Joni and Friends
Joni and Friends is a 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit founded in 1979 that serves people with disabilities and their families through international wheelchair distribution, family retreats, church training, and digital content, funded primarily by individual donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersAgoura Hills, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Joni and Friends does
Joni and Friends is a 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit organization founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic since a 1967 diving accident. The organization serves people with disabilities, their families, and the broader Christian community through a portfolio of programs that include international wheelchair distribution (Wheels for the World, 250,000+ chairs delivered), U.S. and international family retreats, specialized getaways for veterans (Warrior Getaway) and couples (Marriage Getaway), residential programs (Joni's House East St. Louis and Joni's House International), and disability ministry training for churches via The Christian Institute on Disability. Content is distributed through a daily devotional, a radio ministry, a podcast syndicated across 13+ platforms, blog articles, online courses, and video. Cumulative reported figures include 250,000+ wheelchairs delivered internationally, 100,000+ special-needs family members served worldwide, and 240,000+ Bibles distributed globally.
The organization operates as a donation-dependent ministry with multiple revenue streams: one-time and recurring individual donations, wheelchair-specific giving, planned giving/legacy gifts, employer matching gifts, merchandise sales (books, Joni's artwork, resources) through an online shop, and online fundraising via the GoFundMe Classy platform. It holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, ECFA accreditation, Charity Navigator Four-Star rating, and Candid Platinum Transparency 2025. Headquartered in Agoura Hills, California, the organization maintains more than 20 regional offices across the U.S. and runs international programs. There is no disclosed technology product, AI/ML capability, or proprietary software stack; the offering is fundamentally a service-and-relationship ministry rather than a technology platform.
Joni and Friends firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Joni and Friends
- Legal name
- Joni and Friends
- Website
- https://joniandfriends.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Joni and Friends is a 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit founded in 1979 that serves people with disabilities and their families through international wheelchair distribution, family retreats, church training, and digital content, funded primarily by individual donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Joni and Friends industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Ministry Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Religious Organizations (8131)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)
Keywords
Where Joni and Friends is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Agoura Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Joni and Friends business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue stream comes from individual donors contributing one-time or recurring donations. The organization runs periodic fundraising campaigns including honor/memorial gifts and specific appeals such as the diving accident anniversary celebration campaign.
- Wheelchair Donations: Donors can contribute specifically to wheelchair distribution programs through the Wheels for the World initiative, providing funds for wheelchairs to be delivered internationally.
- Planned Giving: The organization offers planned giving options for long-term donor engagement and legacy giving.
- Merchandise and Resource Sales: The organization operates a shop selling books, artwork by Joni Eareckson Tada, and other ministry resources.
- GoFundMe Platform Donations: The organization utilizes GoFundMe Classy platform for online fundraising campaigns, with donations processed through third-party payment processors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | General Donation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Joni and Friends product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Joni and Friends is a Christian disability ministry that delivers wheelchairs to people with disabilities internationally through its Wheels for the World program, hosts family retreats and specialized getaways (Warrior Getaway for veterans, Marriage Getaway for couples), operates residential programs (Joni's House), trains churches in disability inclusion through the Christian Institute on Disability, and produces inspirational content including a podcast, radio ministry, daily devotionals, and online courses. The organization combines physical aid with spiritual ministry rooted in a Christian worldview on disability and suffering.
Product overview
Joni and Friends operates as a Christian disability ministry offering a comprehensive suite of programs and resources. The organization is built around its core international programs including Wheels for the World® (wheelchair distribution), International Family Retreats, and Joni's House Programs. Domestically, it provides U.S. Family Retreat, Warrior Getaway (for veterans), Marriage Getaway, and The Christian Institute on Disability. The organization extends its reach through digital channels including a Ministry Podcast distributed across major platforms (Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, Gaana, iHeart Radio, JioSaavn, Overcast, PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Stitcher, TuneIn), Online Courses, Daily Devotional, Blog & Articles, and Radio Ministry. Additional offerings include Church Training Resources, Global Internships, the Christian Fund for the Disabled, Joni's Corner (featuring Joni Eareckson Tada's personal content), Joni's Artwork, and a Shop e-commerce platform. The portfolio is unified by the organization's mission to share hope through hardship with people affected by disability, combining physical aid with spiritual ministry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Wheels for the World: International wheelchair distribution program that has delivered over 250,000 wheelchairs globally.
