Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ

What Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ does

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) is a Catholic women's religious congregation founded circa 1850 by Saint Katharina Kasper in Dernbach, Germany, and operating in the United States since the late nineteenth century. Its U.S. Province headquarters is the Motherhouse at The Center at Donaldson, Indiana (9601 Union Road, Plymouth mailing address), with affiliated operations across nine countries including a Mexico Region established in 1988 and a Germany origin point. The congregation operates a portfolio of charitable ministries: Sojourner Truth House (a 1997-founded women's resource and day center in Gary, Indiana serving women and children experiencing homelessness, with a food pantry serving roughly 270 clients per week and a day program serving approximately 20 women and children daily); Maria Center (independent senior living with transportation, wellness, and spiritual care); Catherine Kasper Home (skilled nursing and residential care); Catherine's Cottage (supportive residential community for aging Sisters); Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center (multi-decade retreat ministry); Ancilla Domini Chapel (public Mass, Taizé prayer services, and the bi-annual Messiah Concert); and MoonTree Studios (arts and retreat facility). The organization explicitly does not develop technology products or platforms, and has no commercial SaaS, app, or API offering.

PHJC's product surface is therefore its ministries rather than software. Ancilla Domini Chapel was upgraded in March 2025 with a Taylor and Boody organ featuring carvings from a campus Linden tree, and a new Taylor and Boody-built organ facility supported a 400-plus-attendee Messiah Concert in November 2025. Capital expansion underway includes the Catherine's Cottage groundbreaking in July 2025 (DJ Construction as build partner) and continued Maria Center apartment construction with blessing reported May 2026. No traditional go-to-market, pricing model, or paid customer acquisition infrastructure exists; instead, marketing relies on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube live streams of Mass and events, earned media (Northwest Indiana Catholic, The Times of Northwest Indiana, Fort Wayne Ink Spot, NWI.Life, GreatNews.Life), the 18-member Community Ambassadors auxiliary (formed January 2023), diocesan and parish referral networks, and LCWR connection points.

The financial model is donation- and planned-giving-driven, not commercial. Revenue streams explicitly include online and mail donations, planned giving vehicles (bequests, charitable gift annuities with a $10,000 minimum, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, retained life estates, charitable remainder unitrusts, real estate gifts, and IRA charitable rollovers up to $100,000 annually for donors 70½ and older), a Community Ambassadors $25 membership program, and signature fundraising events such as the annual Walk for Sojourner Truth House and the Maria Center High Tea. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed; the organization is a private, unlisted 501(c)-equivalent religious congregation with no parent company, venture backing, or stockholder base, governed by elected Congregational and Provincial leadership (Sister Michele Dvorak, Congregational Leader 2025–2031; Sister Shirley Bell, U.S. Province Leader 2025–2029). Headcount sits in the 101–250 employee range supporting the multi-ministry campus.

Name

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ

Legal name

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ

Website

https://poorhandmaids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1850

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ is a Catholic women's religious congregation founded in 1850, operating ministries serving women and children experiencing homelessness, seniors, and aging Sisters across the United States, Mexico, and seven additional countries, funded through donations and planned giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Social Services Ministry

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Nonprofit / Faith-Based CCRCs (HLADAEAC), Faith-Based & Nonprofit Hospital Systems (HLAFAAAE), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Religious congregation services
• Social services ministry
• Senior independent living
• Homeless women services
• Retreat and conference services

Headquarters

HQ city

Donaldson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization receives monetary donations from individuals, families, and supporters through its website (online giving), mail-in checks, and in-person contributions. Donors can direct gifts to specific ministries or the 'Greatest Needs' fund. No public revenue figures are disclosed.
2. Planned Giving and Bequests: The organization accepts planned gifts including bequests (wills/living trusts), charitable gift annuities ($10,000 minimum for cash or securities), beneficiary designation gifts (retirement accounts, life insurance, donor-advised funds), retained life estates (property), and charitable remainder unitrusts. Gift agreements are required for endowed gifts of $25,000 or more.
3. Retirement Asset Donations (IRA Charitable Rollover): Donors aged 70½ or older can make qualified charitable distributions from traditional IRAs (up to $100,000 annually), which count toward required minimum distributions without being taxable income. The Poor Handmaids must receive the gift by December 31 to qualify for that tax year.
4. Real Estate Gifts: The organization accepts residential, commercial, farm and ranch land, forest land, and oil and gas interests as outright gifts or through bequests, charitable remainder unitrusts, and retained life estates. Donors receive charitable income tax deductions and avoid capital gains taxes.
5. Community Ambassador Program Membership: Community Ambassadors for Sojourner Truth House pay a $25 membership fee and participate in fundraising, advocacy, awareness, and volunteerism activities to support STH programs.

