COURAGE FOR LIFE INCORPORATED
Embrace your God-given courage for life
Learn how to support this organization
COURAGE FOR LIFE INCORPORATED
EIN: 46-1567753
as of September 2024
as of September 09, 2024
Mission
God offers everyone a full and satisfying life, but not everyone embraces it. Weve found that many struggle with difficult life experiences, which create obstacles to meaningful relationships. It takes courage to identify and overcome these obstacles, pursue healing, and embrace life fully. Courage For Life creates resources to foster emotional health and spiritual growth among incarcerated individuals, those struggling with trauma, abuse, and addiction, and anyone who desires to grow in their relationship with God. Our digital discipleship and prison ministry programs encourage individuals in their relationships with God and others by helping them identify and overcome obstacles so they can embrace their God-given courage for life and live a full and satisfying life with God.
Notes from the nonprofit
Visit https://courageforlife.org to learn more about our Digital Discipleship Programs Read Blog and Devotions Watch Studies and Gospels Listen to our Bible Connect through Live Sessions and Prayer Prison Ministry Programs Volunteer to Facilitate Courage For My Life discipleship class in your local jail/prison Partner with Courage For Life to serve incarcerated individuals with our resources Website Store Purchase our spiritual growth and Bible study resources to help you grow in your relationship with God.
Ruling year
2014
Founder & CEO
Ann White
Main address
1000 WHITLOCK AVE NW STE 320-#134
MARIETTA, GA 30064 USA
EIN
46-1567753
Publishing
Self-help groups
Audio recording
Film and video
Mobile media
Population served
Incarcerated people
Substance abusers
Christians
Victims of crime and abuse
NTEE code
Religious Printing, Publishing (X83)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download annual reportsWhat we aim to solve
God offers everyone a full and satisfying life, but not everyone embraces it. We’ve found that many struggle with difficult life experiences, which create obstacles to meaningful relationships. It takes courage to identify and overcome these obstacles, pursue healing, and embrace life fully. Courage For Life seeks to address the connection between emotional health and spiritual growth by developing and distributing emotional health, spiritual growth, and Bible study resources and making these resources available to incarcerated individuals and those with trauma, abuse, or addiction in their past or present lives. Courage For Life™ exists to help individuals embrace their God-given courage for life.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Digital Discipleship Programs
Courage For Life's Digital Discipleship programs offer many resources to support emotional health and spiritual growth. From engaging blogs to thoughtfully crafted devotions, our content is rooted in biblical principles designed to inspire, strengthen, and renew faith. Powered by an uplifting online community with weekly live teachings and discipleship content all anchored by the Courage For Life all-female-voiced audio Bible. Our digital content appears on YouVersion app, InTouch+ channel, Tyndale Filament app, Courage For Life app as well as social media Instagram @GodGivesCourage, YouTube, and Facebook. Our digital discipleship programs further Courage For Life's mission by fulfilling our commitment to create emotional health and spiritual growth resources to disciple anyone who desires to grow in their relationship with God and others.
Prison Ministry Program
Courage For Life is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with incarcerated individuals. Our Prison Ministry Program empowers those behind bars to live fulfilling lives through the power of the gospel. With our dedicated volunteers and strategic partnerships, we aim to provide emotional health, spiritual growth, and Bible study resources to bring hope, redemption, and a brighter future. We offer our print study Bibles and Courage For My Life discipleship resources at no cost to prisons to facilitate discipleship classes. Our Courage For My Life discipleship resources include a men's version and a women's version workbook with corresponding DVD teaching series in English and a men's and a women's version workbook in Spanish. We also provide our audio Bible in English and in Spanish and other digital resources to inmate tablets at no cost.
Discipleship Resources
Courage For Life champions emotional health and spiritual growth through our comprehensive range of resources, including study Bibles, devotionals, books, study guides, DVDs, and workbooks. The production of both digital and print resources further Courage For Life's mission by fulfilling our commitment to create emotional health, spiritual growth, and Bible study resources to disciple incarcerated individuals, those struggling with trauma, abuse, or addiction, and anyone who desires to grow in their relationship with God.
