Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C.

What Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. does

The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C., established in 1955 by L. Ron Hubbard, is a non-profit religious organization operating as one of the historic founding churches within the global Church of Scientology ecclesiastical structure. It is located at 1424 16th Street NW on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C., and functions as a local congregation under the ecclesiastical management of Church of Scientology International (CSI) headquartered in Los Angeles. The organization serves the general public seeking self-improvement and committed Scientologists pursuing advanced spiritual advancement through the Bridge to Total Freedom, operating in a market that spans North America and claims a global footprint across six continents with 11,000 affiliated Churches, Missions, and Groups worldwide.

The church's core offerings are built on the spiritual technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard, including Scientology auditing (one-on-one spiritual counseling) and training services, the Dianetics methodology, and the proprietary E-Meter device used during auditing sessions. Supporting offerings include beginning services (Hubbard Dianetics Seminar, Personal Efficiency Course, Life Improvement Courses, Success through Communication Course), a suite of 19 free "Tools for Life" online courses covering communication, ethics, study technology, marriage, and workplace skills, and an extensive library of books and audiobooks by L. Ron Hubbard. The organization also operates or supports eight Social Betterment and Humanitarian Programs (Narconon, Criminon, Applied Scholastics, The Way to Happiness, Foundation for a Drug-Free World, United for Human Rights, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, and Scientology Volunteer Ministers) and distributes content through the Scientology Network on DIRECTV Channel 320, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, and Android.

Revenue is generated through a combination of book and material sales (paperbacks at $20, hardcovers at $30-$35, audiobooks at $25), paid auditing and training services (specific pricing not publicly disclosed), and voluntary donations including membership in the International Association of Scientologists (IAS). The go-to-market motion is primarily direct-to-consumer, leveraging free introductory offerings (the Oxford Capacity Analysis personality test, tours, and online courses) as top-of-funnel lead generation, followed by conversion to paid services and materials through physical locations, the online storefront, and the global Scientology TV Network. The organization maintains 11-50 employees at this single Washington, D.C. location and does not publicly disclose its revenue.

Name

Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C.

Legal name

The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C.

Website

https://scientology-washingtondc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. is a non-profit religious organization founded in 1955 that delivers Scientology auditing, training, and Dianetics-based services to local congregants and the general public, operating as one church within a global network of 11,000 affiliated Scientology organizations under Church of Scientology International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Spiritual counseling
• Personality testing
• Humanitarian programs
• Religious education

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Book and Material Sales: Sale of Scientology and Dianetics books, audiobooks, films, and lectures. Books range from $20 for The Way to Happiness to $35 for hardcover editions. Audiobooks priced at $25. Video materials also available for purchase.
2. Religious Services and Auditing: Paid religious services including auditing (spiritual counseling sessions) and training programs for individuals seeking to advance through the Bridge to Total Freedom.
3. Donations: Voluntary donations from members, including membership in the International Association of Scientologists (IAS).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. delivers religious services rooted in the Scientology and Dianetics teachings of L. Ron Hubbard. Core offerings include one-on-one auditing (spiritual counseling), training programs, free introductory services (OCA personality test, tours, seminars), paid online courses under the Tools for Life program, and sales of books and audiobooks. The church also runs social betterment and humanitarian initiatives such as Narconon, Volunteer Ministers, and the Way to Happiness program.

Product overview

The Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. offers a comprehensive religious and self-improvement service portfolio centered on Scientology and Dianetics. The core offerings include the Scientology religion itself, the Dianetics methodology for mental health, and the free Oxford Capacity Analysis (OCA) Personality Test. These are supported by beginning services (Dianetics Seminar, Personal Efficiency Course, Success through Communication Course) and a suite of online courses under the 'Tools for Life' program covering communication, ethics, marriage, workplace skills, and more. The organization also distributes foundational books including Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, The Way to Happiness, Clear Body Clear Mind, and Handbook for Preclears. The Scientology Network provides TV programming across multiple platforms. Additionally, the Church supports eight Social Betterment and Humanitarian Programs: The Way to Happiness, Applied Scholastics, Criminon, Narconon, Foundation for a Drug-Free World, United for Human Rights, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, and Scientology Volunteer Ministers. The organization operates the E-Meter as a service marked technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Scientology: The Scientology religion - a body of knowledge on the mind, spirit and life containing practical tools for handling situations in life.
• Dianetics
• Scientology TV

