The Tim Tebow Foundation continues expanding its work in 2026, focusing on vulnerable children, people with disabilities, human trafficking survivors, and families facing serious medical and social challenges.
Founded by Tim Tebow in 2010, the Florida-based nonprofit has developed an international network of ministry programs and partnerships. Its work now spans more than 115 countries, with four central areas: anti-human trafficking and child exploitation, orphan care and prevention, profound medical needs, and special needs ministry.
The foundation’s latest updates show a continued emphasis on direct services, long-term partnerships, child protection, disability inclusion, medical care, and community-based support. Its 2026 activity also includes a major Night to Shine celebration, new developments in anti-trafficking work, and continued expansion of resources for families and churches.
What the Tim Tebow Foundation Does
The foundation describes its mission as bringing faith, hope and love to people facing difficult circumstances. Rather than operating around one single cause, it supports several programs that address different needs among vulnerable populations.
Its four primary areas of focus are:
- Anti-human trafficking and child exploitation
- Orphan care and prevention
- Profound medical needs
- Special needs ministry
The foundation says it combines its own programs with official ministry partnerships. This approach allows it to support projects in locations where local organizations already have established expertise and community relationships.
The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its federal EIN is 27-4345913. Florida corporate records list Tim Tebow as chairman, with Bryan Craun serving as secretary, treasurer and director.
Latest 2026 Developments
One of the most significant developments during 2026 has been the continued growth of the foundation’s child-protection work.
The organization’s latest stories include support for operations that located missing children, the opening of a safe home for boys who survived exploitation in the Philippines, and developments involving a new campus in Thailand designed to protect survivors from traffickers.
The foundation has also highlighted its support for the Renewed Hope Act of 2026, legislation focused on helping law enforcement identify and rescue children depicted in unidentified child sexual abuse material.
Tim Tebow testified before the U.S. Senate in May 2026 regarding child exploitation. The foundation published his full testimony as part of its continuing advocacy work.
These developments demonstrate that the organization’s current work extends beyond charitable donations and local events. Its programs also involve partnerships, advocacy, survivor support, law-enforcement initiatives and public awareness.
Night to Shine Remains a Major Foundation Program
Night to Shine continues to be one of the foundation’s most recognizable initiatives.
The annual event provides a prom-style celebration for people with disabilities ages 14 and older. Local churches host the celebrations, while the foundation provides support and resources for participating locations.
The event typically includes a red-carpet entrance, hair and makeup stations, photography, music, dancing, dinner, gifts, limousine rides and a crowning ceremony. A sensory room and respite space can also be part of the experience.
The 2026 event produced particularly large participation numbers. The foundation’s official worldwide highlight video reported 979 host churches across 50 U.S. states and 76 countries, with more than 210,000 volunteers and more than 120,000 honored guests.
Those figures represent the foundation’s reported 2026 event results and show the scale that Night to Shine has reached since its launch.
The program began in 2015, when 44 churches participated. Over the years, it developed from a single celebration initiative into an international movement involving churches and communities across multiple countries.
Night to Shine Is Already Looking Ahead to 2027
The foundation has moved into planning for the next Night to Shine cycle.
The official 2027 information lists February 12, 2027, as the date for the next worldwide celebration. Churches, volunteers and families can use the foundation’s Night to Shine resources to identify participating locations and learn about registration opportunities.
The event remains centered on local churches. That means registration details can differ from one location to another.
For families interested in attending, the foundation directs people to find a participating host church and contact that church for its specific guest registration information.
Volunteers also register through individual host churches. Background checks and local training can be required before volunteers participate.
Shine On Extends Disability Support Beyond One Night
The foundation’s special needs work is not limited to Night to Shine.
Shine On was created as a faith-based community for people and families affected by disability. The program provides resources intended for families, caregivers, churches, pastors and other people involved in disability ministry.
The foundation says Shine On offers free resources covering subjects such as disability ministry, church leadership, family support and education.
The broader special needs ministry also includes international resource centers. The foundation works with ministry partners in countries including Albania, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico and Uganda.
These centers can connect families with services such as medical care, education, therapy and developmental support.
Rising Light Ridge Is Part of the Long-Term Vision
Another major special needs initiative is Rising Light Ridge.
The planned campus is designed as a barrier-free ministry environment where people of different abilities can participate together. The foundation says the project is planned for a 3,000-acre property in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains.
The project reflects the organization’s longer-term approach to disability ministry. Instead of focusing only on individual events, it is intended to create a physical environment where families and people with disabilities can experience recreation, community and ministry together.
Anti-Human Trafficking Work Continues to Expand
Human trafficking and child exploitation remain another major area of the foundation’s work.
The foundation describes its approach through three stages: prevention, rescue and survivor care.
Prevention efforts include programs designed to strengthen vulnerable families and communities. Rescue work involves partnerships with organizations carrying out operations to locate and remove victims from dangerous situations. Survivor care focuses on longer-term recovery and support.
The foundation currently reports 60 countries served in its anti-human trafficking and child exploitation work, 46 safe homes operating worldwide, capacity for more than 540 survivors, and more than 3,500 survivors rescued.
Because rescue operations can involve vulnerable children and active investigations, the organization does not publicly disclose every operational location or partner.
