Brotherhood Of Hope

What Brotherhood Of Hope does

Brotherhood of Hope is a Catholic religious brotherhood founded in 1980 by Fr. Philip Merdinger, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, following his transformative encounter with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. The community consists of 28 active Brothers and approximately 24 men in formation, who live in shared fraternity across five households in the United States: Boston (canonical home, Archdiocese of Boston), New Brunswick, NJ (Diocese of Metuchen), Minneapolis (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis), Tampa (Diocese of St. Petersburg), and Orlando (Diocese of Orlando). Its mission is to evangelize on secular college campuses through relational accompaniment, retreats, and missionary formation, with on-the-ground presence at five universities: Northeastern, Rutgers, UCF, USF, and the University of Minnesota.

The Brotherhood delivers its mission through direct campus ministry, weekend retreats, vocation discernment programs (including the 99-Day Discernment Novena), and published formation resources (Builders, Clean Break, Growing in Hope, Rosary Booklet). Distribution occurs via five physical households, partnerships with co-serving Catholic ministries (Saint Paul's Outreach, Catholic Center, Rutgers Catholic, Gopher Catholic, Catholic Knights, Catholic Bulls, Generous Hearts, Petros Young Adults), and event-driven outreach including domestic and international mission trips. Brothers earn no personal income; the community takes a vow of poverty and is supported entirely by donations.

The revenue model is donor-funded, with no products or services sold. Funding comes from individual donor contributions (one-time and recurring monthly gifts), stock and securities transfers (via Vanguard brokerage), IRA qualified charitable distributions, planned giving and bequests (in partnership with My Catholic Will), and partial operating support from diocesan partners. Diocesan partners funded 60% of operating expenses in 2018 and approximately 40% as of 2026, indicating a deliberate shift toward individual donor diversification. The organization is governed by a General Superior (Br. Patrick Reilly, elected 2023) and a Council of three Brothers, with strategic guidance from a lay Advisory Board.

Name

Brotherhood Of Hope

Legal name

Brotherhood of Hope

Website

https://brotherhoodofhope.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brotherhood of Hope is a Catholic religious brotherhood of 28 Brothers serving college students at five U.S. universities through campus ministry, retreats, and vocation discernment, funded entirely by donor contributions and partial diocesan support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catholic Campus Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Catholic campus ministry
• Religious brotherhood formation
• Vocation discernment programs
• College retreat ministry
• Donor-supported ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions and Gifts: The Brotherhood relies primarily on donations from individuals, families, and supporters. Donors can give online (one-time or recurring monthly), by mail, via stock transfer, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and bequest/estate gifts. No personal income is received by the Brothers.
2. Stock and Securities Donations: Donors may transfer appreciated securities directly to the Brotherhood. The organization accepts stock transfers via Vanguard brokerage (DTC Number: 0062, Account Number: 84158730).
3. Planned Giving and Bequests: Donors can include the Brotherhood of Hope in their wills, trusts, or retirement plan beneficiary designations. The organization partners with My Catholic Will for estate planning.
4. Diocesan Partnership Funding: Diocesan partners fund a portion of operating expenses—approximately 40% as of 2026 (down from 60% in 2018), with each campus outreach having separate budgets run by parishes or dioceses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Brotherhood of Hope is a Catholic religious brotherhood of vowed brothers who provide relational evangelization, one-on-one accompaniment, retreats, and sacramental preparation to college students at five U.S. universities. They also publish spiritual formation resources (books, novenas, rosary materials) and offer a religious vocation discernment pathway for men considering brotherhood. The community is funded entirely by donations and diocesan partnerships.

