The Philadelphia Project

What The Philadelphia Project does

The Philadelphia Project (TPP) is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 by Ray and Michelle Garcia to connect visiting church youth groups and college students with vulnerable neighbors in Northwest Philadelphia. Its operational platform is built around four interlocking program lines: (1) service trips (Summer of Service weeklong youth trips, Spring Break college trips, Blitz Weekends, Day of Service, and Custom Trips, priced $35-$500 per participant); (2) free home repair for elderly, disabled, single-parent, and HUD very-low-income homeowners in Germantown, Mt. Airy, Roxborough, and Manayunk; (3) education support via the Atonement After-School program for Lingelbach Elementary students in Germantown, plus virtual learning support; and (4) church and mercy partnerships providing embedded staff, volunteers, and full-tuition college scholarships through Eastern University and Cairn University. TPP does not operate proprietary software; its technology footprint is limited to a Squarespace website, Constant Contact email newsletter, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Vimeo).

Name

The Philadelphia Project

Legal name

The Philadelphia Project

Website

https://thephillyproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Philadelphia Project is a Christian nonprofit in Philadelphia that runs service trips, free home repairs, after-school education support, and church-partnership programs for visiting youth groups, college students, vulnerable homeowners, and partner congregations in Northwest Philadelphia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Community Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAGAI

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

SECONDARYBPAGADAI

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAC

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGADAE

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDALAHAG

Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Activities, Clubs & Campus Life

Keywords

• Community service programs
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Volunteer service trips
• Home repair services
• Mission trip experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

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 Charitable Contributions: The organization relies on donor generosity and charitable giving to fund operations, home repairs, education programs, and scholarships. Donors can give monthly or one-time gifts.
2. Service Trip Fees: Revenue generated from participant fees for service trips including Summer of Service, Spring Break, Blitz Weekends, and Day of Service. Fees range from $35-$500 per person depending on trip type and booking timing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Philadelphia Project is a Christian nonprofit organization that operates community service programs in Northwest Philadelphia, including weeklong and weekend mission trips for youth groups and college students (Summer of Service, Blitz Weekends, Spring Break, Day of Service, and Custom Trips), free home repair services for elderly, disabled, single-parent, and low-income homeowners, after-school and summer camp education assistance for Germantown students, paid summer internship and year-long fellowship programs, and full-tuition college scholarships through partner universities. Founded in 2010 by Ray and Michelle Garcia, the organization funds operations through individual donations, participant trip fees, university scholarship partnerships, and annual benefit events.

Product overview

The Philadelphia Project is a non-profit community service organization that operates as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include: (1) Service Trips - mission trip programs for youth, college students, and groups across multiple formats (Summer of Service, Spring Break, Blitz Weekends, Day of Service, Custom Trips); (2) Church Partnerships - collaborative support with local churches in Northwest Philadelphia; (3) Home Repair - free home repair services for vulnerable neighbors since 2010; (4) Education Assistance (Atonement After-School) - after-school and summer camp educational support program; (5) Interns and Fellows Program - paid summer internships and year-long fellowships for ministry development; (6) College Scholarship Program - full-tuition scholarships via Eastern University and Cairn University partnerships; (7) Mercy Partnerships - volunteer support for social service organizations; and (8) CLUB - evening worship programming during service trips. These programs are designed to work together, with service trips serving as the primary volunteer recruitment vehicle that feeds into church partnerships, home repair, education, and mercy ministry work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Service Trips (Summer of Service, Blitz Weekends, Spring Break, Day of Service, Custom Trips) Transformative mission trip experiences for church youth groups (grades 6-12), college students, families, and organizations in Northwest Philadelphia. Includes Summer of Service (7-day/6-night or 5-day/4-night weeklong trips, $375-$500/person), Blitz Weekends (fall/spring weekend retreats, $150-$165/person), Spring Break (weeklong college trips, $250/person), Day of Service (single-day experiences, $35/person), and Custom Trips tailored to specific group needs. Programs include worship, home repair, kids camp, and mercy ministry tracks.
• Home Repair Free home repair services for vulnerable neighbors in Northwest Philadelphia neighborhoods (Germantown, Mt. Airy, Roxborough, Manayunk). Services focus on making homes safer, warmer, and drier through interior repairs, plumbing, electrical work, and minor structural repairs. Eligible recipients include elderly, disabled, single-parent, and financially struggling homeowners who meet HUD very low income limits. Volunteer labor is provided through TPP's visiting service trip groups.
• Education Assistance (Atonement After-School) After-school and summer camp program providing educational assistance, childcare, homework help, and emotional support for students from Lingelbach Elementary School in Germantown. Features a low student-to-teacher ratio focusing on academic, social, and emotional well-being, with virtual learning support available. Coordinated by TPP staff member Alena Beeman at Church of the Atonement.
• Interns and Fellows Program Paid summer internship (11-week position during Summer of Service) and year-long fellowship programs for recent graduates and individuals seeking to grow in ministry and leadership skills. Participants serve Philadelphia communities through local church partnerships during the summer and continue in fellowship roles supporting TPP's partner churches and ministry sites year-round.
• College Scholarship Program Full-tuition scholarships through partnerships with Eastern University and Cairn University for new freshmen with significant financial need from Northwest Philadelphia or with prior TPP program experience. Scholarship recipients must live on campus, attend church, serve at TPP Blitz weekends, and complete 30 hours of community service per semester. Named recipients include Gabe Cartenega (Cairn University, Vocal BA) and Haley Marsh (Eastern University, psychology with minor in Youth Ministry).

