What Theological Horizons does

Theological Horizons is a 501(c)(3) Christian ministry founded in 1990 and operated from the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, VA. Its portfolio centers on vocational discernment programs (Perkins Fellows for undergraduates, Horizons Fellows for fourth-year students), a weekly theological-discussion series (Vintage Lunch), an intergenerational outreach initiative (Saints of the City), a guest-speaker conversation series (Faith & Work Forum), a flagship lecture program (Scoper Lectures), and a publishing/media arm led by Executive Director Karen Marsh that includes the books Vintage Saints and Sinners and Wake up to Wonder and the Vintage Saints & Sinners podcast. Programs are delivered primarily in person at the historic Bonhoeffer House and other UVA venues; newer offerings such as StoryWork Collective, Internships & Grants for Young Adults, Deeper Dialogues, and Catalytic Stories extend the ministry into the post-graduate lifecycle.

The underlying "technology" is non-technical: the ministry runs on relational programming, a Squarespace-hosted website, email newsletters, and podcast distribution, with no proprietary software, APIs, or platform architecture disclosed. Service delivery is partner-mediated — Perkins Fellows serve weekly at Charlottesville nonprofits including Abundant Life Ministries, International Neighbors, the International Rescue Committee, Bread & Roses, The Haven, Literacy Volunteers, the Ronald McDonald House, and Virginia Book Arts — and the program is nationally networked through the Christian Community Development Association.

The business model is donation-funded, not commercial. Programs are free to participants; revenue derives from tax-deductible individual donations, an annual Matching Gift Challenge, Giving Tuesday and DAF Day campaigns, modest program/event fees, and a merchandise shop. The organization holds a 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of transparency. Staff size is 1-10, led by Karen Marsh (Executive Director), Christy Yates (Associate Director), Ashley Fan (Leadership Associate), and co-founder Charles Marsh (UVA professor), with governance by an active board now chaired by Penny Peebles.

Name

Theological Horizons

Legal name

Theological Horizons

Website

https://theologicalhorizons.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Theological Horizons is a Christian ministry at the University of Virginia that runs faith-and-vocation programs — Perkins and Horizons Fellows, Vintage Lunch, Faith & Work Forum, Scoper Lectures, and Saints of the City — for UVA students, young alumni, and Charlottesville community partners, funded by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based University Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Faith-based ministry
• Vocational discernment programs
• Theological education services
• University faith programs
• Community engagement ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlottesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry that relies primarily on tax-deductible donations from individuals, supporters, and alumni. They conduct annual Matching Gift Challenges where donations are doubled. The organization has a Candid Platinum Seal indicating financial transparency.
2. Program Participation Fees: While many programs are free for students, there may be nominal costs associated with certain events, retreats, or publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Theological Horizons operates as a Christian ministry at the University of Virginia delivering faith-integration programs, vocational discernment fellowships, discussion gatherings, and a signature lecture series. Core offerings include the Perkins Fellows and Horizons Fellows vocational discernment programs, Vintage Lunch weekly discussions, the Faith & Work Forum, Saints of the City intergenerational gatherings in multiple cities, and the Scoper Lectures. The Bonhoeffer House serves as the central gathering facility, supported by a podcast, blog, and publications.

Product overview

Theological Horizons is a university ministry at the University of Virginia offering a portfolio of interconnected programs for vocational discernment and faith integration. The core programs include Perkins Fellows (community-engaged vocational discernment through service), Horizons Fellows (fourth-year mentorship program), Faith & Work Forum (conversation series on vocation), Vintage Lunch (weekly discussion gatherings), Saints of the City (intergenerational outreach across multiple cities), and Scoper Lectures (signature lecture series). These programs are supported by the Bonhoeffer House as a central gathering facility and complemented by media resources including the Vintage Saints & Sinners Podcast, student programs like StoryWork Collective, and internship opportunities. The organization serves UVA students, young alumni, and the broader community through these integrated ministry offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Perkins Fellows: Vocational discernment through community engagement program for undergraduates
• Horizons Fellows
• The Bonhoeffer House
• Saints of the City
• Scoper Lectures
• Vintage Lunch
• Faith & Work Forum

