The FAMiLY LEADER

What The FAMiLY LEADER does

The FAMiLY Leader is a Christian nonprofit ministry (501(c)(3)) headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa, that operates at the intersection of faith, family, and government. Founded in 1996 as the Iowa Family Policy Center and renamed in 2010, the organization's core mission is to equip pastors to engage government as a "missions field" rather than to recruit churches for partisan ends. Its flagship program is the Church Ambassador Network (CAN), which builds long-term, "shepherd-to-shepherd" relationships between pastors and government officials at the local, state, and federal levels; the network claims 8,750 documented pastor-government connections, 16,750 hours at the Iowa Capitol, and 700+ participating pastors over 10 years. To replicate the Iowa model nationally, the organization launched The Daniel Impact in 2015, an export strategy delivered through state-based affiliates connected via Family Policy Alliance and reaching 50,000+ churches across all 50 states.

The product and technology surface is modest. The proprietary iF 7:14 mobile app (iOS and Android) drives a twice-daily prayer rhythm at 7:14 AM and PM; a CRM and opt-in text-message program support voter and legislative outreach; and the Shepherd King podcast plus the BVP's Top 3 newsletter drive content engagement. The annual FAMiLY Leadership Summit (15th year in 2026) is the primary commercial touchpoint, with general admission at $99, premium luncheons at $149, a breakfast add-on at $30, and corporate sponsorships ranging from $750 to over $100,000 (Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America served as 2026 presenting sponsor).

The revenue model is donor-dependent. The organization is funded primarily through charitable contributions from individuals and partner organizations, supplemented by Summit ticketing and corporate sponsorships. Core ministry programs, the iF 7:14 app, and CAN participation are provided free to pastors, churches, and government officials. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Denny Hanson, with Bob Vander Plaats serving as President & CEO; there is no parent company, no venture or private-equity ownership, and no disclosed funding rounds or revenue figures.

Name

The FAMiLY LEADER

Legal name

The FAMiLY Leader

Website

https://thefamilyleader.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The FAMiLY Leader is an Iowa-based Christian nonprofit ministry that connects pastors with government officials through its Church Ambassador Network, exporting the model nationwide via The Daniel Impact and serving 50,000+ churches across all 50 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Advocacy Ministry

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Faith-based ministry
• Church-state partnerships
• Religious advocacy
• Public policy ministry
• Nonprofit ministry services

Headquarters

HQ city

Urbandale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization relies primarily on charitable donations from individuals and supporters who share its mission to empower the Church at the intersection of faith, family, and government. Donors can give through the website and are encouraged to partner financially with various initiatives.
2. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue generated from the annual FAMiLY Leadership Summit through ticket sales ($99-$149) and corporate sponsorships at various levels ($750 to $100,000+). The event also features luncheon options and premium experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The FAMiLY Leader is a Christian nonprofit ministry that empowers the Church to engage with government at the intersection of faith, family, and government. It operates the Church Ambassador Network connecting pastors with government officials through shepherd-to-shepherd relationships, conducts election engagement work, advocates for biblical policy positions, and runs the iF 7:14 prayer ministry and the annual FAMiLY Leadership Summit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Daniel Impact: A strategy for exporting The FAMiLY Leader's ministry model to all 50 states and beyond, partnering with like-minded local organizations.
• Church Ambassador Network
• iF 7:14
• Choose Well

Products and services

• Church Ambassador Network A network connecting pastors and church leaders (shepherds of the Church) with government leaders (shepherds of government) through gospel-centered shepherd-to-shepherd relationships. Operates regionally in Iowa, Texas, and other states, engaging 700+ pastors and producing 8,750+ pastor-government connections and 16,750+ hours at the Capitol.
• The Daniel Impact A national expansion strategy that exports The FAMiLY Leader's proven church-government engagement model to independent state-based organizations in all 50 states. Reaches 50,000+ churches nationwide through partner state policy organizations like Center for Arizona Policy and Indiana Family Institute.
• iF 7:14 Prayer Ministry A free prayer ministry inspired by 2 Chronicles 7:14 featuring a mobile app for iOS and Android that prompts believers to pray twice daily at 7:14 AM and 7:14 PM, creating a global prayer rhythm across time zones with encouragement from biblical truths.
• FAMiLY Leadership Summit An annual in-person summit held at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines (in its 15th year in 2026), featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking, and premium luncheon experiences with national leaders, pastors, and elected officials. Ticket prices range from $99 to $149 per person.
• Choose Well An initiative that equips pastors to biblically prepare their congregations for elections, operating in 20 states through The Daniel Impact network. Provides voter education, candidate evaluation tools, and biblical worldview guidance for civic engagement.
• Elections & Policy Advocacy Policy advocacy and election engagement work including lobbying on pro-life, foster care, religious liberty, parental educational choice, and payday lending issues. Includes endorsement of candidates and providing policy analysis through the BVP's Top 3 newsletter.

