FOCCUS

What FOCCUS does

FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and apostolate of the Archdiocese of Omaha, founded in 1985 to deliver structured marriage preparation and enrichment inventories to engaged and married couples. Its core product suite comprises research-validated facilitated conversation inventories — FOCCUS Pre-Marriage, REFOCCUS Marriage Enrichment (introduced 1988), Convalidation, Mid-Life & Beyond, Deacon Formation, with Military and First Responders variants launching in March and June 2026 — delivered through an online portal that guides facilitators and couples through structured assessments of communication, finances, faith, intimacy, expectations, and family life. Inventories are available in Catholic, Christian, and interfaith formats across 21 languages, and the program has been used by more than one million couples across 30+ countries, with independent validation by The Gallup Organization showing 93% of couples report stronger communication.

FOCCUS monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit model: inventory and facilitator-training sales to parishes, dioceses, and ministry organizations (quote-based, no public pricing); facilitator certification delivered online or in-person; an e-commerce webstore (launched December 2025) selling Catholic gifts, sacramental items, and marriage resources; and 501(c)(3) donations. Go-to-market is sales-led through church, diocesan, and ministry partnerships, with a 1–10 person staff based in Omaha, Nebraska. Distribution relies on a network of trained facilitators (clergy, pastoral ministers, lay leaders) at the parish level, supplemented by direct executive-director training visits, online training programs, and a Content Hub driving thought leadership and inbound engagement.

Recent strategic activity has centered on product-line extension into specialized inventories (Military, First Responders), geographic and demographic expansion (Hispanic Program Manager hire, Archdiocese of Monterrey partnership, Diocese of Green Bay training), brand modernization (new website, webstore, patron saint designation, Times Square media exposure via Education 2.0 Conference), and incorporation of the Vatican's 2024 Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life document into formation content. The organization has no disclosed revenue figures, no subsidiaries, no acquisitions, and no external funding rounds, operating as a ministry under the spiritual and organizational umbrella of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

Name

FOCCUS

Legal name

FOCCUS, Inc. USA

Website

https://foccusinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FOCCUS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and apostolate of the Archdiocese of Omaha that develops and distributes research-validated marriage preparation and enrichment inventories — including Pre-Marriage, REFOCCUS, Convalidation, Mid-Life & Beyond, Deacon Formation, and forthcoming Military and First Responders versions — to parishes, dioceses, and ministries across 30+ countries and 21 languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marriage Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC)

Keywords

• Marriage preparation inventories
• Marriage enrichment programs
• Pre-marriage counseling tools
• Facilitator certification training
• Relationship assessment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marriage Preparation & Enrichment Inventories: Sale of FOCCUS and REFOCCUS pre-marriage and marriage enrichment inventories to parishes, dioceses, and facilitators for use with couples. Quantities ordered based on couple participation.
2. E-commerce Store (FOCCUS Webstore): Sale of Catholic and Christian gifts, wedding and sacramental items, and marriage-focused resources through the FOCCUS webstore. Products include devotional items, journals, accessories, and sacramental goods.
3. Facilitator Training & Certification: Training and certification for clergy, pastoral ministers, and lay leaders who facilitate FOCCUS programs. Available online or in-person.
4. Donations: Donation opportunities for supporting the mission of FOCCUS Marriage Ministries. Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit marriage ministry that develops and distributes structured marriage preparation and enrichment inventories used by parishes, dioceses, and trained facilitators to guide couples through conversations about communication, finances, faith, intimacy, expectations, and family life. Core offerings include the FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory, REFOCCUS Marriage Enrichment Inventory, and specialized inventories (Convalidation, Mid-Life & Beyond, Deacon Formation, with Military and First Responders versions forthcoming). The organization also provides facilitator training and certification (online and in-person) and operates the FOCCUS Webstore selling Catholic gifts and sacramental items.

Product overview

FOCCUS® Marriage Ministries offers a portfolio of marriage preparation and enrichment inventories designed to support couples at every stage of their relationship. The core offerings include the FOCCUS® Pre-Marriage Inventory for engaged couples and REFOCCUS® Marriage Enrichment for married couples, along with specialized inventories for Convalidation, Mid-Life & Beyond, Deacon Formation, Military (launching March 2026), and First Responders (launching June 2026). These research-based inventories guide couples through facilitated conversations about communication, finances, faith, intimacy, and family life. The organization also provides facilitator training and certification (online and in-person), a Content Hub with ongoing resources, and a FOCCUS Webstore for Catholic gifts and sacramental items. FOCCUS® inventories are available in 21 languages and serve couples across 30+ countries through churches, dioceses, and ministries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FOCCUS® Pre-Marriage Inventory A marriage preparation inventory that guides engaged or recently committed couples through structured conversations about communication, finances, faith, intimacy, expectations, and family life. Used by parishes, dioceses, and trained facilitators.
• REFOCCUS® Marriage Enrichment Inventory A marriage enrichment inventory for married couples who want to strengthen their bond, recognizing that growth and change are ongoing realities in every marriage.
• Convalidation Inventory A specialized inventory for couples seeking to bring their civil marriage into the Church, supporting them through the convalidation process.
• Mid-Life & Beyond Inventory A specialized inventory for couples in later seasons of marriage, providing tailored support for the relationship's unique stage and challenges.
• Deacon Formation Inventory A specialized inventory designed to support couples in deacon formation, helping deacon couples prepare for their specific ministry roles and balance ministry with married life.
• FOCCUS Webstore An online store offering Catholic and Christian gifts, wedding and sacramental items, devotional items, journals, accessories, and marriage-focused resources. Over 106 products available, with every purchase supporting FOCCUS's mission.
• Facilitator Training & Certification Program A training and certification program for clergy, pastoral ministers, and lay leaders who prepare couples for marriage or lead marriage enrichment programs. Available online (FOCCUS Adult Online Facilitator Training Program) or in-person.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of couples report stronger communication after using FOCCUS
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered key and core.

• Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, WisconsinkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Training partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Executive Director Sheila Simpson spent three days training more than 50 current and future facilitators involved in parish marriage ministries. Sessions included separate training tracks for deacon couples, Spanish-speaking lay couples, and English-speaking lay couples on FOCCUS overview, current and upcoming inventories, and compliance with Pope Francis' guidance on marriage preparation.
• Archdiocese of Monterrey, MexicokeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Strategic partnership with the Archdiocese of Monterrey, Mexico for expanding FOCCUS marriage preparation and enrichment inventories. The archdiocese has been using FOCCUS for 20 years but only reaching about 7% of the approximately 12,000 marriages occurring annually. The partnership aims to: (1) reach more couples with FOCCUS inventories, (2) expand use beyond the Monterrey archdiocese region, (3) improve Spanish translations, (4) upgrade facilitator training, and (5) resolve technical/administrative issues including credit transfers, reporting, and trainer certifications.
• Archdiocese of OmahacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Founding organizational partner. FOCCUS was established in 1985 as an apostolate of the Archdiocese of Omaha and remains grounded in the Catholic understanding of marriage. The organization operates under the endorsement and spiritual guidance of the Archdiocese, with the office located at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Omaha. Archbishop George J. Lucas has been involved in introducing additional inventories.

Scale indicators9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Engaged Encounter: Catholic marriage preparation weekend program for engaged couples. Directly competes with FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory as an alternative church-endorsed preparation experience delivered through parish and diocesan networks.
• PREPARE/ENRICH: Standardized relationship and marriage assessment inventories used by clergy, counselors, and facilitators. Closely comparable to FOCCUS in offering validated inventories for pre-marriage and enrichment, distributed through trained facilitators and used across faith and secular settings.
• SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts): Pre-marriage assessment used by pastors, mentors, and couples. Closely comparable to FOCCUS Pre-Marriage Inventory as a research-backed marriage prep tool with facilitator-driven delivery in church and ministry contexts.
• Retrouvaille International: Catholic marriage support program for couples in troubled marriages. Comparable to FOCCUS as a faith-based marriage ministry distributed through dioceses and parishes with trained peer facilitators, but focused on struggling couples rather than engaged/married enrichment.
• Couple Checkup: Online relationship health assessment used by pastors, counselors, and mentors. Comparable to FOCCUS in delivering structured couple inventories via a digital platform, including pre-marriage and enrichment options.
• Worldwide Marriage Encounter: Catholic marriage enrichment weekend program operating globally through parishes and dioceses. Directly comparable to FOCCUS as a faith-based marriage formation program distributed through the same parish/diocesan channels and serving overlapping couples and facilitator networks.

Regional players

• Relate (UK): UK-based relationship support and counseling charity offering marriage preparation, enrichment, and counseling services. Comparable to FOCCUS as a relationship formation and support provider, but primarily UK-focused (REGIONAL_PLAYER) and delivered via paid counseling rather than parish-based facilitator networks.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Answers: Large Catholic apologetics and education publisher with multimedia resources for parishes and laity. Comparable to FOCCUS as a Catholic formation content provider distributed through parishes and individuals, though broader in scope than marriage-specific offerings.
• The Marriage Course (Alpha): Globally scaled marriage enrichment curriculum from Alpha, distributed through churches of multiple denominations. Comparable to FOCCUS as a faith-based marriage enrichment program with similar parish-based delivery but broader brand reach and curriculum-based (rather than assessment-based) approach.

Others

• Smart Marriages: Aggregator/network for the marriage education field, hosting conferences and resources for marriage educators and clergy. Comparable to FOCCUS as a marriage formation ecosystem player, but focused on convening educators rather than delivering an inventory product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 FOCCUS