Assisting Families of Inmates
Assisting Families of Inmates (AFOI) is a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 1978 that provides visitation transportation, video visitation, family support programs, and children's services to families affected by incarceration across Virginia's 40 correctional facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Assisting Families of Inmates does
Assisting Families of Inmates (AFOI) is a Virginia-based nonprofit organization founded in 1978 that delivers a multi-service platform supporting families affected by incarceration. The organization operates three interconnected service lines: visitation support (in-person transportation to 30 Virginia correctional facilities and video visitation), family support programs (monthly support groups, HEARTY reentry program, quarterly Family Seminar Series), and children's services (the Milk and Cookies/MAC evidence-based curriculum active in 8 Richmond elementary schools). AFOI reports facilitating approximately 20,000 video visits per month and reaching over 250,000 families annually, with a stated mission to reduce recidivism by maintaining family connections during incarceration.
AFOI's technology stack is built on third-party platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure. Video visitation runs on GTL/Viapath technology, deployed across all 40 Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) major correctional facilities and through 10 AFOI-operated visitor centers statewide (Alexandria, Bristol, Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Mechanicsville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Roanoke). Transportation logistics rely on a partnership with Academy Transportation using charter buses and passenger vans departing from Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond. Virtual programming (support groups, family seminars, HEARTY) is delivered via Zoom, and Adobe Sign handles e-signature workflows for visitation applications.
AFOI operates a hybrid revenue model combining donations, program fees, and consultation services. Donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations constitute the largest funding stream. Program fees are usage-based: video visitation charges range from $2.40 to $7.50 per visit (with a $6.00 visitor center rate), and adult transportation is $10 per rider with children riding free. AFOI also offers fee-for-service consultation, training, and trauma-informed design services to other organizations and government agencies. Key institutional partnerships include VADOC, the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, Richmond Public Schools, Virginia Commonwealth University, Second Presbyterian Church, and the Art4Giving Foundation.
Assisting Families of Inmates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Assisting Families of Inmates
- Legal name
- Assisting Families of Inmates
- Website
- https://afoi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Assisting Families of Inmates (AFOI) is a Richmond, Virginia-based nonprofit founded in 1978 that provides visitation transportation, video visitation, family support programs, and children's services to families affected by incarceration across Virginia's 40 correctional facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Assisting Families of Inmates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Family & Social Services for the Incarcerated
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)
Keywords
Where Assisting Families of Inmates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Assisting Families of Inmates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: AFOI relies heavily on donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. The website features multiple donation options and ways to contribute including in-kind donations, workplace giving programs, and fundraising event support.
- Video Visitation Fees: Fees collected from at-home video visits ($2.40-$7.50 per visit depending on duration) and visitor center video visits ($6.00 per 50-minute visit). Fees support program operating costs; VADOC receives none of the fees.
- Transportation Program Fees: Adult transportation service fees of $10.00 per adult; children 17 and under ride at no cost. Maximum 3 visitors per incarcerated individual.
- Consultation and Training Services: Fee-for-service consultation and training services offered to organizations interested in developing programs for families affected by incarceration. Includes speaking and presentations for events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | At-Home Video Visits - 20 minute session |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | At-Home Video Visits - 50 minute session |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Visitor Center Video Visits - 50 minute session |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Transportation to Correctional Facilities |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Assisting Families of Inmates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AFOI provides visitation support (adult and juvenile transportation, at-home and visitor-center video visitation), family support services (support groups, HEARTY reentry program, Family Seminar Series, Family Reunification House), and children's services (the Milk and Cookies / MAC program) for Virginia families affected by incarceration. The organization also offers trauma-informed correctional space design and fee-for-service consultation and training to other agencies.
Product overview
Assisting Families of Inmates (AFOI) is a nonprofit organization serving families of the incarcerated since 1978, offering a multi-service platform focused on visitation, family support, and children's programs. The organization operates three interconnected service lines: (1) Visitation Services including VADOC Adult Transportation, VADJJ Juvenile Transportation, At-Home Video Visitation via GTL platform, and Visitor Center Video Visitation at 10 locations statewide; (2) Family Services including Family Support Groups, H.E.A.R.T.Y. reentry program, Family Seminar Series, and Family Reunification House; (3) Children's Services featuring the Milk and Cookies (MAC) Program at 8 Richmond elementary schools, plus consultation services for trauma-informed design and organizational training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VADOC Adult Transportation Services Low-cost charter bus transportation for Virginia families visiting adult incarcerated loved ones at state prisons. Buses depart from Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond and serve 30 correctional facilities across western, central, and eastern Virginia. Includes restrooms, breakfast, and lunch; $10.00 per adult (children 17 and under free); minimum 5 riders per trip; maximum 3 visitors per incarcerated individual.
- VADJJ Juvenile Transportation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 200,000 video visits from families to incarcerated loved ones placed last year
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Assisting Families of Inmates
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Assisting Families of Inmates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
Assisting Families of Inmates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC)coreLong-standing partnership providing AFOI access to correctional facilities for transportation services, video visitation infrastructure, and collaborative projects including ARPA-funded video visitation expansion. VADOC has requested AFOI's expertise in trauma-informed design for correctional spaces.
- Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)corePartnership for juvenile transportation initiative and co-development of HEARTY program (Health Encouragement and Assistance in Reentry for Thriving Youth) to address impediments to well-being for youth released from DJJ.
- Richmond City Sheriff's OfficeminorPartnership for innovative, collaborative projects supporting families of the incarcerated and increasing public safety.
- Academy TransportationcorePartnership to provide low-cost transportation to Virginia State Prisons for in-person family visitation. Academy Transportation provides charter buses and passenger vans for the transportation program.
- Winn TransportationminorPartner in DJJ Transportation Initiative providing free transportation for families of juveniles placed in correctional centers.
- Second Presbyterian Church RichmondcoreFounding partner from 1978 that helped launch the organization. Currently serves as departure/return location for transportation trips (5 North Fifth Street, Richmond, VA 23219).
- Richmond Public SchoolscorePartnership to deliver MAC (Milk and Cookies) Children's Program in 8 elementary schools serving children with incarcerated parents. Schools include Bellevue, Blackwell, Chimborazo, Fairfield Court, Henry Marsh III, Lois Harrison-Jones, Oak Grove-Bellemeade, and Woodville Elementary Schools.
- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)minorVCU MSW students serve as facilitators for the MAC Program. VCU NEWS has covered AFOI's work (February 2023 and December 2022). Nancy H. Hsu from VCU/VCU Health serves on the board.
- GTL/ViapathcoreTechnology partner providing the video visitation platform (gtlvisitme.com) used for at-home and visitor center video visits. AFOI works with GTL to provide enhanced video visitation services at all 40+ VADOC facilities.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Assisting Families of Inmates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums): National advocacy organization focused on sentencing reform and family impact of incarceration. Comparable 'families of the incarcerated' mission lens, though primarily advocacy rather than direct service.
- Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing employment-focused reentry services for people returning from incarceration. Comparable reentry mission to AFOI's HEARTY program, though employment rather than family-visitation focus.
- National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD): National research and advocacy nonprofit addressing criminal justice policy, including family impact. Comparable population focus but at a research/policy level rather than direct service delivery.
Direct peers
- Root & Rebound: California-based nonprofit providing legal and reentry support for people with criminal records and their families. Comparable family-focused reentry services adjacent to AFOI's HEARTY program.
- The Fortune Society: New York nonprofit providing reentry support, family services, and alternatives-to-incarceration programs for people affected by the criminal justice system. Comparable mission and family-of-incarcerated service mix to AFOI.
- Osborne Association: A New York-based nonprofit providing comprehensive services to people affected by incarceration, including family-focused visitation, reentry support, and children's programs. Most comparable U.S. organization to AFOI in scope of family-of-incarcerated services.
- Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street Incarceration Toolkit): Developed the 'Incarceration' toolkit and Little Children, Big Challenges resources specifically for children with incarcerated parents. Directly comparable to AFOI's MAC children's curriculum in target audience and evidence-based approach.
- A New Way of Life: Los Angeles nonprofit providing housing, reentry, and family reunification services for formerly incarcerated women. Comparable family reunification and reentry support offerings to AFOI's Family Reunification House.
Others
- Pew Charitable Trusts – Public Safety Performance Project: Philanthropy funding state-level criminal-justice reform and recidivism-reduction initiatives. Comparable as a funder/partner adjacent to AFOI's donor base and public-safety thesis.
- Brennan Center for Justice: National policy and research organization focused on criminal-justice reform including family-impact issues. Comparable thematic focus on incarceration outcomes but operates in policy rather than direct service.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Assisting Families of Inmates social profiles
Digital presenceAssisting Families of Inmates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Assisting Families of Inmates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Assisting Families of Inmates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Assisting Families of Inmates 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 Assisting Families of Inmates
What does Assisting Families of Inmates do?
AFOI provides visitation support (adult and juvenile transportation, at-home and visitor-center video visitation), family support services (support groups, HEARTY reentry program, Family Seminar Series, Family Reunification House), and children's services (the Milk and Cookies / MAC program) for Virginia families affected by incarceration. The organization also offers trauma-informed correctional space design and fee-for-service consultation and training to other agencies.
Is Assisting Families of Inmates a public or private company?
Assisting Families of Inmates is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Assisting Families of Inmates founded?
Assisting Families of Inmates was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Assisting Families of Inmates based?
Assisting Families of Inmates is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does Assisting Families of Inmates make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are video Visitation Fees, transportation Program Fees and consultation and Training Services.
Who are Assisting Families of Inmates's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums), Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD). Direct peers are Root & Rebound, The Fortune Society, Osborne Association, Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street Incarceration Toolkit) and A New Way of Life. Others are Pew Charitable Trusts – Public Safety Performance Project and Brennan Center for Justice.
Does Assisting Families of Inmates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Assisting Families of Inmates.
What industry is Assisting Families of Inmates in?
Assisting Families of Inmates's product category is Nonprofit Family & Social Services for the Incarcerated. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAE, Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.