Forgiven Felons

What Forgiven Felons does

Forgiven Felons is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Jay Dan Gumm after his release from prison in 2006. It provides practical and faith-based reentry support to formerly incarcerated adults and currently incarcerated people through a Dallas transitional house for men, Bible studies, recovery and mentorship, prison and jail visits, resume/job-search assistance, transportation coordination, and community gatherings. Its go-to-market is community-led: church and faith-community partnerships, volunteers, speaking engagements, and the Background Check Podcast support delivery, with services concentrated in Texas and podcast content reaching prisons and jails nationwide.

Operating with a reported 1-10-person staff, Forgiven Felons uses a service-and-content model rather than proprietary software. The Background Check Podcast, which had 169+ episodes as of July 2024, is distributed through YouTube, Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and Pando; the organization also publishes documentary content and operates a Squarespace website. The supplied data identifies no proprietary technology or public/partner API. Funding comes from voluntary one-time and monthly donations, branded merchandise whose proceeds fund ministry operations, accepted property and vehicle donations, and partnership proceeds; merchandise prices start around $25 for T-shirts and $30-$35+ for sweatshirts and hoodies, while 10% of July 2026 Second Chance Reserve coffee sales support the ministry. Forgiven Felons is seeking to develop 8 acres in Navarro County as an additional site; listed monthly expenses total approximately $8,100, and a $440,000 fundraising goal covers operating and land-development plans but is not disclosed revenue.

Name

Forgiven Felons

Legal name

Forgiven Felons

Website

https://forgivenfelons.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Forgiven Felons is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing faith-based reentry support, transitional housing, mentorship, recovery programs, and prison outreach to formerly incarcerated adults, currently incarcerated people, and churches and faith communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Reentry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE)

Keywords

• Faith-based reentry services
• Transitional housing programs
• Prison ministry outreach
• Criminal rehabilitation support
• Second chance ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Desoto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: Sells branded merchandise including t-shirts ($25+), hoodies ($35+), and sweatshirts ($35) through their online shop. All proceeds directly fund the ministry operations.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations. Monthly Expenses: Rent- $3,500, Utilities- $1,500, Food -$300, Office Supplies- $500, CPA fees- $1,000, City of Dallas Fees- $100, Stamps- $500, Website/Store/Internet costs- $700. Also accepts property donations and vehicle donations.
3. Partnership Proceeds: Receives percentage of proceeds from partner campaigns. Example: CREAM Luxury Coffee partnership where 10% of Second Chance Reserve blend proceeds (July 2026) go to Forgiven Felons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Forgiven Felons is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry that provides faith-based reentry support for formerly incarcerated individuals. Its core offerings include a transitional house in Dallas, TX, weekly Bible studies, a Christ-centered recovery program, prison and jail ministry visits, and the Background Check Podcast distributed nationwide including into correctional facilities via the Pando app. The organization also sells branded merchandise and partners on co-branded products (e.g., Second Chance Reserve coffee blend) with all proceeds supporting the ministry.

Product overview

Forgiven Felons is a ministry organization (501c3 nonprofit) focused on 'Helping People with a Past realize their Future.' The organization operates a multifaceted ministry consisting of: (1) the Background Check Podcast featuring interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals and advocates, available on YouTube, Podbean, and Apple Podcasts; (2) an online merchandise store selling branded apparel; (3) a documentary series available on Roku, YouTube, and Pando App; (4) a transitional house providing housing and mentorship for formerly incarcerated men; (5) Re:Generation, a Christ-centered recovery program; (6) Bible study and breakfast programs; and (7) prison ministry services conducting jail chapel services and faith-based dorm programs. The organization also partners with C.R.E.A.M. Luxury Coffee for a co-branded Second Chance Reserve coffee blend. The primary platform is their Squarespace website, with content distributed through YouTube, podcast platforms, and the Pando app used in prisons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Background Check Podcast: A podcast hosted by Jay Dan and Jessa Gumm featuring interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals, ministry leaders, and others focused on redemption and second chances. The podcast airs in prisons and jails across the nation via Pando app.

Products and services

• Background Check Podcast A podcast hosted by Jay Dan Gumm and his daughter Jessa, featuring interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals, ministry leaders, and criminal justice reform advocates. Distributed on YouTube, Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and inside prisons/jails nationwide via the Pando app.
• Transitional Housing A transitional house located at 7943 Claremont Dr, Dallas, TX 75228, providing housing, mentorship, and practical reentry support for formerly incarcerated men to help them successfully reintegrate into society.
• Prison/Jail Ministry Services Ministry teams visit prisons and jails (e.g., Sanders Estes unit) to preach the gospel, conduct chapel services, and collaborate with partner ministries like Mike Barber Ministries and MIA Ministries on faith-based dorms and weekend outreach.
• Bible Study Program Sunday morning Bible study from 8:30am-9:30am with fellowship and breakfast, plus Breakfast Bible Studies held every two weeks at 9724 Summerwood Cir, Dallas, TX 75243, in partnership with Social Dallas Church.
• Re:Generation Recovery Program A Christ-centered, biblically-based 12-step recovery program meeting Monday nights at Watermark Church in north Dallas (6:30pm-8:30pm), addressing all addictions including alcoholism, anger, pride, and fear.
• Forgiven Felons Documentary A documentary series featuring stories of redemption and transformation from incarceration, available on the Roku Channel, YouTube, and inside prisons via the Pando App.
• Forgiven Felons Merchandise Store Online store selling branded apparel including t-shirts ($25+), hoodies ($35+), and sweatshirts ($30-$35) with messaging such as Role Models, Keep Calm, Background Check, and Forgiven Felons designs, with all proceeds funding ministry operations.
• Second Chance Reserve Coffee Blend A limited edition coffee blend co-created with C.R.E.A.M. Luxury Coffee, with 10% of proceeds from each bag purchased in July 2026 supporting Forgiven Felons ministry work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mentored hundreds of men over 19+ years
• +1 more outcomes

