Refuge Bowling Green

What Refuge Bowling Green does

Refuge Bowling Green (Refuge BG) is a Bowling Green, Kentucky–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Tax ID 83-2610788, founded in September 2018 by Daniel and Alice Tarnagda. It serves refugees and immigrants in the Bowling Green area through an integrated suite of eight programs: English Academy (free ESL classes at Forest Park Baptist Church and Dishman McGinnis Elementary), Immigration Consulting (Green Card, citizenship, DACA, and EAD document processing with fee waivers when applicable), a Collaborative Workforce/Occupation program placing clients into healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, tech, construction, and entrepreneurship roles, Driver Education, the Refuge Soccer Club (recreational and competitive teams for ages 4–18), a Health Program, a Youth Mentorship Program for ages 15–24, and a donations program operated via the Zeffy platform.

The organization does not operate proprietary technology beyond a Squarespace-hosted website and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube); all services are delivered in person by staff and volunteers. Its revenue model is purely philanthropic: it is funded by monetary and material donations, church contributions, and a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Title $10,000+, Silver, Bronze, Program, and Friend-of-Refuge tiers) with sponsors including Houchens Insurance Group, Fruit of the Loom, Dollar General, Bluegrass, Good Sports, and Koin Group. Most services are provided free of charge; only immigration document processing carries associated fees, with waivers filed when applicable.

Distribution is community-led and local: services are delivered directly to clients through in-person programs at churches, schools, and community facilities across Bowling Green, supplemented by church partnerships, word-of-mouth referrals, and a network of educational institution partners (Western Kentucky University, SKyCTC, Bowling Green City Schools, Warren County Public Schools) and United Way. The organization operates from its headquarters at 2413 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, with additional office suites at the same address, and runs programs exclusively in Kentucky.

Name

Refuge Bowling Green

Legal name

Refuge Bowling Green

Website

https://refugebg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Refuge Bowling Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Bowling Green, KY that provides free English, immigration, workforce, driving, health, mentorship, and soccer programs to refugees and immigrants, funded by donations and church and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowling Green

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, funded primarily through monetary donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. They accept both material donations (home goods, recreation, cleaning supplies) and monetary donations.
2. Sponsorship Programs: Corporate and organizational sponsors fund specific programs including English/Children's Programs, Recreational Programs, Driving Program, Youth Mentorship Program, Health Program, and Occupational Program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Refuge Bowling Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a holistic suite of direct services to refugees and immigrants in Bowling Green, KY. Offerings include free ESL classes (English Academy), immigration document processing, employment and workforce development, driver's education, recreational and competitive soccer programs, a Health Program, youth mentorship, and donation infrastructure, all delivered primarily through in-person classes and coaching at partner churches and schools.

Product overview

Refuge Bowling Green is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a holistic suite of programs to support refugees and immigrants in Bowling Green, KY. The organization provides eight interconnected programs: English Academy for language learning, Immigration Consulting for document processing, Occupation/Collaborative Workforce Program for employment services, Driver Education for transportation independence, Refuge Soccer Club for youth recreation and character development, Health Program for healthcare support, Youth Mentorship Program for career guidance, and a Donations Program for community support. Programs are designed to address multiple barriers to self-sufficiency and community integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Refuge Soccer Club: Recreational soccer program for refugee and immigrant youth aged 4-18, offering Pre-Academy, Academy, and Select competitive teams.

