Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

What Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation does

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (JBJSF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and founded in October 2006 (originally as the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation, renamed in 2011). Its stated mission is to break the cycle of hunger, poverty, and homelessness through grant funding, partnerships, and direct program operations. The foundation is led by Board Chairman Jon Bon Jovi, CEO Craig A. Spencer, and Executive Director Heather Goldfarb; JBJ Soul Kitchen is founded and directed by Dorothea Bongiovi.

JBJSF operates two core program verticals. JBJ Soul Kitchens is a network of pay-it-forward community restaurants — currently three locations in New Jersey (Red Bank, opened October 2011; Toms River, opened after Hurricane Sandy; and Rutgers University-Newark, opened January 2020) — where paying customers subsidize meals for in-need patrons, with over 200,000 meals served cumulatively. JBJ Soul Homes is the foundation's affordable and supportive housing initiative, which has delivered nearly 1,000 units across 12 states since 2006, including the 77-veteran Walter Reed facility (opened October 2019) and the 55-unit HELP Philadelphia VI development. The foundation's technology stack is limited to standard nonprofit infrastructure: a website (jbjsf.org), the Charity Proud donation platform, and active social media channels (Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube), with no proprietary technology products or APIs.

Revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, signature fundraising events (Mulligan for Meals Golf Outing, annual JBJ Soul Kitchen Chili Cook-Off), and the JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurant operations. Strategic co-development partnerships with Project HOME, Habitat for Humanity (where Jon Bon Jovi serves as Founding Ambassador), HELP USA, Covenant House, and HABcore underpin the housing portfolio, while corporate supporters include Kohl's, Samsung, MGM Resorts, Home Depot, Las Vegas Sands, and Delta Air Lines. The foundation holds a 2025 Candid Platinum Transparency Seal, a Charity Navigator rating, and 2026 James Beard Foundation Award Honoree recognition for JBJ Soul Kitchen.

Name

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

Legal name

Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation

Website

https://jbjsf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combats hunger, poverty, and homelessness through pay-it-forward JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants and nearly 1,000 units of affordable housing across 12 states, funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and signature fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Human Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Charitable foundation services
• Affordable housing programs
• Hunger relief services
• Homeless services nonprofit
• Community restaurant operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and charitable foundations. The website facilitates online donations through Charity Proud platform.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Mulligan for Meals Golf Outing and Chili Cook-Offs generate revenue through sponsorships and participant donations.
3. JBJ Soul Kitchen Pay-it-Forward Model: JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants generate revenue through paying customers whose donations cover meals for in-need customers. This creates a self-sustaining community restaurant model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that addresses hunger, poverty, and homelessness through two core programs: JBJ Soul Kitchen community restaurants operating on a pay-it-forward model where paying customers cover the cost of meals for in-need diners, and JBJ Soul Homes, an affordable and supportive housing program that has delivered nearly 1,000 housing units across 12 states. The foundation funds and partners with community benefit organizations such as Project HOME, Habitat for Humanity, HELP USA, and Covenant House to develop housing, fund food programs, and deliver job training and social services.

Product overview

The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation is a charitable organization operating as a unified platform for addressing hunger, poverty, and homelessness through two interconnected programs: JBJ Soul Kitchens (community restaurants using a pay-it-forward model) and JBJ Soul Homes (affordable and supportive housing). The foundation provides grant funding, develops partnerships, and operates programs across multiple states, serving thousands of individuals including youth, veterans, and families in need.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JBJ Soul Kitchen
• JBJ Soul Homes
• Walter Reed Veterans Housing Facility
• JBJ Soul Kitchen Rutgers University-Newark

