Lucky Duck Foundation
Lucky Duck Foundation is a San Diego County 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and operates programs to prevent and alleviate homelessness, including bridge shelters, job training, food outreach, transitional housing for youth, and senior homelessness prevention, delivered through 40+ partner organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lucky Duck Foundation does
The Lucky Duck Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2005 (originally as the AGIA Foundation) and rebranded in 2017 to focus on preventing and alleviating homelessness throughout San Diego County. Co-founded by Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny — who personally match all donations up to $2 million per year — the organization is led by CEO Drew Moser and operates from its headquarters in San Diego, CA. The foundation does not operate a technology platform; rather, it functions as a philanthropic funder and program operator that channels donations into a portfolio of direct-service initiatives and partner-operated programs.
The foundation's service portfolio is structured around four primary program categories: emergency shelter (325+ bridge shelter beds nightly), employment and job training (25+ programs serving 2,500+ individuals), food and water outreach (2.3M+ meals distributed), and transitional housing for transition-age youth (VisTAY House, HarborTAY). Specialized programs include sleeping bag coats (21,000+ distributed), Cash for Trash cleanup (200+ tons removed), Seniors Safe at Home (rental subsidies and case management), detox bed activation, and Lucky Ducklings (youth volunteerism). Programs are delivered through a network of 40+ partner organizations spanning nonprofits, government agencies, and San Diego research universities.
The business model is donation-driven with no direct revenue from service fees. Fundraising channels include individual donations (website, mail), donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, IRA distributions, appreciated stock, estate planning (Legacy Society), corporate giving (including the Lucky Duck Coffee Club cause-marketing partnership), event fundraising (Spring Swing, Showcase Soiree), and peer-to-peer campaigns. The foundation holds Platinum GuideStar and Charity Navigator 4-Star ratings and operates with formal governance via a Board of Directors and an advisory committee that includes individuals with lived homeless experience. Notable measured outcomes include a 29% reduction in unsheltered homelessness in San Diego County over three consecutive years following deployment of bridge shelters.
Lucky Duck Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lucky Duck Foundation
- Legal name
- The Lucky Duck Foundation
- Website
- https://luckyduckfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lucky Duck Foundation is a San Diego County 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and operates programs to prevent and alleviate homelessness, including bridge shelters, job training, food outreach, transitional housing for youth, and senior homelessness prevention, delivered through 40+ partner organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lucky Duck Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homelessness and Social Services
- NAICS
- Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- 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), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Income Support & Cash Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAE)
Keywords
Where Lucky Duck Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lucky Duck Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donor Contributions: The foundation relies primarily on donations from individuals, families, and corporations. All donations are matched by co-founders Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny up to $2 million annually.
- Tax-Advantaged Giving Vehicles: Donors can give through Donor-Advised Funds (DAF), charitable remainder trusts, IRA distributions, appreciated stock, real estate, and estate planned gifts. These provide tax benefits to donors while generating donations.
- Corporate Giving: Corporate partners can engage through sponsorship of events (Showcase Soiree, Spring Swing), workplace giving programs, and cause marketing partnerships like Lucky Duck Coffee Club.
- Event Fundraising: Annual events including Showcase Soiree (VIP sponsorships) and Spring Swing (presented by RBC Wealth Management Gall Hale Team, California Bank & Trust) generate donations through ticket sales and sponsorships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Donation matching program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Lucky Duck Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lucky Duck Foundation funds and coordinates a portfolio of programs that prevent and alleviate homelessness throughout San Diego County, including bridge shelters providing 325+ emergency beds nightly, 25+ job training and employment programs, food and water outreach that has delivered 2,300,000+ meals, sleeping bag coats, transitional housing for homeless youth (HarborTAY and VisTAY House), the Seniors Safe at Home prevention program, detox bed activation, and the Cash for Trash $2-per-bag clean-up employment program. Programs are funded by donations matched up to $2 million annually by the co-founders and delivered through 40+ partner organizations.