Products and services

• Perkins Fellows A vocational discernment program through community engagement for undergraduate students at UVA, offering weekly service with community partners and monthly theological reflection sessions. Named after John M. & Vera Mae Perkins, the program builds bridges between the University and the Charlottesville community.
• Horizons Fellows A vocational discernment program for fourth-year UVA students exploring faith and calling through relational discipleship, guided mentorship from varied careers, and monthly cohort discussions focused on developing a theologically rich understanding of personal vocation.
• Faith & Work Forum A conversation series discussing the interplay between faith, work, and life, featuring guest speakers with leadership experience from across a wide range of vocations who share authentic stories about seeking meaningful, purpose-driven work.
• Saints of the City An outreach initiative providing warm environments for people from different ages, faith, and cultural backgrounds to connect and consider spiritual truth as modeled by saints from the Christian tradition; active in Atlanta, Washington DC/Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Richmond, and Birmingham.
• Vintage Lunch Weekly discussion gatherings exploring theology and faith integration into everyday life, featuring speakers, book discussions, and community meals.
• Scoper Lectures A signature lecture series bringing thought leaders in Christian thought to UVA, including the annual Capps Lecture and the Scoper Lecture in Christian Thought.
• Vintage Saints & Sinners Podcast A podcast hosted by Karen Wright Marsh exploring saints throughout history and their stories of faith and life, distributed on podcast platforms.
• StoryWork Collective A student program for young adults focusing on storytelling and faith integration.
• Internships & Grants for Young Adults Opportunities for young adults to engage in ministry and vocational development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80+ Perkins Fellows who have served nearly 1000 hours for the city

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abundant Life Ministries (CALM)coreOthersCommunity partner for Perkins Fellows program. CALM has served the Prospect neighborhood in Charlottesville for 28 years through youth and family support programs. Fellows volunteer weekly with the organization.
• International NeighborscoreOthersCommunity partner providing care and support to refugees in the Charlottesville area. Perkins Fellows serve and learn from this organization.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)coreOthersGlobal humanitarian organization. A Perkins Fellow serves weekly with IRC teaching English to refugees.
• Bread & RosescoreOthersUrban garden and food justice initiative of Trinity Episcopal Church, the first Black Episcopal Church in Charlottesville founded in 1919. Perkins Fellows engage with this food justice work.
• The HavencoreOthersLow-barrier day shelter for individuals experiencing housing instability in Charlottesville. Perkins Fellows visit and learn about homelessness issues.
• Literacy VolunteerscoreOthersNonprofit providing literacy services. A Perkins Fellow serves weekly to support adult literacy programs.
• Ronald McDonald House CharitiescoreOthersA Perkins Fellow serves weekly at the Ronald McDonald House in Charlottesville.
• Virginia Book ArtsminorOthersArts nonprofit in Charlottesville. A Perkins Fellow serves with this organization.
• Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCDA is a national association for Christian community development practitioners. Theological Horizons sends Perkins Fellows annually to the CCDA National Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The conference covers themes of Shalom, justice, reconciliation, and beloved community.
• Laity LodgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization mentioned in connection with Theological Horizons programs.
• Kindness CaféminorOthersLocal coffee shop employing adults with cognitive disabilities. Perkis Fellows often start their gatherings with coffee from Kindness Café.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: Largest U.S. campus ministry operating at UVA and hundreds of other universities with Bible studies, missions, and vocational programs — directly comparable Christian university ministry model.
• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): National interdenominational campus ministry with programs, conferences, and vocational resources at U.S. universities; the most direct scale comparable to Theological Horizons' vocational discernment focus.
• Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO): University ministry focused on collegiate discipleship and vocation — already a strategic partner of Theological Horizons via the CCDA National Conference — operating a closely similar model at multiple campuses.
• The Navigators: International Christian organization with a U.S. collegiate ministry focused on mentoring, Bible study, and lifelong discipleship — comparable in its student-to-alumni mentoring pipeline.
• Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry: United Methodist-affiliated campus ministries providing faith communities, service opportunities, and vocational discernment at secular universities; directly comparable student ministry model.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Newman Centers / FOCUS: Catholic university ministry and the larger FOCUS organization run vocational discernment and fellowship programs at secular universities; broader denominational incumbent in the same campus ministry category.
• Young Life College: Young Life's collegiate arm provides a comparable faith community and mentoring structure for college students and young alumni; broader incumbent with adjacent programming model.

Emerging players

• Christian Community Development Association (CCDA): National association of Christian community development practitioners whose conference Theological Horizons attends annually; comparable mission focus on faith-integrated community development.
• Bread for the World: Christian advocacy and formation organization working on hunger/justice issues from a faith-rooted perspective; partially overlaps Theological Horizons' faith-and-justice framing through Perkins Fellows' community partnerships.
• Issachar Fund / The Theology of Work Project: Faith-and-work focused organization producing resources on integrating Christian theology with vocation; directly comparable in thematic overlap with Theological Horizons' Faith & Work Forum programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theological-horizons

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 Theological Horizons