2023 – 2024 IMPACT REPORT
Thank you for helping to make a difference in the lives of those served by Dismas Ministry! (Download a pdf copy of this report)
As Catholics, we are called to deepen our faith and go forth to proclaim the Gospel message. Though incarcerated men and women have strayed from God’s path, they are still members of Christ’s Body and worthy of our discipleship, love, and support.
We hope many prisoners will use their time behind bars to reassess their lives and, with God’s help, make amends for the ways that they have victimized others. As fellow Catholics, we support their spiritual rehabilitation with Catholic resources and materials.
This spiritual approach goes to the very heart of the matter – the need for God in the lives of all who have been affected by crime. In the end, the only true healing is spiritual, as God transforms suffering into victory as He did for Jesus in His death and resurrection.
Dismas Ministry has steadily expanded its outreach since its founding. In 2000, we started the Ministry with distribution to only four states; by 2013, we expanded our reach to prisoners in all 50 states. Today, we serve an average of 13,000 inmates each year in more than 1,825 facilities across the country.
We have, however, only scratched the surface of the work still to do. There are more than 6,200 correctional facilities in the United States, which include nearly two million prisoners. Roughly 15 percent of the prison population—some 300,000 individuals—identify as Catholic. In any given year, the Ministry serves a little more than 25 percent of U.S. facilities and roughly five percent of Catholic prisoners. To expand our reach and to keep pace with technological changes, we are now offering our resources to a growing number of facilities in a digital format. As of 2022, at least 14 state prison systems scan all incoming mail, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, a national research and advocacy organization focused on mass incarceration.
In 2023, we expanded our reach through a partnership with Edovo, the largest learning platform for incarcerated people in the United States. Edovo currently operates in 1,200+ correctional facilities, reaching over 970,000 individuals who are incarcerated—approximately 50% of the total incarcerated population in the U.S. To date, more than 50 million hours have been spent learning on the Edovo platform.
Through this collaboration, Dismas Ministry now offers 31 free, faith-based resources digitally through Edovo, significantly broadening our impact. Our content is now accessible in over 1,200 facilities across 39 states, at no cost to the individuals we serve. In just the first few weeks, more than 500 incarcerated individuals accessed our spiritual materials—underscoring the hunger for hope, healing, and faith behind bars.
In 2024, Dismas Ministry released Volume 10 in the I Am Beautiful series.
This powerful project, which began in 2010, invites women who are incarcerated to share their writings, stories, poems, and artwork reflecting on their experiences with abuse and their journey toward healing. Each annual volume is a testament to resilience, dignity, and hope—offering a platform for women to rise above the violence and trauma they have endured. Through their voices, these contributors not only reclaim their worth but also inspire and support other women who carry similar wounds.
We hope that all who read I Am Beautiful will be reminded that they are worthy of love and dignity, and recognize the inner and outer beauty in themselves and others. After each new volume is published, every woman who contributed receives a free copy, and two copies are sent to libraries in women’s prisons across the United States.
You can download a FREE sample of I Am Beautiful, Volume 10 on our website.
To order your full copy of I Am Beautiful, Volume 10, visit our online store.
Over the years, Dismas Ministry has received hundreds of heartfelt works of art from individuals who are incarcerated—created on everything from scrap paper and envelopes to the backs of Bible study review tests. These deeply personal pieces have long been a part of our ministry’s story, reflecting the spiritual depth, emotional resilience, and creative expression of those behind bars.
In April 2025, we brought this collection to life in a public way with our first-ever prison art gallery event, Expressions of the Soul. Co-hosted with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps of Milwaukee, the event showcased framed artwork, poetry, and sculpture created by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. Held in a welcoming, community space, the event drew supporters, ministers, and advocates together for an afternoon of art, reflection, and connection. It was a powerful witness to the beauty, dignity, and humanity so often hidden behind prison walls.
Much of this artwork remains on display in our offices and is featured on our website, in promotional materials, and throughout our publications. It continues to be a highlight during ministry tours and educational presentations. A video presentation of our growing art gallery can also be viewed on our website.
Dismas Ministry, like many small nonprofit organizations, continues to navigate a unique set of challenges.
In today’s rapidly changing world—with economic uncertainty, shifting donor priorities, and advancing technology—Dismas Ministry remains committed to keeping our mission front and center, despite limited resources. This balancing act is carried out by a small but deeply dedicated team.
As of June 2024, Juliann Joerres serves as our new Executive Director, bringing with her over two decades of experience in nonprofit communication and a deep commitment to prison ministry.
Our current staff includes:
One full-time Executive Director (Juliann Joerres)
One part-time Administrative Assistant
One contracted Grant Writer
Three part-time interns from Alverno College
Two part-time volunteers from the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC)
One part-time volunteer bookkeeper
With this committed team, we continue to faithfully serve our brothers and sisters behind bars, ensuring they are not forgotten and that the light of faith reaches even the darkest places.
Fortunately, Dismas Ministry also has a corps of dedicated volunteers who help fulfill orders, correct course tests, manage inventory, and assist with general office duties.
Just as recruiting staff is a real challenge, so is attracting and retaining qualified volunteers. Though our team of volunteers has fluctuated over the years, we have been blessed by a number of dedicated long-term volunteers who help our organization flourish.
In fall 2022, we expanded our network by connecting with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps® (IVC) (pictured below) to maintain our library of publications, inventory management, and help package requests from our Prison Ministry Network.
In addition to the individuals listed above, we are blessed with others who work remotely coordinating the Dismas Ministry correspondence course program. Thank you to Deacon Roberto Fuentes (based in Racine, WI), as well as members of these two parishes: St. Margaret Mary Parish (Milwaukee, WI) and St. William Parish (Waukesha, WI). Greg Dunlop is our volunteer bookkeeper.
We are grateful to all our volunteers, some of whom have been part of our team for nearly 20 years!
Technology
Compounding our difficulties, many jails and prisons are eliminating access to print publications. For Dismas Ministry to continue delivering our resources to a growing number of inmates, we must navigate and adapt to new technologies and communication platforms. As mentioned earlier, we are now offering our resources to a growing number of facilities in a digital format.
Dismas Ministry Headquarters
In April 2024, Dismas Ministry entered an exciting new chapter with a move to our new home on the campus of Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This transition represents more than just a change in location. It marks the beginning of a promising partnership with a respected institution that shares our commitment to education, service, and spiritual growth.
Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno College is an independent, Catholic, liberal arts college for women known for its innovative, ability-based learning approach. With a strong emphasis on hands-on experience and community engagement, Alverno provides an ideal environment for our ministry to grow and thrive.
This move has already created new opportunities for collaboration and support. With access to Alverno’s vibrant academic community, we’ve welcomed three college interns into our Young Adult Prison Ministry Ambassador Program (YAPMAP), resumed operations in a more efficient workspace, and deepened our connection to local partners in ministry and education.
Donor Relations
We are grateful to both long-term and new donors who are inspired by and support our mission. We have grown a solid donor base since the organization’s inception.
Dismas Ministry’s primary goal is to serve the imprisoned. We are determined to grow our outreach to those who seek a deeper connection with God and the Catholic Church. The resources we provide are tools for their spiritual journey.
Our mission would cease to exist without the prayerful and financial support of many individuals and faith-based and grantmaking organizations from across the country.
Thank you, friends, for your partnership with Dismas Ministry and your kinship with our brothers and sisters behind bars.