Fresh Start Ministries

What Fresh Start Ministries does

Fresh Start Ministries of Central Florida is a faith-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating a 12-month residential recovery program for men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, headquartered at 4436 Edgewater Drive in Orlando, Florida. Founded in 1986, the organization delivers its core service through structured residential living that combines housing, meals, work requirements, counseling, drug screenings, and Christian practices including chapel, Bible study, and spiritual counseling. Graduates may transition to an optional after-care facility for up to one additional year, creating a two-year continuum designed to redefine destructive habitual behaviors into a sustainable addiction-free lifestyle.

The organization's product portfolio is anchored by the 12-Month Residential Recovery Program and an optional After-Care Facility, supplemented by a content ecosystem including the Addiction Kitchen Podcast, a teaching series, blog, and the FSM Family Packet (a downloadable resource for families of program participants). The organization does not operate as a technology platform — no API, SDK, or software product exists — and the service is fundamentally human-delivered.

The business model combines two revenue streams: (1) program fees from residents consisting of a $350 non-refundable entry fee plus $195 weekly program fees, and (2) donations from individuals, churches, and corporations processed through Zeffy with 100% pass-through to the mission. Acquisition occurs through direct admissions, family referral, and a network of referral partners including churches, counselors, and healthcare providers. The ministry serves a primary customer segment of men struggling with addiction, with families of addicts as a secondary support segment. Operating since 1986 under founders Joe and Kelly Cordovano for 38 years, the organization entered a leadership transition in 2024 with the appointment of Scott Harrell as Executive Director.

Name

Fresh Start Ministries

Legal name

Fresh Start Ministries of Central Florida

Website

https://freshstartministries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fresh Start Ministries of Central Florida is a non-profit faith-based residential recovery program in Orlando, FL, serving men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction through a 12-month program with optional one-year aftercare. Founded in 1986, it supplements program fees with donations from individuals, churches, and corporations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Addiction Recovery Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

Keywords

• Faith-based recovery
• Residential rehabilitation
• Addiction treatment
• Substance abuse recovery
• Men's recovery program

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Affordable residential treatment program funded through a non-refundable entry fee of $350 plus weekly program fees of $195 covering housing, meals, classes, counseling, evaluations, and drug screenings.
2. Donations and Gifts: As a non-profit 501(c)(3), Fresh Start Ministries depends on annual gifts from individuals, churches, and corporations. The organization uses Zeffy for donations, ensuring 100% of gifts go to the mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fresh Start Ministries runs a 12-month faith-based residential recovery program for men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction at its Orlando, Florida facility, with housing, meals, classes, counseling, evaluations, drug screenings, Bible study, and structured work. Graduates may transition to an optional after-care facility for up to one additional year, producing a total two-year recovery journey. The program is funded through a $350 non-refundable entry fee plus $195 per week in program fees, supplemented by donations from individuals, churches, and corporations.

Product overview

Fresh Start Ministries of Central Florida is a faith-based residential rehabilitation center offering a single, unified 12-month recovery program for men struggling with substance abuse and life-controlling issues. The core offering is the residential recovery program, which includes housing, meals, counseling, classes, and spiritual guidance. An optional after-care facility extends support for up to one additional year post-graduation. The organization also provides supplementary resources including the Addiction Kitchen Podcast (a recovery-focused content platform) and the FSM Family Packet (a downloadable resource for families of program participants). The program does not operate on a platform-plus-modules architecture but rather as a comprehensive residential treatment program supplemented by educational content and family support materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Addiction Kitchen Podcast: A podcast series produced by Fresh Start Ministries sharing stories of experience, strength, and hope related to addiction recovery.

Products and services

• 12-Month Residential Recovery Program A 12-month faith-based residential rehabilitation program for men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, delivered at the Orlando, Florida facility. Residents live in a structured environment, work full-time, and participate in counseling, classes, Bible study, and spiritual counseling, progressing through phases that address addiction, personal growth, spirituality, and aftercare. Pricing is a non-refundable $350 entry fee plus $195 per week covering housing, meals, classes, counseling, evaluations, and drug screenings.
• After-Care Facility Optional transitional housing facility available to graduates of the 12-month residential program for up to one year following completion. Provides continued structured support to help men transition from intensive residential treatment to independent living while maintaining sobriety.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two-year program duration (12 months residential + up to 12 months aftercare) assists in redefining destructive habitual behavior to a lifestyle free from the chains of addiction

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Referral PartnerscoreOthersThe organization maintains relationships with referral partners who direct men seeking help to the Fresh Start Ministries program. These include churches, counselors, healthcare providers, and other organizations in the addiction recovery ecosystem.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Adult & Teen Challenge USA: The largest U.S. network of faith-based, long-duration residential recovery programs for men (and separate women's tracks). Directly comparable in model: Christian-centered curriculum, multi-month residential stay, work requirements, and reliance on church/donor funding.
• Faith Farm Ministries: Florida-based faith-based residential recovery program (with sites in Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Lakeland) offering a 9+ month faith-based program for men. Closely mirrors FSM's faith-based, long-duration, low-cost residential model in the same state.
• Teen Challenge USA: National faith-based residential addiction recovery network with a 12+ month program model centered on discipleship, work, and structured living. Closely aligned to FSM in program duration, Christian curriculum, and donor-funded residential operations.
• Victory Outreach: Faith-based residential recovery program with men's (and women's) discipleship homes in many U.S. cities. Shares FSM's model of long-term residential Christian discipleship, work-based structure, and church/referral-driven admissions.
• The Ranch at Dove Tree: Residential substance use treatment provider in Texas offering longer-duration programs with faith-integrated components. Comparable in residential care model and target client (men with substance use disorders) though with more clinical and insurance-funded elements.
• Cenikor Foundation: Non-profit residential and outpatient substance use treatment provider offering long-term programs in multiple states. Comparable in long-duration residential model, non-profit status, and reliance on a mix of donations and self-pay for residents.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers: Operates a national network of faith-based, long-term residential rehabilitation centers for men and women at no cost. Comparable in funding model (donor-supported), faith-centered program structure, and multi-month residential duration, but at vastly greater scale and as part of a broader social services portfolio.
• Volunteers of America (Addiction Services): Large national non-profit operating faith-rooted residential recovery and re-entry programs for men across many states. Comparable in residential care for men in recovery and donor-supported model, though part of a much broader social services portfolio.

Emerging players

• Celebrate Recovery: Christ-centered 12-step program operating in thousands of churches. While not a residential provider, it serves the same faith-based addiction recovery audience and is a frequent upstream funnel or alternative to programs like FSM.

Others

• Hired Power: Recovery support services firm offering intervention, transport, and sober companion services. Functions in the same referral ecosystem as FSM, channeling clients into residential programs, and competes for the same family-funded recovery spend.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/freshstartministriesorlando
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/freshstartministriescf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Fresh Start Ministries