Products and services

• English Academy Free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adult refugees and immigrants, offered at multiple proficiency levels (preliterate, beginner, advanced) with morning and evening sessions. Includes childcare services and transportation assistance to remove participation barriers.
• Immigration Consulting Immigration document processing assistance including Green Cards (adjustment of status), citizenship applications, DACA, and Employment Authorization Documents (EAD). Assists with fee waivers when applicable; fees are charged only for paperwork processing and visa payments.
• Occupation / Collaborative Workforce Program Employment services with a four-step approach: Get Started (registration, assessment, barrier removal), Explore (industry try-outs and hands-on training in healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, tech, construction, or entrepreneurship), Get Hired (job placement support and coaching), and Plan Ahead (long-term career planning and college applications).
• Driver Education Program Driver's education program teaching clients traffic laws and vehicle operation to support transportation independence, family transport, service access, and work commuting.
• Refuge Soccer Club Soccer program offering recreational and competitive teams for players ages 4-18, including Pre-Academy (U4-U7), Academy (U8-U13), and Select (U14-U18) levels. Promotes skill development, teamwork, and community integration through recreation that celebrates diverse cultures.
• Health Program Healthcare support services for refugees and immigrants, staffed by a healthcare worker who assists community members with health-related needs as part of the organization's holistic service model.
• Youth Mentorship Program Mentorship program matching adult mentors with refugee youth ages 15-24 to provide guidance on academic success, college/career readiness, job placement, and life skills. Includes weekly meetings and a six-month commitment.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rich Pond Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle Sponsor ($10,000+) providing financial support and church partnership for the organization
• Living Hope Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle Sponsor ($10,000+) providing financial support and church partnership
• Koin GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Sponsor supporting organizational mission
• Christ Fellowship ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Sponsor supporting organizational mission
• First Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Sponsor and partner for immigration consulting services (contact Pat Howard)
• Houchens Insurance GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze Sponsor providing financial support
• Fruit of the LoomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriend of Refuge sponsor providing organizational support
• Dollar GeneralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram Sponsor for English and Children's Programs
• BluegrassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram Sponsor for English and Children's Programs
• Good SportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram Sponsor for Recreational Sports Program
• Forest Park Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Mentorship Program sponsor and host location for morning English classes
• United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting refugee services
• Bowling Green City SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner hosting evening English classes at Dishman McGinnis Elementary School
• Warren County Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in community
• Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKyCTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing pathways for refugees
• Western Kentucky UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing higher education pathways

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Samaritas: Michigan-based nonprofit providing refugee resettlement, foster care, and integration services including ESL, employment, and youth programming; directly comparable mission and program mix.
• Bridge Refugee Services: Louisville, KY-based refugee services nonprofit operating in the same state and providing ESL, employment, case management, and immigration support to a similar population.
• Exodus Refugee Immigration: Mid-sized refugee resettlement nonprofit in Indianapolis providing similar wraparound services (employment, ESL, immigration, health) to a comparable city-sized refugee population.
• Kentucky Refugee Ministries: Kentucky-based refugee resettlement agency headquartered in Lexington with services in Louisville and Bowling Green; directly comparable mission and service portfolio (ESL, case management, employment, immigration) in the same state.

Broad incumbents

• HIAS: Jewish-founded refugee resettlement agency providing legal, resettlement, and integration services nationally; comparable as a faith-rooted nonprofit serving refugees with comprehensive programming.
• International Rescue Committee: Global refugee resettlement and integration nonprofit providing similar services (ESL, employment, immigration, healthcare navigation) at scale; serves as a benchmark for the comprehensive model Refuge BG is operating at a local level.
• World Relief: Faith-based refugee resettlement nonprofit operating across multiple US cities; comparably offers ESL, employment, immigration, and youth programming through a church-partnership model very similar to Refuge BG.
• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based nonprofit offering refugee foster care, resettlement, and family services across multiple US states; comparable integrated service model with similar faith-rooted positioning.
• Catholic Charities USA (Diocesan Refugee Services): National Catholic Charities network operates diocesan refugee resettlement offices (e.g., Diocese of Lexington, Diocese of Nashville) that provide overlapping services to refugees in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Regional players

• Hispanic Development Council (or similar Bowling Green area community nonprofit): Community-based immigrant services nonprofit in a similar mid-sized US city; comparable as a smaller, faith- or community-rooted wraparound support organization serving recent arrivals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpv9W0svqLeo6gcIMzVP5pg
• Facebookfacebook.com/RefugeBG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refugebg
• Instagraminstagram.com/refugebg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Refuge Bowling Green