Diocese of Allentown

What Diocese of Allentown does

The Diocese of Allentown is a Roman Catholic diocesan organization established on January 28, 1961, when Pope John XXIII separated Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, it currently operates 78 parishes serving more than 205,000 registered Catholics — representing over 20% of the general population across its five-county region — under the spiritual and administrative governance of its Fifth Bishop, Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, D.D., J.C.L. The Diocese is structured into secretariats overseeing clergy, evangelization and education, temporal administration, Hispanic affairs, communications, and health/human services/youth protection. Its core product surface is delivered through a parish network plus sub-brands: Catholic Charities (social services), Diocesan Catholic Schools network (adschools.org), Holy Family Senior Living, Diocesan Cemeteries, AD Today (digital news), AD Times (newspaper), the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), OCIA faith formation, Office of Vocations, Bishop's Commission for Young Adults, campus ministry at six colleges, marriage and family life programs, St. Monica Ministry, and disability ministry via the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.

The Diocese does not employ proprietary technology; its technology surface consists of a public website (allentowndiocese.org), AD Today digital publishing, FlockNote email newsletters, and the Parish Finder directory. Its revenue model is fundamentally donations-based and plural: the "Because We Are Catholic" annual appeal, the Endowment for the Care of Retired Priests, the Catholic Women's Society of Giving collective giving program (which has awarded $90,000 in grants over six years), and legacy gift planning via bequests, annuities, stock/securities and IRA qualified charitable distributions. A second material revenue stream is the Pennsylvania Tax Credit Scholarship Program, administered in partnership with BLOCS, which redirects state income tax liability (90% tax credit) into over $8 million in annual Catholic school scholarships. Operational revenue also flows from school tuition, Catholic Charities program funding, cemetery services, Holy Family Senior Living resident fees, and event-based pricing (e.g., Fiat Days women's discernment retreat at $120-$150, CYO coach clinics at $25). Major customers are the 205,000+ registered parishioners (long-tail individual donors), Catholic school families, and institutional donors routed through the annual appeal.

Name

Diocese of Allentown

Legal name

Diocese of Allentown

Website

https://allentowndiocese.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Diocese of Allentown is a Roman Catholic regional ecclesiastical organization serving 205,000+ registered Catholics across 78 parishes in five eastern Pennsylvania counties, founded in 1961 under Bishop Alfred A. Schlert and funded by donations, annual appeals, and the Pennsylvania Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Pastoral Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Faith-Based / Nonprofit Assisted Living Providers (HLADABAH)

Keywords

• Catholic diocese services
• Pastoral ministry
• Catholic education
• Faith formation programs
• Religious charitable giving

Headquarters

HQ city

Allentown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Appeal (Because We Are Catholic): Annual fundraising campaign supporting programs, parishes, schools, and ministries. The Diocese actively seeks donations through bequests, annuities, legacy gift planning, stock/securities contributions, and IRA qualified charitable distributions.
2. Tax Credit Scholarship Program: Pennsylvania state tax credit program where businesses and individuals can redirect PA income tax liability to scholarship funding. Participants receive 90% PA tax credit. Students benefit from over $8 million in scholarship funding annually.
3. Catholic Women's Society of Giving: Collective giving program where Catholic women contribute to fund non-profit ministries within the Diocese. Membership enrollment for annual giving season with grants awarded to selected recipients.
4. Endowment for Care of Retired Priests: Designated endowment fund to cover retirement costs including insurance, healthcare, prescription drugs, skilled nursing care, and housing for retired priests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Diocese of Allentown provides Roman Catholic pastoral services, faith formation, Catholic education, social services, and charitable programs across 78 parishes in five eastern Pennsylvania counties. Core service delivery occurs through the parish network and dedicated secretariats overseeing evangelization, education, formation, health/human services, and temporal administration.

