Touch the World
Touch the World is a US nonprofit founded in 1991 that equips church youth groups and young adults for missions through 3-day training retreats, an online academy, an accredited gap year program, and coordinated global mission trips. Revenue combines donations, program fees, and subscriptions, anchored by an owned training facility in Pennsylvania.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersAllendale, New Jersey, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Touch the World does
Touch the World, Inc. is a US-based nonprofit Christian youth missions organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Allendale, New Jersey, with a primary training facility — The Mission Center — in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. The organization equips middle/high school youth groups, young adults, and church leaders for short-term mission engagement through a portfolio of in-person and digital products: a 3-day immersive training retreat at The Mission Center (overnight platform-tent accommodation, curriculum covering culture, poverty, identity, and evangelism), the accredited MissionYear two-semester gap year discipleship program for ages 17-23 (with optional college credit via Anchor Christian University at $250/credit), the Missions Academy online self-paced learning platform, coordinated short-term mission trips to 14 vetted ministry partners across the US, Latin America, Europe, and Africa, a 10-week Summer Internship Program, and a resource store selling devotionals and re-entry journals.
The organization derives revenue from a hybrid nonprofit model: tax-deductible individual donations (including a recurring "Join The Core" program and an annual banquet fundraiser at The Venetian in Garfield, NJ), MissionYear tuition ($13,000 per student), 3-Day training program fees for church youth teams, Missions Academy subscriptions with group pricing for churches, and product sales through shop.touchtheworld.org. Go-to-market is multi-modal: direct sales engagement with youth pastors, community-led alumni referrals, event-driven donor cultivation, and self-serve online learning for individuals.
Operated by a lean staff of 11-50 (with 13 named leadership roles including Executive Director Jesse Kroeze and Missions Director Tim Dedrick), Touch the World holds ECFA, MissionExcellence, and Christian Gap Year Association accreditations, and partners with Anchor Christian University for accredited credit issuance — institutional validations that support donor trust and credit transferability for gap year students.
Touch the World firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Touch the World
- Legal name
- Touch the World, Inc.
- Website
- https://touchtheworld.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Touch the World is a US nonprofit founded in 1991 that equips church youth groups and young adults for missions through 3-day training retreats, an online academy, an accredited gap year program, and coordinated global mission trips. Revenue combines donations, program fees, and subscriptions, anchored by an owned training facility in Pennsylvania.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Touch the World industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Missions Training and Discipleship Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Structured Gap Year Programs (Multi-Sector & Rotational) (EDAIAGAJ), Service Learning, Volunteer & Community Engagement Trips (THAKAGAF), Pre-Departure Orientation, Re-Entry & Intercultural Training for Study Abroad (EDAIAAAH)
Keywords
Where Touch the World is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Allendale, New Jersey
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Touch the World business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to equip youth for missions. Donors can give one-time or monthly recurring gifts.
- MissionYear Program Fees: Two-semester gap year program costing $13,000 covering lodging, utilities, groceries, fuel, books, educational materials, and all program activities including 4 mission trips. Optional college credit available at $250 per credit.
- Missions Resources Store: Online shop selling practical missions resources including 30-day devotionals (Questions of Jesus, Gospel of Luke, Kairos Moments), Re-Entry Journal, and other mission preparation materials.
- 3-Day Training Program Fees: Revenue from in-person 3-day missions training retreats at The Mission Center for youth teams, including lodging, meals, curriculum, and team gear.
- Missions Academy Subscriptions: Online courses and masterclasses available for individual students and church groups, with group pricing options for youth groups and churches.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | MissionYear Gap Year Program (Fall 2027-Spring 2028) |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Missions Academy Individual Courses |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Touch the World product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Touch the World delivers pre-mission trip training and short-term mission trip coordination for church youth groups and young adults, anchored by a 3-day in-person retreat at The Mission Center in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. The organization also runs MissionYear, an accredited Christian gap year program for students ages 17-23, and The Missions Academy, an online learning platform offering self-paced courses on identity, culture, mission, and poverty, supplemented by an e-commerce store selling devotionals and resources.
