Forgotten Man Ministries

What Forgotten Man Ministries does

Forgotten Man Ministries, doing business as Reach The Forgotten Jail Ministry (RTF), is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based nonprofit religious organization that delivers chaplain-led, biblically-based ministry inside county jails. The organization places 28 chaplains across 35 jails in more than 30 Michigan counties, supported by a volunteer base of over 2,000 individuals, and serves incarcerated adults through programs including correspondence Bible courses, group Bible studies, one-to-one mentoring, weekly worship services, addiction recovery classes, the ReLaunch Program (formerly GRO Pod, operating as dedicated housing units with reported recidivism reduction from 75% to 25%), the Healing the Wounded Heart trauma program, and re-entry alliances. No products or services are sold to end users; all programs are provided free of charge.

The underlying delivery platform is a trained chaplaincy corps embedded inside jail facilities, augmented by volunteers and partner churches; it is a service model rather than a software product. Technology components supporting the model include the Neon CRM system for donations and events, Vimeo for testimonial video hosting, Google Forms for volunteer and training sign-ups, the Ameelio letter pipeline for the ARM program, and the Amazon Wish List for in-kind drives such as Christmas in the Jail. RTF also licenses established curricula and content — the Tyndale Life Recovery Bible, the American Bible Society's Trauma Healing Institute materials used in Healing the Wounded Heart, and Crossroads Prison Ministries' correspondence and mentoring curriculum adopted in 2020.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving. The primary stream is individual and church donations, with additional channels including stock and bond contributions (transferred to an Edward Jones brokerage account) and the Restored Grounds Coffee subscription sold through the Genesee Coffee Club, with 100% of coffee proceeds directed to the Genesee County Jail ministry. The organization holds GuideStar Exchange Gold, ECFA accreditation, and a Charity Navigator 4-star rating. The effective customer base is dual-anchored: incarcerated individuals receive services free, while donors and church partners provide funding distributed across individuals, families, and congregations throughout Michigan and beyond.

Name

Forgotten Man Ministries

Legal name

Forgotten Man Ministries

Website

https://jailministry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forgotten Man Ministries (Reach The Forgotten Jail Ministry) is a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that places 28 chaplains across 35 Michigan county jails to deliver Bible-based programs, mentoring, re-entry support, and trauma care to incarcerated individuals, funded by individual and church donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)

Keywords

• Jail ministry services
• Religious nonprofit services
• Incarceration support programs
• Biblical counseling programs
• Re-entry support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations (Individual & Church): The primary revenue stream comes from individual donors and church congregations who financially support the ministry. Donors can give one-time or recurring donations, designate funds to specific counties, and give in honor or memory of someone.
2. Stock and Bond Donations: Donors can contribute appreciated securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) to avoid capital gains tax and receive charitable income tax deductions. Securities are transferred to RTF's Edward Jones brokerage account.
3. Restored Grounds Coffee Sales: Genesee Coffee Club subscription for monthly shipments of Restored Grounds Coffee, a private label from Shadrach, Meshach, and ABeanToGo Coffee Roasters. 100% of proceeds support jail ministry at Genesee County Jail.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forgotten Man Ministries delivers chaplain-led, biblically-based ministry services inside Michigan county jails, including in-jail worship, Bible studies, correspondence courses, trauma healing, addiction recovery, one-to-one mentoring, and post-release re-entry support. Programs are offered at no cost to inmates or county jails and are funded through donations, church partnerships, and a small coffee product line (Restored Grounds Coffee). The organization pairs volunteer mentors with inmates, distributes Bibles and curriculum, and coordinates re-entry alliances with churches to support individuals after release.

Product overview

Forgotten Man Ministries (Reach The Forgotten Jail Ministry) is a nonprofit jail ministry organization operating as a platform of integrated services focused on providing Christ-centered hope and healing to incarcerated individuals in Michigan county jails. The core offering consists of chaplain-led volunteer ministry with services including Bible courses, distribution, group studies, one-to-one mentoring, worship services, addiction recovery, and re-entry support. The portfolio includes the ReLaunch Program (formerly GRO Pod) for intensive in-jail programming, Open Arms for church training, Healing the Wounded Heart for trauma recovery, ARM for remote correspondence, The Forge for women's post-release support, Restored Grounds Coffee as a social enterprise, and the annual Christmas in the Jail Drive. The organization places 28 chaplains across 30+ Michigan counties serving over 2,000 volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARM (Authentic Remote Ministry): A program allowing volunteers to connect with inmates from outside the jails through letter writing and virtual communication.
• Healing the Wounded Heart (HWH)
• ReLaunch Program
• Restored Grounds Coffee
• The Forge