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ operates a Catholic religious congregation that sponsors and delivers social service ministries, residential care for seniors and aging Sisters, spiritual retreat and worship programs, and charitable fundraising operations from its U.S. Province Motherhouse campus at The Center at Donaldson, Indiana. Its ministries include Sojourner Truth House (homeless services for women and children), Maria Center (independent senior living), Catherine Kasper Home (skilled nursing), Catherine's Cottage (supportive living for aging Sisters), Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center, and Ancilla Domini Chapel, supported by a volunteer program, planned giving program, and Community Ambassadors auxiliary.

Product overview

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) is a Catholic religious congregation offering a portfolio of social service ministries, residential care facilities, and spiritual programs. Key offerings include Sojourner Truth House (homelessness services for women and children), Maria Center (independent senior living), Catherine's Cottage and Catherine Kasper Home (residential care for Sisters), Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center, and Ancilla Domini Chapel (spiritual worship). The organization also manages a Planned Giving Program for legacy donations and operates various volunteer and charitable initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sojourner Truth House: Women's resource center in Gary, Indiana providing food pantry, day center programs, housing assistance, and support for women and children experiencing homelessness. Founded 1997.
• Maria Center
• Catherine's Cottage
• Catherine Kasper Home
• Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center
• MoonTree Studios
• The Center at Donaldson

Products and services

• Sojourner Truth House Women's resource center and food pantry in Gary, Indiana serving women and children experiencing homelessness; provides case management, career services, counseling, art therapy, and emergency assistance, with a food pantry serving 270 clients per week and a day center serving nearly 20 women and children daily.
• Maria Center Independent senior living community at The Center at Donaldson offering apartment living in a faith-filled, supportive environment with transportation, wellness checks, social activities, and spiritual care; new apartment construction broke ground in 2025.
• Catherine Kasper Home Skilled nursing and residential care facility at The Center at Donaldson providing nursing care for Poor Handmaid Sisters and community members requiring residential nursing support.
• Catherine's Cottage Supportive residential community at The Center at Donaldson where Poor Handmaid Sisters live together as they age, with expansion underway following a July 2025 groundbreaking.
• Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center Retreat and conference center on the Donaldson campus offering spiritual retreats, events, and programs for individuals and groups over four decades of operation.
• Ancilla Domini Chapel Main chapel at the Motherhouse in Donaldson, Indiana featuring a handcrafted pipe organ by Taylor and Boody Organ Builders; hosts regular Sunday Mass, Taizé prayer services, and the bi-annual Messiah Concert; open to the public free of charge.
• Planned Giving Program Estate planning and legacy giving program offering bequests, charitable gift annuities ($10,000 minimum), beneficiary designation gifts, retained life estates, and charitable remainder unitrusts, with gift agreements required for endowed gifts of $25,000 or more.
• PHJC Volunteer Program Structured volunteer program connecting volunteers with ministry opportunities across the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community, housed at phjcvolprogram.org.
• Daystar Program Social justice ministry in Cairo, Illinois serving the poor, elderly, and disadvantaged in rural southern Illinois, founded by Sister Joan Fisher in 1978.
• MoonTree Studios Arts and retreat facility located at Donaldson, Indiana supporting creative arts programming and quilting and other handcraft displays by Poor Handmaid Sisters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sojourner Truth House food pantry serves 270 clients per week; day center serves nearly 20 women and children daily
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sojourner Truth House (STH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Sister Joan Fisher co-founded Sojourner Truth House in 1997 with Sister Peg Spindler, CSA, to provide a safe day center for women and children experiencing homelessness in Gary, IN. PHJC sponsors STH; STH Executive Director is Angela Paul. The 27th Annual Walk for STH (June 2026) is PHJC's flagship annual fundraising event. STH serves nearly 20 women and children daily and 270 food pantry clients per week.
• Entrepreneur Program (Micro-Enterprise Shoe Partnership)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSojourner Truth House partners with an entrepreneur program that accepts donated shoes and teaches people in developing countries how to create micro-enterprises by selling the shoes. For every pound of shoes collected, STH receives 40 cents, which supports STH's mission and programs.
• Community Ambassadors AuxiliaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormed in January 2023, the 18-member Community Ambassadors auxiliary supports Sojourner Truth House through advocacy, awareness, fundraising, and volunteerism. Members pay a $25 annual fee and meet monthly. This auxiliary recruits additional volunteers and donors and organizes fundraisers like the shoe drive and Five Loaves and Two Fish food drive initiative.
• Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHJC is a member of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a national organization of women religious leaders in the United States. LCWR sets collective direction on social justice, racism, and church reform. PHJC participated in LCWR's response to Pope Francis' death in April 2025 and aligns its JEDI Champions program with LCWR's stance on racism.
• Midwest Kindred SpiritsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate Communities from across the Midwest who are members of Midwest Kindred Spirits came together during Associate Week (April 26 – May 2, 2025) to collaborate, interact, and co-celebrate. The network honors shared gospel values of love, peace, and belonging to the world through the charism of founders and foundresses.
• Daystar Program (Cairo, Illinois)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1978 by Sister Joan Fisher, the Daystar Program in Cairo, Illinois brought hope to the poor, elderly, and disadvantaged. The program continues today, serving the most vulnerable in a rural southern Illinois community.
• Messiah Concert SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors of the bi-annual Messiah Concert at Ancilla Domini Chapel include Nancy and Scot McKinnis, Taylor and Boody Organ Builders, Marian University, Rink Printing Company, Beacon Credit Union, and Split Road Media. The concert is offered free to the public.
• Catherine's Cottage Supportive CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatherine's Cottage is a supportive living community at The Center at Donaldson where several Poor Handmaid Sisters live together. A groundbreaking ceremony on July 28, 2025 marked the expansion of Catherine's Cottage as a purpose-built residence for aging Sisters.
• Rev. Thaddeus BalindaminorOthersRev. Thaddeus Balinda blessed the ground of the Catherine's Cottage construction site with holy water during the July 28, 2025 groundbreaking ceremony, transforming the site into sacred space. This is a one-time ceremonial partnership rather than an ongoing alliance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sisters of the Holy Cross: Catholic women's religious congregation operating international ministries in education, healthcare, and social services. Directly comparable as a fellow vowed community with parallel governance structure (Congregational Leader, Province Leadership) and ministry portfolio.
• Little Sisters of the Poor: Catholic women's religious congregation singularly focused on elder care. Directly comparable as a faith-based nonprofit operating residential nursing and assisted living facilities under religious congregation governance.
• Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: U.S.-based Catholic women's religious congregation with similar provincial governance and diversified ministry portfolio including elder care, social justice advocacy, and retreat facilities in the Midwest.
• Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods: Catholic women's religious congregation with Indiana roots and a diversified ministry portfolio spanning social services, elder care, and retreat ministries. Directly comparable as a Midwestern women's religious order with multi-ministry governance.

Broad incumbents

• Trinity Health: Large Catholic health system operating hospitals and senior living communities nationally. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit healthcare/senior services provider, though operating at enterprise scale with multiple acute-care hospitals.
• Sisters of Mercy: Larger Catholic women's religious congregation with extensive healthcare and education ministries across the U.S. Comparable governance model and ministry breadth, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella network of Catholic social service agencies. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit delivering social services (food assistance, homelessness, refugee support) to vulnerable populations, though organized at much larger scale.
• Covenant Living Communities and Services: Faith-based nonprofit senior living operator offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing across multiple states. Comparable in providing faith-rooted continuing care for seniors.
• Benedictine Health System: Faith-based nonprofit sponsored by a Benedictine women's religious community operating senior care and skilled nursing facilities across multiple states. Comparable in combining religious-sponsorship with healthcare/senior-living operations.

Regional players

• Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration: Catholic women's religious congregation in the U.S. Midwest with similar retreat, healthcare, and social service ministries. Comparable in regional Midwest footprint and congregation-led operating model, but different specific ministry mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PoorHandmaids
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePoorHandmaidsofJesusChrist
• Instagraminstagram.com/poorhandmaids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poorhandmaidsofjesuschrist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