Renovaré

What Renovaré does

Renovaré, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 48-1062723) founded in 1988 by Richard J. Foster and headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois. The organization provides Christian spiritual formation resources, training, courses, events, podcasts, and church renewal programs organized around its proprietary Six Streams Framework, which bridges six historic Christian traditions — Contemplative, Holiness, Charismatic, Social Justice, Evangelical, and Incarnational. Its product portfolio spans free digital resources (Renovaré Weekly newsletter, Guidepages, From the Inside Out free six-session course, podcasts including 'Life with God' and 'Friends in Formation'), community programs (Renovaré Book Club, Listening Groups), the two-year Renovaré Institute for Spiritual Formation, the CIRCLE regional cohort program for churches, the annual First Love Pastors Retreat ($1,299 per person at Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, CA), the Churches in Renewal Network (launched early 2026 with twelve founding churches), and publications including Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living Water sold through renovare.org, Amazon, and Christianbook.com.

The underlying platform is a digital content and course delivery system with subdomains for courses (courses.renovare.org), book club membership (bookclub.renovare.org), and donations (giving.renovare.org). Renovaré's business model is a hybrid of donation-driven non-profit funding, paid event registration, book sales, and tuition from the two-year Institute program. Go-to-market is product-led growth combined with community-led engagement: free resources and content marketing (podcasts, webinars, newsletters) acquire and engage audiences, while paid programs (Institute, retreats) and institutional relationships (CIRCLE cohorts, Churches in Renewal Network) drive deeper commitment. Some programs (CIRCLE, Churches in Renewal Network) are fully funded by the organization at no cost to participating churches.

Customer segments include individual Christians seeking personal spiritual growth, pastors and ministry leaders (addressed through retreats and Institute), churches as institutions (CIRCLE cohorts and Churches in Renewal Network), and a secondary segment of theologians and spiritual directors in academic settings (e.g., Friends University). Leadership comprises Ted Harro (President), Richella Parham (Chair of the Board of Trustees), Brandan Spencer (Director of Church Engagement), Carolyn Arends (Director of Education), with founder Richard J. Foster serving in an advisory role since 2008. The organization operates with 1–10 employees and claims 'international in scope' reach while concentrating operations in the United States.

Name

Renovaré

Legal name

Renovaré, Inc.

Website

https://renovare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Renovaré is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1988 by Richard J. Foster that provides Christian spiritual formation resources, courses, retreats, podcasts, and church renewal programs organized around its Six Streams Framework, serving individual Christians, pastors, and churches primarily in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Spiritual Formation Education and Programming

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), 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

• Spiritual formation resources
• Christian discipleship programs
• Pastoral leadership retreats
• Church renewal services
• Christian education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheaton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 48-1062723), Renovaré relies heavily on donations from individuals and organizations who support their mission of Christian spiritual formation.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from paid events including the First Love Pastors Retreat at $1,299 per person, which includes meals and lodging at Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, CA.
3. Book Sales: Sales of books and resources through the Renovaré website, Amazon, and Christianbook.com. Key titles include Celebration of Discipline, Streams of Living Water, and other spiritual formation resources.
4. Renovaré Institute Program: Revenue from the two-year Renovaré Institute for Spiritual Formation program, which offers guided experiences for renewal blending theology and practice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Renovaré provides Christian spiritual formation resources, training, courses, events, podcasts, and church renewal programs built around the Six Streams framework. The organization offers a two-year Institute program, free online courses, regional CIRCLE cohorts, Book Club, Listening Groups, pastoral retreats, and the Churches in Renewal Network for individual Christians, pastors, and churches seeking spiritual growth and congregational renewal.

Product overview

Renovaré offers a comprehensive suite of Christian spiritual formation resources and programs, including educational courses like the From the Inside Out Course (free six-session online course) and the Renovaré Institute for Spiritual Formation (a two-year program), community experiences such as CIRCLE cohort programs (ten-month regional learning experience) and Listening Groups, retreats like the First Love Pastors Retreat, publications including books and curated booklists, the Renovaré Weekly newsletter, podcasts (Life with God, Friends in Formation), digital guidepages on spiritual formation topics, and the Renovaré Book Club for guided reading journeys. The organization also runs the Churches in Renewal Network to support formational churches and offers the Renovaré Covenant as a spiritual commitment tool. Upcoming offerings include The Streams Course related to the six streams tradition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Renovaré Institute: A two-year journey of learning and practice, blending theology and experience to deepen intimacy with Jesus and foster lasting transformation
• CIRCLE (Churches in Renewal Cohort Learning Experience)
• Churches in Renewal Network
• First Love Pastors Retreat

