What mustard seed ranch does

Mustard Seed Ranch is a Tennessee-licensed, faith-based nonprofit that operates a single 113-acre residential campus in Cookeville, Putnam County, serving up to 30 children ages 5-17 who have experienced trauma, family instability, or crisis. Founded in 2006 by Rex and Julianne Buckner and opened on April 13, 2009, the organization runs four full-time family-style homes (plus a director residence with emergency/respite capacity) staffed by full-time houseparent couples who live onsite, supported by an on-site Attachment and Trauma Center that delivers licensed counseling, EMDR therapy, and equine-assisted therapy. Services are delivered under a 'Rooted, Restored, Renewed' framework that integrates trauma-informed clinical care with daily spiritual development, mentorship, life skills training, and educational support via local school partnerships.

The business model is entirely donation-driven with no government funding, no fees to families, and no debt. Revenue streams include one-time and recurring individual donations (Rooted Partners monthly program), memorial and honor gifts, legacy/planned giving, in-kind donations via an Amazon Wishlist, and event sponsorship. The go-to-market is community-led: admissions originate through referrals from families, legal guardians, churches, schools, counselors, therapists, healthcare providers, and other nonprofits, filtered through a voluntary placement process that requires child and guardian willingness, a pre-admission psychological evaluation, and confirmation of a return home during breaks. Distribution is exclusively direct, on-site, single-site domestic, with awareness built through a Squarespace-hosted website, a 'Stories of Hope' blog, email newsletter, and active Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn channels.

Leadership is currently provided by Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Lisic, supported by a Director of Operations, Director of Finance, case management, communications, and a multi-couple houseparent team. The organization is debt-free, licensed as a Residential Child Care Agency through the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, and operates within a deliberately constrained geographic and theological scope that prioritizes mission alignment over scale.

Name

mustard seed ranch

Legal name

Mustard Seed Ranch

Website

https://mustardseedranchtn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Mustard Seed Ranch is a debt-free, Tennessee-licensed Christian nonprofit operating a 113-acre campus in Cookeville that provides faith-based residential care, trauma-informed therapy, and education support for up to 30 children ages 5-17.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cookeville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals who support the mission of providing Christ-centered residential care for children. Donors can give directly through the website to support daily care, counseling, education, and spiritual growth.
2. Monthly Supporters (Rooted Partners): Monthly giving program where faithful donors provide ongoing stability and support for the children. Monthly givers join a community of supporters contributing on a recurring basis.
3. Memorial and Honor Gifts: Donations made in memory or celebration of individuals. The organization sends personalized notes to honorees or their families.
4. Legacy Giving: Planned giving opportunities allowing donors to leave lasting legacies that ensure Mustard Seed Ranch can serve future generations. Includes bequests and estate planning vehicles.
5. In-Kind Donations: Practical support through donated goods including clothing, supplies, and gently used items for homes. An Amazon Wishlist is maintained for in-kind contributions.
6. Sponsorship Opportunities: Corporate and individual partnerships to sponsor events or programs that support the children. Provides branding and recognition opportunities for sponsors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mustard Seed Ranch provides licensed Christ-centered residential child care for children ages 5-17 who have experienced trauma, instability, or crisis. Operating on a 113-acre campus in Putnam County, Tennessee, the Ranch places up to 30 children in family-style homes led by full-time, live-in houseparent couples and supplements residential living with on-site licensed counseling, EMDR therapy, equine-assisted therapy, spiritual discipleship, and life skills training.