Product overview

The Diocese of Allentown is a Roman Catholic diocese serving five counties in eastern Pennsylvania (Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill) with approximately 205,000 registered Catholics across 78 parishes. The diocese operates as a family of faith centered in the Holy Eucharist, providing pastoral services through multiple interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. The primary digital offerings include AD Today (digital news platform), AD Times (print newspaper), and the Catholic Schools Network, supported by various pastoral ministries covering faith formation (OCIA, Vocations, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry), social services (Catholic Charities), and charitable initiatives (Catholic Women's Society of Giving, Diocesan Pilgrimages). These services are administered through the Chancery and seven secretariats overseeing clergy, evangelization/education, temporal administration, Hispanic affairs, communications, and health/human services/youth protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Catholic Charities Diocese of Allentown: Social services agency providing pregnancy support, counseling, and community assistance
• AD Today
• AD Times
• CYO (Catholic Youth Organization)
• Holy Family Senior Living

Products and services

• AD Today Official digital news platform of the Diocese of Allentown providing local, diocesan, and world news to parishioners and the broader Catholic community.
• AD Times Official print newspaper of the Diocese of Allentown delivering local Catholic news and information to parishioners across the five-county region.
• Diocesan Catholic Schools Network Network of Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the five-county Diocese supported by the Office of Education with annual scholarship funding exceeding $8 million.
• Office of Vocations Diocesan office supporting individuals in their discernment of priestly or religious vocations, offering events such as Fiat Days (women) and Quo Vadis (men) discernment retreats, resources, and seminarian information.
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Formal Catholic initiation process for adults entering the Church from another faith tradition or no religion, conducted through local parishes and college campus ministries.
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Diocesan organization providing athletic and academic youth programs within parish communities, rooting youth activities in the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church.
• Young Adult Ministry Ministry fostering spiritual growth of Catholics aged 18-38 through spiritual, social, and service-oriented opportunities supported by the Bishop's Commission for Young Adults.
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Allentown Social service agency of the Diocese providing pregnancy support, counseling, food assistance, and various charitable programs across five eastern Pennsylvania counties.
• Catholic Women's Society of Giving Collective giving program of Catholic women raising awareness and funding non-profit ministries within the Diocese through membership contributions and grant awards.
• Diocesan Pilgrimages Organized pilgrimages to U.S. and international Catholic shrines, including the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and jubilee pilgrimages to Italy.
• Campus Ministry Campus ministry programs providing chaplaincy, sacramental ministry, and faith support to college students at six institutions: Alvernia, DeSales, Kutztown, Lafayette, Lehigh, and Muhlenberg.
• Marriage and Family Life Ministry Programs supporting marriage preparation, enrichment, Natural Family Planning instruction, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, and Retrouvaille for couples across the Diocese.
• Office of Hispanic Affairs Diocesan office serving the Hispanic community through Spanish-language Masses at designated parishes, V Encuentro process, Cursillos, Theological Studies (LET), and Hispanic apostolic movements.
• Diocesan Cemeteries Catholic cemetery services operating across the Diocese for parishioners and their families.
• Holy Family Senior Living Diocesan senior living facility providing housing and care for elderly Catholics in the Diocese.

Quantifiable outcome

• 205,000+ registered Catholics served across 78 parishes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BLOCS (Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Schools)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBLOCS is a key partner for the Pennsylvania Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The Lead Development Manager at BLOCS is assigned to the Diocese of Allentown to help businesses and individuals participate in the program, which provides over $8 million in annual scholarship funding for Catholic school students.
• Alvernia UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus ministry program with chaplain Fr. Ronald Bowman and campus minister Marietta Andrzejewska serving college students at Alvernia University in Reading, PA.
• DeSales UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus ministry program with chaplain Fr. Daniel Lannen serving DeSales University students in Center Valley, PA.
• Kutztown UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus ministry at St. Christopher Newman Center serving Kutztown University students with chaplain Fr. Matthew Kuna and center director Dr. Lisa Grabowski.
• Lafayette CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus ministry serving Lafayette College students in Easton, PA with chaplain Fr. Alex Brown and campus minister Zelenda Hodgskin.
• Lehigh UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewman Center at Lehigh University provides chaplaincy services with Rev. Stephan A. Isaac and coordinator Ronald J. Koach, Jr. serving students in Bethlehem, PA.
• Muhlenberg CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewman Center at Muhlenberg College provides sacramental ministry and campus ministry services to students in Allentown, PA.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)coreOthersThe Diocese is affiliated with USCCB, the national bishops' conference that provides resources, liturgical calendars, daily readings, and guidance on Catholic doctrine, youth ministry frameworks, and national initiatives.
• Pennsylvania Catholic ConferencecoreOthersState-level advocacy arm of Pennsylvania's Catholic dioceses that represents the Diocese of Allentown on matters of public policy, religious liberty, and Catholic social teaching in state government.
• Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate ConceptionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop Schlert serves on the Board of Trustees of this national Catholic shrine in Washington, DC, and the Diocese organizes pilgrimages to this site.
• DeSales UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop Schlert previously served on the Board of Trustees of DeSales University in Center Valley, PA. The Diocese maintains campus ministry presence at this institution.
• Saint Charles Borromeo SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop Schlert serves on the Board of Trustees of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, PA. The seminary is where Bishop Schlert himself was educated for the priesthood.
• National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Diocese is a member of NCPD and participates in a Mentorship Program to create and implement pastoral plans for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, following Jesus's example of inclusion.
• Cross Catholic OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop Schlert serves on the Bishop's Advisory Board of Cross Catholic Outreach, an international Catholic ministry.
• Catholic Leadership InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBishop Schlert serves on the Episcopal Advisory Board of the Catholic Leadership Institute, which provides leadership formation for Catholic organizations.
• Knights of ColumbusminorOthersBishop Schlert is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.
• Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of JerusalemminorOthersBishop Schlert is a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Papal order.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Archdiocese of Philadelphia: The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the historic metropolitan see from which the Diocese of Allentown was separated in 1961. Both share Catholic ecclesiastical governance structure, parish-based ministry, and school networks in eastern Pennsylvania, making it the closest governance and operational peer.

Direct peers

• Diocese of Harrisburg: Diocese of Harrisburg is a fellow Pennsylvania Roman Catholic diocese covering a similar multi-county footprint with parishes, schools, and Catholic Charities affiliate. It is a directly comparable peer in geographic scale, parish count, and ministry structure within the same state.
• Diocese of Pittsburgh: Diocese of Pittsburgh is another Pennsylvania Catholic diocese operating parishes, schools, and social service ministries. It is structurally identical to Allentown and offers direct comparability on administration, fundraising, and youth protection programs.
• Diocese of Scranton: Diocese of Scranton is a Pennsylvania peer diocese with comparable multi-county regional structure, parish network, school system, and Catholic Charities affiliate. It was also named in the 40th Statewide Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, mirroring Allentown's abuse-related operating context.
• Diocese of Greensburg: Diocese of Greensburg is a smaller Pennsylvania Catholic diocese with parallel parish, school, and ministry functions. It is a directly comparable governance peer in size, geographic span, and operational complexity.
• Diocese of Erie: Diocese of Erie is a Pennsylvania Catholic diocese of comparable scale, serving a multi-county regional area with parishes, schools, and Catholic Charities affiliate. It provides a direct structural and operational peer benchmark.

Regional players

• Diocese of Camden: Diocese of Camden is a nearby mid-Atlantic Catholic diocese across the Delaware Valley with a similar parish, school, and Catholic Charities footprint. It is a strong geographic neighbor peer that does not directly overlap with Allentown's service territory but mirrors its operating model.
• Diocese of Arlington: Diocese of Arlington is a mid-Atlantic Catholic diocese with a comparable suburban-parish composition and significant Catholic school system. It offers comparability on diocesan administration, youth ministry scale, and fundraising infrastructure without direct geographic overlap.

Others

• Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities USA is the national network that aggregates and represents diocesan Catholic Charities agencies including Catholic Charities AD. It is an ecosystem and standards-body peer rather than a competitor, providing national funding, advocacy, and program frameworks.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): USCCB is the national bishops' conference that sets doctrinal, liturgical, and youth protection standards under which the Diocese of Allentown operates. It is a governing-ecosystem peer providing national coordination, resources, and policy alignment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DioceseofAllentown
• Instagraminstagram.com/allentowndiocese
• Xx.com/allentowndioces
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diocese-of-allentown

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Diocese of Allentown