unfoldingWord

What unfoldingWord does

unfoldingWord is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that operates a Church-Centric Bible Translation model. The organization partners with local church networks worldwide to enable translation of Scripture into languages that lack a Bible, equipping these networks with open-source tools, open-licensed biblical content, and training rather than relying on Western translation experts. Primary users include unreached people groups in Africa (Chad, Sudan, Benin), the Middle East (Iran), and Asia (Southeast Asia, Myanmar), with named field partners including Transform Iran, Sudanese Church Networks, and the Chadian Church Planting Network.

The technology stack consists of four core products: translationCore (an open-source Bible translation checking platform described as the fastest such software available, enabling teams to check three chapters per day against original-language sources with just-in-time training modules); translationStudio (an offline-capable desktop and mobile translation utility); Door43 (a community content management and publishing platform with API access); and the unfoldingWord App (an offline Bible and discipleship app on iOS and Android). The content layer includes the unfoldingWord Literal Text (ULT), Simplified Text (UST), Greek New Testament (UGNT), Hebrew Bible (UHB), Open Bible Stories (OBS) covering 50 key Bible stories, Translation Words (UTW), Translation Notes (UTN), Bible Notes (UBN), and 1,600+ Sweet Publishing illustrations, all released under irrevocable CC BY-SA licenses. A Publishing Blockchain for decentralized digital-signature-based verification is listed on the roadmap but not yet started. The organization employs approximately 20 staff including President David Reeves, COO Jesse Griffin, CFO Jim Ungaro, and Strategy Leader Tim Jore.

unfoldingWord's business model is donation-driven: as a 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN 14-1888977), it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and has achieved the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. All content, tools, and resources are provided completely free with no pricing tiers, and the organization's go-to-market is community-led, relying on church partnerships, field stories, and donor cultivation. Distribution occurs through mobile app stores, direct downloads from git.door43.org, the Door43 web platform, GitHub, and partner church networks. Strategic partners include Wycliffe Bible Translators, Biblica, American Bible Society, United Bible Societies, SIL International, The Seed Company, Deaf Bible Society, Pioneer Bible Translators, and Lutheran Bible Translators.

Name

unfoldingWord

Legal name

unfoldingWord

Website

https://unfoldingword.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

unfoldingWord is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that equips church networks worldwide with open-source tools and CC BY-SA-licensed biblical content to translate Scripture into languages lacking a Bible, serving field partners across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bible Translation Software and Open-Licensed Biblical Content

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Software Publishers (5132), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), OER Authoring, Remixing & Publishing Tools/Platforms (EDAGAJAM), Localization, Translation & Multilingual Publishing Tools (EDAFAHAJ)

Keywords

• Open source bible translation
• Church centric translation
• Biblical content resources
• Discipleship ministry software
• Scripture translation platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, unfoldingWord generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, churches, and donor partners. The organization is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and has achieved GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

unfoldingWord provides open-source Bible translation software (translationCore, translationStudio, Door43, the unfoldingWord mobile app) bundled with open-licensed biblical content resources (Open Bible Stories, ULT, UST, UGNT, UHB, translation words/notes) so that local church networks worldwide can independently translate Scripture into their heart languages. All tools, content, and training materials are provided free of charge under CC BY-SA licenses and open-source code, supported through charitable donations.

Product overview

unfoldingWord is a non-profit ministry that provides a platform-plus-content ecosystem for Church-Centric Bible Translation. The technology stack includes translationCore (open-source Bible translation checking platform), translationStudio (open-source translation utility for desktop and mobile), Door43 (content management and publishing platform), and the unfoldingWord App (mobile application). Together with open-licensed biblical content resources including Open Bible Stories (OBS), the unfoldingWord Literal/Simplified Texts (ULT/UST), translation helps (UTW, UTN, UTQ), Greek/Hebrew source texts (UGNT, UHB), and grammar/lexicon tools, these products enable local church networks to translate the Bible independently. Content is licensed under CC BY-SA and made freely available for redistribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• translationCore: An open source platform for checking and managing Bible translation projects. Provides systematic and comprehensive checking of Bible translations against multiple sources and original languages with just-in-time training modules.
• translationStudio
• Door43
• translationCore App
• Open Bible Stories (OBS)
• Whole Bible Whole Nation
• Sweet Publishing

