Shining Light, Inc.

What Shining Light, Inc. does

Shining Light, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that delivers mental health, creative arts, and reentry programs to incarcerated individuals in U.S. state and federal correctional facilities. The organization's portfolio is organized around three primary delivery modalities: (1) Shining Light Academy, a 25-session evidence-based program integrating positive psychology tools (gratitude interventions, VIA Character Strengths, hope and self-regulation practices) with creative writing and peer facilitation, deliverable via video conferencing or in person; (2) The Loop, a bi-monthly interactive magazine (physical and digital) that uses the 24 VIA Character Strengths as its editorial spine and includes creative writing prompts, visual art opportunities, and peer-submitted content; and (3) Original Content on Tablets, a suite of self-guided video courses (Character Strengths Video Series, Creative Labs) distributed through the Edovo prison tablet platform, reaching over 800,000 incarcerated readers across hundreds of facilities. Supporting sub-products include Loop Groups (peer-facilitated discussion groups), Writer's CoLab (writing mentorship), Creations of a Caged Bird (video anthology), When Light Appears (collaborative Christmas production), and Influence: A Film in Verse.

The business model is donation-funded. Programs are provided free to incarcerated individuals and partner facilities; the organization raises revenue through individual and corporate donations, foundation grants (notably a 2018 NEA grant and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts support), and an integrated DonorPerfect donor portal. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales into state Departments of Corrections: formal partnerships have been established with North Dakota DOCR, Pennsylvania DOC (including the Veterans Service Unit at SCI-Dallas), Ohio (Pickaway Correctional Institution), and South Carolina, with 12 active peer-facilitated Loop Groups serving over 200 weekly participants. Outcomes data — including a 5% participant reincarceration rate against a 55% national average, a 25% decrease in violent incidents at the NDSP Behavioral Intensive Unit, and 30,749 Character Strengths course completions as of March 2025 — underpin both grant applications and DOC renewals. The organization is founder-controlled (Jeff Bohn, Executive Director) with a team of 11-50 employees distributed across multiple states and a board that includes University of Pennsylvania MAPP program affiliates and a PEN America award recipient.

Name

Shining Light, Inc.

Legal name

Shining Light, Inc.

Website

https://shining-light.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shining Light, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers evidence-based positive psychology, creative arts, and reentry programs to incarcerated individuals across U.S. state prisons through direct facilitation, an interactive magazine, and tablet-based content via the Edovo partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Annville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Shining Light operates primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. The organization accepts tax-deductible contributions through its donor portal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shining Light provides mental health and reentry programs for incarcerated individuals through facilitated courses (Shining Light Academy), a bi-monthly interactive magazine (The Loop), and tablet-based content distributed via Edovo. Programs integrate VIA Character Strengths positive psychology with creative writing and arts, delivered via direct facilitation, video conferencing, and digital platforms to improve mental health outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Product overview

Shining Light, Inc. is a non-profit organization operating a multi-format educational and rehabilitation platform for incarcerated populations. The core portfolio consists of three primary delivery methods: (1) Shining Light Academy - direct facilitation programs using evidence-based positive psychology curriculum; (2) The Loop - an interactive magazine distributed both physically and via the Edovo tablet platform; and (3) Original Content on Tablets - self-guided video courses. Supporting sub-products include Character Strengths Video Courses (Learn Your Strengths, Apply Your Strengths), Creative Labs (Playwriting Lab, Spoken Word Lab), Loop Groups (peer-facilitated discussions), Writer's CoLab (writing mentorship), Creations of a Caged Bird (video anthology), When Light Appears (collaborative Christmas production), and Influence: A Film in Verse. The offerings integrate VIA Character Strengths framework and creative arts to improve mental health, reduce recidivism, and prepare individuals for reentry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Loop: An interactive magazine for incarcerated readers, published bi-monthly, rooted in concepts from Positive Psychology and VIA Character Strengths. Available digitally through Edovo tablets to over 800,000 incarcerated readers.
• Shining Light Academy
• Loop Groups