Its Rescue Team provides another way for supporters to participate. The program includes different roles for people who want to provide financial support, advocacy or prayer.
2026 Child Protection and Advocacy Efforts
Child exploitation has become an increasingly visible part of the foundation’s public advocacy.
In 2026, the organization highlighted the Renewed Hope Act and called attention to the number of unidentified children appearing in child sexual abuse material.
The foundation also reported support for a missing-child rescue operation in Northeast Florida that located 25 children during a three-day effort. The operation involved the National Child Protection Task Force, law enforcement, nonprofits and private-sector experts.
The foundation’s public advocacy page also lists legislation and policy-related actions intended to strengthen child-protection efforts.
Its approach combines awareness, partnerships, direct support and advocacy rather than relying on a single type of intervention.
Medical Programs Focus on Children With Serious Needs
The foundation also supports children and families facing profound medical challenges.
Its medical ministry includes partnerships with organizations that provide specialized care in areas where access to medical treatment can be limited.
The foundation says it has helped build and operate medical facilities in the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and the Peruvian jungle. It also works with organizations including CURE International and Scalpel At The Cross.
The Tebow CURE Hospital in the Philippines is among the initiatives associated with this work.
The foundation also operates Timmy’s Playrooms in children’s hospitals. These spaces give hospitalized children and their families an environment for play, relaxation and connection while medical treatment is underway.
W15H and Brighter Days Bring Personalized Support
The foundation’s medical-needs ministry also includes W15H and Brighter Days programs.
W15H experiences are designed for children facing life-threatening illnesses. The foundation provides elements such as travel, accommodations, activities, meals, gifts and personal experiences involving Tim Tebow.
The programs fit into the foundation’s broader goal of providing encouragement to children and families dealing with difficult medical circumstances.
Orphan Care and Family Prevention
Orphan care is another major part of the organization’s international work.
The foundation provides essentials, education and broader support for vulnerable children who do not have a stable family or home.
Its Adoption Aid program works with official partners to help families adopting children with special needs internationally. The foundation says the program provides six grants each month through partnerships with Show Hope and Lifesong for Orphans.
The organization also emphasizes prevention.
Its Strong Families efforts focus on strengthening family relationships and community support before circumstances become more severe. The objective is to reduce vulnerability among children and families rather than only responding after a crisis occurs.
How the Foundation Uses Partnerships
Partnerships are central to the foundation’s operating model.
Instead of attempting to run every service independently, the organization works with churches, nonprofits, medical organizations and other ministry groups.
This model allows programs to operate through established local networks. It is especially important for international work involving medical treatment, child protection, orphan care and disability services.
The foundation says its official ministry partners help it extend its reach and serve vulnerable people in different regions around the world.
Financial Transparency and Nonprofit Status
The foundation maintains a stewardship section on its website that provides access to financial information.
Its website currently lists audited financial statements and Form 990 materials for fiscal year 2025, along with its 2025 ministry highlights.
Charity Navigator currently lists the organization with a 97% rating and a Four-Star Charity designation. Its profile also shows 2024 fiscal-year accountability information based on public IRS Form 990 data.
These ratings and filings provide outside and public information about the organization’s financial and governance practices, while the foundation’s own financial page provides its official filings and reports.
Who Leads the Organization
Tim Tebow remains chairman of the foundation.
The organization’s current staff structure includes Joel Chakra as president, while Brandi Cook serves as vice president of ministries and Camille Cooper serves as vice president of anti-human trafficking and child exploitation.
The foundation’s board also includes Bryan Craun, Bill Heavener and Urban Meyer, according to its current staff and leadership information.
The leadership structure reflects the foundation’s growing range of programs, from international ministry partnerships to domestic child-protection advocacy and disability initiatives.
What Is Next for the Foundation
The latest information indicates that the foundation is continuing rather than scaling back its major initiatives.
Night to Shine is preparing for its 2027 event cycle. Anti-trafficking programs remain active across multiple countries. Medical and orphan-care partnerships continue to serve vulnerable children, while special needs programs are expanding through initiatives such as Shine On and Rising Light Ridge.
The foundation’s 2026 activity also shows a stronger public emphasis on child exploitation and missing-child recovery. Its advocacy work has placed additional attention on the need for investigative resources and better identification of unidentified victims.
At the same time, the organization continues its faith-based mission across all four major areas.
Why the Foundation Remains Relevant in 2026
The foundation has grown substantially since its creation in 2010.
Its current programs cover several distinct but connected challenges affecting vulnerable children and families. The organization combines direct ministry, partnerships, advocacy, medical services, disability programs and international outreach.
Night to Shine provides one of its most visible public examples. The 2026 event brought together hundreds of thousands of volunteers and more than 120,000 honored guests across nearly 1,000 host churches.
Its anti-trafficking work represents another major part of the organization. The foundation now reports thousands of survivors rescued and hundreds of survivor spaces through its network of safe homes.
Medical programs, orphan care and special needs initiatives add additional layers to the organization’s work.
As the foundation moves toward its next major Night to Shine event in February 2027, its current direction remains centered on protecting vulnerable children, supporting families, expanding disability inclusion and providing practical assistance to people facing serious challenges.
The latest developments show a foundation continuing to broaden its reach while keeping vulnerable children, families and people with disabilities at the center of its mission.