Products and services

• Renovaré Institute for Spiritual Formation A two-year paid journey of learning and practice for individuals seeking deep spiritual formation, blending theology and experience to deepen intimacy with Jesus and foster lasting transformation.
• From the Inside Out Course A free six-session online course for groups and individuals seeking a deeper, more transformative life with God.
• Renovaré Book Club Annual membership-based journey through four soul-shaping books, with guided understanding and community engagement for individuals seeking deeper faith through reading.
• Listening Groups A community-based program providing spaces for groups to learn to listen to God and others through structured group experiences.
• CIRCLE Cohort Program (Churches in Renewal Cohort Learning Experience) An immersive ten-month program of study, prayer, and interchurch dialogue for churches in a geographic area committed to helping their congregations grow as disciples of Jesus. Free for participating churches.
• First Love Pastors Retreat A four-day, three-night paid retreat for pastors and ministry leaders to recenter their connection with Jesus in a safe space among others who understand the pastoral calling. $1,299 per person includes meals and lodging.
• Churches in Renewal Network A collective for formational churches that connects, guides, and provides practical resources for churches seeking to grow as communities for Christlikeness. Launched in early 2026 with twelve founding churches.
• A Spiritual Formation Primer (Book) An approachable book by Richella Parham that inspires readers that transformation into the image of Jesus Christ is available, possible, and awaiting every believer.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Churches in Renewal Network Founding ChurchescoreOthers · 1 January 2026Launched in early 2026 with twelve founding churches of various kinds. The network connects, guides, and provides practical resources for churches seeking to grow as communities for Christlikeness. Participating churches engage in ongoing discernment about their participation.
• Serra Retreat CentercoreOthersSerra Retreat Center in Malibu, CA is the venue for Renovaré's annual First Love Pastors Retreat. The center provides accommodation (rooms with shared bathrooms) and meeting space for the four-day, three-night retreat program. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to/from the venue.
• Friends UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeas Keasler, Associate Professor of Spiritual Theology and Director of MA in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Friends University, appears on Renovaré podcasts and writes articles for the organization. Renovaré's curriculum and approach are referenced in academic programs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Christianity Today: A major evangelical media and publishing organization with books, articles, events, and Global Church programs — broader incumbent overlapping with Renovaré's book sales, magazine-style content, and church-network reach.
• Yale Center for Faith and Culture: University-affiliated center producing theological research, formation initiatives, and pastoral programs — comparable academic-adjacent peer whose work on spiritual formation and pastoral flourishing intersects with Renovaré's Institute programming.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Major evangelical seminary offering graduate degrees and the Fuller Spiritual Formation certificate — broader incumbent whose curriculum overlaps with Renovaré's Institute content and whose faculty (e.g., Dallas Willard) has historical ties to the Renovaré tradition.

Direct peers

• Upper Room: A global Methodist-affiliated ministry producing daily devotionals, spiritual formation resources, and prayer experiences — directly comparable to Renovaré's blend of devotional content, retreats, and small-group formation programs for individual Christians and church leaders.
• The Transforming Center: A non-profit focused on spiritual formation for pastors and ministry leaders through cohorts, retreats, and the Transforming Center events — closely comparable to Renovaré's Institute and CIRCLE cohort programs targeting clergy renewal.
• Center for Action and Contemplation: Richard Rohr's non-profit producing free daily meditations, formation programs, and contemplative teaching — directly comparable to Renovaré's newsletter, free online course, and contemplative stream offerings with similar revenue model (donations + programs).
• C.S. Lewis Institute: A non-profit focused on discipleship and spiritual formation through courses, mentoring, and study groups — comparable to Renovaré's Institute, Listening Groups, and disciple-making programming for individuals and church leaders.

Emerging players

• Practicing the Way: John Mark Comer's newer organization producing spiritual formation courses, church cohorts, and apprenticeship pathways — emerging peer targeting the same audience of churches and individuals seeking structured formation beyond Sunday services.

Others

• InterVarsity Press: A leading Christian publisher distributing formative books, study guides, and Bible resources — adjacent peer serving as both a publishing channel and a content competitor for Renovaré's books and curated booklists.

Regional players

• Biola University Center for Christian Thought: University-based research and formation center producing spiritual formation resources, conferences, and academic publications — comparable as a faith-based formation organization, though primarily academic and U.S.-based in orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/renovare
• Xx.com/renovare
• Facebookfacebook.com/renovareofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renovar-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Renovaré