Products and services

• Jail Chaplaincy Program Placement of 28 chaplains inside 35 Michigan county jails to deliver in-facility worship, teaching, and pastoral care to incarcerated individuals. Free to inmates and jails; funded by donations.
• Correspondence Bible Courses Mail-based Bible study courses completed by incarcerated individuals at their own pace, with materials and grading provided by the ministry. Free to participants.
• Bible Distribution (Book Cart and In-Jail Bibles) Provision of Bibles and Christian reading material to incarcerated individuals inside county jails via book carts and dedicated distribution efforts.
• ReLaunch Re-Entry Program Structured post-release program that pairs formerly incarcerated individuals with church mentors and re-entry alliances to support successful reintegration after jail.
• Healing the Wounded Heart Curriculum-based program addressing trauma and emotional wounds carried into incarceration, delivered inside jails.
• Open Arms One-to-One Mentoring One-to-one biblical mentoring program pairing incarcerated women (and other participants) with trained volunteer mentors for ongoing discipleship.
• Addiction Recovery Classes Biblically-based classes supporting incarcerated individuals struggling with addiction and substance abuse.
• The Forge Men's Bible Study Men's Bible study program delivered inside county jails for discipleship and spiritual formation.
• Authentic Remote Ministry (ARM) Remote correspondence-based ministry program using a secure email system to connect incarcerated individuals with mentors and Bible teaching when in-person access is limited.
• Re-Entry Alliances with Churches Coordinated network of local churches that provide post-release support, housing connections, and continued discipleship to individuals leaving jail.
• Volunteer Training Program Training and onboarding for the 2,000+ volunteers who serve as mentors, Bible study leaders, and jail ministry workers across the network.
• Restored Grounds Coffee Subscription and product sales of branded coffee used as a fundraising product to support the ministry's jail programs.
• Pastor Visit Coordination Coordination of local pastors to visit and minister to incarcerated individuals inside county jails.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Shadrach, Meshach, and ABeanToGo Coffee RoastersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023RTF's Restored Grounds Coffee is a private label produced by Shadrach, Meshach, and ABeanToGo Coffee Roasters. The Genesee Coffee Club sells monthly subscriptions with 100% of proceeds supporting jail ministry at Genesee County Jail.
• Crossroads Prison MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Long-standing relationship began in Kent County Correctional Facility. In 2020, RTF began a pilot partnership with Crossroads to use their correspondence Bible courses and mentoring program, providing mutual discipleship for mentors and students.
• Tyndale (Life Recovery Bible)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018RTF began using the Life Recovery Bible in jails in 2018, recognizing that men and women in jails need a readable Bible that helps them apply Scripture truth and engage the recovery process from a biblical perspective, freeing inmates from the bondage of addiction.
• Our Daily BreadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTF partners with Our Daily Bread to distribute a version of the popular Our Daily Bread devotional specially designed and curated for men and women in jail. The devotional addresses the unique needs of incarcerated individuals experiencing stress and hopelessness during incarceration.
• Trauma Healing Institute (American Bible Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTF partners with the Trauma Healing Institute to equip individuals, churches, and community partners to be part of God's healing process for those experiencing trauma by sharing the life-changing message of Scripture. RTF staff and volunteers are trained in Healing the Wounded Heart program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Prison Ministries: Faith-based prison ministry offering in-prison Bible studies and mentor matching across multiple states. Same biblically-based, volunteer-and-mentor-driven model targeting incarcerated adults.
• Crossroads Prison Ministries: Correspondence-based Bible study and mentoring ministry for incarcerated individuals; listed as an active RTF partner. Directly comparable faith-based curriculum delivery format serving the same end population.
• Kairos Prison Ministry International: Volunteer-driven, Christian-based prison ministry running short-course programs inside correctional facilities in 30+ states. Closely comparable faith-based, volunteer-led model with structured in-facility curricula.
• Straight Ahead Ministries: Christian outreach to juvenile and adult offenders focused on reentry and transition, with in-prison classes and post-release discipleship — directly comparable faith-based reentry orientation.

Emerging players

• Alpha USA (Alpha for Prisons): Operates Christian Alpha courses adapted for jails/prisons with volunteer-led small groups. Comparable faith-based, volunteer-curriculum delivery inside correctional facilities.
• InnerChange Freedom Initiative: Faith-based, prerelease program operated by Prison Fellowship in select state prison units. Comparable dedicated-housing-unit programming model to RTF's ReLaunch/GRO Pod.
• Bridges to Life: Faith-based prison and reentry program running 8-week curricula inside Texas correctional facilities with strong volunteer mentor model. Comparable in-prison curriculum and reentry support, smaller geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Prison Fellowship: Largest U.S. faith-based prison ministry, founded by Chuck Colson. Operates inside-prison programming, reentry, and advocacy across all 50 states, making it the national-scale analog to RTF's jail-focused model.
• Volunteers of America - Corrections & Reentry Services: National nonprofit providing corrections, reentry, and supportive housing across many states. Comparable in targeting justice-involved populations but secular in framing and far broader in scope than RTF.

Regional players

• Safe Harbor Ministry (Michigan): Regional faith-based reentry and recovery programs in Michigan, often partnering with county jails and local churches. Comparable in geographic territory and reentry faith-based model, though smaller scale than RTF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RTFjailministry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forgotten-man-ministries

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Forgotten Man Ministries