Bethlehem Farm, Inc.
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. is a Catholic nonprofit volunteer community in Talcott, West Virginia that runs week-long service-retreats, a low-income Rural Home Repair Program, and the Green Neighbors Solar Program, while modeling sustainable living through net-zero solar and rainwater systems.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersAlderson, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Bethlehem Farm, Inc. does
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. is a Catholic faith-based nonprofit volunteer community founded in 2005 and based on a 48-acre property in Talcott, West Virginia. The organization operates four interconnected programs: week-long service-retreats for Catholic high school and college groups, year-round and summer volunteer positions (Caretaker and Summer Servant programs), a Rural Home Repair Program serving low-income households in Summers, Monroe, and Greenbrier Counties, and the Green Neighbors Solar Program offering interest-free loans averaging $20,000-$30,000 for residential and church/nonprofit solar installations. The home repair and solar programs together address rural Appalachia's housing and energy affordability challenges through volunteer labor and renewable energy financing.
The underlying technology platform is physical rather than digital, centered on self-sustaining campus infrastructure: a 25kW net-zero solar electric system with battery backup (2020), 100% solar hot water (2020), a 32,000-gallon rainwater catchment system (2023), the San Damiano Center for Sustainability (learning center with composting toilets and root cellar), and the Danny Keith Maintenance Garage (112'x54' tool barn, wood shop, and vehicle bay completed in 2021). These systems enable the farm to operate off-grid for electricity while modeling the sustainable practices taught to volunteers.
Bethlehem Farm's revenue model blends donations (including a $450,000 Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign), $350-per-person service-week participation fees, material cost recovery from home repair recipients (with no-interest loans and 25% down payment terms), the annual Chicago Winter Benefit fundraiser, and material processing fees on online payments. Go-to-market is community-led within Catholic networks — recruitment flows through dioceses, Catholic schools (Notre Dame, Loyola Chicago, Delbarton, Ursuline New Orleans, Alvernia, Eastern Mennonite, Cristo Rey, Xaverian Brothers, and others), and faith-based word-of-mouth — with co-development partners including the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters on sustainability initiatives.
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bethlehem Farm, Inc.
- Legal name
- Bethlehem Farm, Inc.
- Website
- https://bethlehemfarm.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Bethlehem Farm, Inc. is a Catholic nonprofit volunteer community in Talcott, West Virginia that runs week-long service-retreats, a low-income Rural Home Repair Program, and the Green Neighbors Solar Program, while modeling sustainable living through net-zero solar and rainwater systems.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Faith-Based Volunteer and Community Service Programs
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Work Exchange & Farmstay Programs (WWOOF/HelpX-Style) (EDAIAGAK), Rural/Farmstay-Style Hostels (THAGAGAK), Farm Stays & Agritourism Lodges (THAMADAH)
Keywords
Where Bethlehem Farm, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alderson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual and organizational donations form a primary revenue stream. The organization runs annual capital campaigns (Rebuild My Church Capital Campaign targeting $450,000) and accepts various donation levels including monthly giving options.
- Service Week Participation Fees: Groups pay participation fees for service-retreat weeks. The 2020 fee was $350 per person including a $50 deposit. Fees cover operational costs of hosting volunteer groups.
- Annual Winter Benefit: Annual celebration/fundraiser event held in Chicago featuring auction items to raise funds for operations.
- Material Cost Recovery (Home Repair Program): Home repair recipients pay for material costs. No-interest loans for supplies can be arranged with 25% down payment required before work begins.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Service Week Participation Fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Home Repair Material Cost |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Payment Processing Fee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bethlehem Farm is a Catholic faith-based nonprofit volunteer community that operates week-long service-immersion retreats for high school, college, adult, and family groups at its 48-acre property in Talcott, WV. It delivers hands-on home repair services to low-income residents of Summers, Monroe, and Greenbrier County, and administers the Green Neighbors Solar Program providing interest-free loans for residential and church solar panel installations. The organization also runs longer-term Caretaker and Summer Servant residential volunteer programs that maintain the property and teach sustainable practices including organic gardening, composting, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy use.
Product overview
Bethlehem Farm is a Catholic faith-based nonprofit offering a suite of service programs centered on week-long service-retreats for youth groups, alongside longer volunteer positions (Caretakers and Summer Servants). The organization operates two primary community service programs: the Rural Home Repair Program providing low-income home repair to area residents, and the Green Neighbors Solar Program offering interest-free loans for residential and church solar installations. These programs are supported by Farm infrastructure including the San Damiano Center for Sustainability (learning center for gardens and animal care) and the Danny Keith Maintenance Garage (tool barn/wood shop/picnic shelter). The Farm also completed a 25kW solar panel system achieving net-zero electricity usage and installed a 32,000-gallon rainwater containment system in 2023.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Service-Retreats (Week-Long Immersions)
- Rural Home Repair Program
- Green Neighbors Solar Program
- Caretaker Program
- Summer Servant Program
- Group and Church Retreats
Quantifiable outcome
- Net-zero electricity usage achieved through 25kW solar installation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bethlehem Farm, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wheaton Franciscan SisterscorePartnership on sustainability projects including San Damiano Center construction, solar panel installations (25kW system and solar hot water), and rainwater containment system. The Sisters have provided funding and support for environmental initiatives aligned with Catholic social teaching on care for creation.
