Joppa
Joppa helps homeless people survive, find housing and rebuild their lives.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our mission is to create communities of unconditional love, support, and hope as we work together to prevent and ultimately end homelessness. We collaborate with community partners, help people access existing resources, and mobilize private donations from families, churches, and organizations to fill gaps in homeless services, housing development, and education advocacy. In homeless services, we help people survive, find housing and rebuild their lives. In housing development, we aim to provide transitional housing in “Tiny Home Villages” for people working their way out of homelessness and truly affordable Cottage Home rental units. In education advocacy, we educate people on the root causes of homelessness, why we should care, and what each person can do to help end homelessness.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Homeless Nutrition Program
Every year, Joppa rescues over 100,000 lbs of food from partner grocery stores, which volunteers package and distributed to those in need. In addition, the Cook Team prepares hot meals to be delivered to homeless individuals each week.
Winter Survival Program
Winter Survival Program helps prevent homeless individuals from freezing to death during the brutal winter months. The Heat Team provides heaters and conducts weekly propane deliveries and safety checks. The Tent Team is trained to help set up tents and fortify campsites to be more heat efficient. Joppa also delivers boots, socks, coats, gloves and blankets to those in need.
Outreach Program
Every week, regardless of weather, Joppa volunteers deliver hot meals, water, toilet paper, blankets and other necessities to people living under bridges, in tents and in vehicles. They check in with homeless clients, build relationships and connect them with resources to find housing and employment.
Housing Development Program
As part of our mission to prevent and ultimately end homelessness, Joppa is developing two fundamental housing solutions. 1. A transitional village of Loft Cottages provides a safe place for individuals to live while they gain a source of income and overcome other barriers before moving into a permanent home. 2. Cottage Homes are permanent, truly affordable houses for seniors, veterans, disabled individuals and others living on fixed or part-time incomes, including those who were formerly homeless.
Aftercare Program
The Aftercare Program supports recently housed individuals as they rebuild their lives. The program includes weekly visits, a Circle of Friends and other services to help clients take positive steps in their health, relationships and personal fulfillment.
Iowa Homeless Memorial
Joppa organizes the Iowa Homeless Memorial t the state capitol each year on Dec. 21, the longest night of the year, to remember those who have died homeless, honor them as fellow human beings and prevent future homeless deaths by recommitting ourselves to solutions to end homelessness.
Homeless Christmas Celebration
A special, by-invitation-only event for homeless individuals and families. Attendees enjoy a hot dinner, dessert table, coffee bar, Christmas gifts, essentials from the Free Store, haircuts, massages, music and entertainment, a visit from Santa and more.
Project PJ
Project PJ is an homelessness awareness campaign for schools, businesses and organizations to wear their pajamas to work as a visible reminder that everyone needs a warm, safe place to sleep. Participants are also encouraged to educate themselves about the root causes of homelessness, organize supply drives, donate and get involved to help end homelessness.
