Volunteer Ministry Center

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).

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

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

• Homelessness prevention services
• Permanent supportive housing
• Rapid rehousing programs
• Street outreach services
• Community social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring monetary donations from individuals supporting the mission to prevent and end homelessness.
2. Monthly Giving (Bridge Builder Sponsor): Recurring monthly donations at $150/month providing sustainable funding for housing programs.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts through wills, trusts, IRAs, life insurance, and estate planning vehicles to ensure long-term organizational sustainability.
4. In-Kind Donations: Acceptance of physical items including clothing, hygiene products, bedding, and household goods for distribution to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Amazon Wish ListsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVMC 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)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerVMC 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_douwAsiG-4j8t_v0odmTA
• Facebookfacebook.com/volunteerministrycenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volunteerministrycenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/volunteerministrycenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Volunteer Ministry Center