Joni and Friends

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.

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

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

• Disability ministry services
• Wheelchair distribution programs
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Family retreat programs
• Church disability training

Headquarters

HQ city

Agoura Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Planned Giving: The organization offers planned giving options for long-term donor engagement and legacy giving.
4. Merchandise and Resource Sales: The organization operates a shop selling books, artwork by Joni Eareckson Tada, and other ministry resources.
5. GoFundMe Platform Donations: The organization utilizes GoFundMe Classy platform for online fundraising campaigns, with donations processed through third-party payment processors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GoFundMe (Classy Platform)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoni 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzH1i2aF8kMt4HLkuLWxXbw
• Xx.com/joniandfriends

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Joni and Friends