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosted 100 youth participants per week for 7 weeks during Summer of Service
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Roxborough ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012TPP has partnered with Roxborough Church since 2012. TPP's offices are located here. Executive Director Pastor Ray Garcia serves as lead pastor. TPP helped create the food pantry and launched after-school, preschool, and summer camp programs that the church now operates independently.
• Reformed Episcopal Church of the AtonementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPP partners with Atonement Church through their after-school program launched in Fall 2018 (formerly called Fuel: Germantown). TPP Staff member Alena Beeman serves at this church. TPP supports children's ministry and community outreach.
• Church in The YunkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPP partners with Church in The Yunk as they relaunch a new congregation. TPP Fellow Bella Sampayo is partnered with the church. TPP has assisted in community outreach in Manayunk.
• Wissahickon ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of TPP's core church partners. Interns serve at this church during Summer of Service, supporting their mission and ministry activities.
• Eastern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university offering full-tuition scholarships to TPP program participants and Northwest Philadelphia residents with significant financial need. Students must live on campus, attend church, serve at TPP Blitz weekends, and complete 30 hours of community service per semester.
• Cairn UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university offering full-tuition scholarships to TPP program participants and Northwest Philadelphia residents with significant financial need. Bible-centered curriculum with service at core of culture.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: Massive Christian humanitarian organization running youth mission trips, child sponsorship, and community development. Competes with TPP for church youth group mission trip dollars and donor dollars, but at global scale.
• Youth With A Mission (YWAM): Global interdenominational Christian mission organization running faith-based service trips, discipleship programs, and mercy ministries for youth and young adults. Comparable to TPP's mission trip and fellowship programs, but with international rather than regional scope.
• Habitat for Humanity: Largest faith-affiliated home repair and construction nonprofit globally. Overlaps directly with TPP's free home repair mission for low-income homeowners, but operates at vastly larger scale and across many geographies with a broader volunteer model.

Direct peers

• Rebuilding Together: National nonprofit providing free critical home repairs for low-income homeowners, particularly elderly and disabled. Direct competitor in TPP's core home repair program, though secular and operating through local affiliates rather than church partnerships.
• Group Mission Trips: Faith-based short-term mission trip provider serving church youth groups nationwide with multi-format trips (weeklong, weekend, day). Closely competes with TPP for the same church youth group customer segment with similar pricing and service structure.
• Adventures in Missions: Faith-based nonprofit running long- and short-term mission trips for youth groups, college students, and families. Highly comparable to TPP's Summer of Service, Blitz Weekends, and Spring Break offerings in target demographic and product format.
• The Pittsburgh Project: Faith-based nonprofit in Pittsburgh offering home repair for vulnerable homeowners, service trips for youth groups, and church partnerships. TPP's Service Trip Manager previously spent 7 years there. Operates an essentially identical model in a different city, making it the closest direct peer.

Emerging players

• Mercy Chefs: Faith-based disaster relief and community meal provider partnering with churches and volunteers. Comparable to TPP's mercy partnership work with Share Food Program and food ministries, though focused on disaster response.
• DOOR (Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection): Faith-based nonprofit offering service-learning trips, youth programs, and urban ministry experiences for church and college groups. Comparable to TPP's service trip programming but with national/international site offerings.

Regional players

• Brightmoor Community Center: Faith-rooted community nonprofit in Detroit offering youth programs, home repair, and church partnership models similar to TPP. Comparable program structure but serving a different city and demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/phillyproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phillyproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Philadelphia Project