Palmer Home for Children

What Palmer Home for Children does

Palmer Home for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1895 in Columbus, Mississippi, that provides trauma-informed child welfare services across four core programs: Campus Care (residential care with houseparent couples at on-campus cottages), Foster Care (certified foster family placements), Family Care (care for infants of incarcerated mothers with a reunification focus, formerly the Nashville-based Jonah's Journey program integrated in 2014), and Transitional Care (housing, education, and career support for young adults up to age 24). Its service delivery is unified by the trademarked Whole Child Initiative®, a proprietary methodology organized around four principles — Whole Story, Whole Child, Whole Team, and Whole Caregiver — and operationalized through facilities including the 25,000-square-foot Dr. Hugh Francis, Jr. Wellness Center, the on-campus Palmer School, and the Hope Grows Garden therapeutic horticulture program.

The organization is 100% donation-based and receives no government funding. Revenue is generated through charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations; multi-channel event fundraising (annual Radiothon across 11 SuperTalk Mississippi stations, Mudbug Bash, Shotguns & Sunflowers Soiree presented by Simmons Bank, SEC tailgate events at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, clay tournaments); retail thrift store operations across multiple Columbus and Hernando locations; and peer-to-peer campaigns such as the #PalmerBowl Egg Bowl rivalry fundraiser. Distribution and go-to-market are primarily regional across Mississippi (Columbus and Hernando campuses) and Tennessee (Nashville-based Family Care), with a faith-based Christ-centered mission integrated throughout services, supported by an Ambassador Program and Church Resources Program.

In the most recent reported year, Palmer Home served more than 289 children from newborns to young adults across its four service lines, up from 220+ in 2019, with corporate partnerships spanning financial services (Tower Loan, Simmons Bank, Cadence Bank), media (SuperTalk Mississippi, 94FM The FISH), agriculture (Edmondson Farm), energy (Valero), and manufacturing (Severstal). The organization operates with 11–50 employees and is governed by a board under the leadership of President & CEO Drake Bassett; a Hernando campus capital campaign targets capacity expansion to serve 100 children at that site.

Name

Palmer Home for Children

Legal name

Palmer Home for Children

Website

https://palmerhome.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Palmer Home for Children is a 130-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides trauma-informed residential, foster, family, and transitional care to children from newborns to age 24 in Mississippi and Tennessee, funded entirely by donations, events, and thrift store revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Residential care programs
• Foster care services
• Trauma-informed care
• Transitional youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Palmer Home is 100% donation-based and relies entirely on charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. No government funding is received.
2. Thrift Store Operations: Multiple thrift stores in Columbus and Hernando areas generate revenue through retail sales of donated goods.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events including radiothons, mudbug bashes, tailgate parties, and soirees raise significant funds from community participation and corporate sponsorships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Palmer Home for Children provides long-term residential, foster, family, and transitional care services to children from birth to young adulthood who lack adequate family support. Its four core service lines — Campus Care, Foster Care, Family Care, and Transitional Care — are unified by the proprietary Whole Child Initiative, a trauma-informed, holistic methodology. The organization is 100% donation-based and does not charge for services.

Product overview

Palmer Home for Children is a Christ-centered charitable organization offering a portfolio of child welfare service programs. The core service offerings include four main programs: Campus Care (residential care on campus with houseparent couples), Foster Care (certified foster family network), Family Care (care for infants of incarcerated mothers with reunification focus), and Transitional Care (support for young adults up to age 24). These programs are unified by the Whole Child Initiative, a proprietary trauma-informed methodology operating through four principles: Whole Story, Whole Child, Whole Team, and Whole Caregiver. Supporting programs include the Dr. Hugh Francis, Jr. Wellness Center (25,000 sq ft therapeutic facility), Hope Grows Garden (horticultural therapy), Palmer School (on-campus educational services), Discovery Camp (summer programming), Hope Works Program (vocational training), Mentor Program, Academic Support services, Respite Care, and Thrift Stores (retail fundraising). The organization operates as a 100% donation-based nonprofit serving children from newborns to young adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Whole Child Initiative: Proprietary trauma-informed, holistic approach to child care operating through four core principles: Whole Story, Whole Child, Whole Team, and Whole Caregiver
• Jonah's Journey
• Palmer School
• Hope Grows Garden
• Dr. Hugh Francis, Jr. Wellness Center
• Hope Works Program

