BigHouse Foundation

What BigHouse Foundation does

BigHouse Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2009 and headquartered in Opelika, Alabama, that delivers comprehensive support services to foster and adoptive families across seven East Alabama counties (Lee, Chambers, Macon, Tallapoosa, Russell, Elmore, Coosa). The organization operates three core ongoing programs — New to Care Bags (emergency supply duffels delivered within 24-48 hours of a child entering foster care), Kids' Night Out (monthly 3-hour respite events), and Food Boxes (monthly distribution of up to 100 lbs of food per child via partnership with East Alabama Food Bank) — alongside annual events including Back to School Bash, Santa's Workshop, BigHouse Family Beach Retreat, Camp Agape, Glitz Glam and Gowns, Swimsuit and Towel Drive, and BigHouse Hustle (a virtual fitness fundraiser).

The organization is 100% donor funded with no equity, debt, or institutional capital structure; revenue is generated through individual donations, recurring monthly giving, corporate sponsorship tiers (ranging from $100 Contributing to $5,000 Grade Level/Presenting Sponsor), event-based fundraising (Support Dinner, Hitting the Links golf outing, BigHouse Hustle), in-kind drives via Amazon Wish Lists, and foundation grants (e.g., Davison Bruce Foundation). Pricing/sponsorship is publicly disclosed at the unit level with clear value attribution (e.g., $100 sponsors one child's school supplies, $10/month funds a food box). Go-to-market is community-led: family registration is gated by DHR verification, and beneficiary outreach runs through DHR partnerships, local churches, Auburn University Student Ambassadors, and word-of-mouth within the foster/adoptive community. The organization is currently in capital campaign phase for The Little House Preschool, a planned trauma-informed child development center for ages 0-5.

BigHouse Foundation has a named staff of four full-time employees (Founder/ED Micah Melnick, Director of Operations Heather Lee joined August 2024, Director of Programming Maggy Byrd joined September 2025, Services Coordinator Jara Walden joined September 2025) with stated headcount of 11-50. The organization opened the BigHouse Retreat facility in April 2023 and has served more than 25,000 children since inception (or 12,000+ per alternative source reporting).

Name

BigHouse Foundation

Legal name

BigHouse Foundation

Website

https://ourbighouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BigHouse Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit in Opelika, Alabama that delivers emergency supplies, respite programs, food assistance, and experiential events to foster and adoptive families across seven East Alabama counties, funded entirely by donations, corporate sponsorships, and event-based fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care and Adoption Support Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Child and Youth Services (624110), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Foster care services
• Family support programs
• Community social services
• Child welfare support
• Nonprofit charitable programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Opelika

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: BigHouse is 100% donor funded. All revenue comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, event fundraising, and in-kind contributions. The organization is a non-profit 501c3, making all donations tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BigHouse Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that delivers tangible resources and community-based programs to foster and adoptive families in East Alabama. Its core offerings include emergency supply bags (New to Care Bags), monthly respite events (Kids' Night Out), monthly food assistance (Food Boxes), and recurring annual events such as Back to School Bash, Santa's Workshop, Beach Retreat, and Camp Agape. All services are provided free of charge to verified foster and adoptive families and are 100% donor funded.

