Richmond Hill

What Richmond Hill does

Richmond Hill Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit (EIN 54-1360535) operating as an urban monastery, spiritual retreat center, and ecumenical Christian fellowship at 2209 E Grace Street in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1987 on land with a continuous tradition of prayer for the city since the arrival of the Sisters of the Visitation in 1866, the organization is governed by four pillars — Prayer, Hospitality, Racial Healing, and Spiritual Development — and serves a multi-segment audience that includes individual spiritual seekers, grieving individuals, high school students in the Armstrong Leadership Program, clergy and spiritual directors seeking formation, racial-justice advocates, and over 475 covenanted churches in the Metro Richmond at Prayer network.

The core offerings are non-technological and service-based: daily prayer services held three times per day, 365 days a year; structured personal and programmed retreats ranging from single-day experiences to overnight and 48-hour programs; spiritual direction through the Ministry of Spiritual Direction and the RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance; the Armstrong Leadership Program for grades 9–12 at Armstrong High School; the Judy Project and Koinonia School of Race & Justice for racial-healing education; and on-site facilities including a chapel, contemplative gardens, a Chartres-style labyrinth, and a library. Distribution is on-site at the Richmond campus, via live-streamed and podcast-distributed worship content, and through partner churches and community organizations.

The business model is donation- and fee-suggestion-based rather than commercial. Revenue streams are suggested donations for retreats (ranging from $46 for a First Friday Day Retreat up to $185 for pay-it-forward overnight retreats), modest fees for structured educational programming (e.g., $75 for the four-week Black Women in 19th Century Virginia course), tax-deductible donations processed through Stripe and PayPal, and annual collaborative fundraising such as the Amazing Praise campaign with other Christian nonprofits. The organization is privately governed, has 11–50 employees, does not have a parent company or institutional investors, and is not a candidate for traditional PE/VC capital structures.

Name

Richmond Hill

Legal name

Richmond Hill Inc.

Website

https://richmondhillva.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Richmond Hill is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit operating an urban monastery, spiritual retreat center, and ecumenical fellowship in Richmond, Virginia, serving individual seekers, clergy, youth, grieving individuals, and 475+ partner churches through prayer services, retreats, and racial-healing programs funded by donations and retreat fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious & Spiritual Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Holistic & Alternative Therapy Retreats (Naturopathy, Energy Work) (THAGAMAI), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Spiritual retreat programs
• Contemplative prayer services
• Youth leadership development
• Racial healing education
• Ecumenical Christian ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

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. Retreat Program Donations: Suggested donations for retreat programs including day retreats ($46-$75), overnight retreats ($80-$150), and multi-day retreats. Donations support operational costs and include meals/lodging where applicable.
2. Program Fees: Fees for structured programs such as the Black Women in 19th Century Virginia course ($75 for 4 sessions or $25 per session) and educational programming.
3. Community Support and Fundraising: Annual fundraising campaigns including 'Amazing Praise' collaborative fundraiser with other Christian nonprofits, and general community donations.
4. Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations (EIN 54-1360535) and offers various donation mechanisms including online payments through their website.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Richmond Hill is an urban monastery and ecumenical Christian fellowship that operates a spiritual retreat center offering day retreats, overnight retreats, multi-day themed retreats, daily prayer services, and youth leadership programs. Core offerings include the Armstrong Leadership Program (ALP) for high school students, The Judy Project (racial healing and historical education), RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance, Ministry of Spiritual Direction, and Metro Richmond at Prayer weekly prayer covenant with 475+ churches. All programs are supported through suggested donations and an annual fundraising campaign.

Product overview

Richmond Hill operates as an urban monastery offering a comprehensive portfolio of spiritual formation programs and services. The core offerings include daily prayer and worship services (Prayer & Worship), structured retreat experiences (Personal Retreats and Programmed Retreats including First Friday Day Retreats, Art & Spirituality retreats, and grief support), and specialized programs (Armstrong Leadership Program, The Judy Project, RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance, Ministry of Spiritual Direction, Metro Richmond at Prayer, Generational Healing Service, and Koinonia School of Race & Justice). Physical facilities include contemplative gardens, a Chartres-style labyrinth, and a library. The Four Pillars guiding all offerings are Prayer, Hospitality, Racial Healing, and Spiritual Development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programmed Retreats Structured retreat programs including First Friday Day Retreats (monthly, 9am-4pm), Art & Spirituality retreats, Listening to the Silence retreats, Creating Pathways through Grief retreats, Healing Prayer at the Altar, Lenten Grief Retreat, The Gift of Stress Relief, and Fundraising as a Spiritual Practice overnight retreats. Open to individuals seeking guided contemplative experiences.
• Personal Retreats Individual retreat opportunities for personal spiritual reflection, including access to the contemplative garden, Chartres-style labyrinth walking, meditation in prayer rooms, chapel attendance for noon prayers with lunch in the refectory. Scheduled through the Individual Ministries Coordinator.
• Prayer & Worship Services Daily prayer services held 7am, noon, and 5:30pm seven days a week, 365 days a year; Tuesday Community Worship at 5:30pm with dinner; Thursday communion and Lectio Divina scripture reading. Services are held in chapel and live-streamed online, supporting continuous prayer tradition dating to 1866.
• Armstrong Leadership Program (ALP) A 25-year-old leadership development program serving students in grades 9-12 at Armstrong High School in Richmond's East End, providing mentorship, advocacy, enrichment trips, college preparation, and support for basic needs including food assistance through partner churches.
• The Judy Project Research and educational initiative focused on the history of African American people on the Richmond Hill property, named for Judy, an enslaved woman who lived there from 1860-1865. Includes the Dwelling of Enslaved Africans rehabilitation project, with proceeds from related courses supporting its rehabilitation.
• Ministry of Spiritual Direction One-on-one spiritual guidance sessions with trained directors helping individuals grow in their spiritual life, coordinated through the Spiritual Direction Coordinator. Designed to support individuals in personal discernment, growth, and the spiritual life.
• RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance Spiritual formation program that trains individuals in spiritual direction and guidance practices, coordinated through the Spiritual Direction Coordinator. Provides structured formation for those called to the practice of spiritual guidance.
• Metro Richmond at Prayer Weekly prayer cycle for churches initiated in March 2006, with 475+ churches covenanted to pray together for Metropolitan Richmond, including jurisdictions of Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and surrounding counties. Churches commit to using Sunday prayer themes and pray together for the city's transformation and healing.
• Koinonia School of Race & Justice Program designed to equip people to engage in transformative work around race, constructive dialogue on race and justice issues, and community engagement to promote social justice.
• Black Women in 19th Century Virginia Course Four-week survey course on Black women in 19th-century Virginia, taught by Dr. Lauranett Lee. Suggested donation $25 per session or $75 for entire course; reduced rate per session available; proceeds support the Dwelling of Enslaved Africans rehabilitation project.
• Garden & Labyrinth Contemplative wild gardens and Chartres-style walking labyrinth open to the public Tuesday-Friday, 9am-5pm, for spiritual reflection and connection with God and nature. Available to retreatants and visiting individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 475+ churches participating in weekly prayer covenant
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and legacy.