Courage For Life exists to help individuals embrace their God-given courage for life.
Where we work
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of downloads of the Courage For Life audio Bible app
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life audio Bible is also available on other Bible apps You Version app, Tecarta app, Tyndale Filament app. Courage For Life audio Bible app became available January 30, 2019.
Number of chapter requests of the Courage For Life audio Bible in English via You Version
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our Courage For Life audio Bible is provided at no cost to You Version and is available on Apple and Android devices. Available as of December 23, 2021.
Number of unique devices downloading the Courage For Life audio Bible in English via You Version
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our Courage For Life audio Bible is provided at no cost to You Version and is available on Apple and Android devices. Available as of December 23, 2021.
Number of chapter requests of the Courage For Life audio Bible in Spanish via You Version
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Latin American descent, Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our Courage For Life audio Bible is provided at no cost to You Version and is available on Apple and Android devices. Available as of May 3, 2022.
Number of unique devices downloading the Courage For Life audio Bible in Spanish via You Version
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People of Latin American descent, Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our Courage For Life audio Bible is provided at no cost to You Version and is available on Apple and Android devices. Available as of May, 3, 2022.
Number of Instagram followers @GodGivesCourage
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
@GodGivesCourage focuses on posting spiritual growth, emotional health, and Bible study content including reels (videos) and featuring the Courage For Life audio Bible.
Engagement rate @GodGivesCourage (number is %)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
@GodGivesCourage focuses on posting spiritual growth, emotional health, and Bible study content including reels (videos) and featuring the Courage For Life audio Bible.
Total views of reels (videos) @GodGivesCourage
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
@GodGivesCourage focuses on posting spiritual growth, emotional health, and Bible study content including reels (videos) and featuring the Courage For Life audio Bible.
Number of Instagram Live Sessions @GodGivesCourage
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
@GodGivesCourage we host weekly live sessions to equip people to study and apply the Bible for themselves, pursue spiritual growth, and guide practical study of books of the Bible.
Total views of digital devotional series @GodGivesCourage
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
@GodGivesCourage provides digital devotional series focused on specific biblical themes.
Number of YouTube channel subscribers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life YouTube Channel provides teaching on Courage For Life resources, Bible study through the gospel of John, and some behind the scenes development of our all-female-voiced audio Bible.
Views of Courage For Life YouTube channel
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Digital Discipleship Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life™ YouTube Channel provides teaching on Courage For Life resources, Bible study through the gospel of John, and some behind the scenes development of our all-female-voiced audio Bible.
Number of graduates from our prison ministry discipleship classes
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Multiracial people, People of Latin American descent, Christians
Related Program
Prison Ministry Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life facilitates discipleship classes for incarcerated men and women with its Prison Ministry program resources; available in English and Spanish.
Number of discipleship classes hosted in prisons
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Multiracial people, People of Latin American descent, Christians
Related Program
Prison Ministry Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life facilitates discipleship classes for incarcerated men and women with its Prison Ministry program resources; available in English and Spanish.
Number of training hours conducted to equip volunteers to facilitate discipleship classes in prisons
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Prison Ministry Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life trains volunteers to facilitate discipleship classes for incarcerated men and women with its Prison Ministry program resources; available in English and Spanish.
Number of volunteers trained to facilitate discipleship classes in prisons
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians
Related Program
Prison Ministry Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life trains volunteers to facilitate discipleship classes for incarcerated men and women with its Prison Ministry program resources; available in English and Spanish.
Number of inmate tablets with Courage For Life audio Bible
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Christians, People of Latin American descent
Related Program
Prison Ministry Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The Courage For Life audio Bible in English and Spanish is provided at no cost for distribution to inmate tablets issued by State Department of Corrections. Available as of November 21, 2022.