- Joni's House
- The Christian Institute on Disability
- Family Retreat
- Warrior Getaway
- Marriage Getaway
- Radio Ministry
Products and services
- Wheels for the World
- Family Retreat (U.S.)
- International Family Retreats
- Warrior Getaway
- Marriage Getaway
- Joni's House Programs
- The Christian Institute on Disability
- Church Training Resources
- Online Courses
- Christian Fund for the Disabled
- Radio Ministry
- Ministry Podcast
- Daily Devotional
- Shop
- Global Internships
- U.S. Internships
Quantifiable outcome
- 250,000+ wheelchairs delivered internationally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Joni and Friends
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Joni and Friends technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Joni and Friends partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- GoFundMe (Classy Platform)coreJoni and Friends utilizes the GoFundMe Classy platform for online fundraising campaigns and donation processing. The platform enables one-time and recurring donations, with payments processed through third-party payment processors including PayPal, Stripe, and Adyen.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Joni and Friends competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CBM (Christian Blind Mission): Faith-based international nonprofit that works with people with disabilities in developing countries, including wheelchair distribution and community-based rehabilitation. Closest direct peer to Joni and Friends' Wheels for the World model and faith-based disability mission.
- Joni and Friends UK: UK-based affiliated ministry sharing the same founder, mission, and disability-focused family retreat model. Direct peer reflecting the same program and donor model in a different geography.
- Christian Horizons (Canada): Faith-based nonprofit providing disability services including residential programs, family support, and independent living services across Canada. Comparable mission-driven disability services model.
- Best Buddies International: Large U.S. nonprofit creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendships, employment, and leadership programs. Comparable community-building disability services model.
- Easterseals: National U.S. nonprofit providing disability services including respite, therapy, and community inclusion. Comparable mission to serve people with disabilities and families through direct service programs.
- Special Olympics: Global nonprofit providing sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in scale, donor base, and direct-service disability programming.
Broad incumbents
- Muscular Dystrophy Association: Large U.S. nonprofit funding research, care, and advocacy for people with neuromuscular diseases. Broader incumbent in the disability nonprofit space with overlapping donor pools and community engagement.
- World Vision: Large Christian humanitarian organization with international programs including disability-inclusive programming. Comparable faith-based identity, donor base, and international operational scale.
- Compassion International: Faith-based child sponsorship nonprofit with international programs. Comparable evangelical donor base, recurring donation model, and Christ-centered programmatic framing.
- Salvation Army: International Christian nonprofit providing social services including disability programming. Comparable faith-based social services identity and donation-driven revenue model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Joni and Friends social profiles
Digital presenceJoni and Friends financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Joni and Friends leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Joni and Friends funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Joni and Friends M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Joni and Friends
What does Joni and Friends do?
Joni and Friends is a Christian disability ministry that delivers wheelchairs to people with disabilities internationally through its Wheels for the World program, hosts family retreats and specialized getaways (Warrior Getaway for veterans, Marriage Getaway for couples), operates residential programs (Joni's House), trains churches in disability inclusion through the Christian Institute on Disability, and produces inspirational content including a podcast, radio ministry, daily devotionals, and online courses. The organization combines physical aid with spiritual ministry rooted in a Christian worldview on disability and suffering.
Is Joni and Friends a public or private company?
Joni and Friends is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Joni and Friends founded?
Joni and Friends was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Joni and Friends based?
Joni and Friends is headquartered in Agoura Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Joni and Friends make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are wheelchair Donations, planned Giving, merchandise and Resource Sales and goFundMe Platform Donations.
Who are Joni and Friends's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CBM (Christian Blind Mission), Joni and Friends UK, Christian Horizons (Canada), Best Buddies International, Easterseals and Special Olympics. Broad incumbents are Muscular Dystrophy Association, World Vision, Compassion International and Salvation Army.
Does Joni and Friends have an API?
No public API is recorded for Joni and Friends.
What industry is Joni and Friends in?
Joni and Friends's product category is Disability Ministry Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech), with a secondary code of BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling). Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.