Episcopal Communities & Services

What Episcopal Communities & Services does

Episcopal Communities & Services (ECS) is a California nonprofit organization that has operated Life Plan / Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) for seniors aged 62 and older since 1923, when it was founded by Deaconess Sophie Miller. ECS runs four interconnected campuses in Southern California — MonteCedro (Altadena, HQ), The Canterbury (Rancho Palos Verdes), The Covington (Aliso Viejo, Orange County), and Twelve Oaks — each delivering a full continuum of care under one roof: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Recovery Care, Memory Care, and à-la-carte CareOne companion services delivered via the "Choice Custom Care" framework. Programming is anchored by the "Creative Living" philosophy of wellness, culture, arts, experience and academy lifelong-learning components, with on-campus tools such as DAKIM Brain Training and the Music & Memory program supporting cognitive and memory-care residents.

The business model combines (i) one-time entrance fees — majority-refundable upon unit re-occupancy, providing legacy protection for heirs — with (ii) recurring monthly service fees that vary by residence size and care level (e.g., Canterbury starting at $5,743–$6,649/month under an entrance-fee contract, contrasted against a regional independent-living average of ~$11,748/month), (iii) ancillary care-services revenue from Choice Custom Care tiers, and (iv) a $1,000 fully-refundable New Neighbor Club commitment that functions as a waiting-list deposit. Go-to-market is regionally focused on Southern California via dedicated Sales & Marketing teams at each campus, structured educational events ("Senior Living Simplified," "Plan With Confidence," "For You" tours), webinars, an ECS blog, email newsletters, and Facebook/Instagram organic channels.

Financially, ECS holds an A- (Stable) Fitch credit rating affirmed in December 2024 — a tier achieved by fewer than 5% of U.S. senior communities — and is currently executing MonteCedro Phase II, adding 40 new luxury residences with restaurant, amphitheater, and outdoor amenities. Leadership includes Charlie Rahilly (EVP & CFO), Krista Nay (VP Sales & Marketing), Terry Quigley (SVP Operations & COO), and operational directors in nutrition, life enrichment, and culinary roles. ECS does not publicly disclose revenue; its listed headcount (11–50) reflects the data subset rather than the full community workforce and should not be read as a literal operating size.

Name

Episcopal Communities & Services

Legal name

Episcopal Communities & Services

Website

https://ecsforseniors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Episcopal Communities & Services (ECS) is a California nonprofit operating four Life Plan / Continuing Care Retirement Communities — MonteCedro, The Canterbury, The Covington, and Twelve Oaks — serving active seniors aged 62+ in Southern California since 1923.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Living Services / Continuing Care Retirement Communities

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)

SIC

Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) / Virtual CCRC Programs (HLADAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nonprofit / Faith-Based CCRCs (HLADAEAC)

Keywords

• Senior living services
• Continuing care retirement
• Life plan communities
• Assisted living care
• Memory care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Altadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Entrance Fees: One-time entrance fees required for residency, with a majority refunded to residents or their estate upon re-occupancy of the residence by the next occupant, providing legacy protection for heirs.
2. Monthly Service Fees: Recurring monthly fees covering housing, utilities, dining, housekeeping, maintenance, amenities, and access to community programs. Rates vary based on residence size, care level, and community.
3. Care Services Revenue: Additional fees for Choice Custom Care services including assisted living, memory care, recovery care, and CareOne companion/personal care services.
4. New Neighbor Club Membership: One-time $1,000 membership fee (fully refundable) that secures position on waiting list and provides access to community events and dining while awaiting move-in.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ECS operates four nonprofit Life Plan/Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) in Southern California—The Canterbury, The Covington, MonteCedro, and Twelve Oaks—serving active seniors aged 62+. The organization provides a continuum of care from Independent Living through Assisted Living, Recovery Care, Memory Care, and personalized CareOne services, supported by the Creative Living lifestyle and lifelong learning philosophy. Residents pay a one-time refundable entrance fee plus recurring monthly service fees.

Product overview

Episcopal Communities & Services (ECS) operates a portfolio of four nonprofit Life Plan communities (also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities or CCRCs) in Southern California: The Canterbury (Rancho Palos Verdes), The Covington (Aliso Viejo), MonteCedro (Altadena), and Twelve Oaks. These communities serve active seniors aged 62+ and provide a continuum of care ranging from Independent Living to Assisted Living, Recovery Care, and Memory Care. ECS's service portfolio includes Choice Custom Care (a comprehensive care framework), Creative Living (lifestyle and lifelong learning programming), New Neighbor Club (waitlist membership), and Care Suites (+CareOne add-on services). The organization has been serving seniors since 1923 and celebrated 100 years in 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Canterbury A nonprofit Life Plan community located at 5801 Crestridge Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, serving active seniors aged 62+. Provides independent living with access to a full continuum of care including assisted living, memory care, recovery care, and à la carte CareOne services. The Canterbury operates RCFE License #191-603774.
• The Covington A nonprofit Life Plan community located at 3 Pursuit, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656, for active seniors aged 62+ in Orange County. Provides maintenance-free resort-style living with flexible care options, dining programs, and the New Neighbor Club waitlist membership. Operates RCFE License #306-002255.
• MonteCedro A Life Plan community nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Altadena, offering luxury lifestyle residences with resort-style amenities. Phase II expansion adds 40 new residences with a restaurant, amphitheater, and outdoor spaces.
• Twelve Oaks One of four ECS Life Plan communities in Southern California, providing continuing care retirement living for active seniors with access to the broader ECS continuum of care.
• Choice Custom Care A comprehensive care program offered across ECS communities allowing residents to personalize the level and frequency of care across Independent Living, Assisted Living, Recovery Care, Memory Care, and à la carte CareOne companion services.
• Creative Living ECS's distinctive lifestyle philosophy and programming encompassing wellness, culture, arts, experience, and academy components for lifelong learning and active senior engagement.
• New Neighbor Club A waitlist management program that secures prospective residents' position in line for a $1,000 fully refundable commitment, offering exclusive access to community events, dining experiences, and social activities while waiting to move in. The fee is applied to the entrance fee upon move-in.

Quantifiable outcome

• Entrance fee is refunded upon re-occupancy, preserving legacy for heirs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Palos Verdes Musical ConnectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Creative Living Academy programming, providing musical performances and educational opportunities for residents to engage with local arts and culture.
• Palos Verdes Peninsula VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration supporting aging-in-place philosophy, connecting ECS residents with community resources and supporting continued engagement beyond campus.
• Palos Verdes Symphonic BandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts partnership providing orchestral performances and musical education opportunities for Creative Living programming.
• Peninsula SeniorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partnership supporting senior engagement and lifelong learning initiatives.
• Peninsula Friends of the LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting literary programs, author talks, and educational events for residents.
• LA Maritime MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership providing educational outings and museum access for Creative Living experience programming.
• The Peninsula SymphonyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusical arts partnership providing symphony performances and cultural enrichment opportunities for residents.
• Morrison LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNutrition and wellness partnership providing culinary team and dining services. Stephanie Montevecchi, Director of Nutrition & Wellness, presents educational content on food and dining experiences.
• South Bay HearingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing hearing care education and services. Dr. Sunni McBride, Au.D., presents webinars on latest hearing technologies and cognitive function support.
• The Complete Real Estate GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate planning partnership providing capital gains tax and home selling expertise for residents transitioning to Life Plan communities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Life Care Services (LCS): One of the largest CCRC management and operating companies in the U.S., managing dozens of Life Plan communities. Comparable as a multi-campus CCRC operator serving the same 62+ resident segment with entrance-fee contracts.
• HumanGood: Largest nonprofit faith-affiliated CCRC operator in California, operating multiple Life Plan communities across the West Coast. Directly comparable in nonprofit status, faith-rooted mission, and multi-campus Life Plan model.
• Presbyterian Senior Living: Faith-based nonprofit operator of retirement and CCRC communities in multiple states. Comparable in faith-rooted mission, nonprofit governance, and Life Plan model.
• Sunrise Senior Living: National senior living operator with strong assisted living and memory care footprint, including CCRC-style offerings. Comparable in continuum-of-care services and premium positioning.
• Erickson Senior Living: Large-scale operator of continuing care retirement communities, predominantly on the East Coast. Directly comparable in CCRC model, entrance-fee contracts, and continuum-of-care delivery.
• Pacific Retirement Services: Nonprofit organization operating multiple Life Plan communities on the West Coast. Directly comparable as a multi-campus nonprofit CCRC operator with similar resident profile.
• Front Porch Communities and Services: Faith-based nonprofit CCRC operator primarily in California. Closely comparable in mission orientation, multi-campus Life Plan offering, and Southern California footprint.
• Westminster Canterbury Communities: Faith-affiliated nonprofit Life Plan community operator. Comparable in mission, resident demographic, full care continuum, and entrance-fee contract structure.

Broad incumbents

• Atria Senior Living: For-profit senior living operator with broad national footprint across independent, assisted, and memory care. Comparable in operating scale and continuum-of-care offerings, though organized as a broader for-profit portfolio.
• Brookdale Senior Living: Largest senior living operator in the U.S., operating hundreds of communities across independent, assisted, and memory care. Comparable broadly as a multi-campus senior living provider, but for-profit and far larger in scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ECSforSeniors
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecsforseniors/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Episcopal Communities & Services