Helping Other People be Empowered

What Helping Other People be Empowered does

H.O.P.E., Inc. (Helping Other People be Empowered) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in November 2009 by Kenita Smith and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia. The organization serves low-income single parents who are actively enrolled full-time in accredited U.S. colleges and universities, providing wraparound support designed to remove the financial barriers that cause single-parent students to drop out. Core services include direct rent assistance (up to $400 per month, paid to landlords), direct childcare assistance (up to $100 per week, paid to licensed providers), one-on-one budget and financial coaching, licensed emotional counseling, social services referrals, emergency aid, and life skills and workforce training. Programs are delivered at no cost to participants, and assistance is paid directly to providers rather than disbursed to recipients to ensure funds are used as intended.

The organization is structured as a service-delivery nonprofit with no proprietary technology product; it relies on standard web-based application intake systems and third-party donor management tools. Eligibility screening requires proof of full-time enrollment, employment of at least six months, U.S. citizenship or residency, and maintenance of a 2.7+ GPA. The current annual program capacity is 25 participants, with a 190+ family waiting list signaling unmet demand.

H.O.P.E. Inc.'s go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with participant recruitment flowing primarily through university partnerships (Chamberlain, Herzing, Fortis, Georgia State) and donor acquisition concentrated in the annual Deon Lewis Memorial HOPE Run, Westside Park 5K/10K (presented by Admin America), and Hope Against All Odds Gala. The revenue model is diversified across individual one-time donations, tiered recurring monthly giving ('Givers of HOPE' from $10-$250/month), foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and alternative channels including cryptocurrency, stock, and donor-advised funds. Headcount is 3 full-time employees plus approximately 10 contracted professionals. Outcomes data shows an 85% graduation rate (versus a national single-mother graduation rate of approximately 8%), an average participant income uplift exceeding $25,000, and a cumulative 167 single parents and 333 children served since inception.

Name

Helping Other People be Empowered

Legal name

H.O.P.E., Inc.

Website

https://hopbe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

H.O.P.E., Inc. is a Duluth, Georgia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides rent assistance, childcare aid, financial coaching, and counseling to help low-income single parents in the Metro Atlanta area complete college degrees, serving 167 families and 333 children since 2009.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services for Single Parents

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

Keywords

• Single parent assistance
• Rent assistance program
• Childcare assistance program
• College support services
• Financial coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring monthly donations. The monthly giving program 'Givers of Hope' offers tiered levels ($10 Hope Silver, $25 Hope Gold, $50 Hope Platinum, $100 Hope Diamond, $250 Hope Ruby). One-time donations start at $45.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide in-kind donations, event volunteering, monetary donations, and special projects assistance. Admin America is a named corporate sponsor for the 5K event.
3. Foundation Grants: The organization receives grant funding from major foundations. 100% of donations go directly to program services.
4. Alternative Donations: Accepts cryptocurrency donations, stock donations, and donor-advised fund (DAF) contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

H.O.P.E., Inc. provides a wraparound support program for low-income single parents actively enrolled in college in the Metro Atlanta area. The organization delivers rent assistance (up to $400/month paid directly to landlords), childcare assistance (up to $100/week paid directly to licensed providers), one-on-one budget coaching, licensed professional counseling, social services referrals, life skills and workforce training, and quarterly emergency food and gas support. All services are provided at no cost to eligible participants and funded entirely through donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Product overview

H.O.P.E. Inc. (Helping Other People be Empowered) is a nonprofit organization offering a wraparound services program for low-income single parents pursuing college degrees. The core program combines direct financial assistance (rent up to $400/month and childcare up to $100/week) with supportive services including budget coaching, emotional counseling, social services referrals, and life skills training. Additional offerings include emergency assistance, workforce development, a monthly giving program (Givers of Hope), and annual community fundraising events like the Westside Park 5K/10K.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Givers of HOPE: Monthly giving program that provides essential operational support to H.O.P.E. Inc. through recurring donations at various levels (Hope Silver $10, Hope Gold $25, Hope Platinum $50, Hope Diamond $100, Hope Ruby $250).

Products and services

• Rent Assistance Program Monthly financial assistance of up to $400 paid directly to a participant's landlord or mortgage lender on behalf of eligible single parents enrolled full-time in college, to keep them housed and in school.
• Childcare Assistance Program Weekly financial assistance of up to $100 paid directly to licensed childcare providers on behalf of program participants, so that single parents can remain enrolled in college.
• Budget Coaching & Financial Training Monthly one-on-one coaching covering budgeting, emergency savings, debt reduction, credit counseling, and job-readiness skills such as resume writing and interview preparation.
• Emotional Support & Mentoring Licensed professional counseling and mentoring for participants, with specialization in anxiety, depression, trauma, and domestic violence to support their ability to remain academically successful.
• Social Services Navigation A licensed social worker helps participants identify and access external resources such as food assistance, clothing, and donated vehicles in order to stabilize their households.
• Emergency Assistance Quarterly distribution of food and gas support to participants who encounter unexpected financial hardships while enrolled in college.
• Life Skills & Workforce Training Workshops and training to prepare single parents for sustainable careers, covering job search skills, career advancement, and professional development.
• Givers of Hope Monthly Giving Program Tiered recurring-donation program for individual donors, with five monthly giving levels ($10, $25, $50, $100, $250) that fund the organization's services.
• Westside Park 5K/10K Annual Run Annual community 5K/10K running event presented by Admin America with finisher medals, race shirts, and chip-timed timing, used to raise funds and awareness for H.O.P.E., Inc.'s single-parent programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% graduation rate among program participants
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rainbow VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rainbow Village's transitional housing program to support single parents who have completed the housing program and need assistance maintaining housing while pursuing college education. Tamika was referred through this partnership and was able to purchase a home through Gwinnett Habitat after receiving support.
• Admin America, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor presenting the annual Westside Park 5K/10K event. Admin America is an independent administrator and consultant for ERISA plans based in Alpharetta, Georgia. Trey Tompkins III serves as President and is on the Advisory Board.
• ACE | Access to Capital for EntrepreneursminorOthersWassia Kamon, Treasurer of H.O.P.E. Inc.'s Board of Directors, serves as CFO at ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.
• Various Community NonprofitsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organization seeks partnerships with like-minded nonprofits and service organizations that offer mentorship, tutoring, and resources for the children of single-parent families. Interested in collaborating with organizations supporting single parents or children.
• Local Churches and Religious OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnerships with churches including Perimeter Church and North Point Community Church for volunteer support and community outreach.
• Universities (Chamberlain, Herzing, Fortis, Georgia State)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity partnerships for participant recruitment. Program information distributed through university emails, program advisors, and campus resources. Multiple graduates have come from Chamberlain University, Herzing University, Fortis College, and Georgia State University.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bottom Line: Nonprofit focused on college access and persistence for low-income and first-generation students. Shares H.O.P.E. Inc.'s focus on graduation outcomes for similar demographics, though without a single-parent specialization.
• Dress for Success: Global nonprofit advancing women's economic empowerment through workforce preparation, career support, and employer partnerships. Overlaps in single-mother economic mobility but not in childcare/rent assistance.
• Jeremiah Program: National nonprofit operating a wraparound model (housing, childcare, coaching, career supports) for single mothers pursuing postsecondary credentials across multiple metros. Highly comparable in target population, service mix, and outcomes orientation.
• Maggie's Place: Phoenix-based nonprofit providing housing, education support, and life-skills programming for pregnant women and single mothers. Comparable in combining residential-style supports with a path to economic self-sufficiency.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National federation of social-service agencies providing housing, family support, and emergency assistance. Overlaps in family and housing support offerings but at broader scale and via faith-based network.
• Year Up: Large-scale workforce development organization serving young adults from low-income communities with training and corporate placements. Comparable in economic-mobility outcomes for underserved populations but operates at national scale and broader scope.
• United Way Worldwide: Large umbrella nonprofit that funds and coordinates a wide range of family, housing, and education supports. Relevant comparison for fundraising and grant distribution mechanisms but covers many cause areas.
• Habitat for Humanity: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing and homeownership. Comparable in addressing single-family housing affordability for low-income families but focused on home purchase rather than rental assistance and education persistence.

Regional players

• Rainbow Village: Metro Atlanta nonprofit providing transitional housing and supportive services for homeless families, including single parents. A direct existing pipeline partner for H.O.P.E. Inc. and a regionally comparable mission.

Emerging players

• Motivated Moms Society: Smaller-scale organization serving single mothers through housing, scholarships, and life-skills programming. Comparable core beneficiary and service mix but at earlier growth stage and narrower geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HOPEINCDULUTH
• Facebookfacebook.com/HOPEIncDuluth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/h-o-p-e-inc-helping-other-people-be-empowered
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopeinc1
• TikToktiktok.com/@hopeinc1
• Xx.com/HOPEInc1

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Helping Other People be Empowered