Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina

What Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina does

The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina is a private religious nonprofit organization and constituent diocese of The Episcopal Church, the U.S. province of the Anglican Communion. Founded in 1922 when it separated from the original Diocese of South Carolina, it is headquartered at 1115 Marion Street in Columbia, SC, and serves approximately 60 worshiping communities organized into four deaneries (Midlands East, Midlands West, Upstate East, Upstate West). The diocese is led by the Right Reverend Daniel P. Richards, its ninth bishop (elected September 25, 2021), and governed through the Diocesan Convention, Standing Committee, and Diocesan Executive Council supported by seven commissions covering ministry, congregations, mission, formation, and Anglican Communion affairs. Core products and services include liturgical and financial administration resources for clergy, Safe Church training via Praesidium Academy, youth formation programs (Happening, New Beginnings, Bridge Retreat) at Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center (est. 1949), the Bishop Reads annual formation program, and communication platforms such as the Coffee with the Bishop podcast and Notes Along the Way meditation series. Technology infrastructure consists of a WordPress website, Mailchimp email marketing, and a Vanco online giving portal. The diocese maintains 40-year international mission partnerships in Cange, Haiti (via Zanmi Lasante) and Ecuador (via Education Equals Hope), and participates in the ecumenical Fellowship of South Carolina Bishops public education initiative. Revenue is generated through Episcopal Pledge contributions from congregations, designated gifts to specific funds, and annual Statement of Mission funding allocations overseen by diocesan commissions.

Name

Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina

Legal name

The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina

Website

https://edusc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina is a religious nonprofit serving 60 Episcopal worshiping communities across four South Carolina deaneries, providing liturgical resources, clergy support, youth formation, and governance under Bishop Daniel P. Richards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Religious diocese administration
• Episcopal congregational support
• Clergy formation programs
• Youth faith formation
• Liturgical resource publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Congregations contribute through the Episcopal Pledge based on a percentage of income. Individual members give through weekly offerings, electronic funds transfer, and special collections.
2. Designated Gifts and Donations: The diocese accepts donations for specific purposes including Haiti-Cange Scholarship, Haiti Refugee Fund, Cursillo Pay-It-Forward Program, Bishop's Discretionary Fund, and various mission initiatives.
3. Statement of Mission Funding: Annual mission funding distributed to congregations and ministries through a formal application process overseen by the Commission on Ministry and other commissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina provides spiritual governance, liturgical and formation resources, clergy support, and mission coordination for 60 Episcopal congregations across upper South Carolina. It administers diocesan finances, gathers tithes and offerings, distributes mission funding, runs youth retreats and conferences at Camp Gravatt, and operates international mission partnerships in Haiti and Ecuador. The diocese also convenes annual Convention, oversees Safe Church training, manages clergy transition and placement, and publishes communications including the Coffee with the Bishop podcast and Notes Along the Way meditation series.

Product overview

The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina operates as a religious institution providing digital resources and programs rather than a traditional tech product. Its online offerings center on four main areas: (1) Liturgical and Congregational Resources including the Book of Common Prayer, Daily Prayer tools, and financial administration materials; (2) Communication Platforms including the Coffee with the Bishop podcast and Notes Along the Way meditation series; (3) Formation Programs including The Bishop Reads Bible study initiative and Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Formation with retreats at Camp Gravatt; and (4) Clergy Support Services including the Office of Transition Ministry for clergy placement, Safe Church Training, and governance commission structures. The diocese also operates online giving through Vanco payment services and distributes content across multiple podcast platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liturgical Resources Digital library of worship resources including Daily Prayer, Book of Common Prayer, Revised Common Lectionary, Book of Occasional Services, Lesser Feasts and Fasts, Bishop's Visitation materials, and Confirmation guidelines, provided for clergy and congregations in the diocese.
• Financial Administration Resources Financial management tools including Statement of Mission forms, clergy compensation guidelines, Church Pension Group information, property and casualty insurance resources, and the Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs, provided to diocesan congregations and clergy.
• Safe Church Training Safeguarding policies and training resources including the Safeguarding God's People Policy Manual, mandatory reporter information, and Praesidium Academy training coordination, required for all clergy and lay workers in the diocese.
• Online Giving Platform (Vanco) Secure credit card payment portal through Vanco for diocese donations and gifts, supporting various funds including Haiti-Cange Scholarship, Haiti Refugee Fund, Cursillo Pay-It-Forward Program, and Bishop's Discretionary Fund.
• Coffee with the Bishop Podcast Diocesan podcast featuring scripture reflections, theological discussions, interviews with guests, and coffee culture content, distributed on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and IHeart Radio, intended for congregation members and the wider community.
• The Bishop Reads Annual Bible and spiritual reading program with quarterly book selections supported by podcast episodes and Notes Along the Way meditations, designed for congregational formation.
• Notes Along the Way Bishop's regular meditation series delivered via email newsletter, covering theological reflections, scriptural studies, and diocesan communications.
• Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Formation Program Youth ministry program for grades 5-12 offering retreats including Happening, New Beginnings, and Bridge Retreat at Camp Gravatt, plus young adult and campus ministry initiatives through Vocare and Canterbury communities.
• Youth Retreats at Camp Gravatt Multi-day retreat offerings for youth and young adults at Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference Center, including Happening ($165), New Beginnings ($150), and Bridge Retreat ($50), with subsidized mission funding.
• Office of Transition Ministry Clergy recruitment and placement service managing full-time, part-time, and bi-vocational position listings across diocese congregations including rector, assistant rector, and pastoral services positions.
• Diocesan Executive Council Commissions Seven strategic commissions including Commission on Ministry, Commission for Congregations, Commission on Convocations, Commission on the Diocese, Commission on TEC and Anglican Communion, Commission on Mission and International Concerns, and Commission on Christian Formation, providing governance and programmatic oversight.
• World Missions Symposium Annual symposium featuring international mission updates from Haiti and Ecuador, hosted by the diocese with messaging around the diocese's 40-year relationship with Cange, Haiti.

