The Furniture Project Omaha

What The Furniture Project Omaha does

The Furniture Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit furniture bank founded in 2013 by Omaha Fire Department firefighter Drew Gerken, after he and colleagues responded to a family living without furniture and witnessed children sleeping on suitcases. Headquartered at a single warehouse at 10808 J Street in Omaha, Nebraska, the organization accepts gently-used furniture and household items from community donors via warehouse drop-offs, scheduled pickups within the Omaha metro area, Amazon Wishlist orders, and organized donation drives. The organization then inspects, cleans, and redistributes these items free of charge to individuals and families referred exclusively through a network of over 240 partner social service agencies, healthcare providers, schools, and government entities — self-referrals are not permitted.

The business model is donation-funded across three streams: in-kind furniture donations (not monetized), monetary contributions via the website, SHARE Omaha, and eTapestry, and targeted grant funding such as the $10,000 Omaha Community Foundation Refugee Community Grant awarded in August 2025. Operating expenses totaled approximately $1.26 million in 2025, supporting a staff of 9 (Executive Director, Director of Operations, Community Relations Coordinator, Warehouse Manager, and a delivery/warehouse team). In 2025, the organization served 1,312 families representing nearly 4,000 individuals including over 2,000 children, distributing furniture valued at approximately $650,000. The organization has no proprietary technology, relying on a Squarespace website, Volgistics for volunteer scheduling, and partner-submitted referral forms for coordination. Crisis response capability has been demonstrated in the April 2024 tornado response (40 individuals furnished via St. Patrick's Catholic Church partnership) and the 2025 City View Apartments displacement (63 homes furnished via Metro Housing Collaborative and North Omaha Community Partnership).

The organization differentiates itself through a closed-loop referral architecture that ensures furniture reaches pre-vetted families in genuine need, a network of 240+ partner agencies that has grown from 175, and operational multilingual capacity (Spanish, Karen, French, German) tailored to Omaha's refugee and immigrant populations. Geographic reach is currently limited to the Omaha metro area with some service to Western and Central Iowa, and the organization has not expanded into additional markets. Notable recognition includes a feature on Mike Rowe's 'Returning the Favor' web series in July 2019 (which yielded a new box truck), a 2024 rebrand after 10+ years of operation, and recurring grant support from local foundations.

Name

The Furniture Project Omaha

Legal name

The Furniture Project

Website

https://thefurnitureproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Furniture Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit furniture bank that accepts donated furniture and household items from the Omaha community and redistributes them free of charge to families in need, served exclusively through referrals from 240+ partner social service agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Furniture Bank Services

NAICS

Reupholstery and Furniture Repair (81142), Reupholstery and Furniture Repair (811420)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Retail-Furniture Stores (5712)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation, Resale & Disposal Coordination (HSAFAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refurbished/Upcycled Home Furnishings Retail (CRAIANAN), Furniture Repair & Minor Restoration (HSAGAAAI)

Keywords

• Furniture bank services
• Donated furniture redistribution
• Household goods assistance
• Nonprofit social services
• Community furniture donation

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Furniture and Household Item Donations: Individuals and organizations donate gently-used furniture and household items. These donations are inspected, cleaned, and redistributed free of charge to referred families. No revenue is generated from the furniture itself—it is given at no cost to recipients.
2. Monetary Donations: Financial contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations support operational costs including truck maintenance, warehouse operations, and staff. Donations are accepted via the organization's website, SHARE Omaha platform, and direct giving programs.
3. Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from foundations such as the Omaha Community Foundation's Refugee Community Grant Fund ($10,000 awarded in 2025) to support specific programs and expansion of services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Furniture Project accepts donated gently-used furniture and household items from community donors, inspects and cleans them, and redistributes them free of charge to individuals and families referred by 240+ approved social service partner agencies. Services are free to recipients and supported through in-kind donations, monetary contributions, and grants.