Product overview

BigHouse Foundation operates as a single nonprofit organization offering multiple foster care support programs and annual events. Core programs include the New to Care Bags (emergency supplies for children entering foster care), Kids' Night Out (monthly respite care), and Food Boxes (monthly food assistance). The organization hosts annual events including Glitz Glam and Gowns (formal dress distribution), Back to School Bash (school supplies), Swimsuit and Towel Drive, Santa's Workshop (Christmas gifts), BigHouse Family Beach Retreat, Camp Agape (summer camp), and BigHouse Hustle (fitness fundraiser). The organization also operates the BigHouse Retreat facility opened in 2023 and is developing The Little House Preschool. Services are 100% donor funded with 501c3 status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New to Care Bags Thoughtfully packed duffle bags with essential items (socks, underwear, pajamas, toiletries, shoes, clothing, diapers) provided to children entering foster care within 24-48 hours of placement. Free service for verified foster families.
• Kids' Night Out (KNO) Monthly 3-hour respite event for children in foster care featuring games, play time, dinner, crafts, and devotional activities, providing foster parents a free night off.
• Food Boxes Monthly food box program delivered in partnership with East Alabama Food Bank, providing up to 100 lbs of food per child in Lee County foster care placement.
• Glitz, Glam and Gowns Free red-carpet formal dress shopping event for teen girls in foster care ages 13-18 in Alabama, providing gowns and a confidence-boosting experience.
• Back to School Bash Annual event providing school supplies and backpacks to children in foster care in East Alabama, serving approximately 400 children.
• Swimsuit and Towel Drive Annual spring drive providing new swimsuits and personalized embroidered towels for children in foster care. Filled over 300 requests in 2024.
• Santa's Workshop Free Christmas shopping event held in December providing presents for children in foster care, adopted children, and biological children of foster/adoptive parents. Anticipated to serve 250 families and over 600 children in 2025.
• BigHouse Family Beach Retreat Annual beach retreat for foster and adoptive families at Cottages Christian Retreat Center in Panama City Beach, FL. Includes private cottages, meals, and entertainment for 60 families.
• Camp Agape Two-day weekend camp connecting young adults with the foster care community, serving children ages 5-12 including those in foster care, adopted, and biological children of foster/adoptive parents.
• BigHouse Hustle Virtual fitness/movement challenge held in May during Foster Care Awareness Month. Participants log 1, 2, or 3 miles daily for 31 days to raise funds. Raised over $23,000 in 2020 with 555 participants.
• The Little House Preschool Planned trauma-informed preschool and child development center for children ages 0-5 in foster care, with on-site therapies, mental health services, developmental screenings, and family support. Currently in capital campaign phase (not yet launched).
• Support Dinner Annual fundraising dinner featuring a silent auction, with corporate sponsorship opportunities at $500-$3,000 levels.
• Hitting the Links for Little House Golf event fundraiser benefiting BigHouse Foundation programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 25,000 children since 2009
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alabama PowerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner that contributes to BigHouse programs. Listed as a partner on the BigHouse partners page, providing community support and resources.
• Auburn University Student AmbassadorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversity student organization that partners with BigHouse for volunteer support and community engagement.
• CornerstoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner organization listed on BigHouse partners page, contributing ideas, volunteer power, and in-kind support.
• One Simple WishminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnables local foster children to attend Camp Joy through their partnership with BigHouse.
• East Alabama Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides food services for current foster families through monthly food box distribution. Each box costs $10 and provides up to 100 lbs of food per Lee County foster placement. This is an ongoing operational partnership serving families monthly.
• Together We RiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization that supports BigHouse through donations and community engagement for foster care initiatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Alabama Foster Families: Regional Alabama-based foster family support organization. Regional peer because it serves the same state with overlapping foster family services, though its primary delivery model (recruitment/licensing support) differs from BigHouse's resource provision.

Broad incumbents

• CASA (National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association): National non-profit training volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in court. Broad incumbent in the same foster care advocacy space; BigHouse leverages similar DHR/court relationships (Lee County Family Court Judge Mike Fellows endorsement) but operates resource programs rather than advocacy case work.

Direct peers

• A Sense of Home: Non-profit providing furniture and home goods to young adults aging out of foster care. Direct peer operating complementary aging-out support, sharing the same target demographic (children in state custody) and resource-distribution model.
• Comfort Cases: National non-profit providing backpacks and toiletry bags to children entering foster care. Direct peer because BigHouse's New to Care Bags program delivers an almost identical use case on a smaller regional scale.
• One Simple Wish: Non-profit granting wishes and providing essential items to children impacted by foster care. Direct peer due to overlapping mission, family-support orientation, and existing partnership relationship with BigHouse.
• Together We Rise: National non-profit focused on improving the lives of children in foster care through toy drives, sweet cases, and scholarships. Direct peer because both organizations serve foster youth with tangible resource-based programs and are explicitly partnered.
• Foster Love: National non-profit providing birthday boxes, scholarships, and the Dreamer Fund to current and former foster youth. Direct peer with comparable mission and program model centered on resource provision to foster children.

Emerging players

• Tucked In Beds Foundation: Smaller non-profit providing bedtime bundles (sheets, pillows, blankets) to children entering care. Emerging peer with highly comparable product (essentials on entering foster care) but smaller, more niche scope than BigHouse.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bighousefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bighouse-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 BigHouse Foundation