Number of incarcerated individuals self-reporting acceptance of Jesus Christ for salvation associated with listening to the Courage For Life audio Bible and our teachings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups, Religious groups
Related Program
Prison Ministry Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
As of November 21, 2022 Courage For Life partnered with Pando app to track the distribution of the Courage For Life audio Bible and its teaching on inmate tablets and inmate responses to the gospel.
Total resource value distributed by Courage For Life (amount in US dollars)
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups, Religious groups
Related Program
Discipleship Resources
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Courage For Life distributes digital and print resources at no cost to facilitate discipleship classes for incarcerated men and women inside prison facilities.
Total views of Courage For Life audio Bible and digital teachings on inmate tablets
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Ethnic and racial groups, Religious groups
Related Program
Prison Ministry Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
As of November 21, 2022 Courage For Life partnered with Pando to distribute and track the Courage For Life audio Bible and its teaching on inmate tablets issued by State Department of Corrections.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Courage For Life exists to help individuals embrace their God-given courage for life. Therefore, Courage For Life has as its goal to serve as many individuals as possible through increasing the development and distribution of its emotional health, spiritual growth, and Bible study resources, both digital and print, to incarcerated individuals, those struggling with trauma, abuse, or addictions, and anyone who desires to grow in their relationship with God and others.
With Gods empowerment and the help of Courage For Life resources, anyone can embrace their God-given courage for life and begin living the lives God intended for them.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Courage For Life will increase the development and distribution of its emotional health, spiritual growth, and Bible study resources by developing new digital and print resources, expanding its digital discipleship programs, and increasing the distribution of resources to prisons, and exploring new distribution partnerships for its digital and print resources.
See 2023 Impact Report.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Courage For Life™ can achieve our strategic goals through team member expertise, donor funding, distribution partnerships, and specialized contractor skills to develop new digital and print resources to support individuals embracing their God-given courage for life through addressing the connection between emotional health and spiritual growth. New resources and additional distribution partnerships will increase the number of people served and positively impact them living the lives God intended them to live.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
From August 2022 to January 2023, Courage For Life developed a Courage For Life Study Bible for Women and a Courage For Life Study Bible for Men with Tyndale House Publishers (available October 2023). We produced our all-female-voiced Spanish audio Bible (Old Testament Books) via Courage For Life Bible app and You Version app. January 2021 through July 2022, Courage For Life produced New Testament Books of the Courage For Life all-female-voiced Spanish audio Bible via Courage For Life Bible app and You Version app. Additionally, we published new emotional health and spiritual growth print resources: (1) Mens version of Courage For MY Life workbook in English, (2) Womens version of Courage For MY Life workbook in Spanish, (3) Mens version of Courage For MY Life workbook in Spanish, and (4) Mens version of Courage For MY Life DVD video teaching series in English.
RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
Between 2018 and 2022, Courage For Life expanded its distribution channels by partnering with other Christian nonprofits and foundations. In 2022, we began a new partnership with Pando/God Behind Bars and continued our partnership with You Version distributing our audio Bible in English and Spanish as well as reading plans. We also partnered with a few foundations in 2021 and 2019 to sponsor the production of our all female-voiced audio Bible in Spanish and English and with LUMO Project to produce gospel videos. In 2020, we began partnering with Floodlight, a program of Prison Fellowship, Mega Voice, and You Version to distribute our digital resources.
PRISON MINISTRY
In 2022, Courage For Life served 432 incarcerated individuals in 12 prisons in 7 states. We provided resources and training at no cost to incarcerated individuals. We offer our audio Bible in 34 states via inmate tablets. In 2022 alone, we had 254,232 inmate tablets with 4,103 subscribers and a total of 162 self-reported salvations associated with listening to our audio Bible and its teachings.
DIGITAL DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMS
January 2022, Courage For Life launched its digital discipleship expansion, including weekly blogs, IGTV teaching, and digital devotionals and began its discipleship of men both behind prison walls and through our male-specific digital and print resource development and distribution. We also produced 52 new weekly blogs and 117 Instagram videos with 286,997 views and an engagement rate of 14.38%.
