunteer- and donation-driven model targeting low-income clients.
• North Texas Food Bank: Primary wholesale food provider for Now-Forward's pantry and a major regional food distribution nonprofit serving North Texas counties, comparable in mission and donor base.
• CitySquare: Dallas-based nonprofit addressing poverty through food, housing, health, and social enterprise programs, with a comparable integrated anti-poverty service model.
• Catholic Charities of Dallas: Provides a comprehensive suite of emergency assistance, healthcare, food, and social services to low-income residents across the Dallas area and is directly comparable to Now-Forward's integrated service model.

Emerging players

• Vogel Alcove: Dallas nonprofit providing early childhood services and family support for children experiencing homelessness; comparable in client population and integrated care philosophy, though narrower in scope.
• Genesis Women's Shelter & Support: Dallas nonprofit providing shelter, counseling, and support services for women affected by domestic violence; comparable mission-driven, donor-supported model serving vulnerable Dallas residents.
• The Family Place: Major Dallas nonprofit delivering counseling, shelter, and social services for victims of family violence; comparable in Dallas footprint, volunteer-driven service delivery, and broad social services mission.

Others

• Hope Supply Co. North Texas nonprofit providing diapers and essential supplies to children in need; existing Now-Forward partner and comparable in target population and donations-based funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/now-forward

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Now-Forward