Thurman Brisben Center: A Place for Transformation

What Thurman Brisben Center: A Place for Transformation does

The Thurman Brisben Center: A Place for Transformation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit emergency shelter founded in 1987 by six downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia churches and incorporated in 1988 as the Church Shelter Board for the Rappahannock Area, Ltd. Operating as the Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter (dba Thurman Brisben Center), it runs an 80-bed, 24/7/365 congregate facility at 471 Central Road in Fredericksburg, Virginia, serving homeless families with children and single adults from the City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, and Caroline counties.

The Center's core offering is the Brisben Bridge framework—a five-pillar theory of change (financial literacy, case management and Mobility Mentoring, health and sobriety, community engagement, and parenting skills) designed to move residents from homelessness to sustained re-housing, with an average length of stay of 83 days. Services include safe shelter accommodations, three daily meals, case management, life skills coaching, employment assistance, children's programs, a computer lab with wi-fi, and referrals to health and social services. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard web, email, and social media channels, with no proprietary software platform.

The business model is community-funded: revenue derives entirely from tax-deductible individual donations (online via PayPal and Givelify, by mail, and through planned giving vehicles such as wills, trusts, and donor-advised funds) and in-kind goods contributions (toiletries, food, cleaning supplies, diapers, etc.). Outreach occurs through the organization's website, Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, an email newsletter, and community events such as Dine to Donate partnerships with local restaurants. The Center has 11–50 employees and relies heavily on a volunteer network from faith communities, businesses, and civic organizations for meal preparation, mentoring, and operational support.

Name

Thurman Brisben Center: A Place for Transformation

Legal name

Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter Inc.

Website

https://brisbencenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Thurman Brisben Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit emergency shelter in Fredericksburg, Virginia, founded in 1987, providing 80-bed congregate shelter, meals, case management, and life-skills coaching to homeless families with children and single adults across five regional jurisdictions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Shelter Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homeless services
• Case management
• Nonprofit social services
• Transitional housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericksburg

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. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals via the organization's website (PayPal, Givelify), mail-in checks, and planned giving vehicles including wills, trusts, and donor-assisted funds.
2. In-Kind Goods Donations: Donations of physical goods including toiletries, food items, cleaning supplies, diapers, and other urgent needs items accepted Monday through Friday 10am-5pm, or by appointment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Brisben Center operates an 80-bed, 24/7 year-round emergency shelter providing safe congregate living accommodations, three nutritious meals daily, computer lab and wi-fi access, children's programming, and case management for homeless families with children and single adults. Its core program, "The Brisben Bridge," applies Mobility Mentoring case management across five pillars (Financial Literacy, Case Management & Mobility Mentoring, Good Health & Sobriety, Community Engagement, Healthy Parenting Skills) to move residents from homelessness to sustainable re-housing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Brisben Bridge The organization's theory-of-change framework, structured as a bridge concept with five pillars and six arches, designed to move people from homelessness to decent housing sustained by financial sufficiency. The pillars include Financial Literacy (Capability), Case Management & Mobility Mentoring (Motivation), Good Health & Sobriety (Accountability), Community Engagement (Effective Services), and Healthy Parenting Skills (Apply Resources Effectively). Delivered to homeless families with children and single adults in the Fredericksburg, Virginia region.
• Emergency Shelter Services Safe congregate living accommodations at the Brisben Center's 80-bed, 24/7 year-round facility at 471 Central Road, Fredericksburg, VA. The facility accommodates 8 families with children in separate rooms plus two dormitory-style spaces for single males and females. Services include a comfortable bed, hot shower, nutritious meals, computer lab, children's play area, central wi-fi, meditation room, community garden, chaplain services, and case management. Available to homeless families with children and single adults from the City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, or Caroline counties who are committed to working toward stable housing.
• Case Management and Life Skills Coaching (Mobility Mentoring) Accountability-based life skills coaching and case management using the proprietary Mobility Mentoring approach, delivered by Life Skills Coaches and Senior Case Managers. The service addresses root causes of homelessness and supports residents in planning for and achieving sustainable re-housing.
• Children's Programs Dedicated programs for resident children including Junior Naturalists, UCAN Club, crafts, library, and bicycles, supported by school teacher volunteers (Homework Buddies) who serve as homework tutors. Designed to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children while their families work toward stability.
• Employment Coaching Services Employment coaching delivered by Job Help Volunteers to support residents seeking livable wage employment. Integral to the employment pillar of the Brisben Bridge program, this service prepares residents for financial sufficiency upon re-housing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 83-day stay in the Center
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Germanna Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides nurse trainees who deliver health education and coaching services to shelter residents. Part of the Brisben Bridge theory of change supporting resident health and wellness.
• Job Help VolunteerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization providing employment coaching to residents seeking livable wage employment. Integral to the employment pillar of the Brisben Bridge program.
• Faith Communities (Churches)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix downtown Fredericksburg churches founded the organization in 1987. Hundreds of faith communities continue to provide meals, volunteers, and community support services.
• Homework Buddies (School Teachers)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool teachers volunteer as homework tutors for children residing at the shelter, supporting the children's programs and educational outcomes.
• KickBack Jack's RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant hosting Dine to Donate events to raise funds and community awareness for the Brisben Center.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based social services network providing shelter, housing assistance, and case management in communities across the country. Comparable to Brisben's faith-rooted service model but with significantly broader service scope.
• The Salvation Army: Large established social services organization operating emergency shelters, meal programs, and case management across the U.S. Overlaps with Brisben's congregate shelter and meal service, but as part of a much broader portfolio of programs.

Direct peers

• Coalition for the Homeless: NYC-based organization providing shelter, meals, and supportive services to homeless individuals and families. Directly comparable congregate-shelter and case-management model, operating in a larger urban context.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit specifically serving homeless families with children through shelter, case management, and stabilization programs. Directly comparable to Brisben's family-shelter focus, though operating at national scale rather than single-region.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): California-based nonprofit providing interim housing, shelter, and rapid re-housing services to homeless individuals and families. Directly comparable model focused on transition from homelessness to permanent housing.
• Community Shelter Board: Columbus, Ohio collaborative that funds, plans, and coordinates shelter and housing services across a region. Comparable to Brisben's regional, multi-jurisdiction coordination role, though operating more as a funder/coordinator than direct provider.
• Miriam's Kitchen: Washington, D.C. nonprofit serving individuals experiencing chronic homelessness with meals, case management, and supportive housing services. Comparable in mission focus and service mix (meals + case management + housing pathway).

Others

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National advocacy, research, and policy organization addressing homelessness. Operates in the same mission space but as a sector convener rather than direct service provider comparable to Brisben.
• Rappahannock Area Community Services Board: Regional public provider of mental health, substance abuse, and developmental services in the Fredericksburg area. Adjacent to Brisben's client base — Brisben refers clients to mental health/substance abuse services that organizations like RACSB provide.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity: National affordable housing nonprofit. Partial overlap with Brisben's housing-stabilization mission, though focused on home-building/ownership rather than emergency shelter and case management.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brisbencenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZBDVlmcIEeBN1VfBveXi1Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/thebrisbencenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thurman-brisben-homeless-shelter
• Instagraminstagram.com/thebrisbencenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Thurman Brisben Center: A Place for Transformation