January 2023, Courage For Life began a spiritual growth series for its weekly teaching via IGTV to help individuals who desire to grow in their relationship to God overcome their obstacles (e.g., address link between emotional health and spiritual growth, lack of awareness, discipline, knowledge, and/or skills regarding their personal spiritual growth). We want to motivate them to pursue spiritual growth for themselves in hopes they will embrace their God-given courage for life and live the lives God intended for them to live.
Financials
Revenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2023 info
8.50
Months of cash in 2023 info
10
Fringe rate in 2023 info
8%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
COURAGE FOR LIFE INCORPORATED
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Oct 01 - Sep 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Oct 01 - Sep 30
This snapshot of COURAGE FOR LIFE INCORPORATED’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $100,272 | -$181,597 | -$138,509 | $41,672 | $183,402 |
| As % of expenses | 13.6% | -25.7% | -27.3% | 7.1% | 42.3% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $98,414 | -$183,345 | -$138,509 | $41,672 | $182,250 |
| As % of expenses | 13.3% | -25.8% | -27.3% | 7.1% | 41.9% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $838,302 | $526,179 | $368,405 | $637,551 | $747,530 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 18.3% | -37.2% | -30.0% | 73.1% | 0.0% |
| Program services revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other grants and contributions | 99.3% | 99.1% | 95.9% | 97.3% | 99.2% |
| Other revenue | 0.7% | 0.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $738,030 | $707,776 | $506,914 | $590,999 | $434,010 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 80.5% | -4.1% | -28.4% | 16.6% | 0.0% |
| Personnel | 15.3% | 6.2% | 27.6% | 46.1% | 66.2% |
| Professional fees | 0.0% | 8.6% | 11.8% | 44.8% | 16.0% |
| Occupancy | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.9% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 84.7% | 85.2% | 60.6% | 7.2% | 17.8% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $739,888 | $709,524 | $506,914 | $590,999 | $435,162 |
| One month of savings | $61,503 | $58,981 | $42,243 | $49,250 | $36,168 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $12,200 | $0 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $27,650 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $801,391 | $768,505 | $549,157 | $652,449 | $498,980 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 6.8 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 10.0 |
| Months of cash and investments | 6.8 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 10.0 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 6.7 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 7.1 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $417,930 | $233,868 | $112,337 | $158,700 | $361,671 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $0 | $0 | $0 | $524 | $72,196 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $37,377 | $37,377 | $37,377 | $0 | $31,044 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 90.9% | 95.6% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 14.6% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 1.1% | 0.8% | 15.4% | 11.0% | 8.9% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $0 | $0 | $95,010 | $136,754 | $282,674 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $4,880 | $159,559 |
| Total net assets | $416,864 | $233,519 | $95,010 | $141,634 | $442,233 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Founder & CEO
Ann White
Ann is an internationally known author, speaker, and passionate Bible teacher. She founded her global ministry, Courage For Life, Inc. out of a calling to share with others how God and His Word brought restoration to her life and marriage. Having personally experienced Gods grace, salvation, and the life-changing power of the Bible, Anns desire is to extend this same love, mercy, and encouragement to others, so they too may be reconciled to God.
Courage For Life exists to help individuals embrace their God-given courage for life.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
COURAGE FOR LIFE INCORPORATED
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
COURAGE FOR LIFE INCORPORATED
Board of directorsas of 01/25/2024
Board of directors data
Mr. Charles Steadham
Charles Steadham
Tonya Carruthers
Kathleen Cooke
Bob Fink
Robbie Goss
Suzanne Niles
Angie Steadham
Bryan Tyson
Hunter Hamm
Kelly Dennis
Ed Khouri
Marcylle Combs
Mary Perdue
Dan McNerney
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Contractors
Fiscal year endingGuideStar Pro Reports
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- Letter of Determination
- Officer and/or Employee data for 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- Contractor and/or Paid Preparer data for 2021, 2019, 2018
- Board of Directors data for 2024
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