ECHO of Brandon, Inc.

What ECHO of Brandon, Inc. does

ECHO of Brandon, Inc. (Emergency Care Help Organization) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1987 in partnership with the Brandon Ministerial Association and local businesses. It serves residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County, Florida, delivering emergency food and clothing assistance, advocacy and resource navigation, workforce development through job coaching, and financial literacy workshops. Core service lines include the Food Pantry (approximately 20 lbs of food per visit), Clothing Room (5 outfits and 1 pair of shoes per household), the Advocacy Program, Back-to-Work Job Coaching (with a mobile variant), and the Opportunity Center Workshops. The organization also operates Seeds of Faith Community Garden (founded 2011, 14,000+ lbs of produce donated), Holiday Assistance Programs, and the ECHO Roots Legacy Planning program for planned giving.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of eight streams: individual community donations (45%), ECHO Thrift retail operations across two storefronts (38%), foundation grants (13%), federal grants (4%), an online store, corporate sponsorships (via Benevity, Charity Navigator Giving, Spark Good), the Amazon Wish List, and ECHO Boutique. Services to eligible neighbors are provided free of charge, with zip-code-restricted eligibility for the Advocacy Program. ECHO is governed by a Board chaired by Tom Gallo and led by CEO Iris S. Thurman and Executive Director Eleanor Saunders. It maintains Charity Navigator 4-Star status since 2019 and GuideStar Platinum seal of transparency.

The organization operates three resource centers (Brandon, Riverview, and the in-development Thonotosassa site), two thrift stores, a community garden, and an e-commerce storefront. Delivery is community-led and volunteer-driven: ECHO was originally entirely volunteer-staffed, hired its first part-time executive director in 1992, and Eleanor Saunders joined as the second part-time employee in 2006. Strategic institutional partnerships include Bank of America (Back-to-Work program sponsor), HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and HCA Florida Riverview Emergency (on-site clothing closet and AED donations), the U.S. Postal Service and National Association of Letter Carriers (annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive), and the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation. The technology footprint is limited to a website, e-commerce store, and social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn); ECHO has no proprietary technology platform, API, or AI/ML capabilities.

Name

ECHO of Brandon, Inc.

Legal name

ECHO of Brandon, Inc.

Website

https://echofl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ECHO of Brandon, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that provides emergency food, clothing, advocacy, and job coaching to residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County, Florida, funded by individual donations, thrift retail, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brandon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Community Donations: Individual donors contribute to ECHO's general operating fund, representing the largest single revenue source at 45% of total funding. Donations support daily operations, emergency services, and program delivery.
2. ECHO Thrift Stores: Revenue from two ECHO Thrift Store locations and the ECHO Boutique. All sales directly fund programs including Empower, job coaching, financial counseling, workshops, and emergency food and clothing assistance. Represents 38% of total funding.
3. Foundation Grants: Grant funding from charitable foundations representing 13% of total revenue. ECHO applies for grants to support specific programs and operational needs.
4. Federal Grants: Federal grant funding representing 4% of total revenue for specific programs and initiatives.
5. Online Store Sales: ECHO operates an online store selling food items, hygiene products, clothing, and program donations. Proceeds directly support pantry operations and community programs.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual corporate sponsorships and event-based sponsorships from businesses. Includes employee matching gift programs, Benevity, Charity Navigator Giving, and Spark Good Program partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ECHO of Brandon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization that provides emergency food and clothing assistance along with stability-building programs including advocacy, job coaching, and life-skills workshops. The organization also operates thrift stores, an online giving store, and a community garden, all of which fund and supplement its core relief and empowerment programs for residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County, Florida.

Product overview

ECHO of Brandon, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization (Emergency Care Help Organization) founded in 1987, offering a portfolio of interconnected community support programs. The core service model centers on emergency relief through the Food Pantry and Clothing Room, paired with stability-building programs including the Advocacy Program (resource navigation), Back-to-Work Job Coaching, and Opportunity Center Workshops. Revenue generation is supported through ECHO Thrift (thrift stores), the ECHO Online Store, and Amazon Wish List for donations. Additional offerings include the Seeds of Faith Community Garden (fresh produce), ECHO Boutique (vintage/upcycled goods), Legacy Planning (planned giving), and seasonal Holiday Assistance Programs. The organization operates multiple Resource Centers in Brandon and Riverview, Florida, with a third Thonotosassa location under development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECHO Thrift: Thrift stores selling donated clothing and goods to fund ECHO programs
• ECHO Boutique
• Seeds of Faith Community Garden
• Back-to-Work Program
• ECHO Roots
• Opportunity Center

