Marriage Initiative

What Marriage Initiative does

Marriage Initiative is a San Antonio, Texas-based nonprofit ministry founded in 2013 that functions as a unifying hub for the U.S. marriage and family movement. The organization operates through three interconnected programs: (1) Community Marriage Initiatives (CMIs) — a network of 17+ locally governed 501c3 organizations across the U.S. that the central entity supports with resources, grants, and mentorship through its City Project framework; (2) the Marriage Leader Network — a directory and interview platform connecting 400+ marriage authors, speakers, and content creators with church and community leaders; and (3) National Marriage Week — an annual February 7-14 coordinated celebration now active in 20+ countries. The Marriage Champion Church Network (MCCN), with a dedicated Ambassador, extends reach into individual congregations.

The technology footprint is modest: a Squarespace-hosted website, email communications, and standard social media channels. There is no proprietary software product, no app, no API, and no AI/ML component. Products are program-based rather than software-based — the CMI Grant Program, the "Start a Marriage Initiative" onboarding framework, and a content blog form the supporting offerings.

The business model is donation-driven; the organization accepts contributions via PayPal and operates without fee-based pricing. Services are provided at no cost to network members, CMI participants, or couples. The team is small (~6 FTE-equivalents across ~17 named roles, many of which appear part-time or volunteer), led by founder and President Carl Caton, who in 2025-2026 was appointed Chair of the Texas Commission on Marriage and Family. No funding rounds, grants, or revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Marriage Initiative

Legal name

Marriage Initiative

Website

https://marriageinitiative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Marriage Initiative is a San Antonio-based nonprofit ministry that connects and supports Community Marriage Initiatives, the Marriage Leader Network of 400+ content creators, and National Marriage Week across 20+ countries to strengthen marriages in the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marriage and Family Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

Keywords

• Marriage ministry
• Community marriage initiatives
• Marriage leader network
• Nonprofit family services
• Marriage enrichment resources

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Marriage Initiative is a non-profit organization that accepts donations through PayPal to support their ministry operations and grant programs for Community Marriage Initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Marriage Initiative is a nonprofit ministry that unites marriage leaders through three coordinated programs: (1) local Community Marriage Initiatives (CMIs) that help church and community leaders connect within their regions and pursue collective goals; (2) the Marriage Leader Network, a curated community of more than 400 marriage authors and content creators with the Up Close & Personal Interview Series; and (3) National Marriage Week, an annual February 7-14 activation now spanning 20+ countries. The organization also awards CMI Grants to qualifying nonprofits and provides mentorship, frameworks, and resources for starting new marriage initiatives.

Product overview

Marriage Initiative operates as a non-profit ministry offering a unified platform centered around its website (www.marriageinitiative.org) that connects and serves the marriage and family movement. The organization provides three core programs: Community Marriage Initiatives (CMI) that help local communities build marriage ministry capacity, the Marriage Leader Network that connects marriage authors and speakers with churches, and National Marriage Week (February 7-14 annually) that unites leaders and couples nationwide. Supporting offerings include a Blog with marriage content and resources, a CMI Grant Program for funding qualifying organizations, and guidance for starting new Marriage Initiatives. The portfolio is interconnected through the central website, which serves as the primary hub for information, resources, and connections across all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marriage Leader Network: A network connecting marriage authors, speakers, and content creators with church and community leaders. Features the Up Close & Personal Interview Series with marriage leaders.
• Community Marriage Initiatives (CMI)
• National Marriage Week

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

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.

• San Antonio Marriage Initiative (SAMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAMI is the original Community Marriage Initiative that began in 2004 and served as the model for the Marriage Initiative's City Project. SAMI provides mentorship and guidance to new CMIs and has been a pioneer in the marriage movement.
• National Marriage Week USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarriage Initiative serves as the managing entity for National Marriage Week USA, which coordinates marriage celebrations across the country from February 7-14 annually.
• FamilyLifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamilyLife provides resources including Weekend to Remember events, Art of Marriage, and Vertical Marriage workshops. Marriage Initiative connects its network with FamilyLife resources.
• CMI Grant Program PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarriage Initiative offers grants to qualifying non-profit organizations and groups working to establish non-profit status who assist churches in implementing marriage ministries and drive down divorce rates.
• Re|Engage (Watermark Church)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarriage Initiative promotes and connects churches with Watermark Church's Re|Engage and Merge marriage programs as recommended resources for marriage ministry.
• Community Marriage InitiativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 17+ local CMIs including: Wyoming Strong Families, Charlotte Marriage, Eye to Eye Marriage (OKC), Arkansas Marriage Initiative, Austin Marriage, Nashville Marriage, Tulsa Marriage Resource Network, Twin Cities Marriage Initiative, Central Coast Marriage Collective, Virginia Marriage, Western North Carolina Marriage & Family, Maryland Marriage, and others.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Orange County Marriage Resource Center: Founded by Marriage Initiative board member Dennis Stoica, the Orange County Marriage Resource Center is a regional marriage resource hub. It operates at a more local level but shares Marriage Initiative's mission of connecting couples to resources.
• California Healthy Marriages Coalition: The California Healthy Marriages Coalition is a statewide coalition promoting healthy marriages, co-founded by Marriage Initiative board member Dennis Stoica. It serves as a regional peer in the marriage coalition ecosystem, focused on California rather than national reach.

Direct peers

• Better Together (Northview Church): Northview Church's Better Together marriage program has invested $1M in marriages and serves 11,000 weekly attendees across 10 campuses. It is referenced in Marriage Initiative's partner network and represents a comparable church-based marriage ministry model.
• Smart Marriages / NARME: The National Association of Relationship and Marriage Educators (NARME) and the associated Smart Marriages conference/convening represent a peer network for marriage educators. Board member Dennis Stoica is a NARME board member and Smart Marriages IMPACT Award Winner, indicating direct comparability in the marriage education field.
• Live the Life (Florida): Live the Life is a Florida-based marriage ministry offering couple retreats and events. Marriage Initiative board member Dennis Stoica also serves on Live the Life's board, and both organizations operate as faith-based nonprofits strengthening marriages through events and resources.
• Marriage Resources (marriageresources.org): Marriage Resources is listed as a member of the Marriage Initiative 'Family' on the organization's website, indicating an affiliated peer relationship. Both organizations curate and distribute marriage resources to churches and couples, operating in the same ecosystem.
• Watermark Community Church (Re|Engage): Watermark Church's Re|Engage and Merge marriage programs are promoted and connected to churches via Marriage Initiative's network. Both serve faith-based couples seeking marriage enrichment through small-group curriculum, making them direct ministry peers.
• FamilyLife: FamilyLife is a faith-based marriage and family ministry (a Cru ministry) that provides resources like Weekend to Remember, Art of Marriage, and marriage curriculum. Marriage Initiative explicitly partners with FamilyLife and connects its network to FamilyLife resources, making them direct comparables in the marriage ministry ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Focus on the Family: Focus on the Family is a large, well-established Christian family ministry offering marriage resources, counseling referrals, and broadcast media. It operates at much greater scale than Marriage Initiative but serves overlapping faith-based audiences seeking marriage and family support.
• Fatherhood CoMission: Fatherhood CoMission is a faith-based fatherhood and family ministry. Marriage Initiative board member Jeff Kemp serves on its board. Both organizations operate in the broader faith-based family/marriage space with overlapping networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeKaCIbZ7zWCMksCMjIYxaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/themarriageinitiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marriage Initiative