Community of the Transfiguration

What Community of the Transfiguration does

The Community of the Transfiguration (legal name: Society of the Transfiguration) is an Episcopal religious order for women founded on August 6, 1898 in Cincinnati, Ohio by Eva Lee Matthews and Beatrice Henderson. Approximately 10 Sisters live together under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a convent in Glendale, Ohio, where their primary ministry is daily prayer and worship. Their active ministries extend this spiritual work into five operational programs: Bethany School (the only Episcopal K-8 school in Ohio, serving approximately 200 students with LEED-Platinum certified buildings); St. Monica's Recreation Center in Lincoln Heights (serving 75-100 youth daily ages 6-16); Transfiguration Spirituality Center (a 22-acre retreat facility with 40-person sleeping capacity in Glendale); Food for the Soul (a food rescue ministry launched in 2020 during COVID-19 that has rescued 400,000+ pounds of food and served 480,000+ meals); and Transfiguration North Carolina (a forest bathing and contemplative retreat ministry on preserved land in Bat Cave/Hendersonville, NC). The organization celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2023.

The Community is funded through a hybrid nonprofit model combining tuition (Bethany School), modest per-night fees for retreat accommodations ($80-$125/night for private cottages), philanthropic grants from regional foundations (Haile Foundation, Millstone Fund, Dater Foundation, Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust, Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation, Hamilton County R3Source, Kroger Foundation, Emery Foundation), individual donations via PayPal and Episcopal Community Ministries, and in-kind contributions. No commercial software, technology platform, or proprietary technology exists; the organization's infrastructure is primarily physical (convent, school buildings, retreat cottages, gardens, food distribution vehicles) with basic web properties (ctsisters.org, bethanyschool.org) as its digital presence. Sustainability infrastructure at Bethany School includes 108 geothermal exchange wells and 322 solar panels supporting the LEED-Platinum certification.

Name

Community of the Transfiguration

Legal name

Society of the Transfiguration

Website

https://ctsisters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Community of the Transfiguration is an Episcopal religious order for women founded in 1898 in Cincinnati, Ohio, operating Bethany School, St. Monica's Recreation Center, a retreat center, a food rescue ministry, and a North Carolina forest therapy preserve, supported by tuition, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Community Ministries (Education, Retreat, Youth, Hunger Relief)

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAC

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAA

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAG

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAD

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYTHAGAMAI

Holistic & Alternative Therapy Retreats (Naturopathy, Energy Work)

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Wellness, Spa & Health Retreats

SECONDARYTHAKAHAM

Religious Retreats & Spiritual Wellness Travel Agencies

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Religious & Pilgrimage Travel Agencies

Keywords

• K-8 private education
• Spiritual retreat accommodations
• Food rescue and pantry
• Youth recreation programs
• Episcopal religious ministries

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati (Glendale)

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Education Services: Bethany School provides K-8 private education with tuition; the only Episcopal school in Ohio serving approximately 200 students
2. Retreat Center Accommodations: Transfiguration Spirituality Center offers cottage rentals ($80-$125/night) and group stays with meals for individuals, couples, and groups seeking spiritual retreats
3. Food Rescue and Distribution: Food for the Soul rescues food and distributes meals and pantry items to those in need; operates as charitable ministry funded by grants and donations
4. Donations and Grants: Community operates as religious nonprofit supported by donations, grants (Dater Foundation, Haile Foundation, Millstone Fund, Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust, etc.), and charitable giving

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Community of the Transfiguration is an Episcopal religious order that delivers a portfolio of community-serving ministries: a K-8 private Episcopal school (Bethany School, ~200 students), a youth recreation center in Lincoln Heights (St. Monica's), a 22-acre retreat center with cottage and group accommodations in Glendale (Transfiguration Spirituality Center), a food rescue and pantry ministry serving ~4,000 meals monthly (Food for the Soul), and a forest bathing retreat on a conservation easement in Bat Cave, NC (Transfiguration North Carolina). Programs are funded through a mix of tuition, retreat fees, donations, and grants from foundations such as Haile, Millstone, Dater, Kroger, Emery, Elsa Heisel Sule, Jacob G. Schmidlapp, Episcopal Community Ministries, and Hamilton County R3Source.