Quantifiable outcome

• Iowa foster care reduced from 8,000 to 3,200 children in state system over 6 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Church Ambassador Network of Texas facilitates appreciation events for DFPS staff and builds relationships between pastors and DFPS leadership to strengthen child welfare initiatives.
• CommuniocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Strategic partnership to equip evangelical churches across Iowa to improve marriage and family health. Communio provides tailored support to churches under The FAMiLY Leader's Church Ambassador Network, focusing on renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and families. Shepherd of the Valley Church in West Des Moines was the first partner church.
• CommuniocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Communio was officially launched at The FAMiLY Leader's Breaking Bondage Tour, with Gov. Kim Reynolds and HHS Director Kelly Garcia receiving inaugural Church Ambassador Network Gospel Partner Awards.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025Senior officials from U.S. HHS joined Church Ambassador Network for church-state partnership tours in Iowa to observe the foster care model that reduced children in state care from 8,000 to 3,200. Iowa has become a national model for this church-state collaboration.
• Susan B. Anthony List (Her Plan)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2025Susan B. Anthony's Her Plan program joined Church Ambassador Network tours in Iowa. Her Plan builds community wraparound supports across the nation for women and seeks to grow in reaching the church.
• For OthersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Tennessee-based non-profit working to end the national orphan care crisis visited Iowa to learn about the Church Ambassador Network model for engaging the Church.
• Stand Together FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Foundation working to rebuild America's major urban centers visited Iowa to learn about engaging the Church, specifically the Church Ambassador Network model.
• Family Policy AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The Daniel Impact model is exported across the nation through independent, state-based organizations connected through Family Policy Alliance. The alliance provides training, mentoring, and shared best practices to help implement Church Ambassador Networks in each state.
• North Texas Assemblies of GodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBryan English and Lanay Fournier represented CAN Texas at the LEAD Conference in Dallas, connecting with church leaders for ministry partnership opportunities.
• South Texas Assemblies of GodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNino Gonzalez shared the ministry from the main platform at the South Texas Assemblies of God Ministry Network, connecting with pastors from the region.
• Church of ZambiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA church leader from Zambia is working to bring The FAMiLY Leader's church-state partnership model back to his home country, representing the international expansion of the ministry model.
• Center for Arizona PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArizona became the ninth state to launch The Daniel Impact initiative, with Cathi Herrod noting the unique ministry model for church engagement.
• Indiana Family InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJosh Hershberger of Indiana Family Institute leads church-state partnerships on foster care, drug crisis, and mental health issues. The partnership includes sharing Scripture and encouraging legislators.
• Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life AmericaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for FAMiLY Leadership Summit 2026, with Marjorie Dannenfelser serving as a speaker.
• Turning Point ActioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of FAMiLY Leadership Summit, advancing conservative grassroots engagement.
• Americans for Prosperity IowacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored the Moms for Liberty Iowa gubernatorial debate, working together on conservative policy engagement.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Family Association: AFA is an established national Christian organization active in policy advocacy and cultural engagement. While more media-and-mobilization focused, it operates in the same faith-based advocacy arena with overlapping donor and audience segments.
• Family Research Council: Family Research Council is a national faith-based policy organization that engages in legislative advocacy on family, faith, and life issues from Washington, D.C. It is comparable as a Christian organization focused on policy influence, though operating at the federal level rather than state-by-state.
• Concerned Women for America: Concerned Women for America is a national faith-based public policy organization focused on family, faith, and conservative policy advocacy. It shares TFL's constituency and policy priorities but operates at a national scale with a different organizational structure.
• Focus on the Family: Focus on the Family is a large, established Christian ministry with overlapping concerns in family policy, marriage strengthening, and faith-based civic engagement. While broader in scope and national in footprint, it shares the faith-based family-policy mission space with The FAMiLY Leader.

Direct peers

• Family Policy Alliance: Family Policy Alliance is the national network through which The Daniel Impact is exported state-by-state. It operates state-based family policy organizations that mirror The FAMiLY Leader's church-government engagement model across the country, making it the most direct structural peer.
• Center for Arizona Policy: Center for Arizona Policy is a partner in The Daniel Impact and operates as Arizona's state-level family policy organization under the Family Policy Alliance umbrella. It is directly comparable as a state-level peer pursuing the same church-state engagement playbook.
• Indiana Family Institute: Indiana Family Institute is a Family Policy Alliance state partner running church-state engagement on foster care, drug crisis, and mental health. It mirrors The FAMiLY Leader's CAN model in Indiana and is among the most direct state-level operational peers.

Emerging players

• Moms for Liberty: Moms for Liberty is a parent-led parental rights organization that co-sponsored a gubernatorial debate with The FAMiLY Leader. It overlaps on Iowa conservative civic engagement and parental rights policy, with a more grassroots/parent-led identity versus TFL's pastor-led model.
• Wallbuilders: Wallbuilders, led by David Barton (a TFL Summit luncheon host), focuses on faith-based civic education and historical policy advocacy. It is comparable as a faith-and-government engagement organization but emphasizes historical/educational rather than direct church-government matchmaking.

Regional players

• Iowa Christian Alliance: Iowa Christian Alliance is a state-level peer operating in the same Iowa market with similar voter engagement and pro-family policy work. Geographic overlap makes it a regional competitor for the same Iowa donor base and church engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Church-Ambassador-Network-of-IA-108778585219125
• Instagraminstagram.com/can.iowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-family-leader

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 The FAMiLY LEADER