Mill Village Ministries

What Mill Village Ministries does

Mill Village Ministries is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella organization headquartered at 1186 Pendleton Street in Greenville, South Carolina, founded in 2012 by Dan Weidenbenner as an outreach of Grace Church and Long Branch Baptist Church. The organization operates as a family of four social enterprises addressing interconnected community challenges: Mill Village Farms (nonprofit farm and produce distributor providing fresh produce access and youth employment), Village Wrench (nonprofit bicycle shop providing accessible sales, service, and youth employment), Village Launch (entrepreneur support organization providing training, mentorship, and market access primarily for minority and women-owned startups), and Village Engage (faith-based community organizer focused on social justice education and advocacy). Programs include FoodShare produce distribution every two weeks, the Propel 16-week college and career readiness program, 6 Cycle summer workforce training, the Business Entrepreneur Academy (10-week cohort), Earn-a-Bike, Free Bike Repair events, and JustFaith small-group programming. Customer segments include high school students seeking first-time job experience, under-resourced minority and women entrepreneurs, food-insecure Greenville County residents, community members needing transportation access, and faith communities seeking social justice engagement.

The organization's revenue model is donation-driven, with no fees charged to program participants. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring via the Kindful platform, including a "Village Victor" recurring donor tier), event-based fundraising (Village Quench and Village Ignite at $175/ticket with $75 tax-deductible), stock donations through Charles Schwab, planned giving and estate gifts, corporate matching programs, and a $5.5 million capital campaign supporting the new Mill Village Hub. The organization also relies on corporate partnerships (notably Fluor sponsoring the Village Launch Market) and grant funding managed by a dedicated Grants & Development Manager. Customer support is delivered directly through physical locations and community events; service delivery is free to end users and primarily funded through donations and grants to underwrite free produce, free bike repair, paid youth apprenticeships at $12/hour, and entrepreneur training.

The organization completed a $5.5 million, 14,000+ square-foot redevelopment project—the New Mill Village Hub—that opened on October 11, 2025, consolidating all four social enterprises under one roof. The hub includes a full-service bike shop, FoodShare warehouse, dedicated training spaces, and youth leadership development areas. The organization employs 16 staff per firmographics (with the Our People page indicating 25-30 across all social enterprises), is led by Executive Director Dan Weidenbenner, and holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2024). Primary service area is Greenville County, particularly West Greenville and the Greater Sullivan neighborhood.

Name

Mill Village Ministries

Legal name

Mill Village Ministries

Website

https://millcommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mill Village Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella organization in Greenville, SC, operating four social enterprises—Mill Village Farms, Village Wrench, Village Launch, and Village Engage—that deliver food access, youth employment, entrepreneurship training, and social justice education to community members at no cost, funded primarily through donations, grants, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Youth employment programs
• Food insecurity relief
• Entrepreneur support services
• Nonprofit social enterprise

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission. Donors can give online through Kindful platform, by mail, or set up recurring monthly donations as 'Village Victor' supporters. Every dollar donated directly impacts community programs.
2. Event-based Fundraising: Revenue generated from ticketed events including Village Quench ($175/ticket with $75 tax-deductible portion) and Village Ignite ($175/ticket with $75 tax-deductible portion). These events support specific enterprise programs.
3. Stock Donations: Accepts stock donations through Charles Schwab brokerage account. Donors can transfer securities directly to the organization.
4. Estate Giving and Planned Giving: Accepts planned gifts including bequests, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and beneficiary designations from retirement accounts and life insurance policies.
5. Corporate Matching: Facilitates employer donation matches where eligible employees can have their gifts doubled or tripled through corporate matching programs.
6. Capital Campaign: Major fundraising campaign for the $5.5 million New Mill Village Hub redevelopment project. Campaign exceeded initial $2 million goal, raising over $5 million through gifts and pledges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mill Village Ministries is a registered 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit umbrella organization that operates four social enterprises in Greenville, SC: Mill Village Farms (nonprofit farm and FoodShare produce distributor), Village Engage (faith-based social justice organizer), Village Launch (entrepreneur support organization for minority and women-owned startups), and Village Wrench (nonprofit bicycle shop). Programs include FoodShare produce distribution, the Propel youth college/career readiness program, 6 Cycle summer workforce training, the Business Entrepreneur Academy, Earn-a-Bike, and Free Bike Repair events. All services are provided free of charge to community members and funded through donations, grants, and event ticket sales.

Product overview

Mill Village Ministries is a faith-based family of nonprofit social enterprises that operates as an umbrella organization (registered 501(c)(3)) unifying four distinct enterprises: Mill Village Farms (nonprofit farm and produce distributor providing healthy food access and youth employment), Village Engage (faith-based community organizer focused on social justice), Village Launch (entrepreneur support organization providing training and mentorship for minority/women-owned businesses), and Village Wrench (nonprofit bicycle shop offering accessible bike services, youth employment, and community education). The organization also operates various programs including FoodShare produce distribution, the Propel Program (youth college/career readiness), 6 Cycle Summer Workforce Training, the Business Entrepreneur Academy (BEA), Earn-a-Bike, and Free Bike Repair events. A major new 14,000+ square foot hub at 1186 Pendleton Street in West Greenville is under development as a permanent consolidated home for all enterprises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mill Village Farms Mill Village Farms is a nonprofit farm and produce distributor that provides access to healthy produce, youth employment, and food system education for community members in Greenville, SC. It distributes produce boxes through the FoodShare program every other week and grows resources at an urban garden in the Sullivan neighborhood.
• Village Wrench Village Wrench is a nonprofit bicycle shop that provides accessible sales and service, youth employment, and community education for current and future bike riders in Greenville, SC. It develops teens through its Youth Program, empowers community members through Earn-a-Bike, and hosts monthly Free Bike Repair events across Greenville County.
• Village Launch Village Launch is a nonprofit Entrepreneur Support Organization that provides educational services, mentorship, and market access primarily for minority and women-owned start-ups in Greenville, SC. It offers personal and business financial training and operates the Business Entrepreneur Academy and the Village Launch Market.
• Village Engage Village Engage is a faith-based nonprofit community organizer that provides educational opportunities, space for dialogue, and avenues for action to tackle systemic injustices facing Greenville, SC. It facilitates JustFaith programs, hosts social justice events, and calls participants to action through community organizing and advocacy.
• FoodShare Produce Distribution FoodShare is a produce box distribution program run by Mill Village Farms that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to community members every other week. Youth apprentices deliver Good Neighbor Boxes throughout West Greenville, with pickup also available at designated locations.
• Propel Program The Propel Program is a 16-week college and career readiness program designed to prepare high school students for success in education, employment, and life. The Fall Session focuses on college and career readiness, and the Spring Session provides hands-on job training through Mill Village Farms or Village Wrench.
• 6 Cycle / Spoons & Sprouts Summer Workforce Training 6 Cycle (also known as Spoons & Sprouts) is a summer workforce training program placing high school students in paid work experiences through Village Wrench Bike Shop or Mill Village Farms. Students gain practical hands-on training while developing professional work habits, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, time management, and customer service skills.
• Business Entrepreneur Academy (BEA) The Business Entrepreneur Academy (BEA) is a 10-week, cohort-based program operated by Village Launch that equips entrepreneurs of all backgrounds with the insights, relationships, and tools needed to turn ideas into action. The Fall 2025 cohort graduated 35 entrepreneurs including two classes of brand-new businesses and one class of existing businesses.
• Earn-a-Bike Earn-a-Bike is a Village Wrench program that empowers community members to earn their own set of wheels through community service, expanding bicycle access for Greenville residents who cannot otherwise afford a bicycle.
• Free Bike Repair Free Bike Repair is a monthly community bike repair service run by Village Wrench at various locations throughout Greenville County, ensuring all residents have access to bike maintenance and safe riding.
• Propel Young Adult Propel Young Adult is a Mill Village Ministries program delivered in partnership with Greenville Technical College and Front Porch Housing that provides housing and mentorship for two years to students enrolled in a 2-year degree program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 youth apprentices hired each summer gaining first-time job experience
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding and minor.

