What Welcome Neighbor STL does

Welcome Neighbor STL is a St. Louis, Missouri-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 by Jessica Bueler that supports refugee and immigrant families through a comprehensive wraparound service model. The organization currently serves refugees from 11 countries with a beneficiary base of 600+ and a supporter network exceeding 4,000, operating from a main office at 3611 S Grand Blvd and a commercial kitchen at 5007 Waterman Blvd used for the Supper Club program. Core programs include Supper Club/Catering (where refugee chefs earn income by preparing traditional cuisines at $30-$40 per person with a 15-guest minimum), Family Partnering (volunteer-to-family matching for one-year commitments), ESL tutoring (in-home and virtual, currently 42 students with 30 active tutors), Mothers Support Group (trauma-informed mental wellness via licensed therapist Jillayna Adamson), the START STL teen volunteer program, and the affiliated HUMANKIND STL nonprofit launched in April 2022 for Afghan refugee families. Additional services include Welcome Kit distribution, transportation coordination, and an Unhoused Meals Program where refugee chefs prepare approximately 100 meals twice monthly for Peter & Paul Community Campus.

The underlying technology stack is conventional nonprofit infrastructure rather than proprietary technology: Monday.com for program management, Mailchimp for weekly newsletters, Zoom for virtual tutoring, Google Workspace for educational materials, Google Translate for language support, and WhatsApp for refugee family communication. The revenue model is donations and fundraising-led, supplemented by transaction-based Supper Club catering proceeds that flow directly to refugee chefs, special event fundraisers (yoga, pickleball tournaments, photography exhibitions), and a Donate-a-Meal program. The organization partners with a robust local ecosystem including House of Goods Baitulmal, Home Sweet Home, Oasis International, Bilingual International, First Unitarian Church, Regions Bank, Slyman Brothers, and The Bicycle Ministry, with referral pipelines flowing both ways. Leadership includes Executive Director Ann Wittman (former Deloitte and Abbott Labs), Director of Operations Tiana Brass, and a seven-member Board of Directors led by Anne Ross-Weldy. The organization has earned multiple awards including the 2018 Real Simple Great Neighbor Award, 2019 Women of Achievement Award, 2018 Gateway Globe Award, and 2025 St. Louis Magazine Business 500: Community Builders recognition.

Name

Welcome Neighbor STL

Legal name

Welcome Neighbor STL

Website

https://welcomeneighborstl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Welcome Neighbor STL is a St. Louis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that delivers wraparound services to 600+ refugees from 11 countries through catering, ESL tutoring, family partnering, and mental health programs, backed by 4,000+ community supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Support Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Educational Support Services (611710), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN), Immigrant & Refugee Community Education (Integration/Navigation) (EDAAAFAH), Refugee Reception & Registration (BPADAHAA)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• ESL tutoring programs
• Immigrant family support
• Community catering events
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue through individual donations, corporate donations, and fundraising events. Organization raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for refugees through various campaigns.
2. Supper Club Catering: Refugee chefs earn supplemental income through catering events and Supper Club dinners. Proceeds from Supper Club events directly benefit refugee cooks. Pricing at $30-40 per person for various cultural menus.
3. Special Event Fundraisers: Host specific fundraising events including yoga fundraisers, pickleball tournaments, egg my yard fundraisers, and photography exhibitions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Welcome Neighbor STL is a nonprofit refugee support organization that provides direct service programs to refugee and immigrant families in St. Louis, including ESL tutoring, Family Partnering mentorship, a Mothers Support Group, Welcome Kit distribution, academic tutoring, and a Supper Club catering program where refugee chefs prepare traditional cuisines with proceeds benefiting the cooks. The organization also operates the Unhoused Meals Program, providing income opportunities for refugee chefs while serving unhoused individuals.

Product overview

Welcome Neighbor STL is a nonprofit community organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio of programs to support refugee and immigrant families in St. Louis. The core offerings include Supper Clubs/Catering (where refugee chefs prepare and serve traditional meals, with proceeds benefiting the cooks), Family Partnering (volunteers matched with refugee families), ESL tutoring, Mothers Support Group, and START STL teen volunteer programs. Additional services include Welcome Kit distribution, tutoring programs, and the Unhoused Meals Program. The organization connects refugees with resources, volunteer support, and cultural exchange opportunities to facilitate their integration into the St. Louis community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• START STL - St. Louis Teens Aid Refugees Today: Teen volunteer program that aids refugee families through donations, fundraising events, tutoring, and moving assistance.
• HUMANKIND STL

