LINC

What LINC does

LINC (Leading Into New Communities, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000 and headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, that delivers transitional living, case management, and reentry support services to men and women returning from incarceration, alongside youth development services for African American young people ages 12-30. Its service portfolio includes three residential facilities — the M.E. Roberts Transitional Living Campus (co-ed, opened 2012), the STAR Center (male-only substance use disorder treatment, opened January 2026 with RHA Health Services), and Permanent Supportive Housing (6 units, 21 beds) — plus the Local Reentry Council serving four counties, the L.I.T.E. Manhood youth program, the Employment Bootcamp, Pathway Home 2 job training with Cape Fear Community College, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, and the NC FIT healthcare linkage. A fourth facility, the Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy boarding school for at-risk males 15-18, is in pre-construction after receiving rezoning approval in April 2024, with a $3M construction and $4M three-year operations budget and $1.5M committed from New Hanover County.

The organization's underlying technology is minimal by design: services are delivered through in-person case management, community-based interventions, and standard business tools (Google Forms for intake, Zoom for remote sessions). No software platform, API, or proprietary technology stack is disclosed; the "product" is the wraparound service delivery model and the physical residential capacity. LINC reports an 85% program success rate versus an approximately 40% North Carolina state recidivism baseline, with 2,674 adults and 290 youth served since 2000.

LINC's revenue model is a nonprofit hybrid of government grants and contracts (New Hanover County, U.S. Department of Labor, NC Department of Health and Human Services, Governor's Crime Commission, Medicaid via the Healthy Opportunities Pilot and Trillium Health Resources), individual and corporate donations through the LINC Society giving program ($25 to $2,500+ tiers), and event-based fundraising (the annual Milestones Dinner). All services are provided free of charge to eligible clients. The organization is governed by an independent board of directors led by Chair Brenda Roberts-Fong and operated by a staff of approximately 40 case managers, treatment coordinators, peer support specialists, community health workers, school resource coordinators, and volunteers under co-Executive Directors Frankie Roberts and Michelle D. Gunn.

Name

LINC

Legal name

Leading Into New Communities, Inc.

Website

https://lincnc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LINC is a Wilmington, NC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides transitional housing, case management, substance use treatment, and youth development services to formerly incarcerated individuals and at-risk African American youth across the Cape Fear region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: LINC accepts donations from individuals and corporations through its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The organization maintains a LINC Society donor recognition program with various giving levels from $25 to $2,500+.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: LINC receives funding from government sources including New Hanover County, Governor's Crime Commission grants, NC Department of Health and Human Services, and federal programs. The Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy project has received $1.5 million from New Hanover County.
3. Event Fundraising: LINC conducts annual fundraising events including the Milestones Dinner, which generates sponsorships, ticket sales, and campaign contributions.
4. Program-Specific Funding: Various programs receive dedicated funding: Pathway Home 2 from U.S. Department of Labor, Healthy Opportunities Pilot from state and federal Medicaid programs, and NC FIT from UNC Family Medicine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LINC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides transitional living, case management, behavioral health, employment assistance, and youth development services to formerly incarcerated men and women and at-risk African American youth in southeastern North Carolina. Services are delivered through residential campuses (M.E. Roberts Transitional Living Campus, STAR Center, Permanent Supportive Housing), reentry programs (Pathway Home 2, Local Reentry Council), youth programs (L.I.T.E. Manhood, the planned Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy), and health programs (Healthy Opportunities Pilot, NC FIT, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions). All programs are provided free of charge to eligible clients and funded through government grants, contracts, and individual/corporate donations.

