Open Hearts Initiative

What Open Hearts Initiative does

Open Hearts Initiative is a grassroots nonprofit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York City. It operates six to seven neighborhood chapters across the five boroughs of NYC, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to support homeless and housing-insecure New Yorkers, shelter residents, and asylum seekers through direct services — including care kit distributions, free stores, baby supply distributions, arts workshops, English language learning, and housing search support — alongside systemic advocacy at community board meetings and through coalition policy campaigns.

The organization runs no proprietary technology, software, or digital platform; service delivery is entirely program-based and dependent on volunteer labor, in-kind donations (routed through PayPal and Amazon Wishlist), and direct community engagement. Its revenue model is donation-only, with no disclosed financial reporting, no institutional grants publicly documented, and no commercial pricing surface. Operations are funded by individual contributions supporting material goods and event programming rather than contracted services or product sales.

Its go-to-market is community-led and volunteer-driven, with awareness generated through its website, email newsletter, social media, press releases, and community events. Strategic positioning centers on coalition building: OHI issues joint statements and coalition letters alongside peer organizations including the Interfaith Center of New York, Housing Works, VOCAL-NY, The Fortune Society, Breaking Ground, Project Renewal, and the Coalition for the Homeless. The entity is privately held, independent of institutional investors, and operates with a small paid staff of approximately 11 employees supplemented by volunteer chapter leadership.

Name

Open Hearts Initiative

Legal name

Open Hearts Initiative

Website

https://openheartsinitiative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Open Hearts Initiative is a grassroots nonprofit founded in 2020 that operates neighborhood chapters across New York City to deliver direct services to homeless New Yorkers and asylum seekers while advocating for housing justice through coalition policy campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services and Housing Advocacy

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Housing advocacy
• Community organizing
• Volunteer programs
• Social services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts monetary donations through PayPal and Amazon Wishlist for purchasing supplies. Donations support care kit materials, baby supplies, food drives, art supplies, and other material support for homeless neighbors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Open Hearts Initiative is a grassroots non-profit organization that provides direct material and social support to homeless and housing-insecure New Yorkers through volunteer-led programs (care kit distribution, free stores, art workshops, English language classes, baby supply distributions). It operates six neighborhood chapters across the five boroughs of NYC and pairs these direct services with policy advocacy for housing justice and against exclusionary neighborhood policies.

Product overview

Open Hearts Initiative is a non-profit grassroots community organization focused on housing justice and homelessness advocacy in New York City. The organization does not offer technology products or services; instead, it operates through neighborhood-based volunteer chapters that provide direct support to homeless neighbors, including community events, care kit distributions, free stores, art workshops, language exchanges, and policy advocacy. The organization's activities are entirely program and community-service oriented rather than product-based.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Care Kit Distribution Program

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unlock NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2024Co-signed coalition letter calling on City Council to reject Randy Mastro's nomination as Corporation Counsel due to his record opposing shelters and tenant protections.
• Housing WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2024Co-signed coalition letter opposing Randy Mastro nomination. OHI also joined advocacy against Mastro during his time in the Giuliani administration.
• VOCAL-NYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2024Co-signed coalition letter opposing Randy Mastro nomination as part of broader housing justice advocacy coalition.
• Safety Net ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2024Co-signed coalition letter opposing Randy Mastro nomination as part of housing advocacy coalition.
• Neighbors TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2024Co-signed coalition letter opposing Randy Mastro nomination as part of housing advocacy coalition.
• The Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2024Longtime coalition partner in housing justice advocacy. Co-signed multiple coalition letters including opposition to Randy Mastro nomination.
• Staten Island Inter-Religious LeadershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2023Coalition of faith leaders from diverse religious traditions who came together to welcome asylum seekers at the former St. John Villa Academy. Faith leaders spoke out against hateful rhetoric directed at asylum seekers.
• Interfaith Center of New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2023Partnered with OHI to host press conference welcoming asylum seekers. Executive Director Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer participated in the event.
• Staten Island Immigrant CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2023Co-Chair Abou Diakhate participated in the press conference standing with asylum seekers against hate-filled attacks.
• The Fortune SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2022Will provide on-site supportive services at the Just Home project (1900 Seminole Avenue), including licensed clinical social workers and peer specialists, and will handle property management.
• Breaking GroundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2022Experienced housing provider operating the West 83rd Street Safe Haven (108 beds) and the planned 1760 3rd Avenue supportive housing site (261 units for people exiting homelessness).
• Project RenewalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 September 2022Operator of the W. 59th Street women's shelter (200 beds, opening 2025) providing mental health support and on-site wraparound services.
• El ZabarminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 August 2022Upper East Side business owner engaged in community discussions about the East 91st Street Safe Haven.
• Tip Top Shoes (W. 72nd St)minorOthersLocal business that donates shoes regularly. OHI chapters transport donations to clothing closets serving homeless neighbors.
• Roots Cafe (Park Slope)minorOthersDonation drop-off location for Brooklyn chapter's free store and material drives.
• Grace-Hanson United Methodist ChurchminorOthersDonation drop-off location for Brooklyn chapter events.
• Coalition for the HomelesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as authoritative source for shelter data and advocacy positions. OHI's advocacy aligns with Coalition's research on shelter outcomes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Safe Horizon: NYC's largest victim services organization providing shelter and advocacy, including for people experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. Comparable as a major NYC direct-service and advocacy nonprofit addressing housing instability.
• Housing Works: Major NYC nonprofit providing housing, health, and advocacy services to people experiencing homelessness and living with HIV/AIDS. A formal coalition partner of Open Hearts on housing justice advocacy and a direct peer in NYC supportive housing and policy engagement.
• Project Renewal: Major NYC nonprofit operating shelters and supportive housing including the W. 59th Street women's shelter referenced in Open Hearts' coalition work. Directly comparable as a shelter operator with on-site wraparound services.
• The Bowery Mission: Historic NYC nonprofit providing shelter, meals, and supportive services to homeless and hungry New Yorkers. Comparable in mission scope and direct-service delivery model.
• Breaking Ground: One of NYC's largest supportive housing providers operating Safe Havens and permanent supportive housing. Named formal partner of Open Hearts on West 83rd Street Safe Haven and 1760 3rd Avenue supportive housing development.
• VOCAL-NY: NYC-wide grassroots membership organization organizing low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, and homelessness. Coalition partner of Open Hearts on housing advocacy; comparable member-driven advocacy model.
• Coalition for the Homeless: NYC's primary policy and advocacy organization for homeless New Yorkers. Directly comparable because Open Hearts already cites Coalition for the Homeless research and co-signs advocacy letters; both operate in NYC housing justice, though Coalition is much larger and more established.
• The Fortune Society: NYC nonprofit providing supportive housing and reentry services. Named partner of Open Hearts on the Just Home project, providing clinical and peer support services comparable to the wraparound model OHI promotes.
• The Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing: NYC faith-based coalition advocating for homeless New Yorkers. Longtime coalition partner of Open Hearts on multiple advocacy campaigns; comparable NYC housing justice coalition model.
• Neighbors Together: Brooklyn-based antipoverty organization providing meals, social services, and advocacy for low-income neighbors. Coalition partner of Open Hearts; comparable grassroots community model in NYC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/open-hearts-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Open Hearts Initiative