Isaiah 117 House

What Isaiah 117 House does

Isaiah 117 House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in February 2017 by Ronda Paulson in Elizabethton, Tennessee, that operates a network of physical homes providing temporary care and emotional support for children awaiting foster care placement. Each Isaiah 117 House is a fully furnished residential property — featuring bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, play areas, and "giving rooms" stocked with new items — where trained volunteers provide baths, new clothing, meals, and emotional support during the often-traumatic removal day. By 2026, the organization operated 63 homes across 13 states (Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kentucky, and Iowa), supported by 170+ paid staff and 7,500+ community volunteers who delivered over 109,000 service hours in 2025.

The organization uses no proprietary technology platform; its core offering is real estate infrastructure combined with a community-led volunteer model managed through Volgistics volunteer management software. Supporting products include a branded merchandise e-commerce shop (apparel, accessories, drinkware priced $4–$45), founder Ronda Paulson's book "He's Inviting Us In" distributed across 30+ audiobook platforms, and a multi-channel donation program including cash, gifts of stock, IRA/DAF contributions, planned giving via FreeWill integration, and legacy gifts (real estate, charitable gift annuities, retirement plan and life insurance beneficiary designations). All services to children, caseworkers, and foster families are provided free of charge.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions, merchandise sales, and planned giving; the organization does not disclose financials. Its go-to-market is a community-led, franchise-like model where local community leaders apply to open new locations, each supported by a local board, volunteer base, and donor network. The organization holds a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, Excellence in Giving Certified Transparent certification, and CAFO membership, and operates under board governance led by founder Ronda Paulson as Executive Director. After 3,000% growth in its first six years, Isaiah 117 House entered a deliberate 12-month "Sabbath season" strategic pause from June 2024 through June 2025 to consolidate operations and prepare a new strategic plan before resuming expansion toward 2028.

Name

Isaiah 117 House

Legal name

Isaiah 117 House

Website

https://isaiah117house.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Isaiah 117 House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 63 physical homes across 13 US states that provide free temporary care, clothing, meals, and emotional support to children awaiting foster care placement, funded by donations, merchandise sales, and planned giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care Support Services

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Spaces & Toy Organizing (HSAFAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Whole-Home Organizing (HSAFAKAA)

Keywords

• Foster care support
• Child welfare services
• Crisis residential care
• Nonprofit child services
• Community foster placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Elizabethton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue stream is monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. The organization accepts cash donations, gifts of stock, IRA or DAF contributions, and legacy/planned giving.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an online shop selling branded merchandise including clothing, accessories, books, and gifts. Products include t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, ornaments, tumblers, and the founder's book 'He's Inviting Us In'.
3. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Legacy giving opportunities including bequests/wills, gifts of real estate, charitable gift annuities, retirement plan gifts, and life insurance beneficiary designations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Isaiah 117 House operates a network of physical homes across 13 states where children removed from their homes due to safety concerns are welcomed by trained volunteers while awaiting foster care placement. Each home is fully furnished and stocked with new clothing, pajamas, meals, toys, and hygiene items, with the explicit goal of reducing the trauma of removal and signaling that each child is loved and seen. The organization also runs an online merchandise shop, a book authored by the founder, and structured donation programs including planned giving and legacy gifts.

Product overview

Isaiah 117 House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a network of physical homes across 13 states providing physical and emotional support for children awaiting foster placement. The core offering is the Isaiah 117 House Foster Care Support Homes where children removed from their homes receive baths, new clothes, meals, and loving care from trained volunteers. Supporting offerings include a merchandise shop selling branded apparel and accessories, the book "He's Inviting Us In" by founder Ronda Paulson, and comprehensive donation programs including planned giving and legacy gifts. The organization coordinates volunteers through Volgistics and accepts donations via multiple channels including cash, stock, real estate, and retirement account beneficiary designations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Isaiah 117 House Foster Care Support Homes A network of fully furnished physical homes with trained volunteers where children removed from their homes await foster placement. Each home offers baths, new clothes, meals, toys, and emotional support to reduce trauma during one of the hardest days in a child's life.
• He's Inviting Us In Book Book written by founder Ronda Paulson telling the story of how Isaiah 117 House came to be and how God invites people into His work. Sold to the general public as a print book and audiobook to raise awareness and funds for the ministry.
• Isaiah 117 House Merchandise Shop Online store selling branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats), accessories (bracelets, keychains, decals, ornaments), golf items, drinkware (Tervis Tumblers), and gift cards to support the ministry.
• Donation Programs Structured giving options including cash donations, gifts of stock, IRA or DAF contributions, planned/legacy giving (bequests, real estate, charitable gift annuities), retirement plan beneficiary designations, and life insurance beneficiary gifts. Funds operations across the 63-location network.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Every Child TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud partner of Every Child Tennessee, a state-level alliance working to improve outcomes for children in the foster care system. This partnership aligns Isaiah 117 House with broader state initiatives to transform how foster care begins.
• Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsaiah 117 House is a member of CAFO, which unites hundreds of organizations and churches worldwide dedicated to caring for vulnerable children and families. Members commit to fiscal integrity, good governance, and the Gospel of Christ.
• GuideStarminorOthersAwarded Platinum Seal of Transparency, the world's largest database of nonprofit organizations recognizing organizational transparency.
• Excellence in GivingminorOthersCertified Transparent by Excellence in Giving, recognizing fiscal integrity and transparency in charitable operations.
• Chambliss Center for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Chambliss Center for Children to operate the Hamilton County Isaiah 117 House location. The Chambliss Center provides infrastructure and support for the Isaiah 117 House within their existing child welfare ecosystem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Together We Rise: Non-profit organization focused on supporting children in foster care through welcome boxes, birthday programs, and housing-related support. Directly comparable to Isaiah 117 House in mission, donor-driven funding model, and supply-driven service delivery to foster youth.
• Comfort Cases: Non-profit that provides duffel bags packed with essential and comfort items to children entering the foster care system. Highly comparable to Isaiah 117 House's 'lavish love' approach of supplying new, branded items to children awaiting placement.
• A Sense of Home: Non-profit that furnishes and stocks first homes for youth aging out of foster care. Directly comparable as a residential, in-kind furnishing model serving foster youth, though focused on the aging-out transition rather than the immediate removal moment.
• Treehouse: Non-profit dedicated to helping youth in foster care achieve educational and life milestones. Comparable as a foster-youth-serving non-profit with multi-state operations and a focus on tangible, life-stage interventions.
• Foster Love: Non-profit that provides birthday gifts, holiday support, and college care packages to children in foster care. Comparable donor-funded, supply-driven model serving foster youth with branded, tangible support packages.
• Raise the Future: Non-profit providing direct support to foster and adoptive families, including resources, training, and tangible aid. Comparable in targeting the foster-care moment with practical, item-based and program-based interventions.
• National Foster Youth Institute: Advocacy and leadership non-profit led by current and former foster youth. Comparable in focus on improving the foster care experience, though tilted more toward policy and advocacy than direct physical care delivery.
• Safe Families for Children: Faith-rooted non-profit that provides temporary, volunteer-hosted homes for children whose families are in crisis, preventing entry into the formal foster care system. Directly comparable volunteer-driven, faith-based, residential-care-for-at-risk-children model.

Broad incumbents

• KidsPeace: Large established non-profit operating residential treatment facilities and community-based programs for children facing trauma, including those in or at risk of entering foster care. Broader scope and longer history than Isaiah 117 House, but overlaps heavily on residential care for vulnerable children.
• Lutheran Services in America: Large network of faith-based non-profits providing foster care, adoption, and family services across many U.S. states. Comparable faith-rooted foster care service provider at much larger scale, operating as an umbrella for many local agencies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Isaiah117House
• Facebookfacebook.com/isaiah117houseministries
• Instagraminstagram.com/isaiah117house
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isaiah117house

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Isaiah 117 House