Products and services

• The Loop An interactive magazine published bi-monthly, rooted in positive psychology concepts and VIA Character Strengths. Each issue explores a character strength and includes prompts for reflection, creative writing, and visual art. Available in physical copies distributed through prison staff and digitally through Edovo tablets to over 800,000 incarcerated readers across hundreds of facilities.
• Shining Light Academy A 25-session evidence-based program providing direct facilitation in prisons, using positive psychology curriculum including character strengths, gratitude interventions, creative writing, and hope-building exercises to improve mental health and reduce recidivism. Grounded in research from the University of Pennsylvania's Master of Applied Positive Psychology program.
• Original Content on Tablets Self-guided video courses and content available on tablets in prisons, including character strengths courses, creative labs (playwriting, spoken word), and The Loop magazine distributed through the Edovo tablet platform.
• Character Strengths Video Courses Video courses including 'Learn Your Strengths' (4-part series introducing 24 character strengths) and 'Apply Your Strengths' (4-part series on gratitude and self-regulation), with 30,749 course completions as of March 2025. Available with subtitles in English and Spanish.
• Creative Labs Video-based courses including the Playwriting Lab (3-part series on theater foundations) and Spoken Word Lab (4-part masterclass series on poetry), with 3,767 course completions as of March 2025. Available with subtitles in English and Spanish.
• Loop Groups Peer-facilitated discussion groups using The Loop magazine as a curriculum guide. Selected incarcerated leaders implement evidence-based curriculum through weekly discussion groups, accountability, and creative expression.
• Writer's CoLab A mentorship program pairing incarcerated writers with professional writers, providing feedback and guidance over three months of correspondence, with 14 participants per cohort.
• The Loop: Extended Extended collections of creative works (writing and visual art) submitted by incarcerated readers in response to The Loop magazine prompts, organized by year.
• Creations of a Caged Bird Video anthology featuring creative pieces (spoken word, dance, short films) written by incarcerated individuals and performed by professional artists outside.
• When Light Appears A collaborative Christmas production created by women at a Pennsylvania state prison with professional artists via video conferencing, featuring original choreography, spoken word, song, and a short film.
• Influence: A Film in Verse A feature-length collaborative film created by 13 incarcerated writers from across the US, produced by film professionals in New York City. Available free to incarcerated audiences in over 12,000 facilities nationwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5% reincarceration rate for Shining Light participants vs 55% national average
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EdovocoreTechnology or IntegrationEdovo is a prison education tablet company that provides Shining Light content digitally to incarcerated individuals. Through this partnership, The Loop magazine, video courses (Character Strengths Series, Creative Labs), and the 'Influence' film are available to over 800,000 incarcerated readers across hundreds of facilities throughout the United States. This partnership enables Shining Light to scale its reach significantly beyond physical distribution capabilities.
• VIA Institute on CharactercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VIA Institute on Character provides the classification system of 24 Character Strengths that forms the theoretical foundation for Shining Light's programs. Each issue of The Loop revolves around one character strength, and Shining Light's Character Strengths Video Series has been praised by VIA's Chief Science Officer Dr. Ryan Niemiec as 'probably the greatest character strengths creation for the correctional facility setting/population that I have seen.' The partnership is central to Shining Light's evidence-based approach.
• North Dakota Department of Corrections and RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership with North Dakota DOCR for implementation of Shining Light Academy at North Dakota State Penitentiary, including the Behavioral Intensive Unit. The partnership began in 2021 during the pandemic and continues to demonstrate consistent positive outcomes including 25% decrease in violent incidents.
• Pickaway Correctional Institution (Ohio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pickaway Correctional Institution in Ohio for Loop Groups peer-facilitation program. Under leadership of Deputy Warden Mike Fisher and Loop Group staff supervisor Stacey Leisure, the facility grew engagement from 4 casual readers (0.2% of population) in 2021 to over 350 people (19.5%) by May 2024.
• SCI-Dallas (Pennsylvania) Veterans Service UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pennsylvania DOC's specialized Veterans Service Unit at SCI-Dallas, serving 140 veterans. The summer 2023 pilot of Shining Light Academy in this unit demonstrated profound impact on veterans who typically struggle with vulnerability and self-expression, leading to a statewide Veterans Coordinator's interest in expanding to all 6 PA VSUs.
• University of Pennsylvania MAPP ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShining Light's programs are grounded in positive psychology research from the University of Pennsylvania's Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program. Travis Bohn, Program Advisor, earned his MAPP degree from Penn, and Founder Jeff Bohn is enrolled in the program (graduating 2025). Leona Brandwene, Associate Director of Penn's MAPP program, serves on Shining Light's board.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Books Through Bars: Nonprofit providing free books and educational resources to incarcerated people. Comparable as a small education-focused nonprofit serving the same incarcerated audience via direct mail/distribution, though narrower in scope than Shining Light's full curriculum.
• Unlocked Labs: Nonprofit creating tech-enabled educational and reentry tools for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, often via tablet and digital platforms. Comparable to Shining Light's tablet-delivered content strategy and similar target audience.
• Root & Rebound: Nonprofit providing legal education, reentry planning, and direct services to people navigating the criminal justice system. Comparable as a reentry-focused nonprofit serving justice-involved populations with structured programming.

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): Large nonprofit providing employment-focused reentry services to people returning from incarceration across multiple U.S. states. Comparable as a multi-state, evidence-driven reentry nonprofit with state-level contracts and outcome-based programming.
• Petey Greene Program: Nonprofit that recruits and trains volunteer tutors to provide free educational programs inside prisons and jails. Comparable to Shining Light as a directly delivered, volunteer-facilitated correctional education nonprofit with similar mission and target population.
• Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison: Nonprofit providing higher education, life-skills, and reentry support to incarcerated individuals across multiple state prison systems. Highly comparable to Shining Light's Academy model — direct-facilitation correctional education serving similar DOC partners and participant populations.
• The Fortune Society: Long-standing New York-based nonprofit providing comprehensive reentry and alternatives-to-incarceration services, including in-prison programming and post-release support. Comparable mission and direct-facilitation model in correctional settings.
• National Alliance for Prison Entrepreneurship (NAPE): Nonprofit delivering in-prison entrepreneurship and reentry programming at multiple state DOC sites. Comparable to Shining Light as a direct-facilitation correctional education nonprofit with state-level DOC partnerships and outcome tracking.
• Defy Ventures: Nonprofit delivering entrepreneurship and character-based programming to incarcerated individuals and returning citizens, often through in-prison intensives and post-release support. Closely comparable to Shining Light's Academy/Loop Group reentry preparation model.

Broad incumbents

• Edovo: Prison education tablet platform that distributes content (including Shining Light's) to incarcerated learners across hundreds of facilities. Comparable as the digital infrastructure partner and a fellow player in the correctional education technology ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/shininglight
• Facebookfacebook.com/shininglightinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shininglight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Shining Light, Inc.