JOY MEADOWS INC

What JOY MEADOWS INC does

Joy Meadows Inc is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 by Justin and Sarah Oberndorfer, operating a 38-acre campus at 12400 170th Street, Linwood, Kansas, to serve families impacted by foster care in the Kansas City metro area. The organization delivers a campus-based ecosystem that co-locates on-site foster housing, a Foster Care Therapy Center staffed by eight licensed trauma-informed providers, animal programs (hippotherapy, equine lessons, animal sessions), trauma-informed summer camps, a free clothing closet, and monthly Second Saturday community events. Its model is differentiated by wraparound Care Communities, in which 4-8 volunteers from partner churches provide meals, transportation, and tutoring to individual foster families, supported by a Joy Meadows Church Network of 77+ congregations. The organization's core technology is a trauma-informed, nature and rhythm-based therapeutic programming model, not a software platform; technology footprint is limited to an online registration portal (team.joykc.net), a Squarespace website, email newsletter, and Instagram presence, with no API, SDK, or proprietary software product.

Revenue mechanics are donation-driven. Documented inflows include a $350,000 Chick-fil-A S. Truett Cathy Honoree grant (2024), $120,000+ raised at the 7th annual Joy Run (2024), individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships. Program fees are deliberately minimal ($10-$30 per semester for camps and animal sessions) to reduce access barriers, and merchandise (beanies, t-shirts) generates supplementary revenue. The organization is funded primarily through philanthropy and community events rather than fee-for-service, and it operates with 1-10 paid staff supplemented by a large volunteer workforce. Customer segments served include foster families (primary), biological parents working toward reunification, kinship caregivers, children ages 5-19 in foster care, and partner churches.

The organization is in a deliberate expansion phase: the 2026-2027 Joy Multiplied Capital Campaign funds an 80-acre second campus in Kansas City, Kansas (Wyandotte County) with a Family Resource Center, and corporate-structural evidence shows planned 2026 launch. Engagement metrics have scaled from 320 to 7,082 on-site interactions over five years, with 7,000+ direct interactions in 2025 alone, and the organization now serves approximately 6,000 individuals annually.

Name

JOY MEADOWS INC

Legal name

Joy Meadows, Inc.

Website

https://joymeadows.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Joy Meadows is a faith-based nonprofit operating a 38-acre Kansas campus that delivers co-located therapy, animal programs, trauma-informed camps, housing, and a clothing closet for foster, adoptive, kinship, and biological families in the Kansas City metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foster Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Family Engagement & Caregiver Support Programs (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAK)

Keywords

• Foster care services
• Community support programs
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Animal-assisted therapy
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Linwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships. Received $350,000 S. Truett Cathy Honoree award from Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards in 2024.
2. Event Fundraising: Annual Joy Run event generates significant fundraising through participant registration, corporate sponsorships, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Raised over $120,000 in 2024.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including beanies ($20) and t-shirts ($25).
4. Program Registration Fees: Minimal program fees subsidized by donations: Horse Riding Lessons ($30 semester registration), Animal Sessions ($20 term registration), Summer Camps ($10-$25).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Joy Meadows operates a 38-acre campus-based nonprofit ecosystem serving children and families impacted by foster care. Its core offering is a Foster Care Community Model that co-locates a Foster Care Therapy Center, Family Mentors program, Animal Programs (including hippotherapy and riding lessons), trauma-informed Summer Camps, a Free Clothing Closet, foster housing, and a Care Community Support network — supplemented by a 60+ church partner network and community events.

Product overview

Joy Meadows is a faith-based nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive ecosystem of services for families impacted by foster care. The organization operates a Foster Care Community Model that serves as an access point for the entire foster care community. Core programs include: the Foster Care Therapy Center bringing multiple trauma-informed therapists together; Family Mentors Program removing barriers to therapy; Animal Programs offering equine therapy and hands-on farm experiences; Trauma-Informed Summer Camps; Free Clothing Closet; and the Joy Meadows Church Network of 60+ partner churches. The organization is expanding through its Joy Multiplied 2026-2027 Capital Campaign to launch an 80-acre Family Resource Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Additional programs include Second Saturday monthly gatherings, Care Community Support matching families with church volunteers, Housing Programs for sibling groups, and an Annual Art Contest. The organization serves approximately 7,000 individuals annually across the Kansas City area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foster Care Therapy Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew from 320 to 7,082 on-site interactions over 5 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.