Quantifiable outcome

• Diocese described as 'punching above its weight in international mission work'

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Cange, Haiti MinistrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 198540-year relationship with the people of Cange, Haiti and the Central Plateau. Partnership includes Zanmi Lasante healthcare connections, scholarship programs, and the Haiti Refugee Fund. Mirebalais teaching hospital nearby supports health initiatives.
• Bishop Gravatt Camp and Conference CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1949Established in 1949, Gravatt Camp and Conference Center is a diocesan institution providing retreat facilities and programming for youth, clergy, and congregational groups. Hosts annual youth retreats including Happening, New Beginnings, and Bridge Retreat.
• Education Equals Hope (Ecuador)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocese supports work throughout Ecuador through partnership with Education Equals Hope, started by Cameron Graham Vivanco. Focus on youth education and development programs.
• Voorhees CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint program with Diocese of South Carolina and Voorhees College for rising ninth grade students in Denmark, SC. Voorhees Scholars program supports educational development.
• Still Hopes Retirement CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocese supports Still Hopes retirement community through loose offering collections on the second Sunday in May. Partnership includes Director of Pastoral Services position.
• Finlay HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocese supports Finlay House through loose offering collections on the second Sunday in May.
• Episcopal Relief and DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational relief and development agency of The Episcopal Church. Diocese participates in ERD programs and campaigns for disaster response and international development.
• Fellowship of South Carolina BishopsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical initiative bringing together Lutheran, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, and Christian Methodist Episcopal bishops for public education advocacy.
• The Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe diocese is part of The Episcopal Church, the only province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. Parent organization provides resources, canons, and connection to worldwide Anglican Communion.
• Laurel Ridge Camp & Conference CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth and adults from congregations participate in construction, sorting, and organizing projects at Laurel Ridge Camp.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia: One of the largest Episcopal dioceses in the Southeast, operating with the same congregational, governance, and formation model. Comparable institutional structure and programs but with significantly larger scale and historic endowment base.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia: Southeastern Episcopal diocese with comparable congregation count, deanery structure, and parish-based service delivery. Operates similar camp/conference center facilities and formation programs.
• The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina: The other South Carolina Episcopal diocese from which EDUSC separated in 1922. Operates as a direct peer with overlapping geographic territory, identical denominational structure, and shared Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion affiliation.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Florida: Southeastern Episcopal diocese with comparable congregational governance structure, formation programs, and deanery-based regional organization. Operates similar clergy transition and youth formation infrastructure.
• The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina: Neighboring Southeastern Episcopal diocese with similar size, parish count, and deanery-based governance structure. Operates comparable youth formation, clergy support, and mission programs in a similar demographic region.
• The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee: Smaller Southeastern Episcopal diocese with similar governance, parish, and program structure. Comparable Appalachian regional dynamics and similar reliance on voluntary pledge-based revenue model.
• The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina: Southeastern Episcopal diocese with similar governance structure, deanery system, and parish network serving congregations across North Carolina. Comparable in scale and mission program structure to EDUSC.

Broad incumbents

• Anglican Church in North America: Parallel Anglican body in North America with overlapping congregational services, governance structures (dioceses), and theological tradition. Provides comparable religious governance and parish coordination framework, though ecclesially distinct from EDUSC's Episcopal affiliation.
• The Episcopal Church (National Headquarters): The parent denomination and only Anglican Communion province in the United States. Provides overarching canons, governance, and resources to all constituent dioceses including EDUSC, and operates the broader framework within which diocesan programs are delivered.
• South Carolina United Methodist Conference: Comparable mainline Protestant regional governance body operating across South Carolina with similar congregational network, bishop-led structure, and district (deanery-equivalent) organization. Represents the closest non-Episcopal analog for governance and parish coordination structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_YrH800__CRqKrcRt72Hcg
• Facebookfacebook.com/eduscnews
• Instagraminstagram.com/edusc_news
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/episcopal-diocese-of-upper-south-carolina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina