Agape Community Inc

What Agape Community Inc does

Agape Community Inc is a lay Catholic residential community founded in 1982 in Hardwick, Massachusetts, on 34 acres within the Quabbin Reservoir watershed. It operates as a nonprofit religious organization delivering contemplative retreats, rural immersion programs, internships, workdays, and an annual Francis Day gathering, with a stated mission of practicing and teaching gospel-based nonviolence, sustainable living, and interfaith dialogue. The community is interfaith in practice and outreach, serving college students from partner institutions (Holy Cross, Stonehill, Iona, Fordham, St. Joseph's), individual retreatants, peace activists, and interfaith groups including Native American communities. It maintains ongoing partnerships with Freedom Farm Community, Pax Christi, Jonah House, and the Worcester Inter-Tribal Indian Center.

The community's product surface is split between physical hospitality/education programs and a small publication catalog. Programs include week-long college immersions, residential internships for ages 18+, individual and group retreats with hermitage stays, seasonal community workdays, and the annual Francis Day event featuring keynote speakers, workshops, music, and a vegan potluck. Publications include the quarterly 'Servant Song' journal and two books authored by community members: 'The Many Sides of Peace' (2013) and 'Loving Life on the Margins: The Story of the Agape Community' (2019), with pricing of $24.95 softcover and $12.00 PDF. Underlying physical infrastructure comprises solar-powered residences (electricity and hot water), straw bale construction with composting toilets, an organic vegetable garden supplying approximately 65% of community meals, wood-heat from on-site harvesting, and an electric vehicle. Co-founders Suzanne Belote Shanley and Brayton Shanley have led the community for over 40 years; in 2024-2026 they announced a transition to an elder role with leadership passing to younger members guided by Steve and Nancy James and Fr. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy.

Agape generates no fee-based service revenue; the operating model is donation-funded, supplemented by modest book sales and volunteer/intern labor. Outreach is conducted through college immersion partnerships, an annual events calendar (six major events per year), the Servant Song journal, a website and email communications, and book tours at Catholic colleges and faith communities. The organization is governed by a Mission Council and is independent, with no parent company, no institutional investment, and no public funding disclosures.

Name

Agape Community Inc

Legal name

Agape Community

Website

https://agapecommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Agape Community Inc is a lay Catholic nonprofit residential community in Hardwick, MA, founded in 1982, offering retreats, internships, college immersions, and nonviolence education funded by donations and modest book sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community and Retreat Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Nonviolence education
• Spiritual retreat programs
• Contemplative community
• Interfaith ministry
• Sustainable living

Headquarters

HQ city

Hardwick

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue source from donations and charitable contributions from supporters. Fundraisers include annual Advent fundraiser and ongoing campaigns for operational needs.
2. Publication Sales: Sales of books authored by community members including 'Loving Life on the Margins' ($24.95 softcover, $12.00 PDF) and 'The Many Sides of Peace' by Brayton Shanley
3. Volunteer and Internship Program Support: Support from interns and volunteers who participate in community life and contribute labor to sustainable operations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Agape Community is a lay Catholic residential community offering retreats, internships, rural immersion programs, hospitality, and nonviolence education on a 34-acre property in Hardwick, Massachusetts. The community conducts immersive educational programs in Gospel-based nonviolence, contemplative prayer, and sustainable living, alongside publishing the Servant Song quarterly journal and books including "The Many Sides of Peace" and "Loving Life on the Margins." Services are delivered on-site through residential stays, college immersion weeks, and annual community events such as Francis Day.

Product overview

Agape Community is a lay Catholic residential community offering programs and publications focused on gospel-based nonviolence, interfaith spirituality, and sustainable living. The organization's offerings include the Servant Song quarterly journal, published books (The Many Sides of Peace, Loving Life on the Margins), educational programs (rural immersions, internships, retreats), and annual events including Francis Day. These products and services collectively support the community's ministry of peace education, contemplative practice, and environmental stewardship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Servant Song Quarterly journal/publication of Agape Community featuring essays, reflections, poetry, and news about nonviolence, sustainability, peace activism, and community life.
• The Many Sides of Peace A book by Brayton Shanley exploring gospel-centered nonviolent love and its application to peace, justice, and environmental sustainability based on thirty years of Catholic lay community practice.
• Loving Life on the Margins: The Story of the Agape Community Book by co-founders Suzanne and Brayton Shanley documenting the history of the Agape Community, covering gospel-based nonviolence, interfaith perspectives, and action on issues including death penalty, war, racism, and environmental degradation.
• Rural Immersion Programs Week-long experiential programs for college students (Holy Cross, Stonehill, St. Joseph's) offering immersion into contemplative life, sustainable living practices, nonviolent community building, and social justice work.
• Francis Day Annual Event Annual celebration and educational event featuring keynote speakers, workshops, music, and communal activities focused on peace, nonviolence, and environmental stewardship, typically held in October.
• Internship Program Residential internship program offering full participation in community life including morning prayer, sustainable living practices, garden work, hospitality, and peace activism for individuals ages 18 and up.
• Retreat Programs Spiritual retreat offerings including group retreats, personal hermitage retreats, and contemplative programs focused on nonviolence, prayer, and mindfulness practice.
• Workday Events Community workdays bringing together volunteers for seasonal tasks including gardening, wood cutting, building maintenance, and sustainable living projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65% of community meals sourced from organic garden
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Freedom Farm CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982Sister community in Middletown, NY founded by Edgar Hayes and Ann Rader. Collaborative relationship working on sustainable agriculture, food justice, and welcoming inner-city youth. Edgar Hayes is a former Agape intern and both are members of Agape's Mission Council.
• College of the Holy CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual rural immersion programs where students spend a week at Agape learning about sustainable living, nonviolence, and contemplative practice. Ongoing partnership for over a decade.
• Jonah HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Liz McAlister and Phil Berrigan, part of the Catholic Worker movement lineage connected to Agape's nonviolent traditions. Liz McAlister provided endorsement for 'The Many Sides of Peace'.
• Pax ChristiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Catholic peace movement. Co-sponsor of Francis Day events and part of Agape's network of peace and justice organizations.
• Worcester Inter-Tribal Indian CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative American community organization that has collaborated on Francis Day events, particularly programs honoring Indigenous wisdom and leadership. Nicole Brathwaite-Hunt of the center has been a major contributor to community events.
• QuakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Agape's legacy network connecting to Quaker peace traditions. Agape's nonviolence practices draw from Quaker contemplative and activist traditions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Koinonia Farm: Intentional Christian community in Americus, Georgia founded by Clarence Jordan, with a long history of racial justice, sustainable agriculture, and hospitality. Closest historical analogue in Christian intentional-community-with-justice-focus space.
• Jonah House: Catholic Worker anti-war community in Baltimore co-founded by Philip Berrigan and Liz McAlister. Already a documented Agape partner, sharing the same Gospel nonviolence lineage and residential resistance-community structure.
• Maryhouse Catholic Worker: Catholic Worker house of hospitality in New York City operating in the Dorothy Day tradition. Shares the Catholic Worker lineage, hospitality orientation, and donation-funded nonprofit model with Agape.
• Freedom Farm Community: Sister intentional community in Middletown, NY founded by Edgar Hayes and Ann Rader, focused on sustainable agriculture and food justice. Existing strategic partner with overlapping resident and program model.
• Pendle Hill: Quaker retreat, study, and conference center in Wallingford, PA offering residential programs on peace, social justice, and contemplative practice. Comparable retreat-and-education business model with interfaith/justice orientation.
• The Simple Way: Philadelphia-based intentional community inspired by the Catholic Worker movement, founded by Shane Claiborne, focused on radical hospitality, nonviolence, and simplicity. Most directly comparable peer in mission, scale, and lifestyle-community model.

Broad incumbents

• Camphill Communities of North America: Network of intentional communities supporting people with developmental disabilities through shared life and work. A larger, more structured version of the residential-community-with-shared-purpose model.
• L'Arche USA: Federation of intentional communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together. Broader and more institutionalized version of the intentional-community model Agape operates.
• The Bruderhof: International Christian intentional community movement with shared economics, sustainable living, and communal prayer. Much larger scale, but a comparable lifestyle-community operating model grounded in Christian commitment to peace and simplicity.

Emerging players

• St. Placid Priory: Benedictine monastery and retreat center in Lacey, WA offering retreats, hospitality, and contemplative programming. Comparable retreat-center business model with similar donation-based funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agape-community-services-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Agape Community Inc