Agape Child & Family Services

What Agape Child & Family Services does

Agape Child & Family Services is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1970 by Jerry and Carol Lee with roots in the Churches of Christ. Originally focused on foster care and adoption, the organization has expanded into a multi-program human-services portfolio serving approximately 8,000 children and families annually across under-resourced Memphis neighborhoods including Hickory Hill, Raleigh, Frayser, and Whitehaven. Its service model is anchored in a two-generation (2Gen) poverty-reduction framework that simultaneously supports parents and children, recognized by the Tennessee Department of Human Services as the single largest two-generation program in the United States.

The core delivery vehicle is the Powerlines Community Network, a place-based platform through which Agape coordinates wraparound services across 10 apartment complexes, 17 schools, and 100+ partner organizations. Program modules include Stars and Thrive By Five (school-based support), TeamWorks (workforce readiness), Families in Transition and Rapid Rehousing (homeless services), Christ-centered counseling on a sliding-fee scale, adoption services, Faith Formation and Engagement, the Becoming ONE marriage and Fatherhood Initiative, and the cross-sector Science of Hope initiative. Paid staff totals 120+ and the volunteer base exceeds 2,000.

The organization is funded through a mix of individual donations, foundation grants (e.g., Urban Child Institute for Thrive by Five), government contracts (Tennessee Department of Human Services for Families in Transition; State of Tennessee Office of Family Assistance for Becoming ONE/Fatherhood), corporate sponsorships, and signature fundraising events including the Agape Kids Classic golf tournament at TPC Southwind, Agape Fest, the Heartlight gala, and the Faith Family Festival. Most direct services are delivered at no cost to clients; counseling uses a sliding scale based on income. Leadership is led by President and CEO David Jordan, with a CXO team covering Development, Finance, HR, Programming, and Operations.

Name

Agape Child & Family Services

Legal name

Agape Child & Family Services

Website

https://agapemeanslove.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Family Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Family social services
• Foster care adoption
• Community counseling services
• Workforce readiness programs
• Homeless housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to fight poverty and serve children and families. Donors can direct funds to specific programs including Area of Greatest Need, Families in Transition, Community/School-based Services, Counseling Services, Adoption/Foster Parenting, Workforce Readiness, and Faith Formation.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated through signature fundraising events including Agape Kids Classic golf tournament, Agape Fest, Heartlight gala, and Faith Family Festival.
3. Government Grants: Funding from government sources including the Tennessee Department of Human Services for the Families in Transition program and partnership via a two-generation model.
4. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations such as the Urban Child Institute for the Thrive by Five early childhood program.
5. Partnership with State of Tennessee: Grant funding under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee for the Becoming ONE fatherhood initiative and marriage education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Agape Child & Family Services is a faith-based nonprofit that delivers wraparound social services to under-resourced children and families in Memphis through programs including community-based support, school-based services, workforce readiness, homeless/transitional housing, counseling, adoption, and faith formation. Its central delivery mechanism is the Powerlines Community Network, a two-generation poverty-reduction platform that connects families with resources across apartment complexes, schools, and partner organizations.

Product overview

Agape Child & Family Services offers a unified portfolio of social service programs organized around a two-generation poverty-reduction model. The core delivery mechanism is the Powerlines Community Network platform, which provides wraparound services in under-resourced Memphis communities. Key program modules include Stars and Thrive By Five (school-based services), TeamWorks (workforce readiness), Families in Transition/FIT and Rapid Rehousing (homeless services), Counseling Services, Adoption Services, and Faith Formation and Engagement. Marriage and family support is delivered through the Becoming ONE program with its Fatherhood Initiative. The organization also hosts signature events including Agape Fest and the Agape Kids Classic golf tournament. Services are provided across multiple neighborhoods including Hickory Hill, Raleigh, Frayser, and Whitehaven in Memphis, with programs designed to serve both parents and children simultaneously.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Powerlines Community Network: A community network platform that provides wraparound services to recharge communities and strengthen families.
• Stars
• Thrive By Five
• Families in Transition (FIT)
• TeamWorks
• Becoming ONE
• Science of Hope

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% attendance rate for Stars students (vs 57% countywide average)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS)coreOthersGovernment partnership for the Families in Transition program and two-generation model. TDHS has recognized Powerlines Community Network as the single largest two-generation program in the U.S.
• Shelby County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCountywide school partnership for Stars school-based support services delivered in 17 schools across Memphis communities
• Achievement School District (ASD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Stars school-based services supporting students in achievement school district schools
• University of MemphiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and program partnership for Thrive by Five early childhood program, offering LENA Start and Nurturing Parenting classes
• Urban Child InstitutecoreOthersPrimary funder for the Thrive by Five program promoting brain and language development for kindergarten readiness
• Workforce Midsouth, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey workforce ecosystem partner providing post-secondary education and employment pathways for TeamWorks participants
• American Job Center (AJC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce ecosystem partner providing employment resources and pathways for workforce readiness participants
• HopeWorkskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce ecosystem partner providing employment and training opportunities for program participants
• Southwest Tennessee Community CollegekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing post-secondary education pathways leading to national certifications and degrees
• Greater Memphis ChamberkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber partnership supporting workforce development and economic empowerment initiatives
• Dress For SuccesskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce ecosystem partner providing professional attire and career support for employment participants
• Family Safety CenterkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for serving domestic violence victims, providing referrals for Families in Transition program participants
• Churches of ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical affiliation with founding roots; churches serve as community hubs where programs and services are offered, with church members volunteering with youth and families
• ABC24 MemphisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Bundles of Care campaign to collect warm clothing items for community's most vulnerable
• Memphis Mayor Paul YoungkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical leader committed to making Memphis a Hope-Centered City in partnership with Agape's Science of Hope initiative
• Shelby County Mayor Lee HarriskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical leader committed to Hope-Centered Shelby County partnership supporting community transformation
• United Way of the Mid SouthkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner in the Hope-Centered Memphis initiative focused on community well-being
• Hope Rising USAcoreOthersPartner organization providing the science of hope framework, training, and measurement tools for the Hope-Centered City initiative
• Agricenter InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner hosting Agape Fest 2026 at Agricenter International
• MaximuskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce ecosystem partner providing employment and support services
• Moore TechkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology training partner providing skills development for workforce participants
• Tech 901keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech skills training partner supporting workforce development initiatives
• Greater Memphis Alliance for A Competitive Workforce (GMACW)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce alliance providing competitive workforce development opportunities
• State of Tennessee (Office of Family Assistance)coreOthersGrant funding under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee, Administration for Children and Families, for the Becoming ONE fatherhood initiative and marriage education programs

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Youth Villages: Memphis-based nonprofit providing child and family services including residential treatment, foster care, and family reunification. Directly comparable to Agape in geography, target population, and service portfolio (foster care, family preservation, counseling).
• Porter-Leath: Memphis-based nonprofit offering early childhood education, foster care, and family support for vulnerable children and families. Direct peer: same city, same target population, overlapping service lines (early childhood, foster care, family stabilization).
• Catholic Charities of Memphis: Faith-based (Catholic) nonprofit in Memphis providing counseling, family services, and emergency assistance to low-income families. Direct peer: same geography, same faith-based service orientation, overlapping programs in counseling, family support, and homelessness prevention.
• Bethany Christian Services: National faith-based nonprofit specializing in foster care, adoption, family preservation, and refugee services. Direct peer: shares Agape's faith-based identity, adoption/foster care heritage, and two-generation family preservation focus.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis: Memphis-based youth development nonprofit providing after-school programming, mentoring, and academic support to under-resourced youth. Direct peer: same geography, overlapping school-based and youth-development services, similar donor and volunteer base.
• Buckner International: Texas-based faith-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, family services, and community programs. Direct peer: faith-based identity, multi-program family services portfolio, and similar mix of residential and community-based service delivery.

Others

• United Way of the Mid-South: Regional funder and convener for a network of Memphis-area health and human services nonprofits, including Agape as a partner. Adjacent player: shapes funding flows to Agape and peer organizations rather than directly competing for service delivery.
• Shelby County Division of Community Services: Local government entity administering community and family services contracts in Memphis/Shelby County, including many of the same populations Agape serves. Adjacent rather than direct: acts as a funder/referral source for Agape's programs (FIT, family stabilization).

Emerging players

• Memphis Goodwill Industries: Memphis-area workforce development nonprofit offering job training and placement for disadvantaged populations. Comparable on the TeamWorks workforce readiness line, though narrower in scope than Agape's full wraparound model.

Regional players

• Tennessee Voices for Children: Statewide Tennessee nonprofit advocating for children's mental health, foster care reform, and family support policy. Compares to Agape on child and family services advocacy and policy work; operates statewide rather than concentrating in Memphis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/agapemeanslove
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AgapeMeanslovenow
• Facebookfacebook.com/AgapeMeansLove
• Instagraminstagram.com/agapelovesmemphis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Agape Child & Family Services