- Catholic Volunteer NetworkminorMember of national network connecting Catholic volunteer opportunities and organizations. Listed as member program providing visibility and network connections.
- West Virginia Council of ChurchesminorAffiliation with ecumenical organization representing Protestant and Catholic churches in West Virginia. Director Eric Fitts serves as Christian Churches Together in Appalachia member.
- DiocesecoreFormer landlord relationship with Diocese for property lease, now property owner after purchase in 2019. Ongoing relationship regarding Catholic identity and mission alignment.
- Coalition for Home RepairminorMember of coalition connecting home repair organizations across the country. Listed as member program providing network connections.
- Top Dog ConcreteminorLocal concrete contractor from Fayetteville, WV led by Harry Bowles. Provided concrete work for maintenance garage slab including 6 truckloads of concrete, finishing, and trench drains.
- Cash MasonryminorMasonry contractor from Covington, VA led by Steve Cash. Laid cinder block knee wall for maintenance garage foundation with 3 courses around perimeter.
- Solak BuilderscorePrimary contractor for San Damiano Center construction. Provided foundation work, block work, site preparation, and demolition of old garden tool shed.
- Diocesan SeminariansminorDiocesan seminarians occasionally serve at the farm for formation experiences, such as Nick Cochran working with Fr. Arthur Bufogle.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heifer International: Global nonprofit addressing hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture, livestock, and community-based learning. Comparable 'sustainable practices + education' curriculum angle at the San Damiano Center, though operating internationally and at much larger scale.
- Habitat for Humanity: Large nonprofit operating volunteer-driven home construction and repair for low-income families globally. Overlaps with Bethlehem Farm's Rural Home Repair Program in mission (housing affordability + volunteer labor) but is orders of magnitude larger and not faith-specific.
Others
- Catholic Volunteer Network: Membership network of Catholic volunteer and mission programs. Bethlehem Farm is an explicit member, making this an umbrella peer rather than a competitor, useful for benchmarking best practices and recruiting partner groups.
Direct peers
- Mercy Volunteer Corps: Catholic nonprofit placing young adults in year-long service positions with organizations serving people experiencing poverty. Comparable faith-based volunteer pipeline model, including the long-term residential volunteer concept used by Bethlehem Farm's Caretaker and Summer Servant programs.
- Christian Appalachian Project: Kentucky-based faith-rooted nonprofit running home repair, volunteer housing, and family services across rural Appalachia. Closely comparable operating model combining volunteer labor, low-income home repair, and community programs in an adjacent Appalachian geography.
- Jesuit Volunteer Corps: Catholic lay volunteer program placing recent graduates in full-time service with organizations serving the poor and marginalized. Comparable faith-driven, year-long volunteer placement structure and Catholic identity aligned with Bethlehem Farm's Caretaker community.
- Appalachian Service Project: Faith-based nonprofit that organizes volunteer home repair and construction trips for low-income families across Appalachia. Directly comparable mission (housing repair + faith formation + volunteer immersion) and region, though it operates across multiple Appalachian states rather than a single county cluster.
- Franciscan Mission Service: Catholic nonprofit organizing domestic and international service-immersion experiences rooted in Franciscan spirituality. Comparable week-long and longer-term retreat/service model focused on faith formation and community engagement.
- Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps (Cap Corps): Catholic year-of-service program rooted in Capuchin Franciscan spirituality that places volunteers with service organizations serving people in need. Comparable Catholic, residential, mission-immersion volunteer structure akin to Bethlehem Farm's Caretaker program.
Regional players
- Appalachian Voices: Regional nonprofit advocating for environmental stewardship and sustainable economic development in central and southern Appalachia. Comparable regional sustainability and education orientation, though focused on advocacy rather than direct service.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceBethlehem Farm, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. 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 Bethlehem Farm, Inc.
What does Bethlehem Farm, Inc. do?
Bethlehem Farm is a Catholic faith-based nonprofit volunteer community that operates week-long service-immersion retreats for high school, college, adult, and family groups at its 48-acre property in Talcott, WV. It delivers hands-on home repair services to low-income residents of Summers, Monroe, and Greenbrier County, and administers the Green Neighbors Solar Program providing interest-free loans for residential and church solar panel installations. The organization also runs longer-term Caretaker and Summer Servant residential volunteer programs that maintain the property and teach sustainable practices including organic gardening, composting, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy use.
Is Bethlehem Farm, Inc. a public or private company?
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bethlehem Farm, Inc. founded?
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bethlehem Farm, Inc. based?
Bethlehem Farm, Inc. is headquartered in Alderson, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bethlehem Farm, Inc. make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are service Week Participation Fees, annual Winter Benefit and material Cost Recovery (Home Repair Program).
Who are Bethlehem Farm, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heifer International and Habitat for Humanity. Catholic Volunteer Network is listed as an others. Direct peers are Mercy Volunteer Corps, Christian Appalachian Project, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Appalachian Service Project, Franciscan Mission Service and Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps (Cap Corps). Appalachian Voices is listed as a regional player.
Does Bethlehem Farm, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bethlehem Farm, Inc..
What industry is Bethlehem Farm, Inc. in?
Bethlehem Farm, Inc.'s product category is Faith-Based Volunteer and Community Service Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAGAI, Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs, with a secondary code of EDAIAGAK, Work Exchange & Farmstay Programs (WWOOF/HelpX-Style). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 7000.