Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver

What Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver does

Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver is an ELCA-affiliated congregation operating from a single campus at 5000 E. Alameda Ave. in Denver's Hilltop neighborhood, with a documented history spanning over 125 years (firmographic founding date 1880; a secondary source dates the congregation to 1898) and approximately 800 members. The church delivers two Sunday worship services (8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.) — one in Christ Chapel and one in the Sanctuary — plus Holy Communion, seasonal services, and a YouTube-based livestream with archived video going back to 2023. Its core programs include faith formation (GIFT/Breakfast Club), an extensive music ministry (adult choirs, bell choirs, children/youth choirs, pipe organs, tower bells), a faith community nurse health ministry established in 1991, a 60+ senior ministry, and a Compassion and Action with Our Neighbors (CAN) outreach ministry.

The business model is donation-driven: primary revenue comes from voluntary member tithes and offerings via weekly services and a Vanco online giving portal, supplemented by facility rentals, flower/altar sponsorships, planned giving, and memorial/honor gifts. Ancillary paid offerings include Vacation Bible School ($80/person, $160 family cap), a Valentine's Day supper ($10/person), and First Communion (free). The church operates two wholly-owned subsidiaries: the Augustana Early Learning Center, providing paid early childhood education on the south side of the campus, and the Augustana Foundation (est. 1971), a grant-making entity supporting spiritual enrichment, facility improvements, and higher-education/seminary aid.

Distribution is primarily physical (in-person worship and on-campus ministries) with a digital layer (livestream, Mailchimp ePistle newsletter, Facebook, LinkedIn, online giving) and a community-outreach layer of partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Warren Village, First Step, Metro Caring, Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, NAMI Colorado, Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, Vitalant, King Soopers (Fight Hunger bag beneficiary), and Missoula Children's Theatre. The church employs 1–10 staff (Pastor Caitlin Trussell, Senior Pastor, installed June 2024; Pastor Michael Tassler, starting October 6, 2025; plus Minister of Music, Director of Youth and Family Ministry, Deacon, Front Office Coordinator, Publications Administrator, Finance Administrator, Faith Community Nurse, and lay leadership) and is governed by an elected Congregation Council (President: Michael Zumwalt as of 2021).

Name

Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver

Legal name

Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver

Website

https://augustanadenver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver is an ELCA-affiliated congregation of about 800 members in Denver's Hilltop neighborhood, offering Sunday worship (in-person and livestream), faith formation, music, health, and senior ministries, plus an Early Learning Center and a grant-making foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Lutheran worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Religious music ministry
• Early childhood education
• Community outreach ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver, CO

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Donations and Tithes: Primary revenue from voluntary contributions by church members through weekly offerings, online giving, and planned giving programs. The church conducts annual stewardship campaigns (Sowing Hope) to cultivate generosity.
2. Memorial and Honor Gifts: Gifts given in memory or honor of loved ones, including flower sponsorships, altar lamp dedications, and memorial donations to designated funds.
3. Facility Rentals: The church rents facilities to outside groups and organizations for events and activities.
4. Augustana Foundation Grants: The Augustana Foundation manages grant requests for church enhancements, facilities, and support to Christian individuals and enterprises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver is an ELCA congregation that delivers Lutheran worship services (in-person and livestream), faith formation programming for all ages, music ministry, community outreach, an early childhood learning center, and arts programming to its members and the wider Denver community. The congregation is supported by voluntary donations, foundation grants, and modest fees for select programs such as Vacation Bible School and flower/altar sponsorships.

Product overview

Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) offering a comprehensive portfolio of spiritual and community services. The church provides Sunday worship services (in-person and livestream), faith formation programs for all ages, music ministry with multiple choirs and ensembles, children and family programming including Vacation Bible School, health ministry through a faith community nurse program, senior services, community outreach through its CAN Ministry, an early learning center, and arts programming. The church also operates the Augustana Foundation for grant-making and offers online giving capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services In-person Sunday worship services featuring music, scripture, communion, and preaching, offered twice each Sunday to congregation members and visitors at the Denver campus.
• Livestream Worship Remote worship participation via live video streaming of the 10:30 a.m. service, with on-demand archives, for those unable to attend in person.
• Faith Formation (GIFT and Breakfast Club) Religious education programs for children and youth, including GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) for PreK-8 and Breakfast Club for high schoolers.
• Music Ministry Musical offerings including adult choirs, bell choirs, children's and youth choirs, handbells, and special concerts featuring pipe organs and tower bells.
• Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Programs for families including Sunday school, youth groups, nursery care, special events such as Vacation Bible School, and faith formation activities.
• Health Ministry Faith community nurse program established in 1994 providing health promotion, healing, and caring activities for congregation members of all ages.
• 60+ Ministry Programs for seniors including worship opportunities, fellowship activities, learning events, day trips, van transportation, and pastoral care services.
• Compassion and Action with Our Neighbors (CAN) Ministry Community outreach programs including food assistance, school supply drives, refugee support, and partnerships with organizations like Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains and Metro Caring.
• Augustana Early Learning Center Early childhood education and care services for young children, operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary on-site at the church campus.
• Augustana Foundation Grant-making fund established in 1971 supporting spiritual enrichment, facility improvements, and assistance to individuals and families.
• Augustana Arts Arts programming including concerts, performances, and cultural events open to the broader community.
• Online Giving Digital donation platform enabling members and visitors to make financial contributions to the congregation via credit card and bank transfer.

