Building Hope in the City

What Building Hope in the City does

Building Hope in the City (BHITC) is a 501(c)(3) faith-rooted nonprofit organization founded in 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio, that delivers community development programs across four focus areas: refugee and immigrant integration (anchored by The Hope Center at 15135 Triskett Road), housing and community development in the Clark-Fulton and Stockyards neighborhoods, city leader formation, and social enterprise. The organization serves more than 3,300 people annually and provides integrated services at The Hope Center to 400+ refugees and immigrants weekly, including ESOL classes, citizenship test preparation, job placement with local employers, career pathways, free childcare enabling parental class attendance, and co-located immigration legal services through partner IMAGO.

BHITC operates social enterprises — One World Kitchen (pop-up cafes supporting refugee caterers), Common Threads (thrift retail), and Peripeti Home (housing-related venture) — that supplement donated revenue with earned income. Its most ambitious recent initiative is the FLOURISH campaign, which combines housing development with refugee community support in target Cleveland neighborhoods. The organization employs 11-50 staff and relies on donations, monthly partners ("Hope Anchors"), event/gala revenue, and social enterprise proceeds; core services to refugees are provided free of charge. Sub-brands include The Hope Center, Home of the Brave, FLOURISH, and the three social enterprises.

The business model is donation-and-grant funded with limited earned revenue from social enterprises and facility rentals; there is no programmatic pricing for refugee clients. Distribution is regional (Cleveland metro) and direct, primarily through walk-in services at The Hope Center, on-site community programming, volunteer workdays, and annual fundraising events such as the Restoring The City Gala held at Hilton Downtown Cleveland. The organization is led by Executive Director Brian Upton (in a concluding/transition phase) and Hope Center Director Sharon Hughes.

Name

Building Hope in the City

Legal name

Building Hope in the City

Website

https://buildinghopeinthecity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Building Hope in the City is a Cleveland-based 501(c)(3) faith-rooted nonprofit founded in 2003 that serves refugees, immigrants, and underserved neighborhoods through The Hope Center, housing development, leader formation, and social enterprises, reaching 3,300+ people annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Immigrant integration programs
• Affordable housing development
• Community development nonprofit
• Workforce training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Building Hope in the City operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization, relying on financial contributions from donors, monthly partners, and the general public to fund its programs and operations serving refugees, immigrants, and underserved communities in Cleveland.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Building Hope in the City operates faith-rooted community programs in Cleveland across four focus areas: refugee and immigrant integration services (centered at The Hope Center), housing and community development in the Clark-Fulton & Stockyards neighborhoods, city faith leader formation, and social enterprise ventures. Core service offerings include ESOL and citizenship classes, job placement, immigration legal services, child and family programming, career pathways, below-market housing development, and social enterprises such as One World Kitchen.

Product overview

Building Hope in the City is a faith-driven nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community programs organized around four focus areas: Refugees & Immigrants (served primarily through The Hope Center), Housing & Community Development, City Leader Formation, and Social Enterprise. The Hope Center serves as the flagship program, providing integrated services including ESOL classes, job placement, immigration legal services, child care, and career pathways to refugees and immigrants. The organization operates social enterprises including One World Kitchen, which supports refugee caterers. The FLOURISH campaign represents the organization's most ambitious neighborhood transformation initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Hope Center: A dedicated facility providing refugee and immigrant resources in Cleveland, including ESOL classes, citizenship preparation, job placement, immigration legal services, child and family programming, career pathways, and event rental space.
• One World Kitchen
• Flourish
• Home of the Brave
• Common Threads
• Peripeti Home

Products and services

• The Hope Center

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 3,300 people served annually through programs and initiatives
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMAGO Immigration & Legal ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMAGO provides compassionate, expert immigration legal services at The Hope Center, guided by a team who has lived the journey themselves. This partnership enables refugees and immigrants to access essential legal support for their immigration status.
• One World KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizing pop-up cafes and meals-to-go in support of aspiring refugee caterers, providing economic opportunity and cultural exchange through culinary entrepreneurship.
• Local Employers (Job Placement Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking in partnership with local employers to place refugees into job positions, creating employment pathways for newcomers to the community.
• Common ThreadsminorOthersReferenced as a quick link partner organization, suggesting a collaborative relationship in the community network.
• Peripeti HomeminorOthersReferenced as a quick link partner organization, suggesting a collaborative relationship in the housing and community development space.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Relief: Christian nonprofit operating refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and employment programs in multiple U.S. cities. Closely aligned with BHITC's faith-driven, whole-person approach to refugee integration.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): National refugee resettlement and integration agency operating across dozens of U.S. cities including Cleveland. Directly comparable to BHITC's refugee/immigrant integration mission but at national scale with broader program scope.
• Lutheran Services in America (formerly LIRS): Faith-based national network providing refugee resettlement, employment, and integration services. Comparable mission and faith-rooted operating model to BHITC.
• US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): National nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, employment, education, and integration services across the U.S. Mission-aligned with BHITC's resettlement and self-sufficiency focus.
• Church World Service (CWS): Faith-based humanitarian organization running refugee resettlement and integration programs nationwide. Comparable faith-rooted community support model.
• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based organization providing refugee resettlement, foster care, and family support services nationwide. Overlap with BHITC on refugee integration and whole-family programming.

Direct peers

• Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland: Faith-rooted Cleveland-based social services agency providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and family support. Direct local peer with overlapping refugee and immigrant clientele.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland: Faith-rooted social services organization in the same Cleveland market providing refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and community support. Most direct local peer to BHITC's Hope Center work.

Emerging players

• Esperanza Inc. Cleveland-based CDC focused on neighborhood revitalization and Latino community development. Directly comparable to BHITC's Housing & Community Development focus area and Clark-Fulton neighborhood work.

Regional players

• Burten, Bell, Carr Development Corporation: Cleveland-based community development corporation serving neighborhoods near BHITC's footprint, including affordable housing and community revitalization. Comparable community development and below-market housing model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buildinghopeinthecity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Building Hope in the City