Diocese of Nashville

What Diocese of Nashville does

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville is a territorial diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, canonically established in 1834 and serving nearly 90,000 Catholics across 38 counties in Middle Tennessee. The diocese coordinates 38 parishes, a network of 21+ Catholic schools spanning preschool through post-secondary, Catholic Charities of Tennessee, campus ministry at 14 universities, the Hand in Hand Options inclusive education program, seminarian formation programs, and various social service ministries including the Loaves and Fishes meal program serving 37,000+ meals annually.

The diocese's underlying operational infrastructure includes a website (dioceseofnashville.com), online donation portals, planned giving and Legacy Society systems, donor CRM and stewardship tools, and a dedicated IT director. Revenue is generated through a diversified set of streams: parish assessments (15.2% canonical, 5% priest benefits, 0.5% seminarian education on parish income), the annual Bishop's Appeal for Ministries, tuition and ACE endowment distributions for schools, planned giving and estate gifts through the Legacy Society, Catholic Charities program funding, and event-driven fundraising (ACE Dinner, Cor Iesu Seminarian Dinner & Auction, HIHO Classic Golf Tournament). Major gift tiers range from $50,000 named scholarships to $1.5M seminarian endowments under the Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign.

The diocese is governed under canonical structure with the Bishop of Nashville (Most Reverend J. Mark Spalding) as spiritual leader, supported by a Chancellor, CFO, Chief Development Officer, Controller, and functional directors across finance, IT, annual giving, and stewardship. It is registered as a nonprofit (EIN 62-0476286) and publishes audited financial statements. Its wholly-owned affiliated entities include Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Nashville Catholic Radio, Saint Mary Villa, the Tennessee Register, and the Catholic Community Investment and Loan (CCIL); Hand in Hand Options operates as a separate 501(c)(3) since 2020.

Name

Diocese of Nashville

Legal name

Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville

Website

https://dioceseofnashville.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1834

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nashville is a nonprofit territorial diocese serving nearly 90,000 Catholics across 38 parishes and 21+ schools in Middle Tennessee, coordinating faith formation, Catholic education, seminarian training, charitable outreach, and planned giving programs since 1834.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education and Diocesan Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABALAA)

Keywords

• Catholic diocese services
• Faith formation programs
• Catholic education
• Religious education services
• Charitable social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Parish Assessments: Parishes pay assessments as a percentage of assessable income: 15.2% for canonical departments, 5% for priest benefits, and 0.5% special seminarian education assessment.
2. Bishop's Annual Appeal for Ministries: Annual fundraising campaign covering ongoing operating expenses for diocesan ministries. In 2025, raised $3,891,219.
3. Legacy Campaign Endowments: One-time campaign raising sustainable long-term endowment funding for Catholic education, vocations, parish expansion, and Catholic Charities.
4. ACE Scholarships: Advancement of Catholic Education endowment providing tuition assistance and school-specific funding, with named scholarship opportunities starting at $50,000.
5. Planned Giving: Estate gifts including bequests, charitable gift annuities, remainder trusts, and other planned gift vehicles managed through the Legacy Society.
6. Loaves and Fishes: Social service programs including meal service (37,000+ meals annually) supported by donations and contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Diocese of Nashville is a territorial Roman Catholic diocese canonically established in 1834, coordinating Catholic parishes, schools, faith formation programs, seminarian formation, and charitable social services across 38 counties in Middle Tennessee. It serves nearly 90,000 Catholics through 38 parishes, 21+ Catholic schools (preschool through post-secondary), and ministries including Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Loaves and Fishes meals program, and University Catholic campus ministry. The diocese operates annual fundraising campaigns (Bishop's Annual Appeal, A Legacy of Faith Hope and Love), endowment funds (ACE, Legacy Society), and governance/financial transparency services for the Catholic community.

Product overview

The Diocese of Nashville operates as a religious organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of Catholic education and ministry services. The core offering is its network of Catholic schools (preschool through post-secondary), supplemented by specialized programs including Hand in Hand Options (HIHO) for inclusive education, the Advancement of Catholic Education (ACE) endowment fund, and various faith formation programs. Additional services include Planned Giving & Legacy Society for estate planning, the A Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign for capital fundraising, Catholic Awakenings Magazine for publications, Tribunal services for marriage matters, and campus ministry through University Catholic. The organization also operates the Bishop's Annual Appeal for Ministries and provides financial transparency through audited reports. The portfolio functions as interconnected services unified by Catholic educational and spiritual mission, with fundraising programs (Cor Iesu, HIHO Classic, ACE Dinner) supporting the educational endowment and seminarian formation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love: Major capital campaign for Catholic education, vocations, parish growth, and Catholic Charities
• Hand in Hand Options (HIHO)
• Advancement of Catholic Education (ACE)
• Nashville Catholic Business Women's League (NCBWL)

Products and services

• Catholic Schools (Diocesan Network)
• Hand in Hand Options (HIHO)
• Advancement of Catholic Education (ACE)
• Planned Giving & Legacy Society
• A Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign
• Tribunal Services
• Bishop's Annual Appeal for Ministries
• Cor Iesu Seminarian Dinner & Auction
• Financial Transparency Services
• Loaves and Fishes
• University Catholic (UCat) Campus ministry program serving universities and colleges throughout the Diocese, providing spiritual formation and activities for students on 14 college campuses across Middle Tennessee.
• HIHO Classic Golf Tournament Annual fundraising golf tournament benefiting the Hand in Hand Options program, held at The Hermitage Golf Course.
• Catholic Charities of Tennessee Diocesan social services and charitable outreach organization serving nearly 20,000 people per year through financial counseling, workforce development, and assistance programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 additional scholarships per year from ACE endowment expansion
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• Ascension Saint ThomasmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting Sponsor for Cor Iesu 2026 Seminarian Dinner & Auction, supporting the formation of seminarians through flagship event sponsorship.
• Knights of ColumbusminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Featured sponsor for Cor Iesu 2026 event supporting seminarian formation.
• Serra Club InternationalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026International Catholic organization supporting vocations, featured as event sponsor for Cor Iesu.
• Catholic Extension SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Participating diocese in the Charitable Gift Annuity Marketing Challenge 2025, receiving funding and marketing materials to promote Catholic Gift Annuity programs.
• Steier GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCampaign counsel for the Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign, providing expert guidance on fundraising strategy and campaign execution across parish waves.
• Nashville Catholic Business Women's League (NCBWL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization of Catholic women co-hosting the annual ACE Dinner and Pearls of Wisdom Auction with the Diocese, providing the Aurelia Varallo Mariani Scholarship to Catholic high school girls.
• Puryear and NoonanminorOthersIndependent accounting firm providing annual audit services, having issued clean audit opinions for multiple consecutive years.
• Regions, CBIS, American Funds, BairdminorOthersInvestment managers selected based on recommendations of the volunteer Investment Committee to manage endowment funds, benchmarked against S&P 500 and other indexes.
• Hands On NashvilleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer coordination partner for Camp Marymount, connecting volunteers with service projects including trail clearing, facility improvements, and environmental stewardship.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA): National trade association for Catholic schools. The Diocese's 21+ school network participates in NCEA programming, accreditation, and advocacy — directly comparable in mission and member base.
• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella organization for the 167 diocesan Catholic Charities agencies. Provides shared services, advocacy, and national grantmaking — overlapping with the Diocese's Catholic Charities of Tennessee subsidiary.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): National policy and coordinating body for U.S. Catholic bishops, of which the Bishop of Nashville is a member. Sets canonical, educational, and charitable frameworks that govern Diocese operations.

Direct peers

• Archdiocese of Indianapolis: Regional Catholic see in the neighboring state of Indiana with comparable parish and school scale, Catholic Charities footprint, and a metropolitan-anchored donor base similar to Nashville.
• Diocese of Memphis: Catholic territorial diocese covering West Tennessee. Operates the same canonical structure of parishes, schools, Catholic Charities, and an annual appeal, with overlapping geography and donor base in Tennessee.
• Diocese of Lexington: Catholic territorial diocese covering central and eastern Kentucky with a comparable mix of parishes, Catholic schools, and seminarian formation programs, operating in a similar mid-size, growing regional market.
• Diocese of Charlotte: Catholic territorial diocese in the Carolinas serving a fast-growing metropolitan Catholic population. Operates a similar parish-school-Catholic Charities model and faces comparable growth-driven fundraising needs.
• Diocese of Knoxville: Catholic territorial diocese covering East Tennessee. Mirrors Nashville's parish-school-charity model, and shares state-level fundraising partnerships and Catholic media markets.
• Diocese of Birmingham: Catholic territorial diocese covering Alabama with comparable parish-school-charity structure and a Southern Catholic demographic profile that overlaps with Nashville's.

Others

• Catholic Extension Society: National Catholic fundraising and capacity-building partner that the Diocese is actively working with on the Charitable Gift Annuity Marketing Challenge 2025 — comparable as a development/grantmaking ecosystem partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dio_nash
• Facebookfacebook.com/DioceseofNashville
• Instagraminstagram.com/dio_nash
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diocese-of-nashville-ed-off

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Nashville