The Gathering of Southeast WI, Inc.

What The Gathering of Southeast WI, Inc. does

The Gathering of Southeast WI, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 that provides free meals to people facing hunger in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2023, the organization served approximately 130,000 meals across nine meal sites — four owned and five partner-hosted — including locations at churches, community centers, and the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center. The operation is supported by nearly 13,000 volunteer hours annually and a small paid staff of 1-10 employees, with 2,000+ active volunteers contributing to food preparation, service, and distribution.

The organization's core product is a hot, nutritionally structured meal delivered in a community setting, with no direct cost to guests. Complementary programmatic offerings include the Fresh Produce Preservation Project, which reduces food waste and supplements fresh ingredients for meal preparation. The organization does not sell meals or charge for service; its revenue is generated entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, grants (e.g., Impact100 GreaterMilwaukee), and special events such as the annual Mardi Gras fundraiser. Distribution is anchored in a physical site network with deeply embedded community partnerships across faith institutions, corporate sponsors (Komatsu, Rockwell Automation, Pick N Save, Milwaukee Bucks), and civic organizations.

The business model is a donation-driven nonprofit: unrestricted and restricted contributions, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and event proceeds fund food procurement, site operations, and a small administrative staff. The organization faces ongoing budget pressure from rising food costs and is pursuing growth through expanded partnerships, new program lines, and additional meal sites — including a planned expansion at Running Rebels and a new Street Angels partnership targeting homeless and transient populations. The Gathering has operated continuously for over 40 years, establishing itself as a durable element of Milwaukee's hunger-relief infrastructure.

Name

The Gathering of Southeast WI, Inc.

Legal name

The Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin, Inc.

Website

https://thegatheringwis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gathering of Southeast WI, Inc. is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free meals to people facing hunger through nine community meal sites, supported by 2,000+ volunteers and sustained by donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Meal Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Community Food Services (62421)

akta.pro primary industry

Meal Preparation & Nutrition Support (Non-Medical) (HSABAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

Keywords

• Community meal services
• Hunger relief programs
• Food security services
• Homeless support services
• Nonprofit food assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute funds to support meal programs and operations. The organization runs an online donation portal.
2. Foundation Grants: The Gathering receives grants from foundations such as Impact100 Greater Milwaukee ($100,000 award in 2023) to fund specific programs and infrastructure improvements.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual events including the Mardi Gras gala (raised over $35,000 in 2025) and Golf Classic generate revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors (Bader Philanthropies, Komatsu, etc.) provide financial support at various sponsorship levels for fundraising events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin provides free, freshly prepared hot meals and bag lunches seven days a week through four owned and five community-partner meal sites across Milwaukee. It supplements meal service with mental health assistance, on-site medical services, supply distributions (toiletries, blankets, seasonal gear), and a Fresh Produce Preservation Project, addressing hunger, homelessness, and related needs with dignity.

Product overview

The Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization operating a community meal service with four core meal sites in Milwaukee, supplemented by five partner organization locations. The organization provides free, freshly prepared hot meals and bag lunches seven days a week to individuals and families facing hunger and food insecurity. Beyond meal service, the organization connects guests with mental health assistance, medical services, and supply distributions through collaborative partnerships with organizations including Homeless Outreach Nursing Center and St. Ben's Medical Clinic. Additional programs include the Fresh Produce Preservation Project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Meal Programs Free, freshly prepared hot meals and bag lunches served daily at four Milwaukee locations, providing nutritious food 7 days a week to individuals and families facing food insecurity.
• Partner Meal Sites Partnerships with five community organizations to extend meal service reach, providing nourishing food and essential services at additional locations throughout Milwaukee.
• Mental Health Assistance Collaboration with the Homeless Outreach Nursing Center (HONC) providing on-site mental health services during breakfast at the Running Rebels location, focused on locating, stabilizing, and housing the homeless mentally ill.
• Medical Assistance Blood pressure checks, information and referral services, and seasonal flu shots provided on-site by St. Ben's Medical Clinic during breakfast meals at Running Rebels.
• Supply Distributions Distribution of toiletry items, laundry detergent, blankets, sleeping bags, hand warmers, socks, outerwear, gloves, hats, scarves, and bottled water for homeless guests at meal sites.
• Fresh Produce Preservation Project Program that preserves fresh produce for distribution to meal guests, reducing food waste while providing nutritious options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served nearly 130,000 meals in 2025 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Street Angels in ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Street Angels' Showers of Hope mobile program now available on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at the Running Rebels meal site (1300 W. Fond du Lac). Partnership provides guests access to private hot showers, clean clothing, towels, hygiene kits, and nutritious bag lunches alongside existing meal services. Street Angels has been serving Milwaukee County since 2016.
• Rockwell AutomationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate team volunteers serve meals at The Gathering locations, strengthening workplace culture while making direct community impact. Employees connect on personal levels while serving alongside colleagues.
• Komatsu Mining CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKomatsu employees and families volunteer at The Gathering at least four times annually, with additional efforts during Thanksgiving and holiday seasons. Social Responsibility Manager Cathy Stagmer has spent 16 years connecting employees with volunteer opportunities. Company has supported The Gathering's work for over 20 years.
• Milwaukee Bucks and Pick N SaveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew partnership announced in 2024 supporting The Gathering's meal programs.
• The TandemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring COVID-19 emergency response, The Tandem opened its doors to provide free meals to the community. The Gathering donated fresh produce including Brussels sprouts, avocados, onions, and cilantro to support The Tandem's efforts.
• Homeless Outreach Nursing Center (HONC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mental health services to breakfast guests at Running Rebels location. 60-70% of breakfast guests are homeless, many with mental health and/or addiction issues. Focus is to locate, stabilize, and house the homeless mentally ill.
• St. Ben's Medical CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides blood pressure checks, information and referral services, and seasonal flu shots during breakfast meal at Running Rebels location.
• FUEL MilwaukeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFUEL Milwaukee adopted The Gathering as part of their Adopt-A-Nonprofit program. The partnership brings new volunteers, raises awareness, and helps spread the mission through launch events, social events, and volunteering/fundraising efforts.
• Running RebelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization hosting The Gathering's meal site at their location. Partnership enables delivery of meal services and collaboration with Street Angels for mobile shower program.
• Christian Faith Fellowship EastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts The Gathering's Dinner Program where meal guests Simon and Loneva serve as field ministers with G4U Ministries.
• Marquette University High SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudents have volunteered with The Gathering 334 times since 2001. Sophomore class completes 12 hours of community service per semester, with some students continuing volunteer involvement after graduation.
• Milwaukee College PrepminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudents bake pies for Thanksgiving meals at The Gathering's ONG meal site under guidance of Board Member Maggie Broeren, the school's Community Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator.
• POPS Memphis Style BarbequeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMike 'POPS' Hester volunteers his smoked barbecue services during Move For Hunger events and The Gathering's Grand Opening at Running Rebels. Founded in 2007, POPS operates a food trailer on 76th Street and Good Hope Road.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Anthony Foundation: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing free meals and comprehensive wraparound services (dining room, medical, social services, supply distribution) to people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity. Direct peer in integrated service model combining hot meals with mental health, medical, and basic-needs support.
• God's Love We Deliver: NYC-based nonprofit providing free, freshly prepared meals and nutrition support to individuals facing serious illness, hunger, and food insecurity. Direct peer in core model (free, freshly prepared meals to those in need), nonprofit structure, donor/grant funding model, and mission-driven volunteer engagement.
• Milwaukee Rescue Mission: Milwaukee nonprofit providing meals and comprehensive services to individuals facing homelessness and hunger. Highly comparable to The Gathering in target population (homeless and food-insecure), service model (free meals plus wraparound support), and funding structure (donations, volunteers, community partnerships).
• Hunger Task Force: Milwaukee-based nonprofit food bank addressing hunger in the same Southeast Wisconsin market. Comparable in mission (feeding the food insecure), funding model (donations/grants), and community-based service delivery, though focused more on food distribution than hot meal preparation.
• Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin: Regional food bank serving the same Southeast Wisconsin geography with a comparable mission of fighting hunger through community partnerships. Peer in operating model (nonprofit, donation-funded, volunteer-driven) and target population (food-insecure individuals and families).
• Hope Center of Milwaukee: Milwaukee-area nonprofit providing community meals and supportive services to those facing hunger and homelessness. Direct peer in mission, target population, free-meal service model, and volunteer-driven operations within the same Southeast Wisconsin geography.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army of Milwaukee County: Established multi-service nonprofit operating in the same Milwaukee market with overlapping meal programs and homelessness services. Comparable in serving food-insecure and homeless populations but operates at a much larger scale with broader service offerings including shelter, rehabilitation, and emergency assistance.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Faith-based social services nonprofit serving the same Southeast Wisconsin region with overlapping programs addressing hunger, homelessness, and basic needs. Comparable in nonprofit/donation-funded model and target population, though broader in scope (includes counseling, immigration services, etc.).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The Gathering of Southeast WI, Inc.