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• VitalantminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2026Vitalant hosts blood drives at Augustana in the Alameda parking lot, providing opportunity for congregation members to donate blood.
• King SoopersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 February 2025King Soopers selected Augustana to benefit from their Fight Hunger bag program, where reusable bags purchased at the Leetsdale Drive location donated $1 per bag to Augustana's Sanctuary Soup Shelf.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)coreOthersAugustana is a congregation of the ELCA, part of a larger denomination of Lutheran churches. Through this membership, they participate in ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, and other denomination-wide charitable initiatives.
• Metro CaringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro Caring is an emergency assistance service for those in need in Metro Denver. Augustana is part of a partnership of church congregations supporting Metro Caring, accepting food and household donations in marked boxes throughout the year.
• Warren Village and First StepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugustana provides Thanksgiving gift cards and ongoing support to Warren Village and First Step, which provide safe apartments, job training, and childcare for low-income single-parent families.
• Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugustana supports LFSRM refugee and foster children programs through backpack and school supply donations, and coordinates volunteer support including school supply drives and personal care kit assemblies.
• Missoula Children's TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissoula Children's Theatre performs at Augustana annually, with over 30 children from church and community learning to perform. Augustana hosts the performances in Fellowship Hall.
• Sky Ranch Lutheran CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSky Ranch Lutheran Camp staff lead Augustana's Vacation Bible School/Day Camp program each summer for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugustana's Health Ministry and E4 Mental Health Ministry Team partner with NAMI Colorado for Mental Health Awareness Month, hosting speakers and educational events.
• Habitat for Humanity of Metro DenverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugustana volunteers participate in Habitat for Humanity build days at the Aria Homes site, with 10 volunteer spots available per date. Church also has a Dakota property townhome project.
• Augustana College (Rock Island, IL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugustana College Choir performs at Augustana Lutheran Church as part of their spring tour, featuring both traditional and new choral music compositions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• St. John's Episcopal Cathedral: A larger mainline Episcopal cathedral in central Denver offering traditional worship, music, formation, and extensive outreach. Comparable as a mainline Denver congregation but operates at greater scale and broader scope than Augustana.

Direct peers

• Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church: A mainline Protestant congregation in Denver's Park Hill/Hilltop area with strong music ministry and community programming. Comparable on theology-of-place (Hilltop neighborhood), music-anchored brand, and mainline identity.
• Mount Olive Lutheran Church: An ELCA congregation in the Denver metro area (Aurora) operating traditional Lutheran worship with community programs of comparable scope. Most direct comparability: same denomination, same metropolitan market, similar ministry portfolio (worship, music, youth, outreach).
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church: An ELCA congregation in the Denver metro (Lakewood area) offering traditional worship, faith formation, music, and community outreach. Comparable to Augustana on denomination, size-class, and programming mix.
• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church: ELCA congregation in the Denver metro offering traditional Lutheran worship, music ministry, and family/youth programs. Comparable on denominational affiliation, programming breadth, and community engagement model.
• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: ELCA congregation in central Denver with traditional worship and active community ministries. Closely comparable on denomination, urban Denver setting, and ELCA affiliation within the Rocky Mountain Synod.
• Augsburg Lutheran Church: An ELCA-affiliated Lutheran congregation in the Denver area offering traditional worship, faith formation, and outreach ministries. Directly comparable on denomination, mission scope, and mainline Lutheran identity.
• Wellshire Presbyterian Church: A mainline Presbyterian congregation in southeast Denver near the Hilltop area, with traditional worship and active community programming. Comparable on neighborhood geography, mainline identity, and congregational scale.
• Bethany Lutheran Church: An ELCA congregation in the Denver metro offering traditional worship, faith formation, music ministry, and outreach. Comparable on denomination, ministry portfolio, and mainline Lutheran identity.

Others

• Rocky Mountain Synod (ELCA): The regional ELCA governing body covering Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Relevant as the denominational infrastructure that supports Augustana's mission, programs, and disaster-response capability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/augustanadenver
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/augustana-lutheran-church-of-denver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Augustana Lutheran Church of Denver