• CAFO (Christian Alliance for People with Disabilities)minorOthersJoy Meadows is a member of CAFO, a network of organizations serving vulnerable children and families.
• Promise686minorOthersMember of Promise686 network, connecting organizations working to prevent child abuse and neglect and support families in crisis.
• Partner Churches (60+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurches of all sizes partner through the Joy Meadows Church Network to implement foster care ministries and Care Communities. Churches receive training, marketing materials, volunteer training, and geographic matching of families needing support. Partners include Westside Family Church and other regional congregations.
• Joy Run 2024 Corporate SponsorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMultiple corporate sponsors supported the 7th annual Joy Run event including Gold Sponsor: Bangs Family Foundation; Silver Sponsors: Crosby Plumbing, Iron Giant Tree Services, Pierce & Knight Dentistry; Bronze Sponsors: Kaw Valley Family Dental, DCCCA, The Erickson Agency, Westside Family Church, Colonial KC; Obstacle Sponsors: CNB, Rev City Church, Fellowship West, Legacy Christian Church, Atlas Land Consulting Group, Alenco Inc; and Friends sponsors including Moyer and DesCombes Insurance, Heather Franks Sobba Reece Nichols Premier Realty, 84 Lumber, Cornerstones of Care, Performance Glass, Electrical Associates, Zoe's House Adoption, Erskine Family, First State Bank and Trust.
• Pediatric Connections (Lindsey Phillips, OTD)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Lindsey Phillips of Pediatric Connections to provide hippotherapy services. This occupational therapist leads therapeutic horseback riding sessions at Joy Meadows with trained support team.
• Kansas Department for Children and FamiliesstrategicOthersReferences Kansas DCF data throughout program documentation. The organization works within the child welfare system framework to support families navigating foster care processes.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FosterAdopt Connect: FosterAdopt Connect provides wraparound services to foster and adoptive families in the Kansas City region including resource navigation, peer support, and community programming — a direct regional peer addressing the same foster family pain points as Joy Meadows.
• National Angels: National Angels is a direct peer that matches volunteer mentors ('Angels') one-on-one with foster youth to provide consistent relational support — closely mirroring Joy Meadows' Family Mentor and Care Community wraparound model for the same foster family customer base.
• Comfort Cases: Comfort Cases provides duffel bags and essential supplies to children entering foster care — a direct peer on the 'meeting basic material needs for foster children' axis that overlaps with Joy Meadows' Free Clothing Closet.
• Together We Rise: Together We Rise is a national nonprofit serving foster youth with comfort items, education support, and transition programs — comparable to Joy Meadows' clothing closet, summer camps, and direct material support offering for children impacted by foster care.
• Promise686: Promise686 mobilizes churches to support foster and adoptive families through wraparound volunteer care — a near-identical peer to Joy Meadows' Church Network and Care Community model, and an existing network partner.
• Mary's Mantle: Mary's Mantle provides residential foster family homes and wraparound support for women and children impacted by trafficking and foster care — a direct peer on the specialized foster housing and community wraparound model axis.

Broad incumbents

• KVC Health Systems: KVC Health Systems is a large, established child welfare nonprofit operating foster care, behavioral health, and family preservation services across multiple states — a broad incumbent whose therapeutic and foster care services overlap with Joy Meadows' Foster Care Therapy Center and housing programs.
• TFI (TFI Family Services): TFI Family Services is a large multi-state child welfare and foster care agency providing residential, foster, and family preservation services — a broad incumbent whose foster care continuum overlaps Joy Meadows' housing and wraparound model.

Regional players

• Cornerstones of Care: Cornerstones of Care is a Kansas City-based child and family services nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, and behavioral health services — a regional peer operating in Joy Meadows' home market and already a Joy Run sponsor.

Others

• Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO): CAFO is a network membership body convening hundreds of faith-based organizations serving vulnerable children and families — Joy Meadows is a member. CAFO is comparable as an ecosystem/coalition enabling Joy Meadows' faith-based foster care positioning rather than as a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DZdRjnqFr4w
• Facebookfacebook.com/JoyMeadowsfostercommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/joy-meadows-foster-community

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 JOY MEADOWS INC