Cafe of Life, Inc.

What Cafe of Life, Inc. does

Cafe of Life, Inc. is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in Bonita Springs, Florida, since approximately 2000, with a mission to provide basic human needs — food, clothing, financial assistance, transportation, medical care, and educational enrichment — to the poor and hungry in the surrounding community while preserving client dignity. The organization is denominationally unaffiliated and explicit about serving across faiths, and its beneficiary base is roughly 90% working poor (predominantly Hispanic families) and 10% homeless individuals, with additional reach into migrant camps, seven low-income neighborhoods, seniors, and disabled residents. Service delivery runs through three physical sites in Bonita Springs — a main office at 10540 Childers Street, a feeding site at Leitner Park on 26724 Nomad Drive, and a Donation Center at 9201 Cockleshell Court opened in 2025 — supplemented by a mobile outreach program and a Transportation Program launched in 2017 that shuttles clients to services and appointments.

The portfolio spans twelve distinct programs: daily meal services, neighborhood outreach, transportation, donation center intake, emergency financial assistance (over $150,000 disbursed in 2024), women's life skills, on-site medical care twice per month, camp sponsorship (60 children annually), post-high-school scholarships (3 annually), a music program, legal and immigration guidance, and recurring special events (Back-to-School with 350+ backpacks, 550+ Thanksgiving meals, and Christmas gift distributions). Underlying technology is modest but functional: a Salesforce CRM implementation for client, volunteer, and donor data; a custom iPad-accessible volunteer portal for real-time service-hour logging; Google Ad Grants campaigns for online visibility; and a standard web/social stack (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, quarterly email newsletters). The build was driven internally by a Technology Coordinator with web development credentials, not by external AI or ML systems.

The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Caf\u00e9 of Life operates as a tax-exempt entity under US Treasury recognition, Florida registration #CH25732, and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Marietta Bala since 2003, with Jeff serving as Executive Director. Cash inflows come from individual donors, businesses, churches, and community organizations; in-kind inflows come from grocery and restaurant food donors (Publix, Fresh Market, Farmer Mike's, Chick-fil-A), plus clothing and household goods. Staffing is intentionally lean — six paid employees supported by a large volunteer base — and revenue is not publicly disclosed, with all services delivered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Name

Cafe of Life, Inc.

Legal name

Cafe of Life, Inc.

Website

https://cafeoflife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cafe of Life, Inc. is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Bonita Springs, Florida, providing food, clothing, financial assistance, transportation, medical care, and educational programs free of charge to working poor families, homeless individuals, migrant workers, and seniors across seven underserved neighborhoods in the Bonita Springs area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonita Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monetary contributions from individuals who support the nonprofit's mission to serve the poor and hungry in Bonita Springs
2. Business and Organization Donations: Contributions from businesses, churches and organizations in the community
3. Food Donations: In-kind food donations from grocery stores and restaurants including Publix, Fresh Market, and Farmer Mike's
4. Clothing and Household Item Donations: Gently used clothing and essential household items donated and redistributed through the Donation Center

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cafe of Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free basic human needs services to the poor and underserved in the Bonita Springs, Florida area. Core offerings include daily hot meals served 365 days per year, a food pantry, clothing distribution, transportation assistance, emergency financial aid, medical care referrals, women's life skills programs, scholarships, camp sponsorships, and legal/immigration services. All services are provided at no cost to clients and are funded entirely through donations and grants.

Product overview

Cafe of Life is a faith-based nonprofit organization (not a technology company) providing basic human needs services to the underserved community of Bonita Springs, Florida. The organization operates as a single, unified service model centered around its daily feeding site and outreach programs. Its portfolio includes 12 distinct programs: Daily Meal Services, Outreach Program, Transportation Program, Donation Center, Financial Assistance, Women's Life Skills, Premier Medical Care, Camp Sponsorship, Scholarships, Music Program, Legal and Immigration Services, and Special Events. These programs work together to address food insecurity, poverty, and lack of access to services for working poor families (90% Hispanic) and homeless individuals (10%).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Daily Meal Services Daily hot meals served 365 days a year to community members in need, regardless of age, race, or religion. Includes a Tuesday food pantry distribution.
• Outreach Program (Cafe on Wheels) Mobile outreach unit that travels to migrant camps, homeless camps, and campsites to distribute hot meals, food, clothing, and personal supplies to individuals experiencing homelessness or extreme poverty.
• Transportation Services Rides provided to clients needing transportation to medical appointments, work, or other essential destinations.
• Donation Center Physical location where community members can drop off donated food, clothing, and essential supplies for redistribution to those in need.
• Financial Assistance Program Emergency financial assistance provided on a case-by-case basis to clients for rent, utilities, prescriptions, and other essential needs, with bills paid directly to vendors rather than disbursed to clients.
• Women's Life Skills Program Educational and mentoring program for women covering personal development, life skills, parenting, and self-sufficiency topics.
• Premier Medical Care Program Program connecting uninsured clients with medical professionals who donate services, and providing financial assistance for essential prescription medications.
• Camp Sponsorship Program Provides camp sponsorships so that children from low-income families can attend summer camp experiences.
• Scholarship Program Scholarships awarded to students in need to support their pursuit of higher education.
• Music Program Provides musical instruments and music lessons to youth in the community, including lessons in guitar, piano, violin, drums, voice, and bass.
• Legal and Immigration Services Free legal and immigration assistance provided to community members through attorney partnerships and referral networks.
• Special Events and Fundraising

