Galilee Center
Galilee Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Mecca, California serving disadvantaged families, farmworkers, asylum seekers, and seniors in the East Coachella Valley through food distribution, shelter, thrift stores, and emergency assistance programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersMecca, California, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Galilee Center does
Galilee Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded on July 29, 2010 by Gloria Gomez and Claudia Castorena in Mecca, California, serving the East Coachella Valley and broader Riverside County. The organization delivers food, clothing, shelter, and basic-needs assistance to disadvantaged families, migrant farmworkers, asylum seekers, low-income seniors, and children. Core programs include weekly walk-up food basket distributions (350,000+ meals served annually), a 150-bed emergency shelter facility (Our Lady of Guadalupe Shelter, expanded from 75 beds in late 2024), two thrift store retail locations in Mecca and Coachella, backpack and school supply drives (800+ children annually), holiday food and toy distributions (800 Thanksgiving baskets, 650 Christmas baskets, 2,000+ children's toys), rental and utility assistance, and emergency transfer services for asylum-seeking families (average 36-hour stay with up to 90-day extended stay option). The organization served over 12,000 people in its most recent reporting year, including 5,500 children.
The revenue model is a three-stream nonprofit structure anchored by tax-deductible donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, and government entities, supplemented by thrift store retail revenue and grants from foundations such as CIELO Fund (via Inland Empire Community Foundation), Coachella Valley Wellness Foundation, and government funding including a $1.5 million Riverside County contribution. A $2 million capital campaign completed in 2024 funded the shelter expansion, with the largest single private donation at $500,000. The organization has no proprietary technology platform and operates a community-led go-to-market model relying on word-of-mouth referrals, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), Constant Contact email campaigns, local earned media coverage, and partnerships with tribal entities, casinos, healthcare organizations, and government agencies. Distribution is delivered through three physical sites plus mobile distribution events; home pickup for donated goods is available via a published phone line.
Galilee Center is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Bill Glowka (retired CPA) and operates with 16 employees. The organization holds the 2018 Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross from Pope Francis, multiple Jefferson Award and congressional recognitions, and partnerships with six tribal entities, multiple United Way chapters, FIND Food Bank, and Goldenvoice (Coachella Festival organizer enabling 80,000 pounds of annual donation collection). There is no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no funding rounds in the venture capital sense; the organization is independent and donation-funded.
Galilee Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Galilee Center
- Legal name
- Galilee Center
- Website
- https://galileecenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Galilee Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Mecca, California serving disadvantaged families, farmworkers, asylum seekers, and seniors in the East Coachella Valley through food distribution, shelter, thrift stores, and emergency assistance programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Galilee Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Social Services
- NAICS
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH)
Keywords
Where Galilee Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mecca, California
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Galilee Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue source is donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, and government entities. Donations are tax-deductible under the organization's 501(c)(3) status (ID# 27-3133601).
- Thrift Store Revenue: Two thrift stores (Mecca and Coachella) generate revenue by selling donated goods. These stores also serve low-income families by providing clothing, furniture, and household items at low cost.
- Grants and Foundation Funding: Galilee Center receives grants from foundations such as CIELO Fund through Inland Empire Community Foundation, Coachella Valley Wellness Foundation, and government contributions like Riverside County's $1.5M for shelter expansion.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Galilee Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Galilee Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that provides free food, clothing, shelter, and basic needs assistance to disadvantaged children, families, farmworkers, seniors, and asylum seekers in the East Coachella Valley. Core offerings include weekly food basket distributions, a 150-bed emergency shelter with cooling center, holiday food baskets and toy programs, back-to-school backpack distributions, infant supply distribution, senior nutrition support, rental and utility bill assistance, and emergency transfer services for asylum seekers. Services are funded by donations, grants, and revenue from two thrift stores in Mecca and Coachella.
Product overview
Galilee Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that operates as a comprehensive community service center providing food, clothing, shelter, and basic needs assistance to disadvantaged children, families, and farmworkers in the East Coachella Valley. The organization offers a coordinated portfolio of services including weekly food basket distribution, holiday food programs, clothing vouchers through thrift stores, emergency shelter services (including a 150-bed facility for farmworkers and asylum seekers), rental and utility assistance, and specialized programs for children (backpacks, toys, bicycles), infants (diapers, formula), and seniors (nutritional supplements). Services are funded through donations, thrift store revenue, and fundraising events including the annual Angels Dinner. The organization served over 12,000 people annually including 5,500 children, distributing more than 350,000 meals per year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Shelter: Emergency shelter facility for farmworkers and families in need, offering restrooms, showers, laundry, hot meals, temporary overnight shelter, community room and cooling center.
Products and services
- Food Distribution Program Weekly walk-up food basket distribution providing canned goods, dry goods, grains, fresh vegetables, and fruit to families in need every Thursday, with registration beginning at 3:00pm and basket distribution at 4:00pm at the Mecca headquarters.
- Children Services Program Back-to-school backpacks and school supplies given in August to school-aged children, new toys and bicycles gifted to children 0-14 years on Christmas Day, and new tennis shoes, socks, and blankets gifted on Epiphany Day in January.
- Infant Services Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 350,000 meals served annually to food-insecure families
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Galilee Center
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Galilee Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Galilee Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Desert Healthcare DistrictcoreDesert Healthcare District was a sponsor of the Bridge to Health Fair, which welcomed 166 attendees for a day focused on health, wellness, and community connection. Their support made the event possible.
- Augustine CasinocoreAugustine Casino was a sponsor of the Bridge to Health Fair event. Their commitment to improving community health and well-being helped make the health fair possible.
- SCAN Health PlancoreSCAN Health Plan's Community Giving program provided generous support for Galilee Center's Senior Services Program. The contribution enables provision of nutritional protein shakes and essential supplies to hundreds of seniors.
- BIGHORN Golf ClubcoreBIGHORN Golf Club provided a generous grant supporting the annual Backpack Distribution Giveaway, enabling Galilee Center to distribute hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need.
- Riverside County Housing, Homelessness Prevention & Workforce Solutions DepartmentcoreRiverside County contributed $1.5 million toward the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shelter expansion and partners with Galilee Center on emergency transfer services for asylum seekers. The county housing department works with Galilee to ensure asylum seekers are tested for COVID-19 and provided appropriate shelter.
- CA DPSS (California Department of Public Social Services)corePartners with Galilee Center on asylum seeker services, ensuring individuals are processed and provided appropriate shelter and support services.
- FIND Food BankcoreListed as an agency supporter, providing food bank resources and partnerships for distribution.
- Coachella Valley Rescue MissionsupportingListed as an agency supporter in the Coachella Valley nonprofit community.
- GoldenvoicecoreFestival organizer that allows Galilee Center to collect donations left behind by Coachella and Stagecoach festival attendees. In 2024, collected 80,000 pounds of donations including air mattresses, canopies, clothing, food, and furniture.
- Multiple Tribal PartnerssupportingAgua Caliente Band of Mission Indians, Augustine Casino, Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, Four Winds Tribal Coalition, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians support the organization.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Galilee Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Al Otro Lado: Nonprofit providing legal and humanitarian services to migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Comparable to Galilee Center's Emergency Transfer Services program serving asylum seekers arriving in the Coachella Valley.
- FIND Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the Coachella Valley with food distribution to a network of partner agencies including Galilee Center. Comparable as a food-security nonprofit addressing hunger in the same catchment area.
- Coachella Valley Rescue Mission: Indio-based nonprofit providing food, shelter, and recovery services in the same Coachella Valley geography. Listed as an agency supporter of Galilee Center and offers overlapping services to the same farmworker and low-income population.
- Martha's Village & Kitchen: Indio, CA-based nonprofit providing food, shelter, and social services to Coachella Valley residents. The Galilee Center co-founders previously led Martha's for 20 years, making it the closest operational and geographic peer with nearly identical service lines.
Regional players
- Desert AIDS Project (DAP) / Desert Healthcare District: Coachella Valley health and wellness organization; Desert Healthcare District is a documented Galilee Center partner (Bridge to Health Fair sponsor). Comparable as a regional health-adjacent nonprofit addressing vulnerable populations in the same catchment area.
- Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley: Inland Empire affiliate providing housing-related services in the Coachella Valley. Galilee Center's board secretary comes from Habitat for Humanity, evidencing direct operational overlap and shared geography/target population.
Broad incumbents
- United Way of the Desert: Regional United Way affiliate funding and convening Coachella Valley nonprofits. Listed as a Galilee Center financial partner and serves as a comparable regional giving/fund-coordination body.
- Feeding America Riverside/San Bernardino: Feeding America affiliate distributing food across the Inland Empire including the Coachella Valley. Comparable in food-distribution mission and regional scope, with significantly larger operating scale.
- Salvation Army Riverside / Coachella Valley: National nonprofit with local units operating food pantries, emergency shelter, and utility/rent assistance across Riverside County. Comparable as a multi-service safety-net organization addressing food insecurity, shelter, and emergency relief in the same region.
- Catholic Charities of San Bernardino & Riverside Counties: Large regional Catholic social services organization operating across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, providing immigration, food, housing, and refugee resettlement services. Galilee Center's faith-based, broad social services model with refugee/asylum component mirrors Catholic Charities' wider portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Galilee Center social profiles
Digital presenceGalilee Center compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Galilee Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Galilee Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Galilee Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Galilee Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Galilee Center
What does Galilee Center do?
Galilee Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that provides free food, clothing, shelter, and basic needs assistance to disadvantaged children, families, farmworkers, seniors, and asylum seekers in the East Coachella Valley. Core offerings include weekly food basket distributions, a 150-bed emergency shelter with cooling center, holiday food baskets and toy programs, back-to-school backpack distributions, infant supply distribution, senior nutrition support, rental and utility bill assistance, and emergency transfer services for asylum seekers. Services are funded by donations, grants, and revenue from two thrift stores in Mecca and Coachella.
Is Galilee Center a public or private company?
Galilee Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Galilee Center founded?
Galilee Center was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Galilee Center based?
Galilee Center is headquartered in Mecca, California, United States, in the North America region.
How does Galilee Center make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are thrift Store Revenue and grants and Foundation Funding.
Who are Galilee Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Al Otro Lado, FIND Food Bank, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and Martha's Village & Kitchen. Regional players are Desert AIDS Project (DAP) / Desert Healthcare District and Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley. Broad incumbents are United Way of the Desert, Feeding America Riverside/San Bernardino, Salvation Army Riverside / Coachella Valley and Catholic Charities of San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.
Does Galilee Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Galilee Center.
What industry is Galilee Center in?
Galilee Center's product category is Community Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAI, Refugee & Immigrant Support Services. Its NAICS code is 6242 and its SIC code is 8300.