Product overview

The Furniture Project is a nonprofit furniture redistribution organization operating a single-service model centered on accepting donated furniture and household goods for free distribution to qualifying families. The core offering is the furniture redistribution service, supported by complementary programs including furniture donation pickup, warehouse drop-off, organized donation drives, an Amazon Wishlist for new items, and volunteer engagement. The organization serves clients exclusively through referrals from a network of over 240 partner social service agencies and does not serve the general public directly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Furniture Redistribution Services A donation-based furniture bank service that accepts gently-used furniture and household items from the community, inspects and cleans them, and redistributes them free of charge to individuals and families referred by 240+ social service partner agencies.
• Furniture Donation Pickup

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,312 families served in 2025 with nearly 4,000 individuals (2,000+ children) sleeping in beds, eating at tables, and feeling comfortable at home
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Metro Housing CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in City View Apartments relocation response, coordinating housing assistance for displaced residents who received furniture from TFP
• North Omaha Community PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in responding to housing crises, working with TFP to furnish homes for displaced residents
• Baxter Subaru La VistasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor helping raise community awareness of TFP's mission. Also sponsors truck maintenance and program to provide safe cribs
• Restoring Dignity OmahacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in serving clients; jointly assisted 396 families and provided 7,459 furniture items valuing $128,266 over a 5-month period
• St. Patrick's Catholic Church, ElkhornsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with TFP to respond to April 26, 2024 tornado, helping furnish homes of 40 displaced individuals
• 211 United Way of the MidlandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial service referral partner connecting individuals and families in need with TFP furniture services
• Creighton UniversitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational institution partner providing referrals through School of Law Community Connections and general student/family services
• Heartland Family ServicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor social service agency referring clients in need of furniture assistance to TFP
• Catholic CharitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial service referral partner serving diverse populations including refugees and immigrants
• Lutheran Family Services of NebraskacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor social service agency referring clients for furniture assistance
• Nebraska Department of Health & Human ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState government agency referring clients in need of furniture assistance
• Omaha Housing AuthoritycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing authority referring clients transitioning to stable housing who need furniture
• OneWorld Community Health CenterssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare provider referring patients in need of furniture assistance
• The Salvation ArmycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor social service organization referring clients for furniture assistance
• Goodwill IndustriessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial service partner referring clients in need
• Habitat for HumanitysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing organization with board member representation, referring families in need
• CHI Health PartnerssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare network referring patients needing furniture assistance
• Children's Hospital & Medical CentersupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPediatric hospital referring families in need of furniture support
• Veterans AffairscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFederal agency referring veteran clients for furniture assistance
• Nebraska MedicinesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare system referring patients needing furniture support
• City of Omaha Mayor's OfficesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCity government partner supporting TFP's mission in the Omaha community

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• A Wider Circle: Silver Spring, MD-based nonprofit that distributes furniture, beds, and basic household goods — free of charge — to individuals and families referred by case managers across DC/Maryland/Virginia. Closely mirrors TFP's referral-only, dignity-centered model for underserved metro populations.
• Furniture Bank of Central Indiana: Indianapolis-based furniture bank that redistributes donated furniture to individuals and families referred by partner agencies. Operates the same donation-to-redistribution model as TFP, making it the closest direct comparability for unit economics, warehouse operations, and agency-referral structure.
• Houston Furniture Bank: Houston-area furniture bank using donated and refurbished furniture to stabilize families transitioning out of homelessness, crisis, or disaster — including post-Harvey disaster response. Same model as TFP with proven capacity for multi-thousand household annual throughput.
• Pacific Furniture Bank: Seattle-area furniture bank redistributing donated household furnishings to families in need through a network of social service partners. Direct peer structurally — same donation pickup and warehouse-redistribution operations as TFP, just in a different Pacific Northwest geography.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army: Global nonprofit social services organization that operates furniture-assistance and voucher programs across U.S. metros. Listed as one of TFP's 240+ referring agencies; competes for the same donor dollars and warehouse logistics but operates with a much broader mission and brand.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores: Habitat's ReStore network sells donated furniture and home goods to fund affordable housing. While retail-priced rather than free, the supply chain intercepts some potential TFP donations; Habitat board representation on TFP signals close ecosystem overlap.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit with retail-driven thrift and furniture-redistribution programs. Listed as a TFP referring partner; competes for donated household goods and could expand into free-distribution models similar to TFP given its larger infrastructure.
• Catholic Charities USA: National social services network — and a core TFP referral partner specifically for refugee and immigrant case management. Comparable as a broad human-services nonprofit with overlapping beneficiary populations, though furniture distribution is not its primary service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/p/The-Furniture-Project-Omaha-100076392726374
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-furniture-project-omaha
• Instagraminstagram.com/furnitureprojectomaha

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Furniture Project Omaha