Men Of Valor

What Men Of Valor does

Men of Valor is a Tennessee-based nonprofit Christian ministry founded in 1997 by Carl Carlson, serving incarcerated and returning men across multiple U.S. states. Its service portfolio spans three program layers: (1) in-prison and jail ministry (Behind Bars — weekly Bible studies, life-skills classes, trauma-informed teaching, and pastoral care inside correctional facilities, including those operated by CoreCivic through The Jericho Project); (2) two residential aftercare campuses — Valor Ridge in Antioch/Nashville (up to 93 men on 15+ acres with townhomes, duplexes, and a 28,000 sf Ministry Center opening December 2025) and Valor Way in Knoxville (up to 30 men in the historic Dogan-Gaither Flats); and (3) wraparound services including Family Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Advocacy, and a new Workforce Development Center planned for 2026. In 2024 the organization reports serving 3,451 men in prisons and jails, 180 men through residential campuses, achieving a 99% employment rate through 28+ employer partners and a 14.3% recidivism rate among graduates.

The organization's core technology is an original Christ-centered video-based discipleship curriculum distributed to correctional systems and ministries nationwide, which extends the ministry's reach beyond the two physical campuses into prisons direct staff cannot access. Supporting technology is light: a website-based donation platform integrated with EveryAction, Stripe, and PayPal, plus an SMS messaging program (2–4 messages per month) for donor and volunteer engagement. Service delivery is staff- and volunteer-driven, with a notable share of program and reentry staff being program graduates themselves, providing lived-experience credibility.

The business model is a donation- and partnership-funded nonprofit. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (monthly and one-time), corporate sponsorships (including in-kind donations and graduate hiring), church partnerships (financial support, volunteer teams, event hosting), and modest merchandise sales through a partnership with Authentically American (sold at cost). Services are provided free of charge to participants. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Jeff Dobyns, with Executive Director Michael Check leading day-to-day operations; the legal entity is a Tennessee nonprofit with no parent company, no private equity ownership, and no public listing. Operations are concentrated in Tennessee (Nashville and Knoxville) with video curriculum and correctional partnerships extending the ministry to multiple states.

Name

Men Of Valor

Legal name

Men of Valor

Website

https://men-of-valor.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Men of Valor is a 1997-founded Tennessee nonprofit Christian ministry serving incarcerated and returning men through in-prison programs, two residential reentry campuses (Nashville and Knoxville), family ministry, and a nationwide video curriculum, funded by individual, church, and corporate donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prison Ministry and Reentry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE), Forensic & Correctional Behavioral Health Services (HLAFACAM)

Keywords

• Prison ministry
• Reentry housing
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Discipleship programs
• Workforce reentry

Headquarters

HQ city

Antioch

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual supporters donate monthly or make one-time gifts to support the ministry's operations, programs, and expansion efforts.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Businesses and corporations sponsor programs, events, workforce initiatives, and provide in-kind donations. Corporate partners also hire graduates through the reentry workforce program.
3. Church Partnerships: Churches provide financial support, volunteer teams, sponsor men or programs, and host events or outreach activities.
4. Merchandise Sales: Men of Valor branded apparel sold through Authentically American partnership at cost; not a fundraising mechanism but a way for supporters to represent the ministry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Men of Valor is a faith-based nonprofit ministry that delivers Christ-centered in-prison discipleship programs, one-year residential reentry housing, family support services, and workforce reentry placement for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men. The organization operates two residential campuses (Valor Ridge in Antioch/Nashville and Valor Way in Knoxville) and distributes an original video-based discipleship curriculum to correctional facilities nationwide.

Product overview

Men of Valor is a faith-based nonprofit ministry offering a comprehensive suite of programs serving incarcerated and returning men. The organization operates an integrated model consisting of: (1) Behind Bars in-prison/jail ministry with Bible studies and pastoral care; (2) Residential Discipleship Academies at two campuses (Valor Ridge in Nashville and Valor Way in Knoxville) providing one-year aftercare housing; (3) Workforce Development Center (opening 2026) for job readiness training; (4) Family Ministry for loved ones of incarcerated men; (5) Hispanic Ministry for Spanish-speaking populations; (6) Advocacy for criminal justice reform; and (7) Church and Corporate Partnership programs facilitating volunteer engagement and employment opportunities. The organization also distributes original video-based discipleship curriculum to correctional facilities nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Behind Bars (In-Prison and Jail Programs) Discipleship, life skills, and character-building programs delivered inside local jails and state prisons, including weekly Bible studies, pastoral care, trauma-informed teaching, and a pathway into aftercare for incarcerated men.
• Aftercare Residential Reentry Program One-year residential aftercare program providing housing, mentorship, discipleship, job coaching, and practical reentry support for men returning from incarceration.
• Valor Ridge (Nashville Residential Campus) Flagship residential campus in Antioch/Nashville housing up to 93 men in townhomes and duplexes, providing comprehensive one-year reentry support including job training, spiritual formation, and life skills.
• Valor Way (Knoxville Residential Campus) Residential reentry campus housed in the historic Dogan-Gaither Flats building in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving up to 30 men with daily structure, biblical discipleship, mentorship, and job coaching.
• Family Ministry Support services for families of incarcerated and returning men, including care packages, family events, parenting support, counseling referrals, and connection opportunities.
• Hispanic Ministry Culturally relevant ministry and support serving Spanish-speaking incarcerated men and their families through bilingual programming, Spanish-language Bible studies, and outreach.
• Advocacy Program Justice reform initiative that raises awareness, promotes second-chance employment, and advocates for policies supporting incarcerated and returning citizens, including partnership with RightOnCrime.
• Volunteer and Mentorship Program One-on-one mentoring, in-prison volunteer service, teaching and skills training, campus support, event assistance, and family outreach support.
• Corporate Partnership Program Business partnership program connecting employers with program graduates for job placement, workforce development sponsorship, in-kind donations, and corporate giving, with 28+ employer partners.
• Church Partnership Program Church engagement program enabling congregations to sponsor men, send volunteer teams, adopt prisons for Bible studies, host events, and join prayer networks.
• Video-Based Discipleship Curriculum Original Christ-centered video-based discipleship curriculum developed by Men of Valor and used by correctional systems and ministries across multiple states to deliver consistent teaching inside facilities with limited in-person access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14.3% recidivism rate for program graduates in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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.

