Volunteer Ministry Center
Volunteer Ministry Center is a Knoxville-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1987 that operates six interconnected programs to prevent and end homelessness, including crisis services, day shelter, rapid rehousing, street outreach, dental care, and 105 units of permanent supportive housing for individuals in Knox County, Tennessee.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersKnoxville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Volunteer Ministry Center does
Volunteer Ministry Center (VMC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Knoxville and Knox County. The organization operates six interconnected service branches covering the full continuum of homelessness services: the Bush Family Refuge (walk-in navigation center for crisis intervention and referrals), Resource Center (day shelter with case management, meals, showers, and laundry), Rapid Rehousing (short-term rental assistance), Street Outreach (mobile engagement team for unsheltered individuals), Dental Clinic (services for uninsured and low-income residents), and Permanent Supportive Housing (105 units across Minvilla Manor's 57 apartments and Caswell Manor's 48 apartments, staffed 24/7). In 2025, VMC recorded 7,000+ site visits and phone calls, served 2,200+ new individuals seeking services, and has cumulatively helped 1,499 individuals secure permanent housing.
VMC is entirely funded through donations, grants, and fundraising events rather than service fees. Revenue streams include individual one-time and recurring donations, the Bridge Builder Sponsor monthly giving program ($150/month), planned giving through the Billy Currier Legacy Society (wills, trusts, IRAs, life insurance), in-kind donations of goods, and three major annual fundraising events (Golf Tournament, Wine and Shine, and the Carry the Torch Luncheon). The organization maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and operates with 11-50 employees including a CEO and six program directors. VMC uses GiveLively for online donations and Amazon Wish Lists for in-kind giving, with no venture capital or private equity investment and no parent company. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is entirely human-centered and facility-based within a single geographic market (Knoxville/Knox County, TN).
Volunteer Ministry Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Volunteer Ministry Center
- Legal name
- Volunteer Ministry Center
- Website
- https://vmcinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Volunteer Ministry Center is a Knoxville-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1987 that operates six interconnected programs to prevent and end homelessness, including crisis services, day shelter, rapid rehousing, street outreach, dental care, and 105 units of permanent supportive housing for individuals in Knox County, Tennessee.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Volunteer Ministry Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homelessness Prevention and Supportive Housing Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where Volunteer Ministry Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Knoxville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Volunteer Ministry Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individuals supporting the mission to prevent and end homelessness.
- Monthly Giving (Bridge Builder Sponsor): Recurring monthly donations at $150/month providing sustainable funding for housing programs.
- Planned Giving: Legacy gifts through wills, trusts, IRAs, life insurance, and estate planning vehicles to ensure long-term organizational sustainability.
- In-Kind Donations: Acceptance of physical items including clothing, hygiene products, bedding, and household goods for distribution to clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Bridge Builder Sponsor - Monthly Giving |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Volunteer Ministry Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Volunteer Ministry Center delivers a continuum of free, in-person social services to prevent and end homelessness in Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee. Its six programs encompass prevention (rental assistance, eviction mitigation), crisis intervention, navigation (Bush Family Refuge), day services (Resource Center), short-term rehousing, street outreach, dental care for low-income residents, and permanent supportive housing (105 units across Minvilla Manor and Caswell Manor).
Product overview
Volunteer Ministry Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering six interconnected social service programs focused on preventing and ending homelessness in Knoxville, Tennessee. The organization operates a comprehensive continuum of care including the Bush Family Refuge (navigation center), Resource Center (day shelter), Rapid Rehousing, Street Outreach, Dental Clinic, and Permanent Supportive Housing (Minvilla Manor and Caswell Manor). These programs work together to provide prevention services, crisis intervention, housing placement, and ongoing support to help individuals achieve and sustain housing stability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Billy Currier Legacy Society: An honorary society of supporters and donors who have made estate, life-income, or named legacy gifts for the benefit of Volunteer Ministry Center.
Products and services
- Bush Family Refuge A walk-in navigation center at VMC providing prevention services (rental assistance, eviction mitigation), crisis intervention, vital document services, and transportation for individuals experiencing homelessness in Knoxville.
- Resource Center A day center operated by VMC offering one-on-one case management, classes, meal programs, showers, laundry facilities, and social activities to help individuals overcome barriers to housing and self-sufficiency.
- Rapid Rehousing A VMC program providing guidance to navigate the housing system and short-term rental assistance for individuals who need support but do not require long-term or full day shelter services.
