A network of nonprofits with waste-based businesses

Sustainable work, stronger communities.

Sharing more than 50 years of experience and demonstrated expertise with non-profit members running waste-based businesses — creating jobs, diverting waste, and generating revenue that funds mission-critical work.

Get in Touch Our Story
What we do

Three outcomes, one network.

Welcome to Cascade Alliance. We equip non-profits with the playbook, relationships, and shared expertise to build waste-based businesses that transform their communities.

Creating jobs

Full-time permanent jobs for people who often struggle to find employment — built around fair wages, training, and real pathways forward.

Diverting waste

Higher recycling and waste-diversion rates that improve the local environment and strengthen community sustainability year over year.

Creating revenue

Sustainable income that reduces a non-profit's dependence on grants and donations, so they can keep doing the work that benefits the most vulnerable.

The model

What is a waste-based business?

A waste-based business uses items diverted from the waste stream as a source of revenue to fund a non-profit's mission. These items come from dumps, transfer stations, corporate contacts, or individual donations — and can be utilized in three main ways.

Repurposed

Items kept as-is, in their current state — ready for a second life with a new owner.

books clothing furniture building materials art supplies

Remanufactured

Items restored or repaired to their original useful state, extending their working life by years.

appliances electronics

Recycled

Items reduced to their basic state and sold into the commodity market, or made into something entirely new.

foam glass wood steel
Our story

A model built in Eugene — replicated nationwide.

In 2010, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVdP) in Eugene, Oregon wanted to find a way to serve vulnerable populations not only in their own region but nationwide. They recognized that non-profits needed a way to generate long-term, sustainable revenue when grants and donations weren't dependable — and they had a solution to both problems.

For two decades, SVdP had been receiving reusable materials from consumers and landfills and transforming those items into value-added products. In the process, they created hundreds of entry-level jobs at fair wages — perfect for people who often have trouble entering the job market.

Sales from the reusable and recyclable products also generated revenue to support SVdP's charitable mission: affordable housing, food boxes, rent and utility help, and free clothing and furniture for those in need.

With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, SVdP began partnering with non-profits across the country to replicate their business model, share their knowledge, and help them achieve the same success.

1953SVdP Lane County founded
1990sFirst waste-diversion programs
2010Cascade Alliance launched
TodayNationwide member network
Member stories

In their own words.

Our members have achieved remarkable growth with our support. Here's what they have to say about working inside the network.

From space layout, to equipment purchases, to labor models and P&L reviews, we have relied on Cascade Alliance for insights and recommendations. The network has given us the opportunity to learn from and benchmark against our peer organizations in a positive and transparent way.
Ed Frechette
Chief Innovative Officer, UTEC, Inc.
Before working with Cascade Alliance we only had part-time positions available for store staff. We've shifted the way we think about that important position and now five members of our store staff team are full-time and receive benefits. We've focused on hiring folks from our neighborhood and from local jobs training programs.
Madeline James
Deputy Director, Scrap Exchange
Cascade Alliance provides real-life case studies for finding solutions to work problems in different non-profit settings and different markets across the country.
Adrienne Houel
Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises
What members get

What does Cascade Alliance provide?

Four interconnected resources that turn isolated non-profit operations into a national community of practice.

— 01

Shared information library

Member access to our library of information including business plans, best practices, marketing ideas, and commodity connections.

— 02

Deep expertise

Cascade Alliance is an arm of St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County — 14 retail thrift locations, two mattress recycling facilities, 600+ employees, 501(c)(3) since 1953.

— 03

National networking

Nationwide networking with members in waste-based businesses, virtual meetings, and open troubleshooting sessions with peers.

— 04

Hands-on consulting

Sample business plans, budgets, information on commodities markets, industry news, and current industry trends — when you need them.

Current members

The network, today.

Fourteen non-profits across the United States running waste-based businesses inside the Cascade Alliance network — each operating a different mix of thrift, recycling, reuse, and workforce development tailored to the communities they serve.

Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises

Bridgeport, CT

GBCE creates social-impact ventures that contribute to environmental and financial sustainability, with a mission to create jobs by building green businesses and training the green workforce.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling
Social serviceJob Training · Second-chance Employer
Visit website →

Finger Lakes ReUse

Ithaca, NY

Finger Lakes ReUse diverts waste, gives quality materials and people second chances, and makes a local impact.

Waste-basedSecond-hand stores · furniture · household goods · electronics · books · clothing · building materials
Social serviceJob training · Building deconstruction · Fixers collective
Visit website →

Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta

Atlanta, GA

Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta creates stability for families and individuals in need by distributing donated furniture to turn houses into homes.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling · Furniture Resale
Social serviceFurniture Assistance
Visit website →

Global Neighborhood

Spokane, WA

Global Neighborhood offers pathways to employment for refugees as a way to rebuild their lives in the U.S.

Waste-basedThrift & Vintage Retail Stores
Social serviceJob Training
Visit website →

Houston Furniture Bank

Houston, TX

Houston Furniture Bank serves families affected by poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, mental and physical health concerns, and disasters.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling · Furniture Resale
Social serviceFurniture Assistance · Second-chance Employer
Visit website →

Klamath Works

Klamath Falls, OR

Klamath Works is committed to improving the social and economic quality of life in the Klamath River Basin through job training and job skills.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling
Social serviceJob Training · Job coaching · Second-chance Employer
Visit website →

The Mustard Seed of Central Florida

Orlando, FL

The Mustard Seed helps rebuild the lives of families and individuals who have suffered disaster or personal tragedy by providing household furnishings and clothing.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling
Social serviceFurniture & Clothing Bank
Visit website →

Opportunity House

Reading, PA

Opportunity House provides emergency shelter to homeless men, women, families, and veterans.

Waste-basedRetail Thrift
Social serviceChildcare · Affordable Housing · Job Training
Visit website →

St. Vincent de Paul of Dayton

Dayton, OH

SVdP of Dayton is a faith-based non-profit that has been adapting its services to the changing needs of its community for over 75 years.

Waste-basedRetail Thrift
Social serviceEmergency Shelters · Supportive Housing · Food Pantry · Furniture Bank · Veterans Support
Visit website →

Total Action for Progress (TAP)

Roanoke, VA

TAP is a community-action agency fighting poverty and offering direct services to individuals and families to help them overcome the causes and conditions of hardship.

Waste-basedSecond-hand Book Retail
Social serviceClothing Bank · Childcare · Re-entry · Housing Assistance
Visit website →

UTEC, Inc.

Lowell, MA

UTEC nurtures the ambition of the most disconnected youth to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling
Social serviceJob Training · Street Outreach · Violence Intervention · Education
Visit website →

Emerge

Minneapolis, MN

Emerge empowers individuals facing significant employment barriers by offering them jobs and fostering good work habits.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling · Furniture Resale
Social serviceJob Training · Job Skills
Visit website →

Spring Back Colorado

Commerce City, CO

Spring Back Colorado provides job training and employment for people facing employment barriers and helps re-establish a path to recovery and prosperity.

Waste-basedMattress Recycling
Social serviceJob Training & Placement
Visit website →

Binghampton Development Corporation

Memphis, TN

BDC is a community-oriented and faith-backed entity reaching those in the center of Memphis facing economic oppression.

Waste-basedMattress · Streetlight · Tire · Foam Recycling
Social serviceJob Training · Business Accelerators · Affordable Housing
Visit website →
Parent organization
14
Retail thrift locations
600+
Employees
2
Mattress recycling facilities
70+
Years of service
Backed by SVdP Lane County

A proven, operating parent organization.

Cascade Alliance is managed by St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County — a 501(c)(3) non-profit since 1953 running 14 retail thrift locations, two mattress recycling facilities, and over 600 employees. Every resource we share with members has been proven in the field, across decades of real-world operations.

Apply to join the network
Ready to join?

Find out if your non-profit is a good fit.

Take our free survey to learn whether your organization is ready for Cascade Alliance membership. It takes a few minutes, and there's no commitment.

Take our Survey

Or email us directly at [email protected]