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,000 units of affordable and supportive housing in 12 states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Philadelphia Housing AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2022Partnership on the HELP Philadelphia VI project providing 55 units of affordable housing for seniors and veterans. PHA committed over $1,000/month for 20 years for 49 units and a $1.5 million long-term loan.
• Delta Air LinesmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 December 2006Delta Air Lines partnered through 'Delta's Force for Global Good' initiative with Habitat for Humanity and JBJSF. Delta volunteers participated in builds in South Africa, Brooklyn, and other locations. The partnership leveraged Delta's global network of employees for humanitarian housing efforts.
• Kenneth ColemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2006Kenneth Cole partnered with Jon Bon Jovi on the R.S.V.P. TO HELP campaign, designing limited edition outerwear based on Bon Jovi's stagewear with proceeds benefiting HELP USA and the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation. A signature fragrance was also released with proceeds going to charity.
• Project HOMEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2006Long-standing partnership with Project HOME, co-founded by Sister Mary Scullion. Project HOME provides supportive housing, employment, education and health care to enable chronically homeless and low-income persons to break the cycle of homelessness. JBJSF has partnered on multiple housing developments including JBJ Soul Homes in Philadelphia and the Phase V Homeownership Project renovating 15 row houses in North Philadelphia.
• Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJon Bon Jovi serves as the first Founding Ambassador of Habitat for Humanity. JBJSF partners on affordable housing construction, having built homes in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Detroit, and through the Jimmy Carter Work Project. The partnership includes green building strategies and energy-efficient construction.
• HELP USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHELP USA is a national housing nonprofit and one of the nation's largest homeless service providers. JBJSF partnered on the Brigadier General Hazel Johnson Brown Veterans Center at HELP Philadelphia VI, providing 55 units of housing for seniors and homeless veterans.
• VydiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVydia presented the 7th Annual JBJ Soul Kitchen Chili Cook-Off fundraising event.
• HABcorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHABcore is a nonprofit housing organization that JBJSF partners with for affordable housing projects including emergency housing and expansion projects in Red Bank, NJ.
• Covenant HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJBJSF partners with Covenant House on housing for homeless youth through programs like Rights of Passage and Connelly House.
• Joseph's House of CamdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJBJSF helped fund Joseph's House of Camden, a supportive housing facility in Camden, NJ.
• Phoenix PasscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Phoenix Pass affordable housing development in Philadelphia area.
• Chickie's and Pete'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChickie's and Pete's partnered with JBJSF to help fight hunger and homelessness through fundraising initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: Largest hunger-relief nonprofit in the U.S., operating a national network of 200+ food banks. Compares to JBJSF as a much larger incumbent in the same hunger-relief category, with overlapping food-distribution and food-bank partnerships.
• No Kid Hungry: Share Our Strength's national campaign to end childhood hunger in the U.S. Comparable to JBJSF in mission focus on food insecurity, with a much larger national fundraising and grantmaking footprint.

Emerging players

• Food Not Bombs: Volunteer-driven grassroots movement that recovers and shares vegetarian meals with the hungry in cities worldwide. Shares JBJSF's volunteer-led, donation-supported community-meal distribution ethos, though at a much smaller per-chapter scale.

Direct peers

• Covenant House: JBJSF partner on housing for homeless and at-risk youth through Rights of Passage and Connelly House programs. Covenant House is a direct peer in transitional/supportive housing for vulnerable youth populations.
• Project HOME: Long-standing JBJSF partner providing supportive housing, employment, education and health care to chronically homeless and low-income persons in Philadelphia. Sister Mary Scullion (Project HOME co-founder) sits on the JBJSF board, and they co-develop projects including JBJ Soul Homes and the Phase V Homeownership Project — making it the closest direct comparable in mission and operations.
• HELP USA: National housing nonprofit and one of the largest homeless service providers in the U.S. JBJSF partnered with HELP USA on the Brigadier General Hazel Johnson Brown Veterans Center (55 units), giving the two organizations direct overlap in affordable and veterans housing development.
• SAME Cafe: Denver-based pay-what-you-can community restaurant serving nutritious meals with no set prices, founded in 2006. Operates the same donation-based restaurant model as JBJ Soul Kitchen and is one of the closest direct peers for the Soul Kitchen program.
• HABcore: New Jersey-based nonprofit providing emergency and permanent supportive housing, including housing for veterans and people with disabilities. JBJSF has partnered with HABcore on affordable housing expansion in Red Bank — a direct operating peer in regional supportive housing.
• Habitat for Humanity: Jon Bon Jovi serves as Habitat's first Founding Ambassador, and JBJSF has co-built homes in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Detroit, and internationally through the Jimmy Carter Work Project. Habitat is a direct peer on affordable housing construction, financing, and volunteer-driven builds.
• One World Cafe: Salt Lake City pay-what-you-can restaurant serving healthy meals on a donation basis since 2003. Closely mirrors the Soul Kitchen pay-it-forward operating model and community-restaurant positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/JBJSoulFound
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/jbjsoulfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/jbjsoulfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/jbjsoulfoundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation