100% Free Resources
We’re committed to making prison a place of transformation. We do this through our three pillars; staff, inmate, and community. We invest in resources and provide those for free in order to live by our mission statement.
Staff Resources
Our dedication to the corrections workforce is unmatched. By offering cutting-edge tools and training programs, we aim to support staff in fulfilling their responsibilities more effectively, ultimately fostering a positive work environment and yielding improved outcomes for both staff members and inmates.
Inmate Resources
Within correctional facilities, we offer inmates engaging programs, constructive connections, and essential resources, enabling them to find a sense of purpose and meaning as they prepare for their reintegration into society.
Community Resources
Our approach involves actively involving the community in the core objective of corrections: improving public safety and preventing future criminal activities. We collaborate with various sectors, including businesses, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, and social service providers, to expand private sector involvement and support.
- 3Learn Why We Started Fourth Purpose
Our story
The Need for Change Was a First Hand Experience
Josh Smith, Founder and CEO, knows the need for transformation in our prison system. He was born into poverty, raised by a single mother, and was sent away at the age of 11 due to abuse. Before he was 16 years old, Josh was convicted of 10 felonies. By the age of 21, he was convicted for his involvement in drug trafficking. Since his release in 2003, Josh has set out to transform his life and those around him. After building and selling the largest home improvement business in East Tennessee, he has dedicated a large portion of his wealth to impacting prisons so that others may find the opportunity to transform their lives through prison.
At 4th Purpose Foundation, our prison transformation initiatives focus on restoring purpose, dignity, and hope within correctional facilities. By addressing root causes of incarceration and equipping individuals with tools for change, we ensure that these initiatives are more than programs—they are pathways to lasting impact.