Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida

What Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida does

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is a nonprofit religious organization that serves as a constituent diocese of The Episcopal Church in the United States and the worldwide Anglican Communion, headquartered at Diocesan House in Parrish, Florida. The diocese coordinates spiritual, administrative, and programmatic support for over 100 Episcopal congregations organized into eight deaneries (Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Manasota, Venice, Ft. Myers, and Naples) plus a convocation structure across Southwest Florida. Under the leadership of Bishop Douglas F. Scharf, the Sixth Bishop invested in January 2023, the diocese operates wholly-owned ministry arms including DaySpring Episcopal Camp and Conference Center, the Episcopal Youth Community (EYC), and the School for Ministry formation program, alongside outreach initiatives such as the Bishop's Appeal, the Episcopal Charities Fund, food pantries, thrift stores, and disaster preparedness resources tailored to the hurricane-prone region.

The diocese's technology footprint is limited to basic digital ministry platforms: a WordPress website at episcopalswfl.org, a bi-weekly email newsletter called Bridges, Vimeo-hosted video content, and online event registration. It does not offer proprietary technology products, APIs, SDKs, or SaaS services. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring diocesan assessments paid by member congregations, annual Bishop's Appeal donations (with a 2026 matching opportunity up to $50,000 per fund through endowments), Episcopal Charities Fund grants disbursed to outreach ministries ($45,000 combined to 16 churches in 2023), and modest program fees including the Lay Preaching Formation Cohort at $400 per participant and DaySpring camp programs. Distribution is conducted via a sales-led motion through deanery networks, clergy placement services, stewardship workshops, and direct parish engagement, supplemented by self-serve digital channels for broader community outreach.

Customer segments include member congregations (primary), diocesan Episcopal schools (e.g., St. John's Episcopal Parish Day School), clergy and lay leaders in formation, youth and young adults engaged through EYC and DaySpring, and vulnerable community members served through food pantries, disaster relief, and partnership programs with organizations such as Hope Family Services and Benison Farm. Marketing channels combine owned digital assets (website, Bridges newsletter, Facebook, X, Vimeo) with events (Diocesan Convention, Acolyte Festival, stewardship retreats), earned media coverage, and direct outreach. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization operates as a religious nonprofit within The Episcopal Church's connectional structure rather than as a commercial enterprise.

Name

Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida

Legal name

Diocese of Southwest Florida

Website

https://episcopalswfl.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is a nonprofit religious organization coordinating spiritual, administrative, and programmatic support for over 100 Episcopal congregations across eight deaneries in Southwest Florida, led by Bishop Douglas F. Scharf.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization and Diocesan Ministries

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Religious ministries
• Clergy formation
• Community outreach
• Youth ministry
• Diocesan administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Parrish

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Diocesan Assessments: Congregations pay annual assessments to support diocesan operations, governance, and programs.
2. Bishop's Appeal Donations: Annual fundraising campaign where gifts are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 per fund through endowments. Supports shared ministry extending beyond individual congregations.
3. Episcopal Charities Fund Grants: Grant program distributing funds to outreach ministries serving vulnerable communities across the diocese. In 2023, granted $45,000 combined to 16 churches.
4. Program Fees: Fee-based programs including Lay Preaching Cohort ($400), stewardship workshops, and DaySpring camp/conference programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is a religious nonprofit that coordinates shared ministry programs for its member Episcopal congregations across Southwest Florida. Core offerings include clergy and lay formation via the School for Ministry and the Lay Preaching Formation Cohort, youth and young adult ministries through the Episcopal Youth Community, congregational support and disaster preparedness resources, the DaySpring Episcopal Camp and Conference Center program, the Bishop's Appeal fundraising campaign, and the Episcopal Charities Fund which distributes grants for community outreach.

Product overview

Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is a religious organization providing spiritual ministries and programs to its congregations. The diocese offers ministry programs including Youth & Young Adults, Adults, Multicultural Ministries, Race & Reconciliation, and Clergy Spouse Association. Outreach initiatives include Bishop's Appeal, Episcopal Charities Fund, Food Pantries, and Thrift Stores. Key programs include DaySpring Episcopal Camp and Conference Center, School for Ministry, and disaster preparedness resources. The organization does not offer technology products or SaaS services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DaySpring: Episcopal Camp and Conference Center operated by the diocese for youth and family ministry programs
• The Episcopal Charities Fund
• School for Ministry
• Bishop's Appeal
• Bridges

