Heartland Girls' Ranch

What Heartland Girls' Ranch does

Heartland Girls' Ranch (HGR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1992 and headquartered at 185 Hwy 9 NE, Benson, Minnesota, that delivers residential care, therapeutic equine programming, mental health services, and accredited education for at-risk girls ages 12–21. The organization operates a 34-bed footprint split between a 24-bed Main Program for girls with mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges and a 10-bed Hearts for Freedom Program for commercially sexually exploited and trafficked youth operating under Minnesota's Safe Harbor/No Wrong Door framework. Supporting programs include a Horse Program in which each resident is assigned a personally matched horse for experiential learning (grooming, groundwork, riding lessons, liberty work, vaulting, and certified horsemanship), a School Program housed within Benson Junior-Senior High School with MN Department of Education accreditation and an 8:1 student-teacher ratio, and contracted Mental Health Services featuring individual therapy, diagnostic assessment, EMDR trauma therapy, medication management, and chemical dependency support.

HGR is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, holds Title IV E federal funding eligibility, and operates within a documented ecosystem of 20+ collaborative partners spanning clinical providers, health systems, the local school district, and trafficking-specific advocacy organizations (Someplace Safe, Lighthouse/PAVSA, 180 Degrees – Brittany's Place, The Link, Men as Peacemakers). Its revenue model is a hybrid of government per-diem reimbursement (Title IV E and Department of Corrections contracts), school district billing for educational services delivered to home districts of placed girls, and tax-deductible donations processed through the CEO. Admissions are referral-based: county social workers, probation officers, and tribal workers initiate placements through the CEO, with the organization serving an average of 60–70 girls annually across both programs. Operational leadership rests with CEO Jeannie Thompson, supported by a Program Director, HR Coordinator, Equestrian Program Manager, and dedicated case managers for each program. The organization has no app, API, or disclosed technology products beyond its Squarespace-hosted website, and there is no documented use of AI/ML systems.

Name

Heartland Girls' Ranch

Legal name

Heartland Girls' Ranch

Website

https://heartlandgirlsranch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heartland Girls' Ranch is a Minnesota-based nonprofit providing residential care, therapeutic equine programming, mental health services, and accredited education for at-risk girls ages 12-21, operating a 34-bed facility serving 60-70 girls annually through government referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Youth Services

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (62399), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small Residential Care Homes (RCFE/Board & Care) (HLADABAF)

Keywords

• Residential youth services
• Trauma-informed care
• Therapeutic equine programming
• Foster care placement
• Specialized education

Headquarters

HQ city

Benson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Title IV E): HGR is a Title IV E funded program, receiving federal funding for eligible children in foster care.
2. Department of Corrections Licensing: Licensed by the Department of Corrections, suggesting government contract/reimbursement for services.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted as a 501c3 non-profit organization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Heartland Girls' Ranch operates a residential care facility in Benson, Minnesota providing housing, supportive services, mental health therapy, therapeutic equine programming, and an on-site accredited school for at-risk girls ages 12-21. The organization runs a 24-bed Main Program for general residential care and a 10-bed Hearts for Freedom Program specialized for sexually exploited and trafficked girls under the Safe Harbor / No Wrong Door model.

Product overview

Heartland Girls' Ranch is a residential care organization operating multiple interconnected programs for girls ages 12-21. The Main Program (24 beds) provides core residential services including case management, counseling, and therapeutic programming. The Hearts for Freedom Program (10 beds) offers specialized services for sexually exploited and trafficked girls under the Safe Harbor/No Wrong Door model. The Horse Program provides therapeutic equine activities where each resident is assigned her own horse. The School Program delivers accredited education at Benson Junior-Senior High School. Mental Health Services provide contracted therapy including EMDR and trauma treatment. All programs operate collaboratively to deliver holistic, trauma-informed care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hearts for Freedom: Specialized program with 10 beds designed for girls ages 12-21 who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation or are at high-risk of being trafficked.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 60-70 girls served each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Swift County Benson Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides well-child exams within a month of intake by Nurse Practitioner. HGR employs a full-time RN five days a week for medication administration and medical needs evaluation. Also provides dental and eye appointments, plus referrals for chiropractic, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. HGR contracts with a psychiatrist for assessment and medication management.
• Crossroads CounselingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health services provider with services available on HGR campus.
• Catholic Charities of the New Ulm DiocesecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides a LICSW therapist for individual therapeutic diagnostic assessment and family therapy. Services available on HGR campus.
• Benson School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides HGR its own school housed in Benson High School with special education and regular teachers plus a work-based learning component.
• Options for Women (Morris)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers parenting classes and other services for pregnant girls and mothers, providing education on site when needed.
• The Venturing Program (Boy Scouts) of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides specialized recreational activities monthly for HGR girls.
• 4-HminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGirls can participate in 4-H through the Heartland Jolly Ranchers 4H Club, completing hands-on projects in health, science, agriculture and civic engagement.
• Lighthouse and PAVSA (Duluth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with HGR to facilitate work with sex trafficking victims.
• 180 Degrees - Brittany's PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with HGR to facilitate work with sex trafficking victims.
• The LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with HGR to facilitate work with sex trafficking victims.
• Men as Peacemakers - Girls ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with HGR in West Duluth schools to facilitate work with sex trafficking victims.
• Someplace SafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Safe Harbor Regional Navigator (West Central Region) who serves as main advocate and liaison for any referrals of sexually exploited youth. Contact: Becki Jordan.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing residential care, foster services, and youth programs for at-risk youth. A much larger incumbent in the residential youth services space with a national footprint and broader service portfolio than HGR.
• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota: Large Minnesota-based social services nonprofit offering youth services, foster care, and residential programs. Operates at significantly larger scale than HGR and serves overlapping populations across the state.
• Volunteers of America Minnesota: Regional affiliate of the national Volunteers of America nonprofit, providing youth residential, housing, and supportive services across Minnesota. Larger incumbent with broader service portfolio and multiple program lines.

Direct peers

• 180 Degrees: Minnesota-based nonprofit providing residential and supportive services for sex trafficking victims and at-risk youth, including the Brittany's Place program. HGR explicitly lists 180 Degrees as a core partner collaborating on trafficking victim services.
• Someplace Safe: Minnesota-based organization providing Safe Harbor Regional Navigator services and advocacy for victims of sexual violence and trafficking. Listed by HGR as a core partner handling referrals of sexually exploited youth.
• Catholic Charities of the New Ulm Diocese: Regional Catholic Charities affiliate providing mental health and social services in southern Minnesota. Listed as a core HGR partner delivering LICSW therapy and family therapy on HGR's campus.
• The Link: Minnesota nonprofit operating youth housing and supportive services programs for at-risk youth. HGR lists The Link as a core partner collaborating on work with sex trafficking victims.
• Maryville Academy: Chicago-area nonprofit operating residential treatment, foster care, and child welfare programs for at-risk youth, including specialized services for victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Closely comparable in mission and integrated residential-plus-education service model to HGR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hgirlsranch
• Facebookfacebook.com/heartlandgirlsranch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartland-girls-ranch

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Heartland Girls' Ranch