Product overview

Brotherhood of Hope is a Catholic religious brotherhood organization offering campus ministry, spiritual formation resources, and discernment services. Their core offerings include campus ministry at five university locations (Northeastern, Rutgers, UCF, USF, and University of Minnesota), retreats and events, the 99 Day Discernment Novena prayer resource, books like Clean Break and Builders, the Generous Hearts mission trip program, and religious vocation discernment services. They also provide a newsletter and various spiritual resources including the Rosary Booklet and Growing in Hope formation material.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Campus Ministry Bringing the hope of the Gospel to college campuses, walking with students as they encounter Christ through relational evangelization, retreats, and one-on-one accompaniment. Currently serving at Northeastern University, Rutgers University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, and University of Minnesota.
• Religious Vocation Discernment Helping men discern whether God may be calling them to become a Brother through conversations, household visits, retreats, and shared prayer experiences. Includes inquiry forms and a Discern With Us pathway.
• Community Life / Households Brothers living together in brotherhood as a prophetic family, with five household locations (Boston, New Brunswick, Tampa, Orlando, St. Paul) serving as centers of hospitality and mission.
• Retreats & Events Weekend retreats bringing students to encounters with Christ through reconciliation, Mass, adoration, and benediction at partner campuses, including CCM Knights Retreat (Orlando), USF Catholic Bulls Retreat (Tampa), Rutgers Retreat, UMN Men's and Women's Retreats, and Catholic Center Boston Retreat.
• Generous Hearts Mission Trips Mission trips and service opportunities led by Br. Adam Neri, helping students and young adults encounter Christ through mission trips (Tanzania, Honduras, Peru), local service, and generous self-gift. Also serves as a discernment opportunity for potential Brothers.
• 99 Day Discernment Novena A 99-day prayer experience for young adults seeking clarity about God's call through Scripture, reflection, prayer questions, and trusted spiritual accompaniment.
• Clean Break Br. Sam Gunn's Catholic path toward freedom from habitual sin, helping readers name patterns of thought and behavior, grow in self-awareness, and take action.
• Builders Br. Sam Gunn shares practical lessons from the Brotherhood of Hope's campus ministry experience, with approaches for forming missionary communities and reaching students with the Gospel.
• Growing in Hope A simple formation resource for learning Christian hope through Scripture, short reflections from the Brothers, prayer, music, and trusted Catholic links.
• Rosary & Booklet Custom Rosary and meditation booklet honoring Mary, with reflections on each mystery for prayer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 alumni have entered priesthood, seminary, or religious life
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Saint Paul's Outreach (SPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPO is a key ministry partner in the next-generation evangelization ecosystem around the Brotherhood of Hope. A movement helping young adults encounter Christ and live mission on campus. Brothers serve alongside SPO at multiple campuses including Rutgers, Boston, Minnesota, and UCF. SPO provides missionary personnel and campus infrastructure while the Brotherhood provides religious brother leadership and formation.
• The Catholic Center (Northeastern University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServing Northeastern University and surrounding Boston schools. A home away from home for students in Boston, served in partnership with the Brotherhood of Hope. Br. Jason Zink serves as Director of Campus Ministry. The Catholic Center is the primary campus ministry outlet for the Brotherhood in Boston.
• Rutgers CatholiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic campus ministry serving students at Rutgers University. The Brotherhood has served at Rutgers since the mid-1980s (first full-time mission) and returned in 2005 to the Rutgers Catholic Center. Brothers including Br. Jeff Crock, Br. Brennan Robinson, and Br. Clinton Reed serve at Rutgers.
• Gopher CatholiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic campus ministry connected to the University of Minnesota community. The Brotherhood established the Minnesota household in 2013-2014 and serves at the University of Minnesota through Gopher Catholic and St. Lawrence Catholic Church and Newman Center.
• Catholic Knights (UCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic campus ministry serving students at the University of Central Florida. The Orlando Household serves through Catholic Knights ministry in the Central Florida area. Br. Sawyer Phillips serves at UCF through Catholic Knights.
• Catholic Bulls (USF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic campus ministry serving students at the University of South Florida. The Tampa Household serves through Catholic Bulls ministry in the Tampa Bay area. The USF ministry is described as 'growing in leaps and bounds' with more than 100 students attending Catholic Bulls Night.
• Generous HeartscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission trips and service opportunities led by Br. Adam Neri. Helping students and young adults encounter Christ through mission trips (Tanzania, Honduras, Peru), local service, and generous self-gift. Last year organized six successful mission trips in collaboration with SPO. Also serves as Br. Adam's specific call within the Brotherhood to serve the poor and marginalized.
• Petros Young AdultsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung adult ministry in New Jersey. The New Jersey household supports Petros Young Adults alongside Rutgers Catholic, St. Peter's University, and local outreach to the poor.
• Advisory Board (Brotherhood of Hope)coreOthersThe Advisory Board provides strategic guidance and fundraising support. Members include: John Corcoran (Trinity Life Sciences, Founder), Brendan Floyd (AT&T, retired), Mike Yacone (Strategic Advisor & Co-Founder SkipFlo AI), Sean Pelkey (CSX, former EVP and CFO), Bruce Sanborn (retired), Jim Newman (Gottfried & Somberg Wealth Management), Jim Bettinger, Doug Petix (City of New Brunswick, CFO, Retired), Robert Cirotti (BNY, Wealth Services Business Lead), Bill Vietas (S2 Systems Inc., Principal Owner).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities USA is the national umbrella for Catholic social service agencies. While its primary focus is direct services to the poor rather than campus ministry, it represents the broader Catholic nonprofit ecosystem in which the Brotherhood operates and seeks funding.
• Catholic Volunteer Network: Catholic Volunteer Network connects young adults with faith-based service opportunities domestically and internationally. It serves an adjacent ecosystem to the Brotherhood's Generous Hearts mission trip program and young adult ministry.

Broad incumbents

• Newman Connection: Newman Connection supports the national network of Newman Centers providing Catholic campus ministry at secular universities. They represent the broader institutional framework within which the Brotherhood of Hope operates at campuses like Rutgers and UMN.
• Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ): Cru is a large interdenominational campus ministry organization serving students at hundreds of US universities. While not Catholic, it competes for the same student attention and donor dollars in college campus evangelization, making it a broad incumbent peer.
• Dominican Friars (Order of Preachers): The Dominicans are a major Catholic religious order with extensive preaching, campus ministry, and student formation programs. They are a broader incumbent in religious-order campus evangelization with overlapping ministry to Catholic college students.
• Society of Jesus (Jesuits): The Jesuits are a major Catholic religious order with extensive campus ministry operations at dozens of US universities. They represent a broader incumbent in religious-order-driven campus ministry with overlapping charism of intellectual and spiritual formation.

Emerging players

• Word on Fire Catholic Ministries: Word on Fire is a rapidly growing Catholic evangelization media and ministry organization founded by Bishop Robert Barron. It shares the Brotherhood's mission of Catholic evangelization to young adults and employs Brotherhood alumni in its ministry network.

Direct peers

• FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students): FOCUS is a Catholic nonprofit that sends missionaries to college campuses for evangelization and discipleship, directly paralleling the Brotherhood of Hope's campus ministry mission to college students. Both organizations target secular university students with relational evangelization and missionary accompaniment.
• Norbertines (Premonstratensians): The Norbertines are a Catholic religious order of canons regular with active ministry in the US including parishes, education, and retreat work. They are comparable as a smaller US religious order focused on community life, prayer, and active apostolates.
• Saint Paul's Outreach (SPO): SPO is a Catholic campus ministry movement that sends missionaries to colleges and partners directly with the Brotherhood of Hope at Rutgers, Boston, Minnesota, and UCF. Both organizations serve the same student demographic with shared evangelization methodologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Brotherhood Of Hope