Denison Ministries

What Denison Ministries does

Denison Ministries is a Texas-incorporated, IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization (originally known as The Center for Informed Faith, incorporated June 27, 2008; IRS tax-exempt determination issued April 29, 2009; reclassified to church status on October 7, 2016) headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It operates four wholly-owned content brands — Denison Forum (cultural engagement and biblical perspective on current events), First15 (daily devotionals, guided prayers, and original worship music), Christian Parenting (parenting resources and a podcast network), and Foundations with Janet Denison (digital and printed Bible studies) — plus The Chapel at Possum Kingdom as an in-person worship expression. Distribution is entirely digital-first and direct-to-consumer across four websites (denisonforum.org, first15.org, christianparenting.org, foundationswithjanet.org), the First15 iOS/Android mobile app, email, podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, YouTube, social platforms, and a RightNow Media partnership; no proprietary software stack is described beyond standard content, email, and app infrastructure. Content is provided entirely free of charge and the organization is funded exclusively by voluntary charitable donations through cash, appreciated securities, IRA/QCDs, donor-advised funds, wills and testamentary gifts, cryptocurrency, real estate, life insurance, and charitable remainder trusts/annuities, with ECFA accreditation, Candid Gold Transparency, and Excellence in Giving certifications supporting donor trust. Co-founders Dr. Jim Denison (Chief Vision Officer) and Jeff Byrd (President) remain in leadership roles; Josh Miller was elevated to CEO after serving as Chief of Staff in the 2025 Impact Report, and the organization employed 38 staff members as of 2023.

Name

Denison Ministries

Legal name

Denison Ministries

Website

https://denisonministries.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Denison Ministries is a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating four free, digital-first content brands (Denison Forum, First15, Christian Parenting, Foundations with Janet Denison) plus The Chapel at Possum Kingdom, funding all content through charitable donations to a global Christian audience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Media & Christian Ministry Content

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith & Religious Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAK), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Christian digital media
• Daily devotional content
• Biblical commentary ministry
• Christian parenting resources
• Online bible study

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations (Individual): The primary revenue stream consists of voluntary charitable donations from individual donors. Content is provided entirely free to consumers. The organization accepts cash donations via check, credit card, ACH, and wire transfer. Denison Ministries is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 26-3191442) and is ECFA accredited.
2. Appreciated Securities: Donors may transfer publicly traded stocks, bonds, or mutual funds held longer than one year directly to Denison Ministries, potentially eliminating capital gains tax and providing a charitable deduction for full fair market value.
3. IRA / QCD Gifts: Donors age 70½ or older can make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) directly from traditional IRAs, which may count toward Required Minimum Distributions while remaining excluded from taxable income.
4. Donor-Advised Fund Grants: Donors who hold charitable assets in donor-advised funds (sponsored by Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, National Christian Foundation, or others) can recommend grants to Denison Ministries through DAFDirect or directly via DAF portals.
5. Wills / Legacy / Testamentary Gifts: Bequests through wills, distributions from living trusts, and beneficiary designations on IRAs and retirement accounts allow donors to include Denison Ministries in estate plans, providing flexible, revocable legacy giving options.
6. Cryptocurrency: Donors may transfer Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other digital assets directly to Denison Ministries. Handled case-by-case; advance coordination required.
7. Real Estate: Donors can donate real property, subject to prior Board of Directors approval, independent appraisal, and legal review per the Gift Acceptance Guidelines.
8. Life Insurance Beneficiary / Ownership Transfer: Donors can name Denison Ministries as a beneficiary on existing life insurance policies, or transfer ownership of a paid-up whole life policy to potentially receive a charitable deduction for the cash surrender value.
9. Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT) / Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA): Life-income strategies allow donors to contribute assets (such as appreciated stock) to a CRT for lifetime income streams, with the remainder passing to Denison Ministries; or a CGA provides guaranteed fixed payments in exchange for a gift.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Denison Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry that produces and distributes free christ-centered digital content — daily devotionals, biblical cultural commentary, podcasts, Bible studies, worship music, and parenting resources — across four ministry brands (Denison Forum, First15, Christian Parenting, Foundations with Janet Denison), plus in-person worship at The Chapel at Possum Kingdom. All consumer content is provided at no charge, with the organization funded entirely by voluntary charitable donations and asset-based planned giving.

Product overview

Denison Ministries is a ministry organization with four core brands that work toward one mission of equipping and discipling followers of Jesus Christ. The portfolio includes: (1) Denison Forum - a cultural engagement resource providing The Daily Article newsletter, podcasts (Culture Brief, Faith & Clarity), and biblical commentary on current events; (2) First15 - a daily devotional resource with app, guided prayers, and original worship music; (3) Christian Parenting - parenting resources including a podcast network, prayer journals, and the RightNow Media course partnership; and (4) Foundations with Janet Denison - Bible study resources with printed and digital Bible studies, devotionals, and video content. Additionally, The Chapel at Possum Kingdom provides in-person worship. The organization delivers content across multiple channels including email, websites, mobile apps, podcasts, video, and print materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Denison Forum: Cultural engagement resource that tackles current events and issues biblically and redemptively. Equips Christians to discern news differently.
• First15
• Christian Parenting
• Foundations with Janet Denison
• The Chapel at Possum Kingdom

Products and services

• Denison Forum Cultural engagement brand under Denison Ministries that equips Christians to discern news differently by engaging cultural issues with biblical truth. Delivers The Daily Article email, podcasts (Culture Brief, Faith & Clarity with Dr. Mark Turman), and biblical commentary on current events. Free to all users, funded by donations.
• First15 Daily devotional brand under Denison Ministries that leads believers into a transforming daily encounter with God through devotional readings, worship videos, guided prayers, and original worship music. Available via website, mobile app, podcasts, and streaming platforms. Free to users.
• Christian Parenting Parenting ministry brand under Denison Ministries offering practical and spiritual resources to help parents raise children to know and love God, including a network of podcasts, prayer journals, and courses distributed via RightNow Media partnership. Free to users.
• Foundations with Janet Denison Bible study brand under Denison Ministries teaching people about the transforming power of Scripture through digital Bible studies, printed studies, blogs, videos, devotionals, and a dedicated Bible study mobile app. Free to users.
• The Chapel at Possum Kingdom In-person worship expression under Denison Ministries rooted in clear biblical teaching, blended worship music, and meaningful outreach at Possum Kingdom lake, Texas. Operated as a separate operating subsidiary alongside the digital brands.
• The Daily Article Daily email newsletter from Denison Forum that provides biblical perspective on current events and cultural issues, delivered free to subscribers. Reached 23,927,526 emails opened in 2025.
• Culture Brief Podcast Fast-paced, conversational Denison Forum podcast looking at the week's biggest stories in news, politics, sports, entertainment, and technology, hosted by Conner Jones and Micah Tomasella. Free to listeners.
• Faith & Clarity with Dr. Mark Turman Podcast Denison Forum podcast hosted by Dr. Mark Turman that goes beyond headlines to help believers think biblically about current events and trends, exploring how theology applies to everyday life. Free to listeners.
• Guided Prayers Podcast First15 weekly podcast designed to help believers slow down, center their hearts, and connect deeply with God through Scripture-based prayer and reflection. Free to listeners.
• Wisdom Matters Devotional 365-day Foundations with Janet Denison devotional designed to help people end their day with a thought about God. Available in audio, digital, and printed formats.
• Restoring Vintage Faith Bible Study Foundations with Janet Denison 20-week Bible study that invites users to pause, reflect, and rediscover the ancient paths of biblical truth that bring genuine rest for the soul. Offered in print form.
• Lord, Teach Us to Pray Bible Study Foundations with Janet Denison 7-week Bible study exploring the model prayer Jesus gave, intended to help believers approach God in a transformative, life-giving relationship.
• A Great Cloud of Witnesses Prayer Journal Annual prayer journal from Christian Parenting featuring heroes of faith from the Old and New Testaments, including devotional, Scripture reading, written prayer, and space for personal prayer requests.
• Christian Parenting Podcast Network Network of Christian Parenting podcasts including Pardon the Mess, The Christian Parenting Podcast, Let's Parent on Purpose, The Greta Eskridge Podcast, The Bible for Kids, Parenting Today's Teens, Called to Love, Truthseekers, The Midlife Momma Podcast, and Parenting IQ. Free to listeners.
• First15 App First15 mobile application for iOS and Android providing daily devotionals, guided prayers, and worship music. Free to download and use, with 2,794,559 app sessions recorded in 2025.
• Foundations Bible Study App Mobile application for accessing Foundations with Janet Denison Bible studies, devotionals, and video content. Recorded 956 apps and 23,967 app launches in 2025.
• First15 Worship Music Original worship music created for First15 to help users spend time in worship each morning, distributed on Spotify and Apple Music with 521,286 streams recorded in 2025.
• Helping Moms Raise Confident Daughters Course Series Christian Parenting course series designed by licensed marriage and family therapist Terra Mattson, distributed via RightNow Media. Includes age-specific video coaching, conversation guides, and journals to cultivate godly confidence in daughters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 113+ million content experiences delivered in 2025
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• RightNow MediacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Christian Parenting entered into a partnership with RightNow Media in 2025 to offer the 'Helping Moms Raise Confident Daughters' course series on the RightNow Media platform. The course, designed by licensed marriage and family therapist Terra Mattson, includes age-specific video coaching, conversation guides, and journals. This collaboration makes the training accessible to thousands more moms through congregations and communities. The course received 11,412 plays through RightNow Media in 2025.
• High Ground AdvisorssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh Ground Advisors is a gift-planning organization that partners with Denison Ministries to help donors structure complex non-cash gifts such as appreciated securities, real estate, and business interests in alignment with their estate and charitable planning goals.
• NCF North Texas (National Christian Foundation)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCF North Texas (a division of National Christian Foundation) is a donor-advised fund sponsor and gift-planning organization that works with Denison Ministries to facilitate charitable giving through DAF accounts. Donors holding assets at NCF North Texas can recommend grants to Denison Ministries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Abide Christian Meditation: Abide is a guided Christian meditation and prayer mobile app — adjacent to First15 in devotional/audio content, focused specifically on sleep, stress, and meditation rather than daily scripture engagement.
• Daily Audio Bible: Daily Audio Bible distributes daily Scripture audio content globally through a community-driven model — overlapping with Denison's First15 and Foundations audio devotional and guided-prayer formats.

Broad incumbents

• YouVersion (Life.Church): YouVersion is the world's most-installed Bible app and a dominant faith-content platform — comparable as a digital Bible/devotional ecosystem, far larger in scale, and operating with a broader resource base.

Others

• RightNow Media: RightNow Media is a faith-based video streaming library serving churches — and Denison Ministries' actual 2025 GTM partner. Comparable as ecosystem infrastructure rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Christianity Today: Christianity Today is a broad Christian content publisher covering news, theology, and culture, mirroring Denison Forum's mission to provide biblically grounded commentary on current events and culture.
• Focus on the Family: Focus on the Family produces Christian parenting and family discipleship content (podcasts, resources, broadcasts) — directly comparable to Denison's Christian Parenting brand in target audience and resource mix.
• Proverbs 31 Ministries / (in)courage: Proverbs 31 Ministries (now (in)courage) produces devotional, Bible study, and women's content distributed via email and digital channels, making it a direct analog to Denison Ministries' Foundations with Janet Denison in the women's faith-content space.
• Our Daily Bread: Our Daily Bread Ministries produces daily devotionals distributed globally via email, app, print, and audio — closely comparable to Denison Ministries' First15 brand in content type, free distribution model, and devotional category.
• Hallow: Hallow is a leading Christian prayer and devotional mobile app with global distribution — closely comparable to First15's daily devotional app offering, though Catholic-leaning and with a freemium/paid model.
• FamilyLife: FamilyLife is a Christian marriage and family ministry producing podcasts, articles, and small-group studies — directly comparable to Christian Parenting's focus on Christian family discipleship and marriage/parenting content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/denison-ministries

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Denison Ministries