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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CREAM Luxury CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Limited edition partnership for July 2026 (Second Chance Reserve blend). CREAM Luxury Coffee contributes 10% of proceeds from each bag sold to Forgiven Felons to support their restorative reentry ministry work.
• Mike Barber MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative prison ministry partnership. Mike Barber Ministries organizes group visits into prison cells on certain weekends, with Forgiven Felons joining to bring Jesus into inmate living areas.
• MIA MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership involving boot camps (Wild at Heart, Captivating) and coordination of faith-based dorms at the Estes unit. MIA Ministries equips men and women through various programs inside Texas prisons.
• Re:Generation (Watermark Church)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChrist-centered, biblically-based recovery program meeting Monday nights at Watermark Church in north Dallas (6:30pm-8:30pm). Forgiven Felons participates in and refers people to this program that addresses all addictions.
• Social Dallas ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partnership where Forgiven Felons holds Connect Group meetings and collaborates on Sunday morning services and Bible study at 9724 Summerwood Cir, Dallas, TX 75243.
• Pando AppcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPodcast distribution partner providing direct access to Background Check Podcast content inside prisons and jails nationwide through inmate tablets.
• EWOP (Empowering Women Out of Prison)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas-based organization empowering women exiting prison. Forgiven Felons collaborates and cross-promotes through podcast interviews and mutual ministry support.
• No Turning Back MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrison ministry and transitional house ministry led by Jimmy and Beth Humphus, with long-running ministry at the Estes unit in Venus, TX. Featured on Background Check Podcast.
• One Man's TreasureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClothing assistance organization for formerly incarcerated men in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Helps men gain employment and successfully reintegrate into communities.
• JTC X-ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry founded by Erick Wilson involving prison trips, community feeding, and mentoring. Interviewed on Background Check Podcast episode 157.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Offenders for Christ: Christian prison and reentry ministry conducting outreach inside correctional facilities and supporting returning citizens. Comparable faith-based prison ministry with similar evangelism-led reentry model.
• Straight Ahead Ministries: Faith-based nonprofit providing reentry mentoring and Christian discipleship for juvenile and young adult offenders transitioning from incarceration. Comparable reentry ministry model emphasizing spiritual transformation and mentorship, with broader geographic coverage.
• Bill Glass Behind the Walls: Christian prison ministry that organizes multi-day evangelism events inside correctional facilities. Comparable to Forgiven Felons' prison/jail ministry visits and speaking engagements at units like Sanders Estes.
• No Turning Back Ministries: Faith-based prison ministry and transitional house led by Jimmy and Beth Humphus with long-running ministry at the Estes unit in Venus, TX. Directly comparable Texas-based Christian reentry ministry and Forgiven Felons partner.
• 70x7 Life Recovery: Faith-based transitional housing and reentry program with multiple homes serving formerly incarcerated men. Directly comparable to Forgiven Felons in offering Christian residential reentry in the same population, with a similar small-team, donor-funded operating model.
• Empowering Women Out of Prison (EWOP): Texas-based organization empowering women exiting prison through reentry support. A direct collaboration and cross-promotion partner of Forgiven Felons via the Background Check Podcast, serving the same justice-involved reentry segment.

Broad incumbents

• Osborne Association: Long-established reentry and justice reform nonprofit offering housing, employment, family services, and advocacy for people in and returning from prison. Comparable reentry mission but operates as a much larger secular human-services organization.
• Prison Fellowship: The largest U.S. faith-based prison and reentry ministry, operating Angel Tree, the InnerChange Freedom Initiative, and broad advocacy work. Comparable because it shares a Christian, formerly-incarcerated-led reentry mission and serves a similar justice-involved population, though at far greater national scale.

Emerging players

• Center for Employment Opportunities: Large-scale reentry nonprofit providing immediate paid employment, job coaching, and retention support for people returning from incarceration. Comparable reentry population but focused on employment outcomes rather than spiritual transformation.
• Defy Ventures: Nonprofit offering entrepreneurship, mentoring, and career-readiness programs to people with criminal records. Comparable reentry population but uses a secular business-launching model instead of faith-based programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@forgivenfelon
• Facebookfacebook.com/FORGIVENFELONS
• Instagraminstagram.com/forgivenfelons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forgiven-felons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Forgiven Felons