Associazione San Marcellino

What Associazione San Marcellino does

Associazione San Marcellino is an Italian non-profit social organization (OdV) founded in 1945 by the Jesuits in Genoa, providing an integrated service ecosystem for people experiencing homelessness and social marginalization in the Liguria region. Its core offerings include a Centro di Ascolto (listening center handling approximately 100 daily contacts), three gender-segregated overnight shelters, two residential communities, a daytime service center, a recreational club, a mobile street outreach unit (including nighttime operations), a work-education and job training program, medical consultation, community mediation (including in prison contexts), and the SMacc cultural center promoting inclusive coexistence through art and culture. The organization also runs the Servizio Civile Universale volunteer pipeline for young people and produces publications, newsletters, and video content.

The business model is a charitable donations model rather than a commercial one. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries, and funding flows from individual donations, corporate giving (Aziende), the Italian 5x1000 tax designation, testamentary bequests (Lasciti testamentari), and solidary events. The governance structure pairs the Associazione San Marcellino OdV (volunteer organization) with a parallel Fondazione San Marcellino ETS, separating operational volunteering from endowed fundraising. Distribution is entirely direct, via physical facilities in Genoa and a mobile street unit, with no commercial product or pricing. Marketing and donor engagement run through a WordPress website, a YouTube channel, social media widgets, periodic newsletters (Giornalino, San Marcellino NEWS), and public events at SMacc and venues such as Palazzo Ducale. The organization is institutionally embedded in the Jesuit Social Network (JSN) and received in audience by Pope Francis in March 2024.

Name

Associazione San Marcellino

Legal name

Associazione San Marcellino OdV

Website

https://sanmarcellino.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Associazione San Marcellino is a Jesuit social non-profit founded in 1945 in Genoa, Italy, providing shelters, residential communities, street outreach, and social services for homeless and marginalized people in Liguria, funded through donations and 5x1000 tax designations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Homeless social services
• Emergency shelter services
• Community mediation programs
• Job training services
• Street outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Genova

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: The organization operates as a charitable non-profit (Onlus/ETS) funded primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and supporters. Multiple donation mechanisms are available including one-time donations, standing orders, and event-based solidary fundraising.
2. 5x1000 Tax Designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 5x1000 of their tax return to the organization, providing a recurring source of public support.
3. Testamentary bequests: The organization accepts testamentary bequests (lasciti testamentari) as a planned giving mechanism.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Associazione San Marcellino is a Jesuit social organization that provides free, integrated social services to homeless and marginalized individuals in Genoa. Its core offering includes a Listening Center (Centro di Ascolto), overnight shelters, residential communities, street outreach, work education, daytime service center, recreational club, medical consultations, community mediation, and cultural programming through the SMacc Cultural Center.

Product overview

Associazione San Marcellino is a Jesuit social work organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of social services for homeless people and those in difficulty. The core services include a Centro di Ascolto (listening center with ~100 daily contacts), Alloggiamento (night shelters for men and women), Educazione al Lavoro (job training), Animazione (recreational activities), and a Unità di Strada (mobile street outreach). Additional services include day centers, recreational clubs, medical consultations, and meal services. The SMacc Centro Culturale serves as a cultural hub promoting inclusive coexistence through art and creativity. Community mediation services address conflict resolution in various settings, including prisons. The organization also offers volunteer opportunities through Servizio Civile Universale and publishes various materials including books, research, newsletters, and videos.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMacc: Centro Culturale San Marcellino arte-cultura-creatività - A cultural center promoting inclusive, non-judgmental coexistence built around art, beauty and culture, located at Via Cairoli 28r in Genoa.

Products and services

• Centro di Ascolto (Listening Center) A first-point-of-contact reception and guidance service handling approximately 100 daily contacts from people in need, located at Piazza San Marcellino 1 in Genoa, open Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday 9:00-12:00.
• Alloggiamento (Overnight Shelters) Night shelter and accommodation services operating across three facilities providing separate accommodation for women and men experiencing homelessness.
• Educazione al Lavoro (Work Education and Job Training) Job education and vocational training programs designed to help beneficiaries develop professional skills and reintegrate into the workforce.
• Animazione e Tempo Libero (Recreational Activities) Recreational activities and leisure time programs offered to beneficiaries to support well-being and social engagement.
• Unità di Strada (Street Outreach Unit) Mobile street outreach service that reaches homeless people directly in public spaces, including nighttime operations, to deliver support and connection to services.
• SMacc - Centro Culturale San Marcellino Cultural center at Via Cairoli 28r, Genoa, focused on art, culture, and creativity, promoting inclusive and non-judgmental coexistence through beauty and culture.
• Mediazione Comunitaria (Community Mediation) Community mediation services including conflict resolution and relationship reconstruction, including in contexts of liberty deprivation (penal institutions); supported by a research group and training projects.
• Servizio Civile Universale (Universal Civil Service) Universal Civil Service program offering volunteer opportunities for young people to engage with the organization's social mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 100 daily contacts at the Listening Center

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jesuit Social Network (JSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociazione San Marcellino is part of the Jesuit Social Network (JSN), the Jesuit social apostolate in Italy. The organization was received in audience by Pope Francis in March 2024 at the Jesuit Social Network gathering. The JSN connection provides spiritual and institutional framework rooted in Ignatian spirituality.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Comunità di Sant'Egidio: Italian Catholic lay community serving poor, homeless, and elderly across multiple Italian cities through integrated social programs. Comparable in its faith-based mission and comprehensive service approach to vulnerable groups.
• Caritas Italiana: Italy's largest Catholic charity network operating diocesan-level social services for homeless, poor, and marginalized populations nationwide. Most directly comparable peer in terms of faith-based social service model and beneficiary segments.
• EMMAUS Italia: Italian branch of the international Emmaus movement, running shelters and work-integration programs for homeless and socially excluded people. Directly comparable in shelter-plus-work-education model.
• Fondazione Progetto Arca: Milan-based non-profit providing shelter, food, and social reintegration services to homeless people and families in crisis. Closely comparable service portfolio including overnight accommodation and outreach.
• Opera San Francesco per i Poveri: Milan-based Catholic organization providing meals, showers, clothing, and social services to homeless and poor individuals. Comparable faith-rooted operational model delivering free direct services to marginalized populations.
• Fondazione Casa della Carità: Milan-based Catholic foundation providing shelter, food, healthcare, and cultural programs to homeless and marginalized people. Comparable in integrated service model combining material aid with cultural programming.
• Fondazione Banco Alimentare: Italian food bank foundation collecting and redistributing surplus food to charitable organizations serving vulnerable populations. Comparable in operating connected canteens and food distribution as part of social services.
• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Italia: Italian arm of the international Jesuit Refugee Service, part of the same Jesuit Social Network as San Marcellino. Comparable in Jesuit identity and direct service delivery to vulnerable migrants and refugees.

Broad incumbents

• Croce Rossa Italiana: Italian Red Cross, a much larger humanitarian organization with broad emergency relief, health, and social services. Overlaps with San Marcellino on shelter and social assistance but operates at national scale with broader mandate.

Regional players

• Caritas Genova: Diocesan Caritas branch operating in the same Genoa territory as San Marcellino, providing overlapping homeless and social services in Liguria. Directly comparable at the local/regional level within the same city.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sanmarcellino3219
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associazione-san-marcellino

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 Associazione San Marcellino