Products and services

• Scientology Religion (Auditing & Training Services) A religion offering a precise path to a complete and certain understanding of one's true spiritual nature, with paid auditing and training sessions as the primary religious service. Targeted at individuals pursuing spiritual advancement.
• Dianetics A methodology developed by L. Ron Hubbard to help alleviate unwanted sensations and emotions, irrational fears, and psychosomatic illnesses; serves as the practical foundation of Scientology practice for individuals seeking self-improvement.
• Oxford Capacity Analysis (OCA) Personality Test Free online personality test providing an assessment of strengths, weaknesses, personality traits, happiness, and self-confidence; targeted at individuals curious about personal development.
• Beginning Services (Seminars & Introductory Courses) Introductory religious and educational services that introduce newcomers to Scientology principles, including the Hubbard Dianetics Seminar, Personal Efficiency Course, Life Improvement Courses, and Success through Communication Course. Targeted at newcomers exploring the religion.
• Tools for Life Online Courses Internet-based self-paced courses covering communication, stress management, conflict resolution, marriage, study technology, ethics, drugs, workplace tools, and organizational skills, based on principles from the Scientology Handbook. Targeted at the general public.
• The Way to Happiness (Book) Book by L. Ron Hubbard containing 21 precepts that form a nonreligious moral code based on common sense, guiding choices and decisions in life. Sold via the church bookstore.
• Clear Body, Clear Mind (Book) Book by L. Ron Hubbard describing the Purification Program, an all-natural regimen designed to eliminate accumulated drugs and toxins from the body.
• Handbook for Preclears (Book) Self-processing manual by L. Ron Hubbard containing Fifteen Acts oriented to the rehabilitation of self-determinism, transitioning from Dianetics to Scientology.
• Scientology Network Television and digital video network broadcasting original Scientology programming including Meet a Scientologist, Voices for Humanity, and Inside Scientology, distributed via DIRECTV Channel 320, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, and Android apps.
• Scientology Volunteer Ministers Program Humanitarian disaster response program providing effective help and relief services worldwide, operated as part of the church's social betterment initiatives.
• Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program Drug rehabilitation and prevention program offered as one of the Social Betterment and Humanitarian Programs supported by the Church.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of individuals have achieved the state of Clear
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• Church of Scientology InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent ecclesiastical organization that provides ecclesiastical management of Scientology Churches and Missions worldwide. CSI operates the main website and coordinates global church operations.
• Religious Technology CentercoreTechnology or IntegrationHolds and licenses the trademarks for Scientology and Dianetics including E-METER, DIANETICS, L. RON HUBBARD, THE BRIDGE TO TOTAL FREEDOM and other proprietary marks. Grants licenses to CSI and affiliated organizations.
• International Association of Scientologists (IAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial membership organization of Scientology. Purpose is to unite, advance, support and protect the Scientology religion and Scientologists worldwide. Provides grants to sponsor Social Betterment and Humanitarian Programs.
• Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates Social Betterment Campaigns including morality (The Way to Happiness), drug rehabilitation (Narconon), criminal reform (Criminon), and literacy (Applied Scholastics) programs.
• World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational membership organization whose members use L. Ron Hubbard Management Technology and embrace responsibilities and ethical standards of WISE membership.
• Church of Scientology Europe (CSEU)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain European establishment managing Scientology Churches and Missions in Europe. Located in Glostrup, Denmark. Also serves as the Data Protection Officer contact for European users.
• L. Ron Hubbard LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationOwns rights to works of L. Ron Hubbard including The Way to Happiness trademark and designs. Provides permission for reproduction of copyrighted works on Scientology websites.
• DIRECTVmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDIRECTV Channel 320 carries the Scientology Network, making original programming available to DIRECTV subscribers.
• Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TVmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScientology TV apps available on major streaming platforms including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS and Android mobile devices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eckankar: New religious movement offering spiritual exercises, books, seminars and community events. Comparable as a smaller, newer religion operating with a similar book-plus-seminar-plus-community monetization model.
• Self-Realization Fellowship: Religious nonprofit offering structured spiritual training, lessons-by-mail, meditation retreats and authored canonical teachings. Comparable as a religious organization that monetizes its founder's teachings through tiered coursework and printed materials.
• Kabbalah Centre International: Religious organization selling books, courses (online and in-person), spiritual counseling and community programming with a similar freemium-to-paid funnel. Highly comparable as a new religious movement monetizing spiritual education through tiered course offerings and global centers.
• Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE): Coordinates Scientology's social betterment programs (Narconon, Criminon, Applied Scholastics, Way to Happiness). Comparable as a Scientology-affiliated organization distributing courses, books and program content to the public.
• Church of Scientology International: Parent ecclesiastical organization managing all Scientology churches worldwide. Directly comparable as it operates the same religious service portfolio, marketing channels and content canon, just at network scale rather than a single location.

Broad incumbents

• Hillsong Church: Global megachurch movement with branded worship music, conferences and media products. Comparable as a modern religious brand monetizing through merchandise, conferences, courses and global campus network.
• Landmark Worldwide: Personal development organization (formerly est) selling high-priced seminars, courses and leader programs. Comparable as a course-based, high-touch paid-services operator in the personal/spiritual improvement space with similar freemium introductory sessions.
• Tony Robbins Companies: Personal development business selling high-priced seminars, books, coaching and digital content with a similar freemium-to-premium funnel. Comparable as a brand-led, content-monetizing operator in the personal/spiritual improvement category.
• YWAM (Youth With A Mission): Global Christian missionary movement offering training programs (DTS), humanitarian outreach and volunteer programs. Comparable as a religious nonprofit monetizing through courses, humanitarian programming and a global campus network.

Emerging players

• Narconon International: Drug rehabilitation program coordinated under the Church's ABLE social betterment umbrella. Directly comparable as a Scientology-affiliated program monetizing Hubbard's Purification methodology through paid rehabilitation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/scientology
• YouTubeyoutube.com/scientology
• Facebookfacebook.com/churchofscientology
• Instagraminstagram.com/scientology
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/founding-church-of-scientology-of-washington-dc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C.