Product overview
Touch the World is a Christian youth missions organization offering a multi-product portfolio centered around preparing young people for mission work. The core offerings include the 3-Day Missions Training (in-person retreat at The Mission Center in Pennsylvania), The Missions Academy (online learning platform), and MissionYear (accredited gap year program). These are supplemented by Missions Resources (devotionals, journals, and simulation tools), Mission Trip coordination with global ministry partners, and a Summer Internship Program. The products work together as a continuum: students can start with online Academy courses, attend the 3-day in-person training, join a coordinated mission trip, pursue the gap year program for deeper formation, or apply for the summer internship for vocational development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Missions Academy: Online learning platform providing courses on identity, culture, mission, and poverty for youth preparing for mission trips.
Products and services
- 3-Day Missions Training An intensive 3-day in-person retreat held at The Mission Center in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania that prepares middle and high school youth teams for mission trips through training on culture, poverty, story, the Gospel, team building, prayer, and practical on-field tips. Includes overnight accommodation in platform tents, meals, curriculum, and team gear. Sold to church youth groups and youth pastors.
- MissionYear Gap Year Program An accredited Christian gap year discipleship program for students ages 17-23 running two semesters at The Mission Center in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. Total program cost is $13,000 covering lodging, utilities, groceries, fuel, books, educational materials, and all program activities including 4 mission trips. Optional 30 college credits available through Anchor Christian University at $250 per credit, with TTW offering a $750 scholarship toward credit fees.
- The Missions Academy An online learning platform hosting self-paced courses on identity, culture, mission, and poverty that prepares youth for mission trips through flexible modules accessible anywhere. Offers individual courses, topic bundles, masterclasses, and memberships, with group pricing available for churches and youth groups. Designed for individuals ages 12 and older.
- Short-Term Mission Trips Short-term mission trip coordination with vetted ministry partners at 14 locations including Beaumont TX, Chicago IL, Dallas TX, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala (two partners), Lynch KY, Mexico, New York NY, Uganda, and Wilkes-Barre PA. Includes A-Z trip coordination support for groups serving with each ministry partner.
- Summer Internship Program A 10-week summer youth ministry internship (Late June through Early August) at The Mission Center in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, focused on professional development, vocational formation, and hands-on ministry experience for young adults ages 21-27.
- Missions Resources Store Practical tools for missions involvement sold through shop.touchtheworld.org, including the Re-Entry Journal, 30-Day Devotionals (Questions of Jesus, Gospel of Luke, Kairos Moments), and the 2 Dollar Day poverty simulation tool. Available to individuals and groups as supplementary mission preparation materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Youth who complete training experience transformed perspectives and become lifelong disciples of Christ
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Touch the World
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Touch the World technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Touch the World partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Somebody Cares (Beaumont, TX)coreMinistry host partner for mission trips providing work projects and community outreach opportunities in Beaumont, Texas.
- Inner City Impact (Chicago, IL)coreMinistry host partner in Chicago providing kids ministry mission opportunities.
- For the Nations Refugee Outreach (Dallas, TX)coreMinistry host partner providing community outreach and kids ministry in Dallas, Texas.
- Hacienda El Refugio (Ecuador)coreInternational ministry host partner in Ecuador offering work projects, community outreach, and kids ministry.
- Mission to El SalvadorcoreInternational ministry host partner in El Salvador providing community outreach and work projects.
- Second Evangelical Church of Athens & Helping Hands (Greece)coreCombined ministry host partners in Greece offering refugee ministry, community outreach, kids ministry, and hospitality.
- Generation to Generation (G2G) (Guatemala)coreMinistry host partner in Guatemala.
- Mission Housing Ministries (Guatemala)coreAdditional ministry host partner in Guatemala.
- Heritage Ministries (Lynch, KY)coreMinistry host partner in Appalachian Kentucky offering work projects, community outreach, kids ministry, and food distribution.