Product overview
Lucky Duck Foundation operates a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing homelessness in San Diego County. The core offerings include bridge shelters (325+ emergency beds), job training and employment programs (25+ programs serving 2,500+ individuals), food and water outreach (2.3M+ meals), and sleeping bag coats (21,000+ distributed). Specialized programs target youth (United for Youth, VisTAY House, HarborTAY, Lucky Ducklings, Timmy's Place) and seniors (Seniors Safe at Home). The Shamrocks & Shipwrecks program provides public accountability scoring for elected officials. Cash for Trash enables homeless individuals to earn income while cleaning up communities. Programs are funded through donations (matched up to $2M annually by co-founders) and delivered through partnerships with 40+ organizations. The foundation does not operate a technology platform but deploys philanthropic resources through direct service programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lucky Ducklings: Youth-led movement to support youth in volunteerism, giving back, raising funds, and more
- Lucky Duck Coffee Club
- Shamrocks & Shipwrecks
- Cash for Trash
- Be A Friend
- Legacy Society
Products and services
- Bridge Shelters Large industrial tent structures providing emergency shelter to San Diegans experiencing homelessness. Currently provides approximately 325 shelter beds nightly through purchase and construction of bridge shelters in San Diego County.
- Job Training and Employment Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,300,000+ meals distributed to homeless individuals
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Lucky Duck Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Lucky Duck Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lucky Duck Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Urban Street AngelscoreOperating HarborTAY 54-bed transitional housing for homeless youth ages 18-24. Lucky Duck Foundation and David C. Copley Foundation provided startup funding.
- Urban Street AngelscoreOperating VisTAY House transitional housing for 18-24 year olds; providing wraparound case management, peer support, and career development through Padres 5 Tool Trade Academy. Lucky Duck Foundation provided $250,000 startup funding.
- San Diego Rescue MissioncoreLDF committed $10,000 per new shelter bed activated by June 2026, up to $1.5 million, to expand shelter capacity in North and East Counties. Expanding Cash for Trash program.
- Genesis RecoverycoreLDF provided $325,000 as 1-for-2 matching challenge to activate 22 new detox beds in Dulzura. Total $1 million raised including Medi-Cal reimbursements for ongoing costs.
- Serving SeniorscoreImplementing Seniors Safe at Home program providing shallow rental subsidies, case management, and employment navigation to help seniors stay housed.
- San Diego Housing CommissioncoreImplementing Seniors Safe at Home program in collaboration with Serving Seniors, providing housing stability for at-risk seniors.
- Feeding San DiegocoreFood rescue partnership: Feeding San Diego provides rescue routes; Salvation Army shelter residents employed as drivers; LDF funds wages, gas, maintenance, and insurance. Rescued 1 million+ pounds of food.
- The Salvation ArmycoreEmploys shelter residents as food rescue route drivers with LDF funding. Nearly all program graduates secured full-time employment and housing.
- Tower Roasting Co.minorCoffee partner for Lucky Duck Coffee Club; provides 100% organic fair trade coffee while donating 30% of every sale to support homelessness prevention.
- Bombas SocksminorSock donations for newsletter subscribers; Bombas provides socks that LDF donates on behalf of new subscribers.
- LNDRYminorPremier laundry service in San Diego that picks up gently used clothes donations for free to help homeless employment and education seekers.
- Shoreline Community ServicescoreLDF supported Compass Commons workforce housing for Community Care Crew members. Community Care Crew has worked 7,200+ hours, earned $150,000+ in wages, generated $170,000+ in revenue.
- Regional Task Force on HomelessnesscoreKey stakeholder in homelessness response; collaborated on HarborTAY project and ongoing shelter initiatives.
- County of San DiegocoreGovernment partner on bridge shelters and HarborTAY; providing ongoing operating funding for youth transitional housing through Behavioral Health Services Department.
- University of San DiegocoreResearch partner for actionable research studies on homelessness including community-based approaches, stigmatization, and affordable housing perceptions.
- San Diego State UniversitycoreResearch partner studying utility assistance impact on keeping people housed and collaborative affordable housing perception studies with USD.
- Point Loma Nazarene UniversitycoreResearch partner for RADAR-HMIS project providing access to local homelessness data and assessing correlations between homeless programs, employment services, and client outcomes.
- UC San DiegocoreResearch partner for H-Hub community data hub on homelessness using geographic information systems; conducted research study on Humble Design model.
