You might recognize us by our previous name, UMFS. For 125 years, we’ve been illuminating paths for children and families and guiding them toward brighter futures. Our mission is to be the unwavering champions that every child deserves, and our vision is to strengthen humanity, one child at a time.
About Shineforth
Shineforth Child and Family Services has been serving children and families for more than 125 years.
Since our founding as a Methodist orphanage in Richmond, Va., in 1900, we’ve been adapting and evolving to meet the changing needs of families. Today, we serve communities across Virginia from eight locations and offer more than a dozen educational and therapeutic programs, including foster care, residential treatment for youth, and private day school.
The Shineforth name is a nod to the spark that exists within every child; the very spark that has the potential to ignite inner light, illuminate paths forward, and guide children and families to brighter futures.
Honoring Our Legacy, Embracing Our Future.
Shineforth is a continuation of a legacy of service that began in 1900 on rural acreage in Richmond, Va., where we were founded by the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
We were founded as an orphanage in 1900 and became the United Methodist Children’s Home 1950s.
We continued to grow and evolve to meet the changing needs of families and began operating as United Methodist Family Services in the 1980s.
We embraced the acronym UMFS in the early 2000s and on Sept. 29, 2025, rebranded as Shineforth. Our faith-based allies are an integral piece of our 125-year legacy, and we wouldn’t be here today without the ongoing partnership and support of the UMC.
Our name has changed, but our values remain.
At Shineforth, our mission is to be the unwavering champions every child deserves, and our vision is to strengthen humanity, one child at a time.
Have Questions?
We’d Love to Chat.
Thank you for trusting us to do the important work of helping young people find their inner light. We’re grateful for your unwavering support and always welcome your feedback.
EMAIL:
[email protected]
Why’d you change your name?
Shineforth allows us to introduce ourselves with clarity and in a way that better reflects the organization we’ve grown into over 125 years.
Are your services changing?
Not at all. We’ll continue providing high-quality services across each of our program areas, including foster care, adoption, and education.
Are you still faith-affiliated?
Yes. We were founded by the Virginia United Methodist Conference in 1900 and wouldn’t be here today without the ongoing support of UMC congregations and other faith groups.
Does the rebranding impact my philanthropy and planned giving?
We’re grateful for your generous investments in the children and families we serve and invite you to address all gifts to Shineforth.
For planned and other future gifts that have already been designated for “UMFS” or “United Methodist Family Services,” we’ve secured a “doing business as” designation (DBA) that will allow us to process them without interruption.
Our Federal EIN (#54-0505969) and 501(c)(3) status remain the same. Our physical address also hasn’t changed:
Shineforth
Attn: Development Office
3900 W Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
We’ve had
a change of name, not
a change of heart.
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