Products and services

• Supper Clubs / Catering Communal dining events where refugee chefs prepare traditional dishes from their home countries, with proceeds directly benefiting the refugee cooks. Catering services for private events are also offered at $30-$40 per person with a 15-guest minimum.
• Family Partnering Program Volunteer-to-family matching program pairing volunteers with refugee families for friendship, advocacy, navigation of social services, budgeting assistance, and leisure activities over a one-year commitment.
• ESL – English as a Second Language In-home tutoring program for refugees with low English proficiency, matching volunteer tutors with students for weekly one-on-one lessons using provided curriculum materials (42 students and 30 active tutors as of recent reporting).
• Mothers Support Group Therapeutic support groups for refugee mothers addressing trauma, isolation, and mental health concerns, facilitated by a licensed counselor (Jillayna Adamson) with translator support.
• START STL – St. Louis Teens Aid Refugees Today Teen-led volunteer program connecting refugee families with student volunteers through fundraising, moving assistance, and tutoring services.
• Welcome Kit Program Provides essential hygiene, cleaning, and household items to newly arrived refugee families through assembled kits distributed via family partners and staff.
• Donate a Meal / Unhoused Meals Program Program allowing donors to provide meals to unhoused individuals, with refugee chefs preparing approximately 100 meals twice monthly for Peter and Paul Community Campus.
• HUMANKIND STL Nonprofit providing comprehensive support to immigrant families, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan after the August 2021 Kabul evacuation. Provides foundation support for long-term success.
• Tutoring Programs Academic support including Wednesday Night Tutoring (5th-12th grade) and At-Home Tutoring (starting as young as first grade), with homework help and basic literacy skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ refugees helped from 11 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• HUMANKIND STLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Non-profit organization founded in April 2022 to provide comprehensive support for immigrant families, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan after the August 2021 Kabul evacuation. Provides foundation support for long-term success.
• START (St. Louis Teens Aid Refugees Today)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-led nonprofit founded by two St. Louis teens Adam Saleh and Luke Braby. Program of Welcome Neighbor STL raising funds through donations, fundraising events, and service projects to benefit refugee families.
• KatkinsupportingTechnology or IntegrationFood handler training provider offering ServSafe certification classes translated into Arabic. Welcome Neighbor STL partners with Katkin to offer training for refugee chefs.
• Bilingual InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit founded in 2002 by stateless refugee women ensuring equal access to healthcare, mental health, and social services for foreign-born seniors regardless of language ability.
• House of Goods BaitulmalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit started by police chaplains collecting items to give free to those in need. Accepts donations and helps distribute household items to refugee families.
• Oasis InternationalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWelcomes refugees from war-torn countries, helps settle them with furniture, household items, clothes. Offers English, citizenship, and computer classes.
• Home Sweet HomesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides furniture to refugee families in partnership with WNSTL's Family Support Coordinator. Located at 290 Hanley Industrial Ct, Brentwood, MO 63144.
• Slyman BrotherssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAppliance provider partnered with WNSTL to supply household appliances for refugee families.
• The Bicycle MinistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides bikes to refugee families through WNSTL's Family Support Coordinator partnerships.
• Bright Tribe Therapy and WellnesssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPsychotherapist Jillayna Adamson runs Welcome Neighbor's Mothers Group, providing trauma and cross-cultural mental wellness support for refugee mothers.
• First Unitarian ChurchsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Wednesday evening tutoring programs. Provides space for volunteer tutor training sessions.
• STL CITY2minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSoccer organization partnered for special fundraiser events. Refugee children participate in soccer clinics and walk onto field with players.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Institute of St. Louis: A St. Louis–based refugee resettlement and immigration services nonprofit providing ESL, case management, employment, and immigration legal services. Most direct geographic peer serving the same refugee population in the same metro.
• Bilingual International Assistant Services: St. Louis nonprofit providing social and mental health services to foreign-born individuals including refugees; listed as a WNSTL partner organization. Highly comparable mission and geography with health-focused service overlap.
• HUMANKIND STL: St. Louis nonprofit spun out of Welcome Neighbor STL in April 2022 to specifically support Afghan evacuee families. Operates as a closely related peer under WNSTL's umbrella but functions as a separate entity in the same refugee services market.
• START STL: Teen volunteer program of Welcome Neighbor STL that mobilizes student-led fundraising and service for refugee families. Functions as an affiliated program with overlapping volunteer base and donor pool in the same market.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): One of the largest U.S. refugee resettlement agencies with federally funded programs in resettlement, ESL, employment, and case management. Operates St. Louis office and competes for both donor dollars and refugee clients in the same market.
• Catholic Charities of St. Louis: Federally affiliated refugee resettlement provider in St. Louis delivering case management, English classes, employment support, and basic needs assistance. Overlaps substantively with WNSTL's service portfolio across the same beneficiary base.
• HIAS: Global Jewish refugee resettlement agency providing reception, integration, and legal services for refugees in the U.S. Comparable mission and service mix (ESL, casework, employment) at national scale.

Regional players

• Refugee Services of Texas: Texas-based refugee resettlement and social services nonprofit offering case management, ESL, employment, and youth programs. Comparable service portfolio but operates in a different geography from WNSTL.

Emerging players

• Refuge Coffee Company: Social enterprise employing refugees as baristas and roasters; comparable empowerment-through-cuisine model to WNSTL's Supper Club program. Demonstrates the broader 'refugee as economic agent' thesis.
• Made by Refugees: Online marketplace and social enterprise selling products made by refugees. Conceptually adjacent to WNSTL's Supper Club economic-empowerment model but operates in product/e-commerce rather than food service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WelcomeNeighborSTL
• Instagraminstagram.com/welcomeneighborstl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Welcome Neighbor STL