Product overview

Mustard Seed Ranch operates as a single, unified residential child care program—not a platform with separate modules. The core offering is Christ-centered residential care for children ages 5-17 who have experienced trauma. This central service is supported by integrated programs including Trauma-Informed Care and Therapy Services (Attachment and Trauma Center with counseling, EMDR, and equine therapy), Spiritual Growth and Discipleship (Seven Roots framework with daily devotions), Educational Support and Life Skills training, Volunteer Programs (mentorship, resource families, meal ministry, etc.), and Donation/Giving Programs (individual, monthly, memorial, legacy giving). All components work together within the Rooted-Restored-Renewed framework to provide holistic care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family-Centered Residential Care Licensed residential child care delivering supportive, family-style living in Christ-centered homes led by dedicated houseparents who live on-site full-time alongside 6-8 resident children ages 5-17.
• Trauma-Informed Care and Therapy Services On-site Attachment and Trauma Center providing licensed counseling, EMDR therapy, personalized therapeutic care plans, trauma-informed staff training, and equine-assisted therapy for resident children.
• Spiritual Growth and Discipleship Daily devotions, prayer, church participation, one-on-one mentoring, personal discipleship, and biblical identity formation grounded in the Seven Roots framework.
• Educational Support and Life Skills Academic support through partnerships with local schools, personalized tutoring, life skills training covering budgeting, cooking, hygiene, and goal-setting, and character development opportunities.
• Volunteer Programs Volunteer opportunities including Resource Family hosting, mentorship and tutoring, home support, facilities and grounds maintenance, meal ministry, celebration team, administrative support, creative and media assistance, and prayer team.
• Donation and Giving Programs Multiple giving options including individual donations, monthly Rooted Partners program, memorial and honor gifts, legacy or planned giving, in-kind donations via an Amazon Wishlist, and event sponsorship.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving up to 30 children ages 5-17 across 5 homes on 113 acres in Putnam County, Tennessee
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Individuals, Churches, Corporations, and Foundations (Donor Community)coreOthersMustard Seed Ranch relies on a broad community of individual donors, churches, corporations, and foundations who provide the charitable support that funds all operations. As a nonprofit that accepts no government funding, this donor community is the financial foundation of the organization. Churches serve as key community partners for volunteer recruitment, referrals, and awareness building. The organization describes the founding as a 'community movement' where local businesses, churches, professionals, and volunteers rallied around founders Rex and Julianne Buckner.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes: Faith-based residential child care provider in Tennessee serving children and families through multiple homes statewide. Directly comparable to MSR in mission, voluntary-placement model, and geographic service area.
• Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina: Faith-based nonprofit providing residential care, family services, and foster/adoption programs across North Carolina. Comparable to MSR in faith-centered residential model and trauma-informed family-style care.
• Crossnore School & Children's Home: Christian residential children's home in North Carolina providing trauma-informed therapeutic care, education, and spiritual development. Directly comparable to MSR's integrated faith-plus-clinical residential model.
• Florida Baptist Children's Homes: Faith-based nonprofit operating multiple residential homes for children in Florida. Comparable to MSR in faith-driven residential model and donor-funded operating structure.
• Royal Family Kids: Faith-based nonprofit operating residential camps and mentoring programs for children in foster care. Comparable to MSR's Christ-centered residential care mission and volunteer-driven operational model.
• Maryville Academy (Children's Home + Aid Society of Illinois): Faith-rooted nonprofit providing residential treatment, therapeutic day school, and child welfare services. Comparable to MSR in integrating residential care, therapy, and spiritual development.

Broad incumbents

• Bethany Christian Services: Large national faith-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, pregnancy support, and refugee services. Comparable in faith-rooted child welfare mission but operates at much broader scale across multiple service lines.
• Boys Town: National nonprofit operating residential campuses, family services, and youth programs for at-risk children. Comparable to MSR in residential care and trauma-informed methodology, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Childhelp: National nonprofit providing residential treatment, advocacy, and prevention programs for abused and neglected children. Comparable to MSR in trauma-focused residential care, but with national reach and broader program portfolio.

Regional players

• Homes of Hope for Children: Faith-based residential children's home in Kentucky providing family-style care in a Christian environment. Comparable to MSR in faith-driven residential model but serving a different regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mustardseedranchtn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/106255099
• Instagraminstagram.com/mustardseedranchtn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 mustard seed ranch