Desert Foothills Lutheran Church & Preschool

What Desert Foothills Lutheran Church & Preschool does

Desert Foothills Lutheran Church & Preschool (DFLC) is a nonprofit religious organization affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), operating from a single campus at 29305 N. Scottsdale Road in North Scottsdale, Arizona. The organization serves hundreds of members concentrated in Maricopa County, with additional out-of-state viewers accessing content online. Its core offerings include two weekly Sunday worship services (Traditional at 8:30am and Contemporary at 10:30am), age-specific ministries spanning preschool through senior care, a Christian preschool currently at full capacity, and a portfolio of programs covering Care, Children's, Life Groups, Men's, Women's, Youth, Music, and ProLife ministries plus a Memorial Garden. The church is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Mark McCrory and Associate Pastor Rev. Jeremy DaPena, supported by approximately 11–15 staff members and lay leadership through a Governance Council.

DFLC's technology stack is conventional and consumer-facing rather than proprietary: live streaming via a YouTube channel, online donations processed through Givecloud, podcast distribution through AZchurch, and a standard website-based content management system supplemented by Google Calendar integration for events. A structured "Christian Growth Pathway" framework segments spiritual development into four stages (Lost, Curious, Baptized, Disciple) and is paired with a 12-part "God Connects" introductory video series to onboard visitors and prospective members. The organization maintains 12+ ministry partner relationships (including Choices Pregnancy Center, The Foster Alliance, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, Foothills Food Bank, and Catholic Charities Mana House) that extend its volunteer and outreach footprint into the broader Phoenix metropolitan area.

DFLC's revenue model depends on voluntary tithes and offerings from members, supplemented by preschool tuition and capital campaign fundraising. The organization is currently executing a $4.5 million Legacy Forward capital campaign (December 2025–November 2028) to fund a new Worship Center, refreshed Sanctuary, expanded preschool facilities, and outdoor commons with sports courts, with construction already underway as of late 2025. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization holds US nonprofit tax-exempt status (EIN 86-0829629). Customer segments are organized vertically by life stage—general community members, preschool families, children and youth, women, men, and individuals needing care support—rather than by industry or commercial buyer type.

Name

Desert Foothills Lutheran Church & Preschool

Legal name

Desert Foothills Lutheran Church

Website

https://dflc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Desert Foothills Lutheran Church & Preschool is a Missouri Synod Lutheran nonprofit church and preschool in North Scottsdale, Arizona, serving hundreds of members through traditional and contemporary worship services, age-specific ministries, and a Christian preschool currently at full capacity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Faith-Based Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Lutheran church services
• Christian preschool education
• Religious worship services
• Faith-based community ministries
• Children's ministry programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions from church members during weekly worship services and through online giving platforms. Members are encouraged to give regularly as an expression of worship and generosity.
2. Capital Campaign Donations: Special campaign fundraising such as the Legacy Forward campaign ($4.5M goal over 3 years Dec 2025-Nov 2028) for campus renovation including new Worship Center, preschool upgrades, and outdoor commons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Desert Foothills Lutheran Church operates weekly worship services in both Traditional (8:30am) and Contemporary (10:30am) formats, including live online streaming, alongside a Christian preschool for children ages 3-5. The church delivers a full ecosystem of faith-based ministries for all life stages — children, youth, men, women, music, care, and pro-life — plus Life Groups and pastoral care, supported by a Givecloud-powered online giving platform and the AZchurch podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Sunday Worship Service
• Contemporary Sunday Worship Service
• Online Church Service (Live Streaming)

Quantifiable outcome

• Online church services available for members outside Maricopa County including out-of-state attendees
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cambodia Classroom PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International mission partnership building classrooms in Cambodia. Two new classrooms fully funded through a special gift while Legacy Forward campaign focuses on Scottsdale campus. Part of ongoing international mission work including Guatemala and Southeast Asia.
• Choices Pregnancy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProLife ministry partnership providing support for pregnant women facing unplanned pregnancies. DFLC has contributed to ultrasound machine funding at the North Phoenix facility. Choices serves the Greater Phoenix area with confidential consultations and life-affirming resources.
• The Foster AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly Arizona Helping Hands, The Foster Alliance supports foster children and families in Maricopa County. DFLC partners to provide compassionate services and essential resources for the foster community.
• Barrio NuevominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity ministry partner providing volunteer opportunities for DFLC members to serve in the broader Phoenix community.
• Foothills Caring CorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization providing volunteer opportunities for DFLC members serving neighbors in need within the Scottsdale area.
• Foothills Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food bank partnership providing volunteer opportunities for DFLC members to support food security in the North Scottsdale community.
• Habitat for Humanity Central ArizonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing ministry partnership providing volunteer opportunities for DFLC members to help build homes for families in need throughout Central Arizona.
• Lone Mountain Memory CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemory care facility partnership providing volunteer opportunities for DFLC members to serve seniors experiencing memory challenges.
• Catholic Charities Mana HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Charities Mana House provides housing and support services. DFLC partners to offer volunteer opportunities serving those in need.
• Military BiblestickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith Comes By Hearing program providing audio Bibles to military personnel. DFLC supports through prayer and potential volunteer involvement.
• Orphan Grain TrainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational humanitarian organization serving orphaned and needy children. DFLC Phoenix branch partnership providing volunteer and donation opportunities.
• Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas ChildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational gift-giving ministry collecting shoebox gifts for children worldwide. DFLC participates by packing and sending gift shoeboxes.
• Sing for Life ChorusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoir ministry at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church. DFLC partnership provides community singing opportunities for members interested in this ministry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Choices Pregnancy Center: Named DFLC ministry partner receiving ultrasound funding from the church. Adjacent faith-based nonprofit illustrating the church's external community investment model.
• Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona: Named DFLC ministry partner. Adjacent as a faith-rooted community nonprofit in the same Phoenix region where DFLC channels volunteer engagement.

Regional players

• North Scottsdale United Methodist Church: Mainline Protestant church serving North Scottsdale with full life-stage programming, comparable in scale and demographic positioning to DFLC.
• Pinnacle Presbyterian Church: Scottsdale-area Presbyterian church explicitly named as a DFLC ministry partner (Sing for Life Chorus). Comparable as a similarly-sized, similarly-affluent suburban Scottsdale congregation with comparable life-stage programming and a physical campus model.
• Christ Church Anglican: Anglican congregation in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area offering traditional liturgical worship and family programming for a comparable affluent suburban demographic.
• Scottsdale Bible Church: Large non-denominational evangelical church in Scottsdale serving a similar affluent North Scottsdale demographic with comparable contemporary worship, children's ministry, and community outreach programming.
• Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church: LCMS-affiliated Lutheran church in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. Direct doctrinal and operational peer given shared Missouri Synod affiliation and similar suburban Arizona market.

Emerging players

• Scottsdale Christian Academy: Faith-based K-12 school in Scottsdale (note: the church's preschool links to scottsdalechristianschool.org). Comparable as a faith-based early education/preschool provider in the same North Scottsdale market.

Broad incumbents

• LCMS Stewardship Ministry: Denominational resource body supporting LCMS congregations including capital campaign, stewardship, and church planting resources. Relevant as the broader institutional support structure for DFLC.
• Concordia University Arizona: LCMS-affiliated university in Phoenix. Comparable as a sister LCMS institution in Arizona representing the broader Missouri Synod educational and ministry ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4JSDlIO5dkEYK20Ds1wSyQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/df.youth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desert-foothills-lutheran-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Desert Foothills Lutheran Church & Preschool