Products and services

• translationCore

Quantifiable outcome

• Three chapters checked per day using translationCore
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IllumiNationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership organization collaborating on Bible translation initiatives. Featured as a key partner in the unfoldingWord ecosystem of Bible translation organizations.
• BiblicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Bible ministry partner. Geof Morin from Biblica expressed gratitude for unfoldingWord's work in identifying least-reached areas and equipping the indigenous church.
• Wycliffe Bible TranslatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Bible translation organization partner. John Chesnut from Wycliffe described unfoldingWord as part of a 'once-in-eternity opportunity' for global Church engagement in Bible translation.
• American Bible SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner Bible society organization collaborating on biblical content and distribution.
• United Bible SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal fellowship of Bible societies partner organization for Bible translation and distribution.
• SIL InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanguage research and Bible translation organization partner providing expertise in linguistics and translation methodology.
• The Seed CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch-focused Bible translation organization partner.
• Deaf Bible SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on Bible translation and access for deaf communities worldwide.
• Pioneer Bible TranslatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch planting and Bible translation organization partner.
• Word for the World Bible TranslatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBible translation organization partner serving speakers of world languages.
• Lutheran Bible TranslatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBible translation organization partner with Lutheran affiliation.
• Sweet PublishingcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of free Bible illustrations made available under CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Provides 1,600+ Bible illustrations covering all 66 books of the Bible for use in translation and publishing.
• Transform IrancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhole Bible Whole Nation partner in Iran, identifying 20 strategic languages for translation and church formation among Iran's 92 million people.
• Door43 World Missions CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe developer community behind unfoldingWord content and tools. Contributors from all over the world work together to create, translate, and distribute unrestricted discipleship resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Seed Company: Church-focused Bible translation acceleration organization; a core partner of unfoldingWord. Comparable because both target whole-Bible translation projects via church-based networks and operate in similar geographies.
• Biblica: Global Bible ministry that produces and distributes Scripture translations; a core strategic partner of unfoldingWord with overlapping field initiatives (least-reached areas, indigenous-church equipping) and shared donor/partner base.
• IllumiNations: Bible translation acceleration initiative featured as a key partner of unfoldingWord's ecosystem; highly comparable because both focus on bringing Scripture to unreached people groups and coordinate overlapping partner networks.
• SIL International: Linguistics-focused organization supporting Bible translation worldwide; a named core partner of unfoldingWord. Highly comparable as both develop language-data resources, translation methodology, and tools used by the same translator population.
• Word for the World Bible Translators: Smaller Bible translation organization serving minority language communities; a core partner of unfoldingWord. Highly comparable because both produce Scripture for lesser-spoken languages and rely heavily on volunteer and church-network involvement.
• Lutheran Bible Translators: Denomination-affiliated Bible translation organization; a core partner of unfoldingWord. Comparable as a translation-focused ministry with similar field methodologies, though with a more narrowly defined Lutheran constituency.
• Pioneer Bible Translators: Church-planting and Bible-translation organization focused on unreached people groups; a core partner of unfoldingWord. Comparable because both prioritize translation in service of church planting among underserved language communities.
• Wycliffe Bible Translators: The largest dedicated Bible translation organization in the world; a core strategic partner of unfoldingWord with overlapping mission of translating Scripture into every language. Highly comparable because both serve the same translator/church-planting ecosystem, although Wycliffe operates at far greater scale.

Broad incumbents

• American Bible Society: Large, established Bible society with a much broader portfolio (translation, distribution, advocacy, education); a core partner of unfoldingWord. Overlaps in translation and distribution but operates at substantially greater scale and scope.
• United Bible Societies: Global fellowship of national Bible societies; a core partner of unfoldingWord. Comparable as a translation and distribution counterpart with much greater institutional scale and a worldwide footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/unfoldingWord-dev

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 unfoldingWord