Products and services

• Campus Care Residential care program where children live on the Hernando campus in a Christ-centered family atmosphere with houseparent couples providing daily care, stability, and guidance. Designed for children in critical situations.
• Foster Care Foster care program connecting children with Palmer Home's certified foster families for temporary or long-term placement, with emphasis on keeping sibling groups together.
• Family Care

Quantifiable outcome

• Served more than 289 children last year across all four service lines
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major, minor and core.

• SuperTalk Mississippi MediaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 July 2024Annual SuperTalk Mississippi Radiothon benefiting Palmer Home, in its 12th year in 2024, raised more than $330,000. The radiothon broadcasts live from campus with 11 stations covering the state, providing major fundraising and awareness platform.
• Simmons BankmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Simmons Bank presented the 2024 Shotguns & Sunflowers Soiree which raised $275,000 for Palmer Home. Multi-year presenting sponsor for the annual gala.
• Edmondson FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdmondson Farm, a Vardaman, Mississippi sweet potato operation growing over 100 million pounds annually, features Palmer Home branding on shipping boxes and promotes the mission at food shows across the U.S. Partnership provides visibility and mission awareness.
• 94FM The FISHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNashville radio station partner for Jonah's Journey/Family Care radiothon events, promoting the program and sharing stories from caregivers, mothers, and children served.
• Long Hollow Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHendersonville, Tennessee church where Jonah's Journey originated. Many volunteers and caregivers, including Lisa Herren, came from this congregation. Church continues as a key community partner.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual fishing event at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge connecting Palmer Home children with nature. Part of the Advanced Leadership Development Program's conservation legacy project honoring Sam D. Hamilton.
• Country Recording Artist Jimmy WayneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial guest at the 3rd Annual Radiothon in 2015, lending celebrity support to the fundraising event.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KVC Health Systems: Nonprofit child welfare and behavioral health provider offering foster care, residential treatment, and family preservation. Comparable in multi-state residential and foster care delivery, though KVC draws more government funding.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Large nonprofit operating residential and community-based behavioral health and child welfare programs nationally. Comparable in operating residential campuses and trauma-informed care programs for children and young adults.
• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-rooted nonprofit delivering foster care, adoption, and family preservation services across multiple U.S. states. Comparable to Palmer Home on foster care model, faith-based positioning, and family reunification orientation.
• Arrow Child & Family Ministries: Faith-based nonprofit providing residential care, foster care, and family services for children across multiple states. Closely aligned with Palmer Home on Christ-centered residential and foster care programs.
• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing residential, foster, and family-based care for at-risk children using a proprietary youth-care model. Directly comparable to Palmer Home's Campus Care, Foster Care, and Family Care lines and Whole Child-style methodology approach.

Regional players

• Methodist Home for Children (Alabama): Faith-based nonprofit providing residential, foster, and family preservation services in the Southeast. Comparable operating model and faith-rooted positioning to Palmer Home but concentrated in Alabama.
• Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina: Faith-based residential and family services nonprofit operating across North Carolina and the Southeast. Comparable faith-based residential care model, with similar campus and foster program structure.
• Sewell Children's Home: Faith-based nonprofit in the Southeast providing residential care for children from families in crisis. Closely analogous to Palmer Home on Christ-centered residential care model and donor-dependent funding profile.
• Maryville Academy: Catholic-affiliated child and family services nonprofit providing residential treatment, foster care, and family support. Comparable in faith-rooted residential care delivery, though geographically concentrated in the Chicago region.

Broad incumbents

• Childhelp: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention and treatment, operating residential villages and advocacy programs. Comparable mission and residential model, with broader national scale and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PalmerHome
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTpij4IHYLQfO30bJEBxKOQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/PalmerHome
• Instagraminstagram.com/palmerhomems

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Palmer Home for Children