What Freedom Challenge does

Freedom Challenge is a private, donor-funded Christian ministry founded in 2012 by Cathey Anderson and operating as a subsidiary initiative of Operation Mobilization (OM), the global missions organization. The organization mobilizes a community of women around three integrated activities: praying for the vulnerable, giving to anti-trafficking projects, and participating in physical "Challenges." Its core products are One-Day Challenges, Multi-Day Challenges held at iconic international locations, overseas Mission Trips to OM project sites, a self-service "My Challenge" product that lets participants build custom fundraising activities (runs, tournaments, cycling, prayer events), and Virtual Prayer Gatherings tied to international awareness days. Supporting infrastructure includes a Cathey Anderson Scholarship Fund that subsidizes registration for women with financial need, peer-to-peer fundraising pages, the Freedom Circle monthly giving community, and Legacy Giving options routed through the OM USA planned giving portal.

The business model is a nonprofit donation model with five revenue streams: peer-to-peer fundraising tied to event participation, one-time online gifts, recurring monthly donations, event registration fees, and planned/legacy gifts. Distribution is omnichannel: a Squarespace website and donation storefront, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, podcast), email newsletter, hosted and virtual events, and a church-partner channel in which congregations form teams and host awareness events. The organization does not sell a technology product; its primary "technology" is the OM USA financial stewardship, audit, and global project distribution infrastructure inherited from its parent. As of 2025, Freedom Challenge reports supporting 40+ OM projects across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, 50+ trails blazed, and $6.8M+ in cumulative funds granted since inception, with historical allocation of approximately 56% to Prevention, 26% to Development, and 18% to Rescue and Restoration. The ministry is led by a Director and a small staff that includes an Event Manager, Prayer Coordinator, and Communications Project Manager, and operates from a mailing address in Tyrone, Georgia under OM's oversight.

Name

Freedom Challenge

Legal name

The Freedom Challenge

Website

https://thefreedomchallenge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Freedom Challenge is a Christian nonprofit ministry of Operation Mobilization that mobilizes women through physical challenges, prayer, and fundraising to support 40+ global anti-trafficking projects across prevention, development, rescue, and restoration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based nonprofit ministry / anti-trafficking fundraising programs

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Volunteer Safety, Safeguarding & Risk Management Services (EDAIAGAN)

Keywords

• Anti-trafficking ministry
• Challenge event fundraising
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Mission trip programs
• Peer-to-peer fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Tyrone

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Participants raise funds through personal fundraising pages and community events. Funds support 40+ OM projects worldwide focused on freeing women and children from trafficking.
2. One-Time Donations: Direct monetary gifts of any size made through the donation page. For gifts over $10,000, donors are directed to a separate giving portal.
3. Monthly Giving (Freedom Circle): Recurring monthly donations from supporters who join the Freedom Circle Monthly Giving Community, providing sustained support throughout the year.
4. Legacy Gifts: Planned giving options including wills/trusts, donor-advised funds, IRA charitable rollovers, gifts from retirement plans, stock or appreciated securities, life insurance, real estate, and personal property.
5. Event Registration: Fees for participating in Challenge events including One-Day Challenges, Multi-Day Challenges, and Mission Trips. Need-based scholarships available through the Cathey Anderson Scholarship Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Freedom Challenge is a Christian ministry of Operation Mobilization that organizes physical challenge events (one-day hikes, multi-day expeditions at iconic global locations, overseas mission trips, and custom 'My Challenges') for women, combined with peer-to-peer fundraising and prayer ministry. Funds raised support 40+ OM projects worldwide focused on four strategies: Prevention, Development, Rescue, and Restoration of women and children affected by human trafficking. Participants register for events, fundraise, and engage in prayer initiatives (including free Virtual Prayer Gatherings) to advance the anti-trafficking mission.

Product overview

Freedom Challenge is a ministry of Operation Mobilization (OM) that operates as a unified program offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering consists of physical challenge events (One-Day Challenges, Multi-Day Challenges, My Challenges, and Mission Trips) combined with prayer initiatives (Virtual Prayer Gatherings and in-person prayer at events) and fundraising mechanisms (Peer-to-Peer Fundraising, Monthly Giving via Freedom Circle, One-Time Giving, and Legacy Giving Options). Supporting resources include the Cathey Anderson Scholarship Fund for participant support, Training Guides, Annual Reports, Fundraising Guides, and Prayer Guides. The organization supports 40+ OM projects worldwide through four strategies: Prevention, Development, Rescue, and Restoration. The ministry uses a peer-to-peer fundraising model where participants raise funds while undertaking physical challenges, creating an integrated experience of advocacy and personal transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cathey Anderson Scholarship Fund: Scholarship fund created in memory of the founder to help women attend Challenge events who need financial assistance.
• Freedom Circle