- Street Outreach A full-time VMC engagement team that works on the streets daily to connect unsheltered people with services, including office hours, clothing closet, mobile shower trailers, intake, and case management.
- Dental Clinic VMC's Dental Clinic provides dental services for uninsured or low-income Knox County residents who are literally homeless per HUD standards, or at extremely low income levels (0-30% AMI), delivered through volunteer and donor partnerships.
- Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) VMC's Permanent Supportive Housing model serves chronically homeless individuals with physical/mental disabilities and includes Minvilla Manor (57 apartments) and Caswell Manor (48 apartments), both staffed 24/7.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,499 individuals secured permanent housing through VMC
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Volunteer Ministry Center
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Volunteer Ministry Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Volunteer Ministry Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Amazon Wish ListsminorVMC utilizes Amazon Wish Lists for specific items needed across service areas, allowing donors to purchase and ship items directly to VMC. This provides convenient giving options for supporters.
- GiveLively (Bridge Builder Sponsor)coreVMC uses GiveLively's platform for monthly recurring donations (Bridge Builder Sponsor program at $150/month) and event-based fundraising campaigns.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Volunteer Ministry Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Family Promise: Family Promise is a national nonprofit network delivering homelessness prevention, shelter, and stabilization services to families. It is a direct functional peer to VMC's prevention, rapid rehousing, and case management programs.
- Mercy Housing: Mercy Housing is one of the largest U.S. nonprofits developing and operating affordable and supportive housing. It is directly comparable to VMC's Permanent Supportive Housing model at Minvilla and Caswell Manor.
- Community Action Committee (CAC) Knoxville: CAC Knoxville is a fellow Knoxville-based anti-poverty and housing services nonprofit operating across Knox County. It directly competes for the same donor base, volunteers, and grant pool that VMC relies on.
Broad incumbents
- Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities USA and its regional agencies deliver homelessness, housing, and emergency assistance services across the country. It is a broad incumbent with comparable service lines to VMC but operates at significantly larger scale and geographic reach.
- The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army runs shelter, transitional housing, and emergency assistance programs nationwide. It overlaps with VMC's emergency relief and shelter functions as part of a much broader social services portfolio.
- Volunteers of America: Volunteers of America operates a national portfolio of housing, behavioral health, and human services programs. It is a broad incumbent competitor with overlapping PSH and homelessness services but at much greater scale.
Others
- National Alliance to End Homelessness: NAEH is a leading advocacy, research, and policy organization focused on preventing and ending homelessness. It is not a direct service competitor to VMC but shapes the federal funding and policy environment in which VMC operates.
Regional players
- Habitat for Humanity of Knoxville: Habitat for Humanity of Knoxville builds affordable housing in the same market as VMC. While focused on homeownership rather than PSH, it competes for housing-related donor dollars and volunteer capacity in the Knoxville region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Volunteer Ministry Center social profiles
Digital presenceVolunteer Ministry Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Volunteer Ministry Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Volunteer Ministry Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Volunteer Ministry Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Volunteer Ministry Center
What does Volunteer Ministry Center do?
Volunteer Ministry Center delivers a continuum of free, in-person social services to prevent and end homelessness in Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee. Its six programs encompass prevention (rental assistance, eviction mitigation), crisis intervention, navigation (Bush Family Refuge), day services (Resource Center), short-term rehousing, street outreach, dental care for low-income residents, and permanent supportive housing (105 units across Minvilla Manor and Caswell Manor).
Is Volunteer Ministry Center a public or private company?
Volunteer Ministry Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Volunteer Ministry Center founded?
Volunteer Ministry Center was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Volunteer Ministry Center based?
Volunteer Ministry Center is headquartered in Knoxville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Volunteer Ministry Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are monthly Giving (Bridge Builder Sponsor), planned Giving and in-Kind Donations.
Who are Volunteer Ministry Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Family Promise, Mercy Housing and Community Action Committee (CAC) Knoxville. Broad incumbents are Catholic Charities USA, The Salvation Army and Volunteers of America. National Alliance to End Homelessness is listed as an others. Habitat for Humanity of Knoxville is listed as a regional player.
Does Volunteer Ministry Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Volunteer Ministry Center.
What industry is Volunteer Ministry Center in?
Volunteer Ministry Center's product category is Homelessness Prevention and Supportive Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.