• CoreCivic FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CoreCivic for The Jericho Project, a faith-based program held inside CoreCivic-operated prisons. CoreCivic is a major corrections company that supports rehabilitation initiatives.
• Cul2vatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCul2vate operates a fully functioning vegetable garden on the Men of Valor campus in Antioch, TN. Provides workforce training in agriculture, grows fresh produce, and offers meaningful work for program participants.
• Authentically AmericanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran-owned, American-made apparel company partnering with Men of Valor for branded merchandise. Items sold at cost to allow supporters to represent the ministry.
• City Hills ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partnership for community outreach and service projects in Knoxville, Tennessee. Men of Valor staff and students served alongside the church for community service.
• Long Hollow ChurchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChurch partnership hosting Missions Partner Connect events for local mission organizations. Connects nonprofits including Men of Valor with volunteers and supporters.
• Providence Christian AcademyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partnership where Men of Valor staff speak to students about making positive choices. Staff members share personal testimonies and challenge students on the power of choices.
• RightOnCrimecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCriminal justice reform organization promoting second chances and restorative justice. Men of Valor partners with RightOnCrime to advocate for policy changes supporting successful reentry.
• 28+ Employment PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 28 businesses and employers that hire Men of Valor graduates, providing meaningful employment and supporting the 99% employment rate achieved by the program in 2024.
• Corporate Partners (Logos)minorOthersCorporate partners including Ellsworth Systems, American Home Design, BaggageBellhop, Beaman Family, FirstBank, Anchor, Vavia, Solomon Builders, Sage Dobyns McMillin, Palmer Wallace, Nelson Mazda, Merryman Farr, KPMG, JBS, HIG, HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health, Grade A, FKP Advisors, Elliott Davis, Enterprise Solutions, Clemons Concrete, ClearLine, Berklen, AZOR, and TRICOR.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): Large nonprofit providing employment-focused reentry services to people returning from incarceration. A secular, established incumbent in the reentry workforce space that competes for similar employer partnerships and government contracts.
• Safer Foundation: Established nonprofit providing comprehensive reentry services including employment, housing, and education to justice-involved individuals in Illinois and beyond. A larger, secular comparator in the integrated reentry services space.
• Prison Fellowship: The largest faith-based prison ministry in the United States, founded by Chuck Colson. Operates in-prison programming, reentry support, and advocacy at national scale — a broader incumbent in the same faith-based reentry category as Men of Valor.

Others

• Exodus Cry: Faith-based nonprofit addressing justice-related issues with a similar donor base profile to Men of Valor. A thematically related nonprofit operating in the same faith-driven social-services space, though not a direct reentry competitor.
• CoreCivic: Major private corrections company that partners with Men of Valor on the Jericho Project. Not a competitor but a critical infrastructure partner — comparable because it operates the correctional facilities where Men of Valor's in-prison curriculum is delivered.
• RightOnCrime: Conservative criminal-justice reform advocacy organization that is an active partner of Men of Valor. Adjacent peer — both organizations work on second-chance policy and reform, but RightOnCrime focuses on policy advocacy rather than direct service.

Emerging players

• Televere Foundation: Faith-based nonprofit focused on reentry through workforce development and personal transformation for justice-involved individuals. Comparable in faith-based reentry programming but smaller scale and more geographically concentrated.

Direct peers

• Kairos Prison Ministry: Faith-based nonprofit operating Christ-centered prison ministry programs inside correctional facilities nationwide, with volunteer-driven model very similar to Men of Valor's in-prison discipleship. Directly comparable in target population, mission, and program structure.
• The Last Mile: Nonprofit providing in-prison technology and workforce training to incarcerated individuals, with a strong reentry employment focus. Directly comparable to Men of Valor's workforce development and reentry employment outcomes mission.
• InnerChange Freedom Initiative: Faith-based pre-release program operated in partnership with Prison Fellowship and state correctional systems, providing in-prison discipleship and reentry support. Highly comparable to Men of Valor's in-prison and aftercare model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChqbMKHgetEE0GTPhGoIKBg
• Instagraminstagram.com/menofvalorministry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/men-of-valor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Men Of Valor