Joppa Community Cleanups
Each year, Joppa works with the local homeless community to clean up existing/vacated camps and beautify neighborhoods in and around Des Moines.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member 2017
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of people no longer living in unsafe or substandard housing as a result of the nonprofit's efforts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Homeless people
Related Program
Outreach Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of homeless participants engaged in housing services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, Veterans, Unemployed people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers
Related Program
Aftercare Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of clients experiencing homelessness
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Unemployed people, Veterans
Related Program
Outreach Program
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Number of youth and families who receive planned aftercare services for 3 months post-discharge
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Veterans, Unemployed people
Related Program
Aftercare Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of households that obtain/retain permanent housing for at least 6 months
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Unemployed people, Veterans
Related Program
Outreach Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of people within the organization's service area accessing food aid
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Economically disadvantaged people, Veterans, Unemployed people
Related Program
Homeless Nutrition Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of meals served or provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Unemployed people, Veterans
Related Program
Homeless Nutrition Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total pounds of food rescued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Unemployed people, Veterans
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of aftercare visits to support people recovering from homelessness
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Unemployed people, Veterans
Related Program
Aftercare Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of outreach visits to support people experiencing homelessness
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Unemployed people, Veterans, Substance abusers
Related Program
Outreach Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Total number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total number of USPS mail deliveries to homeless individuals
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people, People with disabilities, Substance abusers, Unemployed people, Veterans
Related Program
Outreach Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of referrals to resources offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our key goals for the next 12 months include:
1. Finish rezoning process and code approvals to start building 1st Village
2. Help 50 more people experiencing homelessness get back into permanent housing
3. Launch first nonprofit Thriftmart thrift store and hold a grand opening
Our key goals for the next 3‐5 years include:
1. One transitional Joppa Village is built and fully occupied
2. 25 Cottage Home rental units occupied
3. 300 additional people off the streets via third-party housing
4. Offer one or more Joppa KIDS programs nationwide
5. Two Thriftmart nonprofit thrift stores are supporting our core operating costs
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategies include:
1. Continue working through the Joppa Village Coalition to finish the rezoning process and code approval process so we can start building the 1st Village in Central Iowa in 2023. Our Des Moines mayor co-chairs this coalition, which includes two Des Moines City Council Members, a Polk County Supervisor, the Deputy City Manager of Des Moines, and our Joppa CEO and cofounder.
2. Our staff and trained volunteer teams utilize our proven processes for helping people get off the streets and rebuild their lives. We also opened a Homeless Resource Center and have seasoned Aftercare and Circle-of-Friends programs.
3. Work with a marketing firm and launch team to ensure our first nonprofit thrift store, Thriftmart, launches successfully and the brand, store strategy, and marketing plan are right for our market.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our capabilities for meeting our goals include the experience and success of working directly with homeless people for more than 13 years, as well as the financial acumen and technology capabilities. Joppa has demonstrated its critical and creative thinking, its personal and social capability, and its ethical understanding. We have a deep intercultural understanding of poverty, mental health, addiction, and the other root causes of homelessness as well as how to help people successfully transition out of homelessness and stay off the streets.
Our staff and trained volunteer teams have proven programs and processes for helping people get off the streets and rebuild their lives. This process starts with our highly effective Outreach programs where we meet people, build relationships and help them survive. We also have a Homeless Resource Center that is open throughout the week and a seasoned Aftercare program that continues the connection and support as people rebuild their lives, become self-sufficient and have a new Circle-of-Friends.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our progress includes:
1. We have more than 40 acres under contract along with the experience, staff, and the right people on the Joppa Village Coalition, as well as the credibility, reputation, donor base, and have commitments for more than 15% of the total cost of the project.
2. We recently opened a Homeless Resource Center and, with continued Outreach and Aftercare, we are serving more people than ever.
3. Construction is complete, and we are working with a marketing firm and launch team to ensure our first nonprofit thrift store, Thriftmart, launches successfully and holds its grand opening in late summer or early fall.
We've been working directly with people experiencing homelessness and providing weekly outreach to all the people living under bridges, in tents, shacks, and vehicles for more than 13 years. We understand this population and how to reach them.
Joppa has helped nearly 500 families and individuals find housing to date and more than 80% of these men, women, and children remain in housing today. For more than 700 consecutive weeks, year-round regardless of weather, Joppa has sustained its weekly outreach and aftercare programs and is now serving an average of 245 people each week with a small staff of professionals and 1,379 dedicated volunteers that contribute more than 40,000 hours last year.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Joppa
Board of directorsas of 03/25/2022
Joe Stevens
Joppa
Term: 2009 - 2050
Jacki Stevens
Joppa
Jim Hagberg
Blackstone
Lori VanKirk
Margaret Godwin
Wells Fargo
Joe Stevens
Joppa
Bill Mech
GuideOne Retired
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data