Diocese of Davenport

What Diocese of Davenport does

The Diocese of Davenport is a Roman Catholic diocese established in 1881, serving approximately 83,259 Catholics across 22 counties in Southeast Iowa. Its operational footprint comprises 73 parishes (34 with resident pastors, 37 administered by priests without resident pastor, 2 administered by permanent deacons), 13 elementary centers serving 3,869 students, 5 high schools serving 1,447 students, 17 preschools, St. Ambrose University with 2,418 students, 2 Catholic hospitals and medical centers assisting 162,911 in-patients and out-patients annually, and 2 homes for invalid and aged assisting 1,000 individuals. Annual sacramental activity includes 945 baptisms, 1,239 first communions, 1,098 confirmations, and 815 recorded deaths.

The diocese is led by Bishop Dennis G. Walsh (10th bishop, appointed June 2024, installed September 2024) with a Chancery leadership team comprising a Vicar General, Chancellor/Chief of Staff, CFO (Tom Tallman), Superintendent of Schools (Lynne Devaney), and functional directors across liturgy, deacon formation, social action, vocations, faith formation, evangelization, multicultural ministry, stewardship, human resources, and technology. The Chancery headquarters at 780 West Central Park Ave., Davenport, Iowa employs approximately 57 staff, supporting 85 diocesan priests plus 13 priests from other dioceses, 48 permanent deacons, 11 seminarians, 70 sisters, and 2 brothers. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the diocese operates as a non-profit religious organization funded through parish collections, school tuition (with assistance programs), affiliated hospital revenue, and program fees.

The technology stack is third-party SaaS-based: eCatholic powers the website (davenportdiocese.org), Zoom supports remote meetings and webinars, Lawlogix handles immigration case management, CMG Connect (Catholic Mutual Group) provides Safe Environment training compliance, Simplecast hosts podcasts, and SchoolSpring manages school employment. Distribution channels include the parish network, The Catholic Messenger newspaper (digital archives from 1883), newsletters (Mini-Messenger, Two Feet Newsletter, The Good Newsletter), podcasts, and active social media presence across Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, and Instagram.

Name

Diocese of Davenport

Legal name

Diocese of Davenport

Website

https://davenportdiocese.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Diocese of Davenport is a Roman Catholic diocese established in 1881, serving 83,259 Catholics across 22 counties in Southeast Iowa through 73 parishes, 13 elementary schools, 5 high schools, St. Ambrose University, and affiliated hospitals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Davenport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Diocese of Davenport delivers Catholic pastoral care, sacraments, and faith formation to 83,259 Catholics through 73 parishes across 22 counties in Southeast Iowa. Its portfolio includes K-12 Catholic education across 35 schools serving 7,734 students, DOJ-accredited immigration counseling for family reunification and status adjustment, marriage preparation, youth and young adult ministry, deacon formation programs, social action and Catholic Charities services, and the Catholic Messenger newspaper. The diocese is anchored institutionally by St. Ambrose University, two Catholic hospitals serving 162,911 patients annually, and two elder care homes serving 1,000 individuals.

Product overview

The Diocese of Davenport is a Catholic diocese serving 22 counties in Southeast Iowa with over 83,000 Catholics across 73 parishes. The organization offers a portfolio of religious and community services including Catholic education (13 elementary schools, 17 preschools, and 5 high schools with approximately 7,734 students), faith formation programs, immigration counseling services, marriage preparation, youth and young adult ministry, and Catholic media through The Catholic Messenger newspaper. The Diocese also provides online theological education (STEP Theology Online), deacon formation programs, and various social action initiatives including Catholic Charities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diocesan Catholic Schools Catholic education system comprising 13 elementary schools, 17 preschools, and 5 high schools serving approximately 7,734 students across 11 communities in Southeast Iowa, from Clinton to Keokuk along the Mississippi River and extending westward to Iowa City. Tuition assistance is available.
• Immigration Program Comprehensive immigration counseling services focused on family reunification, adjusting immigration status, and advocacy. Counselors are accredited by the Department of Justice and work in close conjunction with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The program uses Lawlogix Immigration Case Management Software and partners with Ascentra Credit Union for low-cost immigration fee loans through the Newcomers Initiative.
• Marriage Preparation Marriage preparation programs including the Covenant of Love mentorship program, marriage enrichment resources, Natural Family Planning instruction, and support services for engaged couples preparing for Catholic marriage.
• Youth and Young Adult Ministry Parish-based formation programs including Totus Tuus youth program, Iowa Catholic Youth Conference (ICYC/EPIC), NCYC, JPII Retreat Experience, and scouting programs serving youth and young adults in the diocese.
• The Catholic Messenger The Catholic Messenger is the official newspaper of the Diocese of Davenport, available in digital archives from 1883 onward. Published weekly with news, reflections, and diocesan announcements, also available via podcast on Simplecast.
• STEP Theology Online Online theology education program enabling laity to pursue theological studies remotely. Partnered with St. Ambrose University for the Master of Pastoral Theology degree program as part of deacon formation.
• Deacon Formation Program Deacon formation program with three phases: Inquiry, Aspirancy, and Candidacy. The four-year program addresses human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation areas, partnering with St. Ambrose University Department of Theology for faculty and degree opportunities.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ascentra Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide low-cost loans for immigration fees through the Newcomers Initiative. Diocese refers clients to Ascentra for immigration fee financing.
• St. Ambrose UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Ambrose University Department of Theology serves as faculty for the Deacon Formation Program. Candidates may enroll in the Master of Pastoral Theology degree program as part of deacon formation. Diocese established in 1881.
• CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocese participates in You Are Not Alone initiative providing pastoral support to migrants. CLINIC provides Know Your Rights resources and legal guidance.
• Catholic Mutual GroupminorOthersProvides Safe Environment Training (VIRTUS Teaching Safety curriculum) and background check services for diocese.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)coreOthersDiocesan immigration counselors work in close conjunction with USCIS for processing immigration cases.
• Iowa Catholic ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level advocacy and policy coordination for Iowa's four Catholic dioceses.
• Justice for ImmigrantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYou Are Not Alone initiative providing pastoral support and accompaniment to migrants facing immigration enforcement.
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocese aligns with national Catholic Church directives, liturgical guidelines, and resources from USCCB.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Ambrose University: Catholic university formally partnered with Davenport diocese for deacon formation and STEP Theology Online (Master of Pastoral Theology). Operates within and is shaped by the diocesan governance structure.
• Archdiocese of Dubuque: Fellow Catholic diocesan governance body in Iowa, also covering the state. Directly comparable as a regional Catholic ecclesiastical authority with parishes, schools, and ministries serving Catholic faithful.
• Diocese of Des Moines: Another Iowa-based Catholic diocese, sister jurisdiction within Iowa Catholic Conference. Most directly comparable in scale, structure, and ministry portfolio to Davenport.
• Catholic Charities USA: National Catholic social services umbrella organization. Comparable because the Diocese of Davenport's Catholic Charities arm (immigration, social action, disaster response) operates under this same Catholic charitable-services model and reporting structure.
• Diocese of Sioux City: The fourth Iowa Catholic diocese, co-member of the Iowa Catholic Conference. Comparable in operating model (parishes, schools, Catholic Charities) though geographically western Iowa.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Relief Services: U.S. Catholic international humanitarian agency. Comparable as a faith-based NGO operating under USCCB oversight, mirroring the institutional structure Davenport's Catholic Charities and social action programs fit within.
• Archdiocese of St. Louis: Large regional Catholic archdiocese with a comprehensive portfolio of parishes, schools, charities, and media. Useful comparable for understanding how a larger Catholic diocese operates a vertically integrated ministry ecosystem similar to Davenport's.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): National governance and policy body for U.S. Catholic bishops. Davenport diocese aligns with USCCB directives; USCCB sets the canonical and policy framework within which Davenport operates its ministries.

Others

• Catholic Mutual Group: Catholic-church-focused insurance, risk management, and Safe Environment (VIRTUS) training provider. Direct service provider and partner to Davenport diocese for risk management, training, and compliance.

Regional players

• EWTN Global Catholic Network: Largest Catholic media network in the U.S., operating global Catholic broadcasting. Comparable to Davenport's Catholic Messenger newspaper and podcast operations as a Catholic communications platform serving faithful audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/davenportdioc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/dioceseofdavenport
• Facebookfacebook.com/diodav
• Instagraminstagram.com/projecttodos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diocese-of-davenport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Diocese of Davenport