- Colegio James R. Ganley (Mexico)coreInternational ministry host partner in Mexico offering kids ministry and work projects.
- New York School of Urban Ministry (NYSUM) (New York, NY)coreUrban ministry host partner in New York City providing community outreach and hospitality opportunities.
- Terebinth Ministries (Uganda)coreInternational rural village ministry host partner in Uganda.
- Restored Church (Wilkes-Barre, PA)coreMinistry host partner in Pennsylvania offering community outreach, kids ministry, and hospitality.
- Anchor Christian UniversitycoreAccreditation partner for MissionYear gap year program. Provides college credit issuance and transcripts. Students can earn 30 credits potentially transferable to partner institutions including Pillar College, Liberty University, Cedarville University, Cairn University, Lancaster Bible School, Southeastern University, and Moody Bible Institute.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Touch the World competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- YouthFront: Faith-based youth ministry organization offering camps, conferences, and mission experiences targeting church youth groups—overlaps with TTW's youth training, formation, and church relationship focus.
- Christ In Youth (CIY): Evangelical youth ministry organization running conferences, mission trips, and discipleship experiences for middle and high school students—closely comparable customer base (church youth groups) and product mix.
- Mission Discovery: Faith-based provider of short-term mission trips, domestic and international, for youth groups—competes in the same trip coordination, training, and church partnership space as TTW.
- Adventures in Missions: Faith-based organization running short-term mission trips, gap year programs (World Race), and training for youth and young adults—directly comparable to TTW's 3-day training, MissionYear, and trip portfolio.
- Impact 360 Institute: Christian gap year and high school summer program focused on worldview, leadership, and service—directly comparable to TTW's MissionYear program in target audience, structure, and discipleship focus.
- Center for Mission Mobilization: Mission-focused training and mobilization organization equipping individuals and churches for global service—comparable to TTW's training-first approach and church-centric customer model.
Broad incumbents
- Pioneers: Faith-based missions organization mobilizing short-term teams and long-term missionaries to global ministry contexts—shares TTW's international partner network model and mission preparation emphasis.
- Group Mission Trips: Established provider of organized youth mission trips, curriculum, and resources through Group Publishing—overlaps with TTW's trip coordination and youth training content but at much larger scale.
- Youth With A Mission (YWAM): Large global evangelical missions movement offering training schools (Discipleship Training School), short-term outreach, and gap-style programs—overlaps with TTW's training, trip, and formation offerings at greater scale.
Emerging players
- The reThink Group: Youth ministry training and curriculum provider equipping leaders and parents for student discipleship—partial overlap with TTW's pre-trip training and youth-leader audience.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Touch the World social profiles
Digital presenceTouch the World compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Touch the World financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Touch the World leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Touch the World funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Touch the World M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Touch the World
What does Touch the World do?
Touch the World delivers pre-mission trip training and short-term mission trip coordination for church youth groups and young adults, anchored by a 3-day in-person retreat at The Mission Center in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. The organization also runs MissionYear, an accredited Christian gap year program for students ages 17-23, and The Missions Academy, an online learning platform offering self-paced courses on identity, culture, mission, and poverty, supplemented by an e-commerce store selling devotionals and resources.
Is Touch the World a public or private company?
Touch the World is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Touch the World founded?
Touch the World was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Touch the World based?
Touch the World is headquartered in Allendale, New Jersey, United States, in the North America region.
How does Touch the World make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are missionYear Program Fees, missions Resources Store, 3-Day Training Program Fees and missions Academy Subscriptions.
Who are Touch the World's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are YouthFront, Christ In Youth (CIY), Mission Discovery, Adventures in Missions, Impact 360 Institute and Center for Mission Mobilization. Broad incumbents are Pioneers, Group Mission Trips and Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The reThink Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does Touch the World have an API?
No public API is recorded for Touch the World.
What industry is Touch the World in?
Touch the World's product category is Youth Missions Training and Discipleship Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAGAI, Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGAJAE, Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8200.