St. Thomas More Newman Center

What St. Thomas More Newman Center does

Buckeye Catholic is the Catholic campus ministry serving the undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff of The Ohio State University, operating from the St. Thomas More Newman Center at 64 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, Ohio — directly across the street from the OSU campus. The ministry provides a comprehensive sacramental and formation program: five Sunday Masses (8am, 10am, 12pm, 6pm, 9pm during the school session), two daily weekday Masses, approximately eight hours of weekly Confession, and roughly eight hours of weekday Eucharistic Adoration (8:15am–7pm). Formation offerings include Bible studies, men's and women's small groups (The Arena, The Ark, Daughters of Veronica), the Thomistic Institute for intellectual formation, Avow for women's vocational discernment, the St. Thomas More Society (law), the Catholic Medical Association student group, Frassati Alpine Renewal, CLU, Gospel of Work, The Freedom Project, and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) program through which "dozens" of students annually join the Church.

The organization is a tax-exempt religious entity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN: 31-4423933), affiliated with and operating under the Diocese of Columbus, which functions as the parent entity and the payee for charitable gifts. The 12-person staff comprises priests (Fr. Adam Streitenberger as Executive Director & Chaplain, Fr. Thomas Blau assisting at Masses), a deacon (Dcn. Steve Petrill), religious sisters (Sister Loretta DeDomenicis), and full-time directors for Ministry (Andrew Kebe), Advancement (Hanna Horstman, with Dana Dosen as Assistant), Music (Nicole Simental), OCIA (Sarah Botti), Communications/Marketing (Issy Martin-Dye), plus an Administrative Assistant (Natalie Elchynski) and Maintenance (Jim Severance). The ministry unifies two external missionary organizations — Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) and Saint Paul's Outreach (SPO) — under the Buckeye Catholic umbrella.

The revenue model is exclusively philanthropic, built on three programmatic tiers rather than commercial pricing: (1) general individual donations and student tithes; (2) the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society requiring $100+/month or $1,200+/year from individuals and organizations, which symbolically sponsor student offertories and pair a weekly prayer commitment with financial support; and (3) the student Mug Club at $25+/month delivering branded merchandise (16 oz. red/black mugs or a 20 oz. YETI) plus appreciation events with complimentary coffee after Sunday Masses. Complementary giving mechanisms include appreciated stock, IRA charitable rollovers, donor-advised funds, bequests, vehicle donations, and employer matching gifts. There is no proprietary technology stack or software product — the underlying "platform" is the physical Newman Center facility (chapel with confessionals and choir loft, student lounge, social hall, study rooms, outdoor Marian Grotto, and Stations of the Cross) plus a Nucleus-powered web presence and standard social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).

Name

St. Thomas More Newman Center

Legal name

St. Thomas More Newman Center at The Ohio State University

Website

https://buckeyecatholic.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Buckeye Catholic (St. Thomas More Newman Center) is a 501(c)(3) Catholic campus ministry of the Diocese of Columbus serving Ohio State University students, faculty, and staff with daily Masses, confession, adoration, formation programs, and OCIA, funded chiefly through recurring individual and institutional donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Campus Ministry

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Catholic campus ministry
• Sacramental services
• Religious education
• Student spiritual formation
• Community fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Tithes: Individual donations from students, alumni, parents, and community members supporting the ministry. Students tithe as they are able, with some joining the Mug Club at $25+/month.
2. Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society: Sponsorship program where individuals commit $100+/month or $1,200+/annually to symbolically sponsor students' offertories. Includes prayer commitment and spiritual investment in students' lives.
3. Organizational Sponsorships: Parishes, businesses, schools, and organizations sponsor students through the Sponsor Society program.
4. Alternative Giving Methods: Appreciated stock, IRA charitable rollover, donor advised fund gifts, bequests, vehicle donations, and matching gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Buckeye Catholic operates the St. Thomas More Newman Center as the Catholic campus ministry for The Ohio State University, providing daily and Sunday Masses, confession, weekday Eucharistic adoration, Bible studies, men's and women's small groups, retreats, service opportunities, and the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) program. The ministry supports vocational discernment for priests, religious life, and lay leadership through dedicated groups such as Avow, Daughters of Veronica, and the Thomistic Institute. All programming is offered free to students at the dedicated facility across from the OSU campus and supplemented by giving programs (Mug Club and Sponsor Society) that fund operations.

Product overview

Buckeye Catholic is a Catholic campus ministry serving The Ohio State University. The organization offers spiritual formation programs including daily Masses, confession, and Eucharistic adoration, as well as student groups and ministries focused on Bible studies, vocational discernment, and service. The main programs include the Campus Ministry services as the core offering, the Sponsor Society for alumni and supporters to sponsor students financially and through prayer, and the Mug Club for student tithing with branded merchandise and appreciation events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Buckeye Catholic Campus Ministry Catholic campus ministry serving the undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff of The Ohio State University, offering daily and Sunday Masses, confession, Eucharistic adoration, Bible studies, small groups, retreats, service trips, vocational discernment support, and OCIA, free to all participants at the St. Thomas More Newman Center facility.
• Student Groups and Formation Programs A portfolio of student groups and formation programs covering Bible studies, men's ministry (The Arena), women's ministry (The Ark and Daughters of Veronica), intellectual formation (Thomistic Institute), Catholic professional communities (Catholic Medical Association, St. Thomas More Society for law students), service (Frassati Alpine Renewal), vocational discernment for women (Avow), CLU, Gospel of Work, and The Freedom Project, available to Ohio State students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of students pray in the chapel weekly
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Church of the Resurrection ParishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 July 2026Catholic parish in New Albany, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• Diocese of ColumbuscoreOthers · 1 July 2026Buckeye Catholic is an office associated with the Diocese of Columbus. Gifts in support may be made payable to the Diocese of Columbus (EIN: 31-4423933). Tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• St. Paul the Apostle ParishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Catholic parish in Westerville, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society, symbolically sponsoring students and transforming lives.
• St. Brigid of Kildare ParishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Catholic parish and parochial school (P-8) in Dublin, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• St. John Neumann ParishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Catholic parish in Sunbury, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• St. Brendan the Navigator ParishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Catholic parish in Hilliard, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• Varsity Club RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Restaurant and bar in Columbus, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• Six Candle StudiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Multimedia production company in Columbus, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• The Joseph GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Wealth management firm in Columbus, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• InDecca LLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Design and build construction company in Gahanna, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• Chesterton Academy of St. BenedictminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Catholic high school in Worthington, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• Bishop Watterson High SchoolminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Catholic high school in Columbus, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• Knights of Columbus #11354minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Knights of Columbus council in Bexley, OH serving as an organizational sponsor in the Buckeye Catholic Sponsor Society.
• Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOCUS missionaries serve as part of Buckeye Catholic's campus ministry team, evangelizing students and partnering under the Buckeye Catholic umbrella to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with Ohio State students.
• Saint Paul's Outreach (SPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPO missionaries serve as part of Buckeye Catholic's campus ministry, working alongside other ministry efforts to evangelize and form missionary disciples at Ohio State University.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): Catholic parish at the center of UIUC campus ministry life with daily Mass, confession, adoration, and student formation programs — directly analogous ministry footprint.
• Newman Catholic Student Center (University of Michigan): Catholic campus parish adjacent to University of Michigan providing sacraments, FOCUS missionaries, and student formation at a Big Ten peer institution.
• St. Mary's Catholic Center (Texas A&M University): Catholic campus ministry at Texas A&M with Mass, sacraments, FOCUS missionaries, and student organizations serving a large public-university population — same ministry architecture.
• St. Paul Catholic Center (University of Wisconsin–Madison): Catholic campus parish serving UW–Madison undergraduates with daily Mass, confession, adoration, FOCUS missionaries, and student small groups — directly comparable model to Buckeye Catholic.
• St. Austin Catholic Parish (University of Texas at Austin): Catholic parish and Newman Center serving UT Austin students with daily Mass, sacraments, and Catholic student ministries on a large public university campus — same operating template.
• St. Lawrence Catholic Center (Purdue University): Parish and Catholic student center serving Purdue, hosting FOCUS missionaries, daily Masses, and student discipleship programming comparable to Buckeye Catholic.
• St. Patrick Catholic Center (University of Missouri): Catholic student center and parish at Mizzou featuring daily Mass, confession, adoration, and student ministries — directly comparable Big Twelve public-university ministry.

Others

• Diocese of Columbus: Parent-affiliating diocese that provides institutional oversight, tax-exempt framework (EIN 31-4423933), and priestly leadership for St. Thomas More Newman Center and its peer parishes.

Emerging players

• Saint Paul's Outreach (SPO): Catholic university outreach organization that places missionary teams at U.S. college campuses, partnered with Buckeye Catholic under the same umbrella.
• Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS): National Catholic collegiate evangelization organization that places missionary teams at U.S. universities; partners with Buckeye Catholic as part of its on-campus staff and deploys the same model at peer ministries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/buckeyecatholic
• Facebookfacebook.com/buckeyecatholic
• Instagraminstagram.com/buckeyecatholic
• Xx.com/buckeyecatholic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-thomas-more-newman-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 St. Thomas More Newman Center