Product overview

Community of the Transfiguration is a religious order in the Episcopal tradition offering a portfolio of ministry-based products and services. The core offerings include Bethany School K-8 Academics (an Episcopal private school), St. Monica's Recreation Center (youth programs), Transfiguration Spirituality Center (retreat facilities), Food for the Soul (food rescue and pantry services), Transfiguration North Carolina (nature-based retreats), and Transfiguration Gardens (outdoor contemplative spaces). The organization does not offer a unified technology product but maintains web-based resources including the Bethany School website for school management and admissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bethany School K-8 Academics A K-8 private Episcopal school serving approximately 200 students, the only Episcopal school in Ohio. Features LEED-Platinum certified academic buildings with geothermal exchange wells and solar panels, a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and a 100% high school acceptance rate for graduating 8th graders.
• St. Monica's Recreation Center Recreation center on three acres in Lincoln Heights, OH serving 75-100 youth daily (ages 6-16) with after-school and summer programs including the Peace Leaders Camp and peer-to-peer mediation. Operated for more than 50 years.
• Transfiguration Spirituality Center Retreat center on 22 acres in Glendale, OH offering private cottage rentals (Martha Grace, Simplicitas, Mary Grace, Hilaritas at $80-$125/night) and group accommodations (St. Mary's with 20 private rooms + 3 doubles, BethAnna with 17 single rooms). Total sleeping capacity of 40; meals provided up to three times daily; booking via retreat.guru.
• Food for the Soul Food rescue ministry that rescues food destined for disposal, prepares it, and delivers meals and pantry items to local nonprofits and individuals in need. Provides approximately 4,000 meals monthly, monthly self-select food pantries (about 10,000 pounds), free community meals on Wednesdays, nutritional cooking classes, and delivery to partner organizations including Talbert House, Haven House for Men, City Gospel Mission, YWCA, Phil's Place, and Christ Church Cathedral/Queen City Street Choir.
• Transfiguration North Carolina Nature-based retreat and forest bathing preserve on Sisters-owned conservation-easement-protected land in Bat Cave/Hendersonville, NC. Offers ANFT-certified forest bathing walks, yoga, art in nature, contemplative practices, and fly fishing as contemplative practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bethany School achieves 100% high school acceptance rate for 8th graders annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• emersion DESIGNcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Architecture firm designed Bethany School's two LEED-Platinum certified academic buildings (Bethel 3-8 and Bethleh em K-2), the most energy-efficient school building designs in the Midwest
• Ridgewater Engineering and Construction LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in CT Land & Water Renewal Project - designed and developed green stormwater infrastructure including engineered bioswales
• Rachel Robinson Design Landscape Architect (RRDLA)coreTechnology or IntegrationLandscape architect for CT Land & Water Renewal Project; designed Transfiguration Gardens with walking paths, outdoor altar, and native plantings
• Hamilton County R3SourcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty solid waste district awarded Impact Grant enabling Food for the Soul to purchase new distribution vehicles for food rescue operations; mission to reduce landfill reliance
• Bethany SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of the Community of the Transfiguration - only Episcopal K-8 school in Ohio serving approximately 200 students; located on Convent campus
• Conserving CarolinamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated Conservation Easement in 2016 ensuring Transfiguration Preserve land will be protected for all time; collaborated on Vision for stewarded ecosystem; provides event launches for forest therapy programming
• Christ Church CathedralmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Queen City Street Choir at Christ Church Cathedral and Food for the Soul; Cathedral provides rehearsal space, Food for the Soul provides lunch for choir members before each rehearsal
• Queen City Street ChoirminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStreet choir of approximately 60 singers (mostly unhoused or housing insecure) at Christ Church Cathedral; Food for the Soul provides meals before rehearsals
• Free Store Food BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicensed social worker from Free Store Food Bank supports Queen City Choir members during lunch and rehearsal times
• Procter CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocese of Cincinnati's camp and conference center; planted 80 trees donated by Community of the Transfiguration as part of Communion Forest initiative
• GoZERO Services (GoZero)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposting courier that collects food waste from Community's convent and retreat center and turns it into nutrient-rich compost for Bethany School gardens
• Partner Organizations (St. Monica Center, Talbert House, Haven House for Men, City Gospel Mission, YWCA, Phil's Place)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood for the Soul provides free community meals and food distribution to these partner organizations serving vulnerable populations across Cincinnati
• Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides certification training for forest therapy guides; Oblate Dr. Mattie Decker completed ANFT training in Norway and practicum for certification

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sisters of the Holy Cross: Catholic women's religious order running schools, healthcare facilities, and social service ministries. Comparable as a women's religious order running a portfolio of educational and charitable ministries.
• Society of St. John the Evangelist: Anglican religious order for men with retreat ministry and active social outreach. Comparable as a long-established Episcopal monastic community with parallel retreat and social service activities.
• Community of St. Mary (Episcopal): Episcopal women's religious order with similar ministries including education, retreat ministry, and social outreach. Directly comparable as another Episcopal women's monastic community running multiple mission-aligned programs.
• Order of the Holy Cross: Episcopal monastic religious order with retreat ministry and parish/social outreach. Comparable as a fellow Episcopal religious community within the Anglican tradition with contemplative and active ministry components.

Emerging players

• Loyola Retreat House: Faith-based retreat center offering directed and preached retreats. Comparable as a direct competitor to Transfiguration Spirituality Center for retreat hospitality in the broader Ohio/Indiana/ Kentucky tristate region.

Broad incumbents

• Episcopal Relief and Development: National Episcopal social justice and disaster relief organization. Broader incumbent in the same faith-based social services space, with grants and programs that often channel funding to community-level ministries like Food for the Soul.
• Bethany Christian Services: Faith-based child and family services organization with strong educational/foster care programs. Comparable as a faith-rooted multi-ministry organization serving vulnerable populations through education and social services.

Regional players

• St. Vincent de Paul Cincinnati: Regional Catholic social services organization operating food pantries, thrift stores, and emergency assistance in greater Cincinnati. Direct geographic peer for Food for the Soul's food rescue and pantry mission.
• Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio: Regional Catholic social services agency operating in the same Cincinnati service area. Comparable as a faith-based regional social services provider addressing food insecurity, youth services, and community support.
• Cincinnati Country Day School: Independent K-12 private school in the Cincinnati area. Comparable as a regional private school competing with Bethany School for tuition-paying families seeking values-based education with small class sizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100063481002860
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-of-the-transfiguration-glendale

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Community of the Transfiguration