Products and services

• One-Day Challenges Single-day hiking events for women that combine physical challenge with prayer and advocacy for anti-trafficking causes. Participants register, fundraise, and join in-person prayer team support at various difficulty levels.
• Multi-Day Challenges Multi-day hiking expeditions at iconic global locations (e.g., Mt. Kilimanjaro, Bryce/Zion, Patagonia) where women undertake demanding physical challenges while praying for freedom and raising funds.
• My Challenges Build-your-own fundraising challenges where individuals create a custom event (5K run, pickleball tournament, cycling, prayer event, etc.) and raise funds for Freedom Challenge.
• Mission Trips Overseas travel experiences to OM project sites where participants serve alongside women and children supported by Freedom Challenge while immersing in local culture.
• Virtual Prayer Gatherings Free online global prayer events held on internationally recognized human trafficking awareness days (February 8 – International Day of Prayer; July 30 – World Day Against Trafficking in Persons) that bring the community together to pray.
• Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Fundraising infrastructure that enables participants to create personal fundraising pages, host community events, and direct proceeds to support 40+ OM anti-trafficking projects worldwide.
• Monthly Giving (Freedom Circle) Monthly giving community program where donors contribute recurring gifts to provide sustained year-round support for the ministry's work in setting women and children on a pathway to freedom.
• One-Time Giving Single-donation option allowing donors to give any size gift, with special handling for gifts over $10,000 directed through a separate giving portal.
• Legacy Giving Options Planned giving options including wills/trusts, donor-advised funds, IRA charitable rollovers, gifts from retirement plans, stock or appreciated securities, life insurance, real estate, and personal property, coordinated through OM USA's planned giving portal.
• Cathey Anderson Scholarship Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• $6.8M+ granted to support 40+ projects as of 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 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.

• Operation Mobilization (OM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreedom Challenge is a ministry of Operation Mobilization. All funds raised support OM projects around the world focused on freeing women and children from trafficking. OM provides operational infrastructure, financial stewardship, and global project network.
• Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries (SROM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSROM provides outdoor guiding services and spiritual leadership during Challenge events. Guides like Daria Holler and Roxy Hicks lead participants through hiking challenges while incorporating prayer and ministry components.
• LoveWorks MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoveWorks ministry provided conference speaker Susan Howard for Bryce/Zion Challenge events, who brought messages of freedom and healing from sin and victimization.
• Cathey AndersoncoreOthersCathey Anderson was the founder of The Freedom Challenge who passed away on December 22, 2015. Her legacy continues through the Cathey Anderson Scholarship Fund which helps women attend Challenges. She was instrumental in establishing the organization's mission and founding philosophy.
• OM USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOM USA serves as the parent organization providing financial infrastructure, including processing donations, conducting annual independent audits, and managing the 15% Annual Fund allocation for stewardship and advocacy.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A21: A21 is a non-profit organization focused on fighting human trafficking and modern slavery through prevention, protection, and prosecution. Like Freedom Challenge, it operates as a Christian-rooted NGO supporting victim rescue and restoration globally, and accepts donations, volunteer engagement, and event-based fundraising.
• International Justice Mission (IJM): IJM is a global anti-trafficking and modern slavery organization with a Christian foundation that conducts rescue operations, survivor aftercare, and partner capacity building. It is highly comparable to Freedom Challenge's OM-supported project portfolio, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader program coverage.
• Love146: Love146 is a Christian-rooted anti-trafficking nonprofit working on prevention, survivor care, and professional training. Its faith-based fundraising model, survivor-focused programs, and reliance on individual donors make it a tight comparable to Freedom Challenge's mission and funding architecture.
• Not For Sale: Not For Sale is an anti-slavery nonprofit that funds prevention, rescue, and restoration programs globally. Its project-based grantmaking and individual donor funding model are structurally similar to Freedom Challenge's approach to channeling funds to anti-trafficking field projects.
• The Exodus Road: The Exodus Road is a nonprofit focused on disrupting human trafficking through investigative work, rescue operations, and survivor aftercare. Its faith-aligned donor base and project-based international grantmaking model parallel Freedom Challenge's OM project funding pipeline.
• Polaris Project: Polaris operates the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline and runs data-driven anti-trafficking programs. While operationally larger and more policy-focused, it competes for the same anti-trafficking donor mindshare and individual giving dollars as Freedom Challenge.

Broad incumbents

• World Vision: World Vision is a major Christian humanitarian organization with global child-focused programs. It shares Freedom Challenge's faith-based donor audience, recurring giving programs, and event sponsorship channels, but at significantly larger scale and broader mission scope.
• Compassion International: Compassion International is a large Christian child sponsorship NGO operating globally. While broader in mission scope, it shares the donor base (evangelical Christian individuals), recurring-giving model (sponsorship), and peer-to-peer fundraising playbook that Freedom Challenge also relies on.
• Samaritan's Purse: Samaritan's Purse is a large evangelical Christian relief organization that overlaps with Freedom Challenge's donor demographic, faith-based fundraising approach, and mission trip volunteer infrastructure. It is a broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Athletes in Action: Athletes in Action is a ministry of Cru that combines sport/physical challenge with faith-based outreach and fundraising. Like Freedom Challenge, it mobilizes participants through physical activity, mission engagement, and donor cultivation, making it a comparable faith-and-fitness hybrid model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thefreedomchallengeusa
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefcusa
• Instagraminstagram.com/freedomchallengeusa
• Xx.com/thefcusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocean-to-ocean-healthcare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Freedom Challenge