Caritas Family Solutions continues to climb rankings of largest St. Louis area nonprofits
Caritas Family Solutions has been named the 12th largest nonprofit in the St. Louis region for 2026, based on its 2025 fiscal year operating budget of $52 million. The rankings were recently compiled by the St. Louis Business Journal.
Previously ranked 15th in 2024 and 13th in 2025, the human services agency continues to expand, growing its operating budget by nearly $10 million since 2024 and merging Human Support Services (HSS) under the Caritas name in October 2025.
“This recognition is a meaningful reflection of the incredible work our team, partners, and community have completed together as we continue to grow, and we are honored to be included alongside some incredible nonprofit organizations,” said Caritas Family Solutions CEO Gary Huelsmann. “Today, we serve more than 6,500 individuals each year across southern Illinois and the Metro East region, and that number continues to rise as needs in our communities continue to evolve. Our goal is to expand our reach and continue to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of the children and individuals we serve, so they can build healthy relationships, loving homes, and stronger communities.”
Supporting more than 1,700 children in foster care, Caritas remains the region’s largest private provider of foster care services. Since its inception, the nonprofit has helped thousands of individuals and families in crisis and has expanded to 10 locations offering dozens of services, including mental and behavioral health, community integrated living, assisted living, and youth emergency services. Recently, the nonprofit has grown to join the state in more preventive programs, like Intact Family Services, Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services, and The Office of Community Connections to support keeping families together.
“At a time when many people are facing reduced resources and are feeling economic strains, the work we are doing feels more important than ever,” said Huelsmann. “As a human services agency, our goal has always been to find the gap areas in society where more services and support are needed, and find ways to provide people with the help they need. I’m proud of how we’ve continued to strategically grow in ways that further our mission and make a difference in the lives of more people.”
To learn more about Caritas and how you can support its mission, visit https://caritasfamilysolutions.org/donate/.
About Caritas Family Solutions
Founded in 1947, Caritas Family Solutions is a nonprofit social service agency whose mission is to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of individuals and families in order to create healthy relationships, loving homes, and strong communities. Services include adoption, foster care, pregnancy care, Intact Family Services, residential treatment for children healing from abuse and/or neglect as well as a youth emergency shelter. Caritas also offers behavioral health services including substance use treatment, professional counseling, independent living and employment services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and mental health housing and supportive services. Caritas serves more than 6,500 individuals annually across Southern Illinois from offices located in Belleville, Carterville, Mount Vernon, Waterloo, Olney, Glen Carbon, Alton, and Effingham, as well as satellite locations in Highland and Sparta. For additional information, visitwww.caritasfamilysolutions.org.
