What Promise686 does

Promise686 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, that equips Christian churches nationwide to launch and sustain Family Advocacy Ministries (FAMs) addressing the U.S. child welfare crisis. Founded in 2009 and led by President & CEO Andy Cook, the organization operates with approximately 28 employees and has activated more than 2,100 active churches across the United States, with 91% of impact delivered through implementing non-profit partner organizations called 'Implementers' that localize the church-equipping process.

The company's core technology stack comprises myFAM (church management software for organizing volunteers and FAM activities), Promise Serves (volunteer coordination application for multi-campus churches), and training delivered through the Absorb LMS platform. A proprietary content library spans educational games (Simply One for ACEs, Foster for Realz, FAM Talk), the Christopher Award-winning novel Untangling Hope, and trauma-informed video courses (A Place to Belong, Navigating the Journey). The organization also operates an e-commerce store selling merchandise, games, books, and the Church Clinic Pass for training enrollment.

Promise686's revenue model is multi-stream: individual and church donations (one-time gifts, annual pledges, stock and car donations), corporate partnerships across Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers (named partners include Click Partnerships, Cyderes, Encore Advisors, Community Construction Group), an e-commerce store, and the Georgia-specific Fostering Independence Project enabling 100% state tax credit donations. The organization is ECFA-accredited and 501(c)(3) certified, governed by a board chaired by Keith Style of The Presidio Group. A formal 'Expand the Promise' strategic plan targets equipping an additional 1,000 churches by 2028 with projected $96 million in economic impact and 87,000 children served over the 2026-2028 period.

Name

Promise686

Legal name

Promise686

Website

https://promise686.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Promise686 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that equips U.S. churches with software, content, and coaching to launch Family Advocacy Ministries supporting foster, adoptive, and crisis-affected families, with over 2,100 active churches nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Church equipping programs
• Family advocacy ministries
• Child welfare nonprofit
• Adoption support grants
• Trauma informed training

Headquarters

HQ city

Peachtree Corners

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Promise686 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates primarily through donations from individuals, churches, and foundations. The organization mentions various giving options including one-time gifts, annual pledges, stock donations, and car donations.
2. Product Store Sales: The organization sells branded merchandise and educational products including games (Simply One, Foster for Realz, FAM Talk), books (Untangling Hope), shirts, hats, and the Church Clinic Pass. All proceeds directly support Promise686.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners sponsor events and programs at various tier levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze), receiving visibility benefits and employee engagement opportunities in return.
4. Georgia Tax Credit Program: Through the Fostering Independence Project, Georgia taxpayers can redirect state taxes to Promise686 and receive a 100% tax credit against Georgia income tax liability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Promise686 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that equips churches nationwide through technology, content, and coaching to launch Family Advocacy Ministries (FAMs) supporting foster, adoptive, biological, and kinship families. Its core delivery consists of the myFAM church management platform, the Promise Serves volunteer coordination application, proprietary training content (games, video courses, books), and a coaching-driven activation process. Adoption matching, legal, and post-placement grants provide direct financial support to families pursuing adoption.

Product overview

Promise686 offers a comprehensive ecosystem of technology, content, and coaching to equip churches nationwide to launch and sustain Family Advocacy Ministries (FAMs). The core technology platform consists of myFAM (church management software) and Promise Serves (volunteer coordination application), supported by the Absorb LMS platform for training delivery. The product portfolio includes educational games and resources (Simply One, Foster for Realz, FAM Talk, Untangling Hope, A Place to Belong video courses), adoption grant programs (Matching Grants, Legal Grants, Post-placement Support Grants), and church training courses (FAM Basics, FAM Care Community Clinic, Navigating the Journey video series). The Church Clinic Pass provides access to training enrollment, and the organization operates an e-commerce store for physical products. Together, these offerings create a comprehensive system for mobilizing churches to address the child welfare crisis through prevention, intervention, and connection strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• myFAM Church management software platform that helps churches organize volunteers and coordinate Family Advocacy Ministry activities for vulnerable children and families; designed for ease of use and implementation by church staff.
• Promise Serves Volunteer coordination and management application that keeps church volunteers organized across multi-campus churches; originally developed by a volunteer church advocate to manage volunteer scheduling and engagement.
• Simply One Interactive card game simulating the life of a vulnerable child navigating Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) from birth to age 18, teaching players how trauma impacts development and how one caring adult can change outcomes; for church groups, classrooms, and families.
• Foster for Realz Apples to Apples-style card game designed for foster and adoptive parents, providing bonding experiences and humor through foster care-themed gameplay for support groups, training sessions, or as a family gift.
• FAM Talk Family conversation card game featuring meaningful prompts with a light side for casual conversation and a deeper side for substantive family discussions; designed for mealtimes, road trips, and game nights.
• Untangling Hope Contemporary middle-grade novel by Johnna Stein offering an honest portrayal of foster care, following the story of an eleven-year-old navigating life in the system; recipient of the Christopher Award.
• A Place to Belong 30-minute video course equipping church staff and volunteers to care for children ages 0-11 who have experienced trauma, with an accompanying 35-minute A Place to Belong for Teens version for ages 11-18; both include handouts.
• Navigating the Journey Educational video series for families considering or going through the adoption process, covering adoption ethics, foster care overview, trauma understanding, language matters, and building support networks.
• Church Clinic Pass Training enrollment pass purchased by church contacts to provide potential Advocates with access to the Absorb platform for free church clinic training enrollment.
• Adoption Matching Grants Adoption funding grants of $500-$4,000 for single-child adoptions and $500-$6,000 for multiple children, providing dollar-for-dollar matching of funds raised by families pursuing domestic or international adoption.
• Legal Grants Grants to offset legal costs of adoption such as domestication of foreign adoptions, separate from agency fees; families receiving legal grants are referred to preferred firm Christina Bennett, LLC.
• Post-placement Support Grants Grants for counseling, therapy, or special education needs of adopted children not covered by insurance, supporting families after adoption finalization.
• Fostering Independence Project Program powered by Promise686 that allows Georgia taxpayers to redirect state taxes to support Georgia youth aging out of foster care, with a 100% tax credit against Georgia income tax liability through the Georgia Qualified Foster Child Donation Credit.
• Church Activation and Coaching Services Core service in which Promise686 coaches guide churches nationwide through a Discover-Learn-Launch process to establish Family Advocacy Ministries (FAMs), providing step-by-step training, resources, and ongoing support to enable volunteer-led ministries serving foster, adoptive, biological, and kinship families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,100 active churches equipped with FAMs nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum partner, gold partner, silver partner, bronze partner and core.

• Click Partnershipsplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerClick Partnerships is a Platinum Partner of Promise686. Kerima and Ross Haynes of Community Construction Group have been involved with Promise for 15 years, participating in Promise Race, Fall Benefits, and serving on Care Teams. Their construction company gives through the partnership.
• Cyderesplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyderes is a Platinum Partner of Promise686, providing corporate support for the mission to equip churches caring for vulnerable children.
• Encore Advisorsgold partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEncore Advisors is a Gold Partner of Promise686. Brett Lane, founder of Encore Advisors, has served Promise686 since its inception with his family.
• Relutechgold partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelutech is a Gold Partner of Promise686, supporting the mission through corporate partnership.
• Boostergold partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBooster is a Gold Partner of Promise686, contributing to the organization's mission support.
• Nydreesilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNydree is a Silver Partner of Promise686, supporting the organization through corporate partnership.
• Community Construction Groupsilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Construction Group is a Silver Partner. The Haynes family has been partnered with Promise for nearly 15 years, participating in events and serving on Care Teams. Their headquarters are in Peachtree Corners.
• Zurn Plumbing Servicebronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerZurn Plumbing Service is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• CTR Commercialbronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTR Commercial is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• Presidio Groupbronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresidio Group is a Bronze Partner of Promise686. Keith Style, Managing Director of The Presidio Group, serves as Chair of the Board.
• Greater Georgia Concretebronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreater Georgia Concrete is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• Aulturabronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAultura is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• The Design Group (Morgan Stanley)bronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Design Group with Morgan Stanley is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• The Wellon Groupbronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wellon Group is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• Evercy (Ameriprise)bronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvercy, associated with Ameriprise advisors, is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• Northbow Companybronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthbow Company is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• Child's Companybronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild's Company is a Bronze Partner of Promise686.
• Lifeline Children's ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLifeline Children's Services is a preferred adoption agency of Promise686. They are recommended to families considering adoption as a trusted resource for adoption programs and services.
• Christina Bennett, LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChristina Bennett, LLC is a preferred legal firm for Promise686. Families receiving Legal Grants are referred to this firm for adoption-related legal services such as domestication of foreign adoptions.
• Implementing Non-Profit PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPromise686 works with organizations nationwide called Implementers that are well-rooted and connected with churches in their own communities. 91% of Promise's impact comes through these partners who invest and empower churches with customized approaches.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Buckner International: Faith-based nonprofit operating foster care, adoption, and family support programs, with comparable church- and community-based service delivery and reliance on philanthropic funding.
• Safe Families for Children: Church-hosted volunteer network that places children with host families to prevent foster entry — a near-direct comparable to Promise686's church-based Family Advocacy Ministries model serving biological families in crisis.
• Show Hope: Faith-based nonprofit that mobilizes individuals and churches to care for orphans and vulnerable children through adoption grants, family programming, and care community models that closely parallel Promise686's Family Advocacy Ministry approach.
• Lifeline Children's Services: Faith-based adoption and foster care agency that is also a strategic adoption partner of Promise686; comparable in mission scope (foster/adoption + family preservation) and faith-aligned delivery model.
• Gift of Adoption Fund: Nonprofit providing adoption grants to families — directly comparable to Promise686's Adoption Matching/Legal/Post-placement grants program and serves a similar pool of grant-seeking adoptive families.
• Bethany Christian Services: Large faith-rooted child and family services organization offering foster care, adoption, and family preservation — a scaled comparable in the child welfare space operating through a similar values-driven service lens.

Broad incumbents

• Focus on the Family: Broad faith-based family ministry with extensive resource library, counseling referrals, and outreach — overlaps with Promise686's content-driven, church-engaged family strengthening work at a meaningfully larger scale.
• CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans): Broad umbrella network mobilizing churches for orphan care, foster care, and adoption; comparable thematic space though it functions as a movement/network convenor rather than a direct church-activation operator.

Others

• Vocare (Volunteers of Community and Religious Enterprises): Software and innovation platform partnering with faith-based organizations and child welfare providers; adjacent in technology-for-nonprofit enablement, comparing to Promise686's myFAM/Promise Serves stack.

Emerging players

• Hope for the Children: Christian nonprofit supporting children in vulnerable family situations through church partnerships; partial overlap with Promise686's Family Advocacy Ministry model but at a smaller, more regional scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/promise686
• Instagraminstagram.com/promise686/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/promise686

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Promise686