• Churches of Metropolitan RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince March 2006, over 475 churches in Metropolitan Richmond have joined a covenant to pray together weekly for the city. This ecumenical network includes Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and surrounding counties. Churches commit to using Sunday prayer themes and pray together for God's transformation and healing of metropolitan Richmond.
• Black Heritage Preservation AlliancenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerA newly formed group of advocates and allies working to preserve and promote black heritage and historic sites in the Richmond metro area. Collaborates with Richmond Hill on events commemorating African American history including Juneteenth and the arrival of freedom in Richmond.
• First Presbyterian ChurchnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous donor providing food boxes and healthy snacks for students in the Armstrong Leadership Program, supporting students' basic needs over Spring Break.
• Armstrong High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for the Armstrong Leadership Program (ALP), serving students in grades 9-12 at Armstrong High School in Richmond's East End.
• Groundwork RVAnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner collaborating on watershed restoration work at Richmond Hill, including re-stor(y)ing the Richmond Hill watershed project.
• Sisters of the Visitation of Monte MarialegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichmond Hill inherited its tradition of prayer for the city from the Sisters of the Visitation who came to this hill in summer 1866 to pray for the healing and transformation of the city. This legacy continues in the daily prayer cycle.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Upper Room: The Upper Room is a global Christian spiritual formation ministry offering devotional content, retreats, and contemplative programming — directly comparable to Richmond Hill's worship, retreat, and ecumenical formation mission. Both operate worship/spiritual direction programming across physical and digital channels.
• Kanuga: Kanuga is an Episcopal conference and retreat center in North Carolina offering programmed retreats, spiritual formation, and youth programs on a residential campus — closely comparable to Richmond Hill's retreat center model, multi-day programming, and faith-based youth leadership focus.
• Montreat Conference Center: Montreat is a Presbyterian retreat and conference center with on-site lodging, programmed retreats, youth programming, and a long continuous heritage — directly analogous to Richmond Hill in operating model, faith-based lodging, and youth development offerings.
• Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation: Shalem specializes in contemplative spiritual formation and trains spiritual directors — directly comparable to Richmond Hill's RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance and Ministry of Spiritual Direction offerings. Both operate formation programs for individuals and spiritual leaders.
• Mepkin Abbey: Mepkin Abbey is a Trappist monastery that operates a public retreat center alongside its resident monastic community, with contemplative grounds and programmed retreats — closely analogous to Richmond Hill's combined monastery and retreat center operating model.
• Holy Cross Monastery: Holy Cross is a Benedictine monastery with an active retreat ministry, daily liturgical prayer, and spiritual direction offerings — directly comparable to Richmond Hill's residential monastic community, 365-day prayer rhythm, and spiritual retreat programming.
• Society of St. John the Evangelist: The SSJE is an Anglican monastic community that operates a public retreat house and spiritual direction ministry — comparable to Richmond Hill's ecumenical worship, retreat center, and trained-spiritual-director infrastructure.
• Mercy Center: Mercy Center operates a retreat and conference center with contemplative programs, spiritual direction training, and justice-oriented programming — overlapping with Richmond Hill's mix of retreats, spiritual formation, and racial justice work.

Others

• Spiritual Directors International: SDI is a professional membership and training organization for spiritual directors — directly adjacent to Richmond Hill's Ministry of Spiritual Direction and RUAH School, and a relevant ecosystem peer rather than a competing retreat provider.

Regional players

• St. Paul's Episcopal Church Richmond: St. Paul's is a large Episcopal congregation in downtown Richmond and a listed partner of Richmond Hill — comparable as a regional faith-based institution serving Richmond's spiritual and social-justice community with overlapping programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@richmondhillva
• Facebookfacebook.com/RichmondHillVa
• Instagraminstagram.com/richmondhillva
• Xx.com/RichmondHillVa2

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 Richmond Hill