The Chalmers Center

What The Chalmers Center does

The Chalmers Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia (now headquartered at 1500 Chestnut St, Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN), that trains churches and ministries to design and run poverty alleviation programs grounded in a biblical framework. Its core products are cohort-based training curricula — Faith & Finances (financial education, $330/person), Work Life (jobs readiness, $1,900–$2,375/site), Innovate (ministry design, $995–$1,195), Helping Without Hurting in Benevolence Ministry, Ambassador Certification, RESTORE savings groups, and Business & Home — plus the Helping Without Hurting Online Library subscription and a catalog of books led by 'When Helping Hurts.' Delivery runs on Pathwright (LMS) for self-paced content and Zoom for live cohort coaching, with a 50+ Ambassador and Lead Trainer network extending reach across the U.S., Canada, West Africa (Ghana, Togo), East Africa (Uganda, Kenya), Southern Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa), and additional partners in Asia and Latin America.

The organization earns revenue through a hybrid model: paid training and certification fees, recurring annual subscriptions for ongoing community access, and donations from ministry partners as the primary 501(c)(3) funding pillar. Books are distributed indirectly via third-party publishers (Moody, Zondervan, Baker). Customers span 700+ Faith & Finances sites, 300+ Work Life sites, 200+ Innovate adopters, 50,000+ people trained, and ministry partner logos including Life.Church, Compassion International, HOPE International, FiveTalents, Tearfund, Prison Fellowship, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The business is led by President/CEO Coy Buckley with founder Dr. Brian Fikkert active as a board/founder affiliate; operations are governed by a Board of Directors and accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and GuideStar Platinum.

Name

The Chalmers Center

Legal name

Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College, Inc.

Website

https://chalmers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Chalmers Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1999, that trains churches and ministries in biblically-grounded poverty alleviation through cohort-based programs (Faith & Finances, Work Life, Innovate, Benevolence, RESTORE) delivered via Pathwright LMS and Zoom coaching, serving thousands of church and NGO sites across North America, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Poverty Alleviation Training & Ministry Development

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Poverty alleviation training
• Faith-based financial education
• Church ministry development
• Jobs readiness curriculum
• Christian community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Lookout Mountain

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training and Certification Fees: Revenue from paid training programs including Faith & Finances ($330/person), Work Life Site Certification ($1,900-$2,375), Benevolence Ministry training ($169-$199/person), Ambassador Training ($800-$950), Innovate ($995-$1,195), and Innovate: Express ($99). Annual subscription fees for ongoing community access ($360-$450).
2. Online Library Subscription: Annual subscription to the Helping Without Hurting Online Library providing access to all online courses for one low annual fee.
3. Donations and Charitable Giving: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on generous ministry partners for funding. They accept online donations, checks, and stock donations.
4. Book Sales (Third-Party): Books are sold through publishers (Moody, Zondervan, Baker) and booksellers, not directly by Chalmers. Chalmers receives no direct revenue but the books spread their influence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chalmers Center delivers biblical poverty alleviation training programs, curricula, and coaching to churches and ministries in North America and the Majority World. Its primary offerings include Faith & Finances (financial education), Work Life (jobs readiness), Innovate (ministry design), RESTORE (savings groups), Benevolence Ministry training, and Ambassador Certification, delivered through online cohorts with live Zoom coaching and supported by a subscription online course library and a network of certified trainers.

Product overview

The Chalmers Center is a ministry organization offering a portfolio of training programs, books, and resources for churches and organizations focused on poverty alleviation through biblical principles. The core offerings include: Faith & Finances (financial education), Work Life (jobs readiness), Innovate (ministry design), Helping Without Hurting in Benevolence Ministry, Ambassador Training, RESTORE (savings groups), Business & Home, and Helping Without Hurting in Africa. These are complemented by online courses through the Helping Without Hurting Online Library subscription, a video library, and published books including the foundational When Helping Hurts and Becoming Whole. The organization provides coaching and consulting services, with training delivered through online platforms including Zoom and Pathwright-based courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Faith & Finances Financial education training program designed for adults with low income, helping churches and nonprofits launch financial education classes that address poverty in a biblical, effective way. Includes a 7-week online course with weekly Zoom coaching and Lead Trainer support. Priced at $330 per person.
• Work Life Jobs readiness program that equips churches and nonprofits in the U.S. and Canada to start a jobs ministry helping people facing barriers find and keep meaningful work. Includes Work Life Site Certification at $1,900-$2,375 for 4-8 person teams, plus a $360-$450 annual subscription for ongoing community access.
• Innovate Ministry design training that combines community development best practices with innovation tools and a biblical framework to help teams develop poverty alleviation ministries. 4-week cohort with 8 live coaching sessions priced at $995-$1,195 per team (3-7 people).
• Helping Without Hurting in Benevolence Ministry 6-week training with 6 live online sessions that equips churches and ministries to develop holistic, relationship-focused benevolence ministries that help people experience lasting change. Priced at $169-$199 per person (group rate $139 for 3+).
• Ambassador Training 10-week certification program (September 1 - October 27, 2026) that trains individuals to represent Chalmers' foundational principles, practices, and tools for poverty alleviation within their ministry networks. Includes 11 online lessons and 8 live 2-hour coaching sessions. Priced at $800-$950.
• RESTORE Savings groups curriculum that equips churches and ministries with tools to start savings group ministries for people in extreme poverty.
• Business & Home Curriculum addressing economic and worldview issues for people living in poverty throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• Helping Without Hurting in Africa Training manual for ministry leaders walking alongside those in material poverty in Africa, based on principles from the book When Helping Hurts. Available in multiple languages.
• Innovate: Express Three-day condensed version of the Innovate process designed for individuals to discover, design, and do ministry that helps without hurting. Three 90-minute Zoom sessions over three days. Priced at $99 per person.
• Helping Without Hurting Online Library Subscription-based access to all of Chalmers' online courses including Helping Without Hurting: The Basics, Benevolence Ministry, Are You a Good Neighbor, Practicing the King's Economy, and Mobilize My Church. One annual subscription provides unlimited access to the course library.
• When Helping Hurts Foundational book on poverty alleviation helping readers discover how to effectively help low-income people beyond good intentions to lasting change. Sold through Moody, Zondervan, and Baker publishers.
• Becoming Whole Book exploring why the opposite of poverty isn't the American Dream, helping readers break free from false narratives about success. Published through third-party Christian publishers.
• A Field Guide to Becoming Whole Practical field guide providing a framework for lasting change for individuals and poverty alleviation ministries.
• Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions Guide for designing and leading short-term mission trips that avoid harming the materially poor and lead to lasting change.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ churches and nonprofits implementing Faith & Finances programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Compassion International UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Working with Compassion International Uganda, Chalmers trained and certified 35 men and women as Innovate: Local facilitators in Adjumani, Uganda.
• Resonate Global MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with Resonate Global Mission and Oasis International to release 'Helping Without Hurting in Africa' in 2021.
• Oasis InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-authors Anthony Sytsma and Jonny Kabiswa Kyazze crafted 'Helping Without Hurting in Africa' training manual through this partnership.
• Love INCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch ministry network helping churches help people in poverty. Chalmers has worked with Love INC as a ministry partner.
• Citygate NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch network focused on reaching unchurched people and starting new churches. Partner organization.
• HOPE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian microfinance organization providing savings, loans, and training. Long-standing ministry partner.
• FiveTalentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch-centered microfinance organization helping churches alleviate poverty through savings and loan programs.
• Compassion InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild sponsorship organization working with churches globally. Ministry partner.
• STCH MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJimmy Rodriguez: 'Our partnership with The Chalmers Center is a match made in heaven.' Organization committed to expanding God's Kingdom through church partnerships.
• TearfundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization focused on ending extreme poverty. Jane Pleace serves as Global Fundraising Director.
• Life.ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJeff Galley (Life.Church Chairman): 'We valued our partnership with Chalmers for many years because they're a hidden hand behind a lot of our relationships.' Jeff Galley serves on Chalmers Board of Directors.
• Prison FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrison ministry organization. Tammy Franklin: 'We have people coming together to teach biblical values and finances to a group of people who are incarcerated—this wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the work that Chalmers has done.'
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Christian denomination. Ministry partner organization.
• Food for the Hungry CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian organization focused on child sponsorship and development. Ministry partner.
• Restore OKCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSara Hawk: 'We use Chalmers tools because they do such a beautiful job of explaining why God's kingdom and vision operates the way it does—meeting everyone right where they're at.'
• Peoria Rescue MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJon Rocke: 'We were so excited to connect and even support the work of Chalmers because their approach and materials are so deeply gospel-centered and practically helpful.'
• Water MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLara Lambert: 'We adopted Chalmers principles in how we approach our community development activities, training and tools—over 10 years later, everything we do speaks back to these principles.'

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tearfund: International Christian relief and development organization that trains local churches in holistic poverty alleviation. Comparable in faith-based training model, emphasis on local church as change agent, and global footprint across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• World Relief: Evangelical humanitarian organization providing community development, refugee services, and economic empowerment through church networks. Comparable in faith-based framing, church-centered community development methodology, and biblical poverty alleviation philosophy.
• Compassion International: Major faith-based child sponsorship and community development organization working through local churches. Comparable in church-partnership model, training programs for partner churches, and the 2024 Adjumani, Uganda Innovate: Local facilitator rollout with Chalmers demonstrates direct operational overlap.
• Prison Fellowship: Faith-based prison ministry organization that uses Chalmers' curriculum to teach biblical financial values to incarcerated individuals. Comparable in the model of training churches/ministries to deliver Chalmers-developed curriculum at the grassroots.
• FiveTalents: Church-centered microfinance organization helping churches launch savings and loan programs in low-income communities. Directly comparable in mission, faith-based framing, and majority-world focus to Chalmers' RESTORE savings groups program.
• Food for the Hungry: Christian humanitarian organization focused on community development, child sponsorship, and church-based poverty alleviation. Comparable in faith-based framing, community development training approach, and global partnership network.
• HOPE International: Christian microfinance organization providing savings, loans, and business training through church-based networks. Closely comparable to Chalmers' church-centered microfinance philosophy and shared emphasis on dignity over dependency in poverty alleviation.

Broad incumbents

• RightNow Media: Largest faith-based video streaming and training library serving US churches and ministries with thousands of discipleship, leadership, and ministry training resources. Comparable in subscription-based content delivery model to churches and ministry professionals.
• Habitat for Humanity: Large faith-rooted nonprofit addressing poverty through housing and community development. Comparable in faith-based mission and global scale, though focused on housing rather than training/curriculum delivery.
• Langham Partnership: International ministry providing theological education, leadership formation, and preacher training through global church networks. Comparable as a faith-based formation and training organization serving churches worldwide, with similar theological training products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chalmerscenter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 The Chalmers Center