About Life that Counts
Life that Counts helps young people make intentional, informed decisions that strengthen their futures, their relationships, their families, and the communities they will one day lead.
Organization facts
Legal name
Life that Counts, Inc.
Organization type
Nonprofit public charity recognized under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).
EIN
47-2696591
Based in
Cullman, Alabama
Established
2012
Incorporated
April 2016
Federal tax exemption effective
April 5, 2016
IRS public-charity classification
Section 509(a)(2)
Mailing address
P.O. Box 731, Cullman, AL 35056-0731
Phone
General email
Life that Counts’ IRS determination letter and August 2026 organizational records support these facts. The determination letter recognizes the organization as exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), with public-charity status under section 509(a)(2), effective April 5, 2016. The street address printed on that 2016 letter is historical; the public mailing contact shown here is the organization’s August 2026 contact.
Who we are
Life that Counts works with schools, families, funders, community institutions, and other partners to put practical support around the decisions young people make. Its work includes curricula, mentoring consultation, training, assemblies, professional development, family programs, and ongoing coaching and mentoring.
What guides the work
Human dignity. Intentional decision-making. Hope and healthy futures. Personal responsibility. Trusted relationships. Service. Accountability. Learning and transparent evidence.
Our history
1999
The work begins
Organizational milestone
Our founder began working with young people in 1999, building the experience and relationships that would eventually shape Life that Counts.
2012
Life that Counts is founded
Organizational milestone
Life that Counts was founded to help young people make thoughtful decisions and pursue healthier futures.
April 2016
Nonprofit incorporation
Organizational milestone
Life that Counts, Inc. was formally incorporated in April 2016.
July 2016
Full-time operations begin
Organizational milestone
Life that Counts began full-time nonprofit operations in July 2016.
2016
First federal subaward
Federal subaward
Life that Counts began federally supported peer-mentoring work as an Alabama partner and subgrantee of Friends First through a multi-year Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention project.
2017
Walmart Community Giving grant
Corporate community grant
Life that Counts was awarded a Walmart Community Giving grant in 2017.
2018
CCCDC grant
Community grant
Life that Counts was awarded a CCCDC grant in 2018.
2018–2021
RELENTLESS cross-age peer mentoring
Federal subaward and historical Alabama implementation
Life that Counts served as the Alabama implementation partner and named subgrantee to PATH for RELENTLESS, a multi-state high-school peer-mentoring project. Life that Counts was responsible for the Alabama cohorts only; PATH led Indiana implementation. The historical model paired ninth-grade mentees with eleventh- and twelfth-grade mentors. Evaluator files date a Year 1 feasibility phase to January–May 2019 and later fall and spring cohorts to October 2020–May 2021. The later file identifies seven Alabama school sites across Marion County Schools and Cleburne County Schools. See Impact & Evidence for the school list, survey findings, and limitations.
2019
Walmart Community Giving grant
Corporate community grant
Life that Counts was awarded a Walmart Community Giving grant in 2019.
2019–2022
Federal award and historical implementation
Life that Counts received federal support through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and Family and Youth Services Bureau for RAMP. The historical project used three Positive Potential curriculum levels—Be the Exception, Push the Limits, and Unstoppable—with primarily middle-school participants in Alabama and Montana. Washington Park Research and Evaluation’s September 2022 final report covers survey collection from September 3, 2020 through May 19, 2022. Those are evaluation collection dates, not precise service dates for every school or cohort.
2020
Walmart Community Giving grant
Corporate community grant
Life that Counts was awarded a Walmart Community Giving grant in 2020.
September 2020
TEDxWilsonPark
Organizational milestone
Our founder delivered the TEDxWilsonPark talk, exploring how cross-age peer mentoring might strengthen connection, belonging, positive peer culture, and help-seeking.
Two school years; documented May 12, 2023
Mathematica Components Study of REAL Essentials
Historical subcontract and research implementation
Under a Mathematica subcontract for the Office of Population Affairs’ Components Study of REAL Essentials, Life that Counts delivered REAL Essentials programming in Alabama and Montana high schools. A May 12, 2023 memo from Mathematica Principal Researcher Russell Cole documents that Life that Counts helped recruit 13 schools across the two states and two school years, sent facilitators to a two-day program training at the Center for Relationship Education in Denver, monitored implementation fidelity and quality, supported field data collection, and filled a facilitator gap in Montana. Mathematica led the study; Life that Counts supported recruitment and implementation. This historical record does not report participant outcomes or establish effectiveness of a current Life that Counts program.
2025
The Caring Foundation support
Foundation support
Life that Counts received grant support from The Caring Foundation, the charitable foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, supporting work with young people and families.