- Work for HopeminorEmployment program helping individuals leave streets, overcome addiction, and gain employment beautifying city-owned parks in Chula Vista.
- HomeAid San DiegominorWORKS program providing technical construction training and job placement for individuals experiencing homelessness through LDF funding.
- Home StartminorThrift Boutique and Bright Futures Candles social enterprises providing employment and wraparound services for Transition Age Youth through LDF funding.
- Dreams for ChangeminorFood truck business providing paid training and jobs to individuals facing employment barriers through LDF funding.
- Doors of ChangeminorHelped 482 youth in San Diego including 230 find shelter/safe housing, 124 with mental health services, and 74 youth find employment through LDF funding.
Scale indicators19 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lucky Duck Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): California-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable as a regional service provider operating interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and employment programs.
- Alpha Project: San Diego nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk individuals through shelter, housing, and workforce development. Directly comparable given shared San Diego footprint, transitional housing focus, and employment program model.
- Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco nonprofit providing housing, education, and employment programs for homeless and at-risk youth. Comparable given similar transition-age youth focus, transitional housing model, and employment training programs.
- San Diego Rescue Mission: Established San Diego homeless shelter and recovery services nonprofit. Directly comparable as a regional shelter operator and existing LDF partner, with overlapping emergency shelter and rehabilitation programs.
- Bill Wilson Center: Santa Clara County nonprofit serving homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth with housing, counseling, and education services. Comparable as a youth-focused transitional housing and supportive services operator with similar program structure to LDF's youth initiatives.
- Father Joe's Villages: San Diego's largest homeless services provider operating shelters, housing, and comprehensive supportive services. Most directly comparable peer given shared San Diego geography, focus on emergency shelter and wraparound services, and nonprofit charitable model.
Broad incumbents
- National Alliance to End Homelessness: National nonprofit advocacy organization working to prevent and end homelessness through policy, research, and capacity building. Comparable as a research and policy-driven homelessness organization, though operating at national rather than regional scale.
- Covenant House: National nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and supportive services to youth experiencing homelessness across the U.S. and internationally. Comparable given the shared focus on transition-age youth housing and employment pathways.
Regional players
- Hope of the Valley: San Fernando Valley-area nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing programs. Comparable given the shelter-led service model and use of bridge/interim shelter capacity to address regional homelessness.
- Downtown Women's Center: Los Angeles nonprofit serving women experiencing homelessness with shelter, permanent supportive housing, and wellness services. Comparable program model and wraparound services approach, though focused on a specific subpopulation and different California region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lucky Duck Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceLucky Duck Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Lucky Duck Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lucky Duck Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Lucky Duck Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lucky Duck Foundation 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 Lucky Duck Foundation
What does Lucky Duck Foundation do?
Lucky Duck Foundation funds and coordinates a portfolio of programs that prevent and alleviate homelessness throughout San Diego County, including bridge shelters providing 325+ emergency beds nightly, 25+ job training and employment programs, food and water outreach that has delivered 2,300,000+ meals, sleeping bag coats, transitional housing for homeless youth (HarborTAY and VisTAY House), the Seniors Safe at Home prevention program, detox bed activation, and the Cash for Trash $2-per-bag clean-up employment program. Programs are funded by donations matched up to $2 million annually by the co-founders and delivered through 40+ partner organizations.
Is Lucky Duck Foundation a public or private company?
Lucky Duck Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lucky Duck Foundation founded?
Lucky Duck Foundation was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lucky Duck Foundation based?
Lucky Duck Foundation is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lucky Duck Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donor Contributions are the primary driver. The others are tax-Advantaged Giving Vehicles, corporate Giving and event Fundraising.
Who are Lucky Duck Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), Alpha Project, Larkin Street Youth Services, San Diego Rescue Mission, Bill Wilson Center and Father Joe's Villages. Broad incumbents are National Alliance to End Homelessness and Covenant House. Regional players are Hope of the Valley and Downtown Women's Center.
Does Lucky Duck Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lucky Duck Foundation.
What industry is Lucky Duck Foundation in?
Lucky Duck Foundation's product category is Homelessness and Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services. Its NAICS code is 624221 and its SIC code is 8300.