Episcopal Diocese of Iowa

What Episcopal Diocese of Iowa does

The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is a private nonprofit religious organization within The Episcopal Church (USA), founded in 1853 and covering the entire state of Iowa. Headquartered at 225 37th Street in Des Moines with an 18-person staff, it oversees a network of 58 congregations serving nearly 7,000 members, including specialized ministries such as The Way Station (Spencer), the Beloved Community Initiative, Agape Café, and Trinity Cush Church, a South Sudanese immigrant congregation admitted in 2020. Governance is exercised through the Diocesan Convention, Standing Committee, and the diocesan bishop — currently the Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, the first woman elected bishop in the diocese's history, who was consecrated in December 2021.

The diocese's core activities are pastoral and missional rather than commercial: worship, Christian formation, sacramental ministry, social justice advocacy (immigration, racial reconciliation, climate), and grant-making to congregations through programs such as the GILEAD Grants. Distribution is through the 58-congregation network plus a Church Finder tool, EPIC Summer Camp at Camp Courageous, and a digital presence spanning website, monthly eNews, Facebook, and YouTube. It maintains ecumenical partnerships with 21 Iowa denominational leaders and a tri-companionship with the dioceses of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Brechin (Scotland).

Funding is derived from congregation assessments, individual steward's pledges, and external grants, with the largest single inflow being a $1.25 million Lilly Endowment grant awarded in December 2023. Other notable grants include the $30,000 New Episcopal Communities Growth Grant for The Way Station (2020), a $15,750 Roanridge Trust Grant for the Rural Church Summit (2020), and multiple smaller GILEAD sub-grants to Trinity Cush Church in 2021. No commercial products or services are sold and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Episcopal Diocese of Iowa

Legal name

Episcopal Diocese of Iowa

Website

https://iowaepiscopal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1853

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is a religious nonprofit within The Episcopal Church (USA), founded in 1853 and serving nearly 7,000 members across 58 congregations statewide from its Des Moines headquarters. It provides pastoral care, formation, grant-making, and advocacy through an 18-person staff and the bishop's office.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services / Diocesan Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Diocesan administration
• Religious services
• Pastoral care
• