Lighthouse Ministries
Lighthouse Ministries is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Florence, South Carolina, founded in 1996, that delivers emergency rent and utility assistance plus family-strengthening programs to Florence County residents facing financial crisis, free of charge.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersFlorence, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lighthouse Ministries does
Lighthouse Ministries is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 and headquartered at 1416 W. Evans St., Florence, South Carolina. It provides emergency financial assistance and family-strengthening programs to Florence County residents facing financial crisis, with a stated mission of preventing homelessness, child abuse, and child neglect. Its core programs include Basic Needs Assistance (rent and utility payments), the Working Mothers Education & Support Program (a six-month program for mothers with children ages 0–5), the Strengthening Families Program (14 weekly sessions for families with children ages 6–11), Triple P Positive Parenting, the Ramp Program (volunteer-built wheelchair ramps and handrails for disabled residents), the monthly First Friday Services Connect event for the homeless community, and the CARE Program for water-bill assistance. All services are delivered free of charge.
The organization operates with a lean structure of 6 full-time staff (an Executive Director, four program coordinators, a Development Associate, and a Care & Support Associate) supported by approximately 50 community volunteers. It does not maintain a proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint is limited to a Wix-hosted website, Facebook and Instagram pages, an email newsletter, and the qgiv online donation processor. It is governed by a board composed of representatives from local employers including Assurant, Snow & Bailey Law Firm, HopeHealth, Signature Wealth Strategies, MUSC, and ACS Technologies.
Lighthouse Ministries is funded through a mix of individual donations, church contributions, corporate and civic partnerships, foundation grants (Children's Trust of SC, United Way of Florence County, Dr Bruce & Lee Foundation, Aiken Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation), and a healthcare partnership with Molina Healthcare. Capital campaigns have funded facility ownership: the organization moved into its permanent headquarters in 2017 and paid off the mortgage in 2021. Annual reach is reported at roughly 2,000 households and 3,000 individuals served, with monthly distribution of about 100 diaper kits and 50 hygiene kits. The organization is preparing for its 30th anniversary in 2026 and has no stated plans to expand beyond Florence County.
Lighthouse Ministries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lighthouse Ministries
- Legal name
- Lighthouse Ministries
- Website
- https://lighthouseflorence.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Lighthouse Ministries is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Florence, South Carolina, founded in 1996, that delivers emergency rent and utility assistance plus family-strengthening programs to Florence County residents facing financial crisis, free of charge.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lighthouse Ministries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Social Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Religious Organizations (8131), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where Lighthouse Ministries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Florence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lighthouse Ministries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Reliance on individual donations from community members to support families in crisis. Accepts both online donations through qgiv platform and check by mail.
- Grants: Funding from institutional grants including Children's Trust of SC for family strengthening programs.
- Church Support: Financial and volunteer support from local congregations and faith communities.
- Special Giving Opportunities: Business and organizational partnerships for special giving and capital campaigns.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Lighthouse Ministries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lighthouse Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit providing emergency financial assistance (rent and utility payments), family strengthening educational programs (Strengthening Families, Triple P, Working Mothers Education & Support), accessibility support through volunteer-built wheelchair ramps, and monthly homeless outreach events. All services are provided free of charge to Florence County residents in financial crisis. The organization operates a Basic Needs Assistance program, multiple parenting education programs, a Ramp Program for disabled residents, and a First Friday Services Connect event serving the homeless community.
Product overview
Lighthouse Ministries operates as a faith-based nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of social service programs focused on preventing homelessness and child abuse in Florence County. The core offerings include Basic Needs Assistance for emergency rent and utility support, paired with educational programs like the Working Mothers Education & Support Program and Strengthening Families Program. Additional specialized services include the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, Ramp Program for disability accessibility, First Friday Services Connect for homeless outreach, and the CARE Program for water bill assistance. The organization also operates a donations and item distribution program. All services are provided free of charge to eligible Florence County residents, with programs funded through grants, church support, and individual donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Basic Needs Assistance
Quantifiable outcome
- Serves 2000 households and 3000 individuals annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lighthouse Ministries
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Lighthouse Ministries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lighthouse Ministries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Molina HealthcarecoreHealthcare partnership to build stair rails and accessibility modifications for Molina Healthcare members who are disabled, providing safe home mobility.
- United Way of Florence CountycorePrimary funder and supporter of the Ramp Program, enabling construction of ramps and handrails for disabled low-income Florence County residents.
- Local Civic Organizations and CongregationscoreFunding and volunteer support for Working Mothers Education & Support Program and general ministry operations.
- Corporate Volunteer GroupsminorRegular volunteer groups including Wells Fargo, Armstrong Wealth Management Group, The King's Academy, Trinity-Byrnes, Newspring Church, Highland Park United Methodist Church, City of Florence, and The United Way.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lighthouse Ministries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Catholic Charities of South Carolina: Faith-based nonprofit providing emergency assistance, family services, and refugee support across South Carolina. Operates similar faith-rooted social service programs and competes for the same pool of state, federal, and Catholic foundation grants.
- The Salvation Army of Florence: Local Salvation Army chapter serving Florence County with emergency rent/utility assistance, food pantry, and case management. Directly comparable mission and service model in the same geographic market.
- United Way of Florence County: Community-funding backbone in Florence County that funds Lighthouse Ministries and coordinates local social services. Comparable in its role convening nonprofits, churches, and civic organizations to address community needs.
- Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ): National faith-based nonprofit network that mobilizes local churches to provide emergency assistance, housing support, and family services. Operates an almost identical ministry partnership model in hundreds of U.S. communities.
- Habitat for Humanity of Florence Area: Local Habitat affiliate addressing housing instability in Florence County through home construction and repair. Directly competes for faith-based donors, corporate volunteers (Wells Fargo, etc.), and housing-related grants.
Broad incumbents
- Salvation Army USA: National faith-based social services organization operating emergency shelters, rent/utility assistance, and family programs across the U.S. Comparable service portfolio at vastly greater scale; serves as a model for large-scale replication.
- Catholic Charities USA: Largest U.S. faith-based social services network, providing emergency assistance, family support, and disaster relief nationwide. Operates with much greater resources and geographic reach, but offers directly comparable service lines.
- Mercy Housing: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing and supportive services for low-income families. Comparable prevention-focused mission and partnership-based service model, but operates at significantly larger scale.
Regional players
- One80 Place (Charleston, SC): Faith-rooted nonprofit in coastal South Carolina providing emergency shelter, housing assistance, and family services. Comparable mission and service mix, serving a different SC region but competing for similar state-level funding streams.
- Harvest Hope Food Bank: South Carolina's largest food bank serving Columbia, Florence, and Greenville regions. Comparable emergency food and basic needs assistance model, with a much larger operational footprint across the state.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lighthouse Ministries social profiles
Digital presenceLighthouse Ministries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lighthouse Ministries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Lighthouse Ministries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lighthouse Ministries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lighthouse Ministries
What does Lighthouse Ministries do?
Lighthouse Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit providing emergency financial assistance (rent and utility payments), family strengthening educational programs (Strengthening Families, Triple P, Working Mothers Education & Support), accessibility support through volunteer-built wheelchair ramps, and monthly homeless outreach events. All services are provided free of charge to Florence County residents in financial crisis. The organization operates a Basic Needs Assistance program, multiple parenting education programs, a Ramp Program for disabled residents, and a First Friday Services Connect event serving the homeless community.
Is Lighthouse Ministries a public or private company?
Lighthouse Ministries is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lighthouse Ministries founded?
Lighthouse Ministries was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lighthouse Ministries based?
Lighthouse Ministries is headquartered in Florence, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lighthouse Ministries make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are grants, church Support and special Giving Opportunities.
Who are Lighthouse Ministries's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Catholic Charities of South Carolina, The Salvation Army of Florence, United Way of Florence County, Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) and Habitat for Humanity of Florence Area. Broad incumbents are Salvation Army USA, Catholic Charities USA and Mercy Housing. Regional players are One80 Place (Charleston, SC) and Harvest Hope Food Bank.
Does Lighthouse Ministries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lighthouse Ministries.
What industry is Lighthouse Ministries in?
Lighthouse Ministries's product category is Community Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.