Eagle Ranch is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization that takes a whole family approach to restoring and renewing relationships for children and families. Our affordable and accessible services meet families at their point of need, providing guidance, practical resources and hope for a more flourishing future.
It started with a guileless teen’s observation one day in church. As that teen grew into a man, he saw that children faced many challenges in their lives. He became particularly burdened by children who were struggling with their families. He believed there had to be a way to help make their lives better. So he began a journey that led him from Birmingham, Alabama to the Chestnut Mountain community of Flowery Branch.
Eagle Ranch Founder Eddie Staub made headlines in the early 1980s as an ambitious young man attempting to fund and establish a home for struggling boys. Because of its extraordinary formation and early growth, the Ranch was called “the miracle on Chestnut Mountain” by CNN television during the initial phases of construction and development.
From the opening of our first home in 1985, Eagle Ranch has grown well beyond one person with a dream. Today, we are a community that helps thousands of boys, girls and their family members. Our wide range of services promotes whole family healing.
The Eagle Ranch community embodies humility, experience, compassion and strength. Our leadership is focused on developing and guiding a team that cares deeply about serving children and families. We work to create and nurture a beautiful, peaceful environment that promotes healing, learning, transformation and renewal.
Eagle Ranch is a close-knit community of caregivers, counselors, educators and administrators all committed to helping further our mission. We believe in the support and encouragement of one another and everyone we serve.
We are vigilant about the careful stewardship of all that is entrusted to us – from the children and families we care for to the contributions of faithful supporters. We believe that excellence of our organizational operations is crucial to caring for children and families. We are committed to a debt-free status, a long-term mindset, and financial independence.
We have remained debt-free since our inception and no loans or financing have ever been used to acquire land or pay for construction. No money ever goes toward paying interest on debt. Our annual budget is funded through the generosity of private individual donors, along with churches, businesses and community, family and corporate foundations.
Each year, the budget process is started from scratch, with all expenses reviewed before the annual budget is approved. Eagle Ranch is accredited through the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations.
In addition to the oversight of the ECFA, Eagle Ranch’s financial records are audited annually by an independent accounting firm, and the Finance Committee of the Eagle Ranch Board of Directors provides ongoing financial oversight. Eagle Ranch is a 501(c)(3) organization.