Quantifiable outcome

• $150,000+ in financial assistance provided in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2024Partnership through American Red Cross Community Adaption Program which focuses on enhancing capabilities of organizations likely to be impacted by natural disasters. Café received a 'whole building' generator, an emergency disaster response vehicle, an AED, and office designated as distribution center/respite site post hurricane. Also hosting hurricane preparation classes.
• PublixcoreOthersLocal grocery store donating food items nearing expiration date to the Café for distribution to those in need.
• Fresh MarketcoreOthersGrocery retailer donating food items nearing expiration date to support Café's feeding programs.
• Farmer Mike'sminorOthersLocal produce supplier donating food items for distribution through Café programs.
• Lee HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner offering on-site medical care twice per month at Café location.
• Family Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing medical screenings and healthcare services during outreach programs in neighborhoods.
• Lee County Mobile LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile library service distributing books and providing activities for children during community outreach.
• Catholic Charities USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Catholic charitable organization supporting Café's mission and programs.
• Bonita Springs Assistance OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal assistance organization collaborating with Café on resource coordination and client referrals.
• Bonita Springs Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in senior services, previously founded by Lety (current Café Outreach Coordinator) as Senior Community Resource, Inc.
• Salvation Army of Bonita SpringsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization in outreach and transportation of clients for various needs.
• Chick-fil-AminorOthersRestaurant partner providing food donations to support Café feeding programs.
• YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for children's programs and camp sponsorships.
• GoodwillminorOthersCommunity partner organization supporting Café's mission.
• Period SuppliesminorOthersOrganization providing period supplies for distribution to those in need.
• Harry ChapinminorOthersFoundation supporting Café's food security programs.
• Florida Lions Eye ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEye care clinic providing services to Café clients.
• Sugar ShackminorOthersLocal business community partner.
• VasariminorOthersCommunity partner organization.
• RotaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService club partner supporting Café through volunteer efforts and resources.
• Bonita Springs City CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for community services.
• WellcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing services to clients.
• Love INC Southwest FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of churches uniting to serve local families in need, former home of Ann Bala (wife of Pastor Riley Bala).
• New HorizonsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for after-school programs and tutoring services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Goodwill Industries of SW Florida: Nonprofit operating donation-driven thrift and workforce programs in the same region; comparable in its reliance on in-kind donations, volunteer labor, and the Donation Center-style redistribution model.
• Harry Chapin Food Bank of SW Florida: Major SW Florida food bank that distributes food to partner pantries and directly feeds the hungry; already listed as a foundation partner of Cafe of Life and operates the same donor-supported, in-kind-rescue model.
• St. Matthew's House: SW Florida faith-based nonprofit operating feeding programs, food pantries, and human-trafficking recovery services; the closest scale and mission analog (faith-based, multi-program, working poor focus) to Cafe of Life.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice: Faith-affiliated social services agency operating SW Florida food pantries, immigration legal aid, and emergency assistance — overlapping directly with Cafe of Life's food, financial, and immigration/legal programs.
• Family Health Centers of SW Florida: Federally Qualified Health Center partner providing on-site medical care at Cafe of Life; comparable as a community-rooted nonprofit healthcare provider addressing the same vulnerable client base.
• Bonita Springs Assistance Office: Adjacent Bonita Springs nonprofit providing emergency rent/utilities/medical assistance; already a strategic referral partner of Cafe of Life and the closest peer in the same ZIP code for financial-assistance and case-management services.
• Meals on Wheels SW Florida: Regional nonprofit delivering meals to homebound seniors and disabled individuals; directly comparable to Cafe of Life's senior/disabled outreach (fresh produce, dairy, hot meals) component.
• Salvation Army of Bonita Springs: Local Salvation Army unit providing food, rent/utility assistance, and outreach in the same Bonita Springs catchment; an existing collaboration partner of Cafe of Life and the most direct functional peer in the same geography.
• Feeding Southwest Florida: Regional food bank serving Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, and Sarasota counties; directly comparable to Cafe of Life's food distribution and meal programs at a larger geographic scale. Both channel grocery rescue (Publix, etc.) into frontline feeding for low-income households.
• Love INC of Southwest Florida: Network of churches mobilizing volunteers and resources for local families in need; already a core strategic partner of Cafe of Life and a closely aligned faith-based service-coordination model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cafeoflifebonita
• Facebookfacebook.com/cafeoflifebonita
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cafe-of-life-caring-sharing-serving
• Instagraminstagram.com/cafeoflifebonita

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 Cafe of Life, Inc.