Products and services

• Food Pantry Emergency food assistance program providing nutritious non-perishable and perishable food relief along with hygiene items to neighbors in crisis. Individuals receive approximately 20 lbs of food based on household size.
• Clothing Room Free clothing assistance providing curated apparel, footwear, and accessories sufficient for an entire week. Children receive essential items including brand-new socks, undergarments, and diapers; households receive 5 outfits and 1 pair of shoes.
• Advocacy Program Compassionate resource navigation connecting neighbors in unincorporated Hillsborough County with vital community services including housing assistance, subsidized childcare, and financial aid. Advocates blend the roles of life coaches and social workers.
• Back-to-Work Job Coaching Employment assistance program providing skills assessment, resume creation or updates, job search support, interview preparation, and connection to local employers. Includes a Mobile Back-to-Work program bringing career support directly to communities.
• Opportunity Center Workshops Free workshops covering budgeting and financial literacy, couponing, sewing, small business basics, selling online, and navigating community services and technical certifications.
• ECHO Thrift Stores Upscale thrift stores selling donated clothing and household goods, with all proceeds funding ECHO programs including Empower, job coaching, financial counseling, and emergency food and clothing assistance. Two locations: Brandon and Bloomingdale.
• Seeds of Faith Community Garden Community garden that donates fresh produce to local hunger relief agencies. Volunteers meet the second Saturday of each month from October through June.
• Holiday Assistance Programs Seasonal programs providing Thanksgiving meals, blessing bags, and holiday assistance to families in need, including those in motels and hotels served by ECHO during the holiday season.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% of donations go directly to support programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• United States Postal ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026USPS partners with ECHO annually for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the nation's largest single-day food drive. Letter carriers collect food donations from postal customers and deliver them to ECHO to help stock the food pantry. Over 80,000 lbs of food was donated last year through this partnership.
• Valspar ChampionshipminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026ECHO benefited from the Valspar Golf Championship for the first time, with some proceeds from the event going to the organization.
• National Association of Letter CarrierscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025The NALC's annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive resulted in approximately 60,000 pounds of food being delivered to ECHO's Riverview building in a single year.
• HCA Florida Brandon HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025HCA Florida Brandon Hospital partnered with ECHO to provide ECHO's Closet at the hospital, offering clothing essentials to patients in need who may have had clothing damaged in emergency care, are homeless, or need community support. The hospital also donated AED unit No. 91 to ECHO of Brandon and supports through volunteer service and lifesaving equipment donations.
• HCA Florida Riverview EmergencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025HCA Florida Riverview Emergency, part of HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, hosted a Hands-Only CPR and first aid event at ECHO Riverview and donated AED unit No. 92 through a pay-it-forward donation program.
• Tampa Bay LightningmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2023Tampa Bay Lightning recognizes local community heroes at home games. Iris Thurman of ECHO was named a Lightning Community Hero, providing recognition and visibility for the organization in the Tampa Bay community.
• Brandon Ministerial AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECHO was founded in 1987 in partnership with the Brandon Ministerial Association and the local business community, created to provide a central location where churches and others could send people in need.
• Hillsborough County FairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECHO partners with Hillsborough County Fair for the annual Back to School Bash event providing backpacks, school supplies, and essential resources to children in need.
• New Hope ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECHO partners with New Hope Church for job fairs and community events. The church hosts ECHO's Community Round Table networking events and the ECHO Thrift Fashion Show.
• Better TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECHO partners with Better Together for job fairs designed to support community members on the path to stable employment.
• Bay Life ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Seeds of Faith Community Garden is located directly behind Bay Life Church at 1017 North Kingsway Road, Brandon, FL.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trinity Cafe Tampa: Tampa nonprofit providing hot meals and supportive services to neighbors facing food insecurity. Comparable emergency food assistance with volunteer-driven operations.
• Feeding Tampa Bay: Regional food bank serving the Tampa Bay area with food distribution, mobile pantries, and hunger-relief programming. Highly comparable on the food-pantry core service and community-donor revenue mix.
• Metropolitan Ministries: Faith-based Tampa-area nonprofit providing emergency food, clothing, housing, and family stabilization services. Most directly comparable peer: same geography, same beneficiary crisis profile, and similar cradle-to-stability service model.
• The Salvation Army Tampa Area Command: Provides emergency food, clothing, and social services in Hillsborough County through thrift stores and direct assistance. Comparable on combined emergency-relief + thrift-store funding model.
• United Way Suncoast: Regional funder and convener of social services across Hillsborough and surrounding counties. Comparable on community-donor-driven funding model and multi-program service portfolio.
• St. Vincent de Paul CARES: Tampa Bay nonprofit providing emergency assistance, case management, and stabilization services. Comparable on resource-navigation advocacy model and Hillsborough County footprint.
• Goodwill Industries of Tampa Bay: Operates thrift retail stores that fund workforce development and job placement programs. Comparable on the thrift-store-as-funding-engine + employment services combination.
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg: Faith-rooted social services nonprofit serving the same Tampa Bay region with food, housing, and case-management programs. Comparable on advocacy/resource navigation and emergency-relief mix.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County: Operates within Hillsborough County but focuses on housing stability and homeownership rather than emergency food/clothing. Adjacent peer because of overlapping donor base and stabilization mission.

Emerging players

• Dream Center Tampa: Faith-rooted Tampa nonprofit offering food, housing, and recovery services to neighbors in crisis. Emerging peer with overlapping emergency-relief model and shared Hillsborough County geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ECHOFL
• Facebookfacebook.com/ECHOBrandon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emergency-care-help-organization
• Instagraminstagram.com/echobrandon
• TikToktiktok.com/@echobrandon

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries4 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 ECHO of Brandon, Inc.