What LifeWise Academy does

LifeWise Academy is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers Bible-based character education to public school students during the school day via released-time religious instruction (RTRI). Founded in 2018 in Hilliard, Ohio by Joel Penton as a program division of Stand For Truth, the organization partners with local churches, parents, and school districts to operate programs free to families and fully privately funded. As of the 2025-26 school year, LifeWise served more than 100,000 students across 1,100+ schools in 37 states, an 11,640% increase from the five Ohio schools it launched with in 2019.

The core product is the LifeWise Academy Core Program, built on the proprietary, trademarked Head-Heart-Hands pedagogical framework: HEAD (Bible knowledge), HEART (gospel connection), and HANDS (character application). Curriculum is delivered under an exclusive licensing arrangement with Lifeway Publishing's The Gospel Project, taking students through the full Bible over a five-year arc. Operational infrastructure is centralized: a fund-accounting system manages nearly 1,000 local program accounts, a master insurance policy covers all programs (D&O, Religious Freedom, Employment Practices, etc.), and a documented 10-step community launch process — from 50-signature community interest lists through $500 minimum fundraising, 3-9 member launch teams across 3+ churches, written school approval, and 12+ week execution — standardizes rollout. Ancillary commercial products include the 'During School Hours' book by CEO Joel Penton and the 'Off School Property' documentary distributed by Fathom Entertainment and Angel Studios starting October 23, 2025.

LifeWise's business model relies entirely on private donations. All programs are free to schools and participating families, with per-student operating costs of $200-$400 covered by community-raised funds. Revenue streams include recurring $30/month student sponsorships, one-time and recurring individual donations, planned giving (charitable gift annuities starting at $25,000, bequests, donor-advised funds, QCDs), and non-cash asset contributions (stock, crypto, real estate, vehicles, grain). Distribution is a hybrid of community-led grassroots (church partnerships, school-finder portal, signature-collection interest lists) and mass-media exposure via documentary, book, and earned coverage in Fox News, NBC News, Economist, and Washington Times. FY25 disclosed revenue was $39M across approximately 1,100 managed local program funds, with no single donor or district concentration identified.

Name

LifeWise Academy

Legal name

LifeWise, Inc. dba LifeWise Academy

Website

https://lifewise.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

LifeWise Academy is a U.S. nonprofit that delivers Bible-based character education to public school students during the school day through released-time religious instruction, reaching 100,000+ students across 1,100+ schools in 37 states with a centralized, community-funded donation model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Released-time religious instruction
• Bible character education
• Public school Bible curriculum
• Youth religious education
• Off-campus Bible classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilliard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Sponsorships: Monthly student sponsorship at $30/month provides Bible education to one public school student. One-time and recurring donations support both local programs and national operations. Donor support funds facilities, transportation, staff, technology, curriculum, and insurance.
2. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Charitable gift annuities starting at $25,000, bequests through wills, revocable living trusts, beneficiary designations on IRAs and retirement accounts, and charitable remainder trusts provide long-term revenue streams.
3. Alternative Asset Donations: Accepts donations of stock, securities, mutual funds, cryptocurrency, real estate (valued at $50,000+), vehicles, and grain from farmers. These non-cash assets are converted to support operations.
4. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD): Tax-free gifts from IRAs for donors age 70½ or older, providing a tax-efficient giving mechanism for supporters.
5. Donor-Advised Fund Contributions: Donors contribute to DAFs and recommend grants to LifeWise, providing immediate tax deductions while distributing gifts over time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LifeWise Academy provides free, off-campus Bible-based character education classes to U.S. public school students during the school day under released-time religious instruction laws. The program uses a Head-Heart-Hands curriculum framework (powered by Lifeway's The Gospel Project) to teach character traits over a five-year Bible survey, with classes delivered in community facilities and supported by a centralized Launch Process, fund accounting, and insurance backbone.

