Not initially. New affiliates do not need to be incorporated at the time they apply. Affiliates may begin as informal groups, congregations, or community organizations. However, affiliates are expected to become formally incorporated within their first three months. Abide in Love will guide new affiliates through this process by providing resources, support, and step-by-step guidance to help establish a sustainable and accountable organizational structure.

Abide in Love offers administrative guidance, shared policies and best practices, resource templates, and connection to a national network of affiliates. Our goal is to reduce administrative burden so affiliates can focus on care and accompaniment.

Affiliates are locally led and make decisions based on the needs of their communities. Abide in Love provides a shared framework and values, not a rigid program model.

Yes. New affiliates pay a $75 application fee. After your first year, there is an annual due of $75, plus $20 per voting executive board member. Only voting board members are considered “members” for this purpose, and all other participants are volunteers and are not subject to any fees.

The time commitment varies by affiliate and is shaped by local capacity. Some affiliates begin with a single, small act of care and grow gradually. Abide in Love encourages sustainable pacing rather than burnout.

Affiliate activities vary by location and may include detainee care packages, commissary or phone support, pen-pal programs, family accompaniment, court or bond support, community education, or advocacy. Affiliates discern what is appropriate and feasible in their context.

Affiliates agree to operate in alignment with Abide in Love’s mission, values, and nonviolent ethic of care. Accountability is relational and transparent, supported through communication, annual reporting, shared guidelines, and mutual trust.

Yes. While Abide in Love is values-driven and grounded in an ethic of love and dignity, affiliates may be faith-based, interfaith, or secular, so long as they align with our mission and commitments.

We encourage collaboration rather than duplication. In many cases, joining or partnering with an existing affiliate may be the best next step.

Many affiliates begin with uncertainty. You do not need to have everything figured out. Abide in Love walks alongside prospective affiliates during discernment and early planning.

The first step is simply reaching out. We’ll schedule a conversation to learn about your context, answer questions, and explore whether affiliation is a good mutual fit.