Product overview

LINC (Leading Into New Communities) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of integrated social services focused on reentry support and youth development. The organization operates a platform of residential programs (M.E.R. Transitional Living Campus, STAR Center, Permanent Supportive Housing) providing shelter and therapeutic environments for justice-involved individuals. These residential services are complemented by case management through the Local Reentry Council, workforce development via Employment Bootcamp and Pathway Home 2, and behavioral health services including Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, NC FIT healthcare, and the Healthy Opportunities Pilot. The L.I.T.E. youth development program serves African American youth ages 12-30, while the Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy represents an upcoming boarding school initiative. Additional capacity-building offerings include LINC Anatomy (peer support certification training), the Eyes on the Law advocacy initiative, the Urban Farm for vocational training, and the Second Chance Alliance advocacy coalition. All programs are designed to reduce recidivism, empower community reentry, and support youth development through coordinated, wraparound services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M.E. Roberts Transitional Living Campus Flagship co-ed transitional housing facility for individuals returning from incarceration, providing intensive case management, job training, substance abuse treatment, health services, and a therapeutic living environment at 222 Division Drive, Wilmington, NC.
• STAR Center Male-only residential program for justice-involved individuals with substance use disorder, providing residential detoxification and addiction treatment services in coordination with the M.E. Roberts campus.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Affordable housing combined with supportive services for individuals with justice involvement, substance use disorder, and/or mental health challenges, designed to foster independent living skills and connect residents to healthcare, treatment, and employment.
• L.I.T.E. Manhood (LINC Initiative to Educate) Structured enrichment program for African American youth ages 12-30 designed to reduce barriers in education and employment through mentoring, tutoring, life skills training, and cultural awareness to break cycles of crime.
• Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy Boarding school for at-risk young men ages 15-18, a 14-month program in partnership with Cape Fear Community College enabling participants to earn a GED, trade skills, and trade certificates, converting the decommissioned Princess Place fire station at 3933 Princess Place Drive.
• Pathway Home 2 Pre- and post-release support program for individuals transitioning from incarceration, offering housing resources, employment assistance, job training, and case management in collaboration with Cape Fear Community College.
• Local Reentry Council (LRC) Integrated network providing case management, housing referrals, transportation, educational assistance, and connections to services across New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Duplin counties to facilitate reintegration of justice-involved individuals.
• Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) State- and federally-funded Medicaid program addressing non-medical factors impacting health outcomes including transportation, housing instability, food insecurity, interpersonal violence, and toxic stress for qualifying Medicaid beneficiaries.
• Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) Group sessions designed to empower justice-involved individuals in making healthy decisions, restructuring how participants process challenges and their reactions to external triggers, including support for individuals struggling with opioid misuse disorder.
• Employment Bootcamp Program assisting justice-involved and formerly incarcerated individuals in developing job-seeking skills including resume writing, interview preparation, job applications, training certifications, and technology skills, with connections to Second Chance employers.
• NC FIT (North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program) Partnership with UNC Family Medicine connecting justice-involved individuals to primary healthcare providers, with NC FIT Recovery for opioid use disorder and NC FIT Wellness for severe mental health issues.
• LINC Anatomy Program offering stipends for training and certification as Peer Support Specialists and Community Health Workers, providing application assistance, training coordination, and program supervision for Cape Fear area residents.
• Urban Farm Urban farm providing produce to M.E. Roberts campus residents while teaching agricultural and entrepreneurial skills; produce is also shared with the community via food giveaways and donations to local food banks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% success rate vs 40% NC state recidivism rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cape Fear Community College (CFCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CFCC partners with LINC on Pathway Home 2 program providing job training, educational opportunities, and trade certification for individuals returning from incarceration. CFCC will provide instructional capacity and course offerings for the Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy boarding school program.
• NC Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency funding the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program that LINC participates in to address social determinants of health for Medicaid beneficiaries including housing, food, transportation, and interpersonal safety.
• UNC Family MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNC Family Medicine sponsors the NC FIT (Formerly Incarcerated Transition) Program. LINC serves as a local partner with community health workers connecting justice-involved individuals to primary healthcare providers.
• Trillium Health ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrillium is a Tailored Care Plan (Medicaid plan) that qualifies members for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot services that LINC provides.
• Cape Fear HOPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Healthy Opportunities Pilot initiative serving the Cape Fear area. In 2023-24 fiscal year, 839 cases were referred to Cape Fear HOP.
• RHA Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHA partners with LINC to provide residential detoxification and addiction treatment services at the STAR Center opened in January 2026.
• NC Second Chance AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide alliance of impacted people, families, service providers, advocates, and community leaders working to address criminal records barriers and reduce recidivism. LINC hosts the New Hanover County chapter.
• Forward JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJustice reform advocacy organization and partner in the NC Second Chance Alliance providing policy expertise and advocacy support.
• North Carolina Justice CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy and advocacy organization providing resources for formerly incarcerated individuals and families through NC Second Chance Alliance partnership.
• Urban Prep AcademiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based boarding school program serving at-risk young men that serves as a model for the Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy.
• YouthBuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit organization serving as a model for the Hisan J. Polk Transformation Academy's approach to youth development and education.
• Legal Aid of North CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services organization. LINC staff Telesa Jones has provided expunction, driver's license restoration, and certificate of relief services through partnership with Legal Aid's Second Chance team.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing employment-focused reentry services to people returning from incarceration, with transitional work crews, job placement, and retention support. Highly comparable to LINC's Employment Bootcamp and Pathway Home 2 program design, serving similar justice-involved populations via workforce development.
• Rubicon Programs: Oakland-based reentry and social services nonprofit providing workforce development, housing, behavioral health, and reentry case management for formerly incarcerated individuals and people experiencing homelessness. Comparable to LINC's integrated adult reentry continuum in California.
• The Doe Fund: NYC-based nonprofit operating transitional housing and work-ready programs (Ready, Willing & Able) for formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals, combining residential services with vocational training. Direct comparable to LINC's MER Campus model of supervised residential reentry combined with employment pathways.
• The Fortune Society: NYC-based reentry nonprofit offering comprehensive wraparound services including housing, education, employment, health care, and substance abuse treatment for formerly incarcerated individuals. Directly comparable comprehensive model to LINC's MER Campus, STAR Center, and case management portfolio.
• HealthRIGHT 360: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing integrated health care, substance use treatment, mental health, and reentry services. Comparable to LINC's combined reentry + substance use disorder + behavioral health portfolio, with residential and outpatient treatment similar to STAR Center and NC FIT.
• A New Way of Life: LA-based nonprofit providing housing, case management, and reentry support specifically for women and girls returning from incarceration. Comparable to LINC's MER Campus co-ed residential reentry model with a similar focus on culturally-informed, community-based support.
• Osborne Association: New York-based reentry nonprofit providing housing, family services, advocacy, and case management for people in and returning from prison. Comparable to LINC in offering both adult reentry services and youth-focused prevention programming, with strong policy advocacy arm similar to Eyes on the Law.
• Exodus Homes: North Carolina-based nonprofit operating recovery-focused transitional housing and reentry programs for formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals, with locations in Greensboro and surrounding counties. Comparable to LINC's MER Campus and STAR Center model in NC, with shared state-level funding relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating workforce development and reentry employment programs (including Second Chance programs) across thousands of locations. Comparable to LINC's Employment Bootcamp and Pathway Home 2 in serving justice-involved job seekers, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Volunteers of America (National): National nonprofit operating reentry, housing, behavioral health, and youth development programs across 46 states with much larger scale and broader service portfolio than LINC. Comparable as a broader reentry/social services incumbent whose programs overlap with LINC's transitional housing and youth services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LINCincNC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1BnrZpEpaio8JXdgZHJcaA
• Facebookfacebook.com/lincincnc
• Instagraminstagram.com/linc.nc
• TikToktiktok.com/@lincinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 LINC