• Village ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Village Church was instrumental in birthing Village Wrench in 2013. The bike shop emerged from church members seeking to provide free bike repair and earning opportunities in local mill village neighborhoods.
• Grace ChurchfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Co-founding church partner alongside Long Branch Baptist Church. Grace Church was one of the original faith communities that launched Mill Village Farms as a grassroots outreach in 2012 in the Greater Sullivan neighborhood.
• Long Branch Baptist ChurchfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Co-founding church partner alongside Grace Church. Long Branch Baptist Church remains actively involved with Pastor Sean Dogan serving as Board Chair. BEA graduations are held at Long Branch Baptist Church.
• JustFaith MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage Engage uses programs produced by JustFaith Ministries for transformative small group studies on issues of inequity and injustice. Susan Stall serves on the national Board of Directors for JustFaith Ministries. Youth programs incorporate JustFaith Youth for Justice curriculum.
• FluorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFluor sponsors the Village Launch Market, described as 'Village Launch Market fueled by Fluor.' A key corporate partner supporting the monthly market for minority and women entrepreneurs.
• My Neighbor's VoicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage Engage partners with My Neighbor's Voice for interfaith dinners and events including the Break Bread Together on National Day of Prayer. Collaborative programming for community dialogue and action.
• Greenville Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPropel Young Adult program provides housing and mentorship for 2 years through Front Porch Housing for students enrolled in a 2-year degree program at Greenville Technical College.
• SC Fair Lending AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillage Engage's Policy Director Susan Stall serves as Lead Organizer of this statewide coalition working to end predatory lending practices in South Carolina.
• Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMany core pillars and principles are based on approaches learned from CCDA, FCS Ministries, and The Chalmers Center - organizations focused on holistic community development.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Purpose Built Communities: National nonprofit that supports a network of place-based community developers using the East Lake model for holistic neighborhood revitalization. Mill Village shares the integrated mixed-strategy approach and is a credible candidate member of this network.
• FCS Ministries: Faith-based community development organization explicitly cited as a methodology influence for Mill Village Ministries. Operates comparable faith-rooted programs serving under-resourced communities.
• Hope Enterprise Corporation: Mississippi-based community development financial institution that operates integrated programs (lending, education, civic engagement) in underserved communities — a closely comparable integrated place-based model.
• Chalmers Center: Faith-based poverty alleviation organization specifically named as a methodology pillar for Mill Village Ministries. Provides curriculum and framework for church-based community development programs.
• The Works, Inc. Memphis-based comprehensive community development corporation serving urban core neighborhoods with mixed-strategy programs (housing, education, economic development) — a strong operational analog to Mill Village's integrated model.
• East Lake Foundation: Atlanta-based nonprofit that pioneered a comprehensive community development model combining cradle-to-college education, affordable housing, health, and economic vitality in a single neighborhood — directly analogous to Mill Village's four-enterprise approach in West Greenville.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI that supports place-based community development organizations across the U.S. Mill Village is a candidate LISC partner or grantee, given its integrated model and Greenville footprint.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County: Local Greenville-area nonprofit with overlapping community-development mission and overlapping board connections (Weidenbenner has served on its board). Operates in the same donor market and community.
• United Way of Greenville County: Local Greenville funding intermediary with overlapping board connections to Mill Village's leadership. Operates in the same donor community and is a likely institutional funding partner.
• CommunityWorks: Greenville-area community development financial institution (CDFI) with overlapping board connections (Weidenbenner has served on its board). Operates in adjacent financial empowerment and community development space in the same market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mill-village-ministries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Mill Village Ministries