Philly House (Previously Sunday Breakfast)

What Philly House (Previously Sunday Breakfast) does

Philly House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1878 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally established by John Wanamaker as a living legacy and formerly operating under the name Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission before rebranding in 2021. It is the second oldest homeless mission in the country and the oldest in Pennsylvania, providing emergency shelter for up to 164 men each night, three daily meals served 365 days per year, and comprehensive support services including case management, spiritual care, trauma-informed care, legal assistance, job placement, and the NEXT Level transitional housing program. In 2024, the organization sheltered 2,042 unique individuals, representing 30% of all homeless men in Philadelphia and 44% of single men experiencing homelessness annually, with services delivered through a Christian faith-based framework that addresses resources, restoration, and re-engagement.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform and operates with a lean 23-person staff supported by over 800 volunteers. Its revenue model is entirely donation-driven, diversified across individual giving (including a $25/month bed sponsorship program and tiered Giving Societies from $1,000 to $10,000+), corporate sponsorships, planned giving, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and a vehicle donation program launched in 2018 in partnership with CARS that has generated over $50,000. Philly House maintains referral partnerships with the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services, the Mike Hinson Resource Center, and Apple Tree Family Center for women and children, while educational and veteran support relationships connect guests to broader community resources. Revenue and donor base figures are not disclosed, though the organization reports over 14,000 active donors and 13+ named corporate and foundation partners including Wells Fargo, William Penn Foundation, the Wawa Foundation, and the Connelly Foundation.

Name

Philly House (Previously Sunday Breakfast)

Legal name

Philly House 1878

Website

https://phillyhouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Philly House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit men's homeless shelter in Philadelphia operating since 1878, providing emergency shelter for up to 164 men nightly, three daily meals, and comprehensive support services including transitional housing and case management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Emergency housing assistance
• Men's shelter program
• Transitional housing support
• Homeless services nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia, PA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Philly House relies on individual donors who contribute financially to support homeless services. Donors can give one-time or recurring gifts through the website.
2. Recurring/Monthly Giving: Sustaining donors give monthly through recurring donation programs. The organization has Giving Societies (Wanamaker Society $10,000+, Burpee Society $5,000-$9,999, Stetson Society $2,500-$4,999, Pollock Society $1,000-$2,499) to recognize major donors.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners provide direct financial support, grants, employee match programs, workplace campaigns, group volunteering, meal sponsorships, and special occasion sponsorships.
4. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through wills, bequests, charitable gift annuities, and trusts to ensure long-term sustainability of the organization.
5. IRA Distributions: Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from IRAs for donors aged 70½ or older, allowing tax-free gifts up to $100,000 annually.
6. Car Donations: Vehicle donation program started in 2018, providing over $50,000 in support, translating to 4,000 nights of shelter. Processed through CARS (Charity Auto Resources).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Philly House (formerly Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission) operates an emergency overnight shelter and transitional housing program for men experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1878, the organization provides beds, three meals per day, and supportive services aimed at helping residents progress toward stability and self-sufficiency. It is among the oldest continuously operating shelters for men in the United States, with a 164-bed capacity serving an average of 132 men nightly and approximately 2,042 unique men sheltered in 2024.

Product overview

Philly House is a humanitarian organization (formerly Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission) providing homeless shelter and support services in Philadelphia. The organization operates a unified service model centered on emergency shelter for men (up to 164 beds nightly), three daily meals, and comprehensive support programs including the NEXT Level transitional housing program, spiritual care, behavioral health, job placement, and legal services. Funded through donations, the organization offers multiple giving vehicles including recurring donations, IRA distributions, car donations, planned giving, and corporate partnerships. No technology product or software platform is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Overnight Shelter 164-bed emergency overnight shelter for adult men experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, providing a safe place to sleep on a walk-in or referral basis.
• Meal Services Three meals per day provided to shelter residents and, historically, to members of the community in need of food assistance.
• Transitional Housing Program Transitional housing and supportive programming designed to help shelter residents progress toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% of Philadelphia's homeless men sheltered in 2024 (2,042 individuals)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CARS (Charity Auto Resources)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Vehicle donation processing partner since 2018. Handles vehicle pickup, sale at auction, and donation processing for Philly House car donation program. Has facilitated over $50,000 in donations.
• Philadelphia Office of Homeless ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency that manages homeless intake referrals. All institutional discharges (hospitals, prisons) must be referred through OHS External Agency Referral Form. Philly House shelters 30% of Philadelphia's homeless men.
• Mike Hinson Resource Center (City Intake)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCity's after-hours intake location for homeless referrals on weekends and outside regular hours. Contact: (267) 737-9099.
• Apple Tree Family CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for women and children needing shelter. Located at 1430 Cherry St, Philadelphia. Philly House refers women seeking shelter here while serving them meals.
• Philadelphia Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner where guests can enroll in programs. Jerome was connected to communications program at PCC.
• Philadelphia Veteran Multi-Service CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization helping connect veteran guests to services. Ed was connected to this center upon arrival.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bethesda Project: Philadelphia nonprofit operating faith-informed emergency and permanent supportive housing specifically for men experiencing homelessness. Closest programmatic peer given the men-only, faith-informed, shelter-plus-housing model.
• Broad Street Ministry: Philadelphia nonprofit offering daytime hospitality, meals, and social services to guests experiencing poverty and homelessness. Comparable given shared Philadelphia geography, meal-service delivery, and hospitality-driven model.
• Project HOME: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing a continuum of shelter, housing, and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Most directly comparable peer given shared geography, holistic service model, and chronic homelessness focus.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit addressing family homelessness through shelter, prevention, and rehousing programs. Comparable as a faith-rooted shelter network, but distinct in serving families rather than single men.
• Depaul USA: National Catholic nonprofit operating shelter, housing, and outreach programs for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable faith-based mission, multi-site shelter operation, and case management model.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia: Operates multiple shelter and social service programs across the Philadelphia region as part of a national faith-based nonprofit. Comparable as a large, multi-program faith-based shelter operator with similar service mix.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit operating shelter, housing, and behavioral health programs nationwide, including Philadelphia. Comparable as a large-scale, multi-service operator with faith-informed roots and a focus on vulnerable populations.
• Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Provides a broad range of social services including housing, food, and behavioral health across Philadelphia. Comparable given faith-based service delivery and overlapping client populations in housing and food insecurity.

Emerging players

• Back on My Feet: Philadelphia-founded nonprofit using running and community to help individuals experiencing homelessness achieve self-sufficiency. Comparable given Philadelphia origin, focus on adult men, and employment/housing transition outcomes.

Regional players

• Hope Rescue Mission: Faith-based rescue mission in Southampton, PA providing shelter, meals, and recovery programs for men, women, and families in the greater Philadelphia region. Comparable as a regional faith-based rescue mission serving overlapping client populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/phillyhouse
• Facebookfacebook.com/phillyhouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phillyhomeless
• Instagraminstagram.com/phillyhouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Philly House (Previously Sunday Breakfast)