Product overview

LifeWise Academy operates as a nonprofit providing Bible-based character education programs for public school students during school hours under released time religious instruction laws. The core offering consists of the LifeWise Academy Core Program, which uses a curriculum (powered by The Gospel Project) with a three-fold focus on Head, Heart, and Hands. The organization supports communities through a 10-step launch process to establish local programs, offers a student sponsorship program for donor support, and provides supplementary products including the 'During School Hours' book, the 'Off School Property' documentary, and a branded merchandise store. All programs operate under constitutional protections established by the 1952 Supreme Court ruling Zorach v. Clauson and must meet three conditions: off school property, privately funded, and parent-permitted.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LifeWise Academy Core Program Bible-based character education program for U.S. public school students delivered off school property during school hours under released-time religious instruction laws. Uses a three-fold Head (Bible knowledge), Heart (gospel connection), and Hands (character application) approach, taught to students with parental permission by trained local staff and volunteers.
• LifeWise Curriculum (Powered by The Gospel Project) Structured K-12 Bible curriculum licensed from Lifeway Publishing that takes students through the entire Bible (Genesis to Revelation) over five years. Each lesson reviews a Bible passage alongside a 'Living LifeWise' character trait and is delivered via LifeWise's proprietary Head-Heart-Hands methodology.
• 10-Step Community Launch Process Replicable community-driven methodology for launching a local LifeWise program, including signature collection (50 community signatures), kickoff meeting, fundraising setup, launch team formation, school approval, team recruitment and training, and t-minus launch execution. Coached throughout by the LifeWise Support Center.
• During School Hours Book Trade book by LifeWise CEO Joel Penton explaining the mission, methodology, and impact of LifeWise Academy, distributed via Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, and directly through LifeWise.
• Off School Property Documentary Feature-length documentary exploring the historic removal of the Bible from public schools and the constitutionally sound released-time solution. Distributed theatrically by Fathom Entertainment and via Angel Studios streaming.
• LifeWise Store Online store offering LifeWise-branded apparel, Lifewise Blend coffee (produced in partnership with Hemisphere Coffee Roasters), curriculum supplementals, classroom items, and program marketing materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Absence rate nearly 50% lower in schools with LifeWise programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fathom EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 July 2025Partnership to distribute the 'Off School Property' documentary nationwide. Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor, released the film in theaters nationwide on October 23, 2025. Fathom operates in 45 countries with over 1,100 digital broadcast locations and is owned by AMC, Cinemark, and Regal.
• Angel StudioscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Streaming partnership for 'Off School Property' documentary. Angel Studios distributed the film on their platform, enabling widespread viewership and supporting the community-driven movement to bring Bible education to public schools.
• Lifeway PublishingcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2019Licensing agreement for The Gospel Project curriculum. LifeWise curriculum is powered by The Gospel Project, with language and organization adjusted for public school students. Character qualities and LifeWise branding added to original lessons. The curriculum takes students through the entire Bible over five years.
• First Liberty InstitutecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal counsel representing LifeWise Academy in First Amendment cases. Successfully obtained preliminary injunction against Everett Public Schools in Washington, protecting LifeWise's rights to participate in community resource fairs and display informational materials.
• Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal representation alongside First Liberty Institute for First Amendment litigation. Partnered to defend LifeWise's constitutional rights regarding off-campus religious instruction programs.
• Hemisphere Coffee RoastersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to produce and sell 'Lifewise Blend' coffee. Revenue supports LifeWise Academy operations. Coffee sold through LifeWise online store.
• Thomas P. Miller & Associates (TPMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent research firm conducting outcomes studies on LifeWise programs. Multiple studies analyzing 49,000+ school-year records across 27 states and six academic years. Research findings used for marketing, advocacy, and program development.
• RMG Research (Scott Rasmussen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational polling firm conducting surveys of public school parents and educators on behalf of LifeWise. Surveys show 78-90% support for moral/character education and Bible-based programs. Data used for press releases and advocacy.
• Rea & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm conducting annual fiscal audits of LifeWise, Inc. Audited financial statements available on LifeWise website for FY23, FY24, and FY25.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Relevant Speakers Network: Relevant Speakers Network was founded by LifeWise founder Joel Penton and serves public-school student assemblies and character-education events, the same customer that LifeWise's released-time programs serve. It shares brand, leadership, and adjacent programming with LifeWise.
• Child Evangelism Fellowship (Good News Club): CEF runs released-time religious education and Good News Clubs in or adjacent to public schools nationwide, sharing LifeWise's off-campus, parent-permitted, publicly-funded program structure. Both target public-school children with Christian curriculum and rely on volunteer-led local chapters.
• Gateways to Better Education: Gateways advocates for and equips parents and educators to introduce biblical/character content into public-school curricula, overlapping directly with LifeWise's mission to return Bible-based content to public schools. It is comparable as a faith-in-public-school movement actor.
• Bible2School: Bible2School is a direct, near-clone competitor that provides released-time Bible education to public school students during the school day. It operates the same product category as LifeWise (off-campus Bible classes) for the same K-12 public-school customer, making it the closest peer by product/offering and customer base.
• Stand For Truth: Stand For Truth is the founder-led parent organization under which LifeWise Academy was originally created in 2018, providing event-based ministry to public school students. It shares leadership, mission, and overlapping audience with LifeWise, and LifeWise was incubated out of it.

Broad incumbents

• AWANA: AWANA is a long-established provider of Bible-based curriculum and extracurricular programs for children, run through local church partnerships. It overlaps with LifeWise on Bible curriculum and faith-based youth programming, though delivered through Sunday/after-school rather than released-time channels.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes: FCA is explicitly mentioned by LifeWise as a comparably structured ministry nonprofit and runs character- and faith-based programs in public schools nationwide. It is a broader incumbent — sports-focused but operating with similar faith-in-public-school legal frameworks and a centralized/local-chapter operating model.
• Young Life: Young Life is a large, established faith-based youth ministry cited by LifeWise as a structural comparable for centralized nonprofit operations and fund accounting. It serves adolescents with Christian programming but in non-school settings (clubs, camps), making it a broader incumbent analog in scale and operating model.
• Youth for Christ: Youth for Christ is a national faith-based youth organization with school-connected programming (e.g., campus life) similar in audience and mission. It shares with LifeWise a chapter-based delivery model and reliance on donations, though it is broader and longer-established.

Emerging players

• Probe Ministries: Probe produces Christian worldview and apologetics curriculum used in public-school and home-school settings, positioning it as a partial-overlap curriculum competitor. It is more niche and teaching-resource oriented than LifeWise but shares the audience of Christian families seeking structured Bible education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LifeWiseAcademy
• Facebookfacebook.com/LifeWiseAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifewise-academy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 LifeWise Academy