Products and services

• DaySpring Episcopal Camp and Conference Center Diocesan camp and conference center located on the grounds of Diocesan House in Parrish, FL, offering overnight and day programs for youth, adults, clergy retreats, and family ministries. Hosts School for Ministry sessions, youth and young adult programming, and diocesan events.
• School for Ministry / Lay Preaching Formation Cohort Clergy and lay formation program including a 10-month Lay Preaching Formation Cohort that prepares participants for lay preaching ministry. Designed for laity discerning a call to preaching, overseen by the Dean of the School for Ministry in partnership with the University of South Florida Chaplain.
• Diocesan Convention Annual governing convention of the Diocese of Southwest Florida where clergy and lay delegates conduct elections, set policy, and approve budgets for the diocese. Held annually with elected and appointed delegates from member congregations.
• Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) Diocesan youth ministry organization engaging young people across Southwest Florida congregations through spiritual formation, leadership development, fellowship opportunities, and connection to DaySpring summer camp.
• Stewardship Workshops and Retreat Recurring diocesan stewardship training program for clergy and lay leaders, delivered in partnership with Horizons Stewardship; equips congregations to cultivate generosity and run annual stewardship campaigns.

Quantifiable outcome

• Episcopal Charities granted $45,000 to 16 churches in 2023 for community outreach
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Educational Opportunities (EO) ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 September 2024Travel tour company organizing the Voyages of Paul Cruise (September 7-17, 2024) for diocese members visiting Rome, Ephesus, Athens, and other biblical sites.
• DaySpring Episcopal Camp and Conference CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey ministry arm of the diocese providing camp programs, conference facilities, and retreat services. Located on the grounds of Diocesan House in Parrish. Hosts School for Ministry, youth programming, clergy retreats, and family ministries.
• Episcopal Youth Community (EYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocesan youth ministry organization engaging young people across Southwest Florida congregations through spiritual formation, leadership development, and fellowship opportunities.
• Water and the WordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated ministry organization offering conferences and spiritual resources. 4th Annual Water and the Word Conference announced in February 2026.
• Diocesan ConventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual governing convention for the diocese held at Charlotte Harbor Convention Center. 57th Diocesan Convention took place October 2025 with elections and policy decisions.
• Horizons StewardshipminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStewardship consulting firm providing annual stewardship workshop presenter Richard Rogers, Partner and Senior Vice President, with over 25 years helping churches cultivate generosity.
• Hope Family ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit agency serving survivors of domestic violence in Manatee County. Church of the Apostles conducts outreach program collecting donations of toiletries and holiday wish list items.
• Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation advancing the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Diocese pilgrims participated in Tutu Travel Seminar to South Africa studying Tutu's ubuntu theology.
• Benison FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban farm at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg providing fresh produce to community through pop-up farmers market. Deanery service projects supported.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida: Episcopal diocese covering central Florida including Orlando. Directly comparable peer in same denomination, similar climate and disaster exposure, similar reliance on assessments and Bishop's Appeal-style fundraising.
• Episcopal Diocese of Virginia: Larger historic Episcopal diocese with comparable congregational footprint, schools, and shared ministry programs. Comparable peer for benchmarking formation, retreat centers, and diocesan governance models.
• Episcopal Diocese of Florida: Another Episcopal diocese covering northern and central Florida. Most directly comparable peer — same denomination, similar geographic scale, similar governance structure (Bishop, Standing Committee, Diocesan Convention), and shared dependence on congregational assessments.
• Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta: Episcopal diocese covering north and middle Georgia. Comparable peer in same denomination with similar number of congregations, similar formation programs (School for Ministry equivalents), and similar shared ministry structure.
• Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina: Mid-sized Episcopal diocese with comparable congregational scale, diocesan camp and conference center operations, and clergy formation programs. Useful peer for benchmarking similar operating models.
• Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida: Episcopal diocese covering southeast Florida (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach). Directly comparable peer — same denomination, similar Florida demographics, similar multicultural ministry focus, similar school and camp infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Diocese of St. Petersburg (Roman Catholic): Catholic diocese covering much of the same Southwest Florida geography. Broader incumbent peer — different denomination but overlapping geographic footprint, similar parish structure, schools, and shared ministry model; useful for cross-denominational comparison.
• Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Regional governing body of the ELCA covering Florida. Comparable peer in mainline Protestant structure, similar hurricane exposure, similar reliance on congregational giving and assessment-based funding.
• The Episcopal Church (National Church): National denominational body that is the parent organization of the Diocese of Southwest Florida. Sets assessments, approves formation programs, provides disaster relief coordination, and issues shared liturgical and governance standards — a structural upstream peer.
• Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church: Regional governing body of the United Methodist Church covering Florida. Comparable regional peer in mainline Protestant governance structure, camp/retreat operations, and shared stewardship/form programs; useful for benchmarking mainline decline trends.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/episcopalswfl
• YouTubevimeo.com/episcopalflorida
• Facebookfacebook.com/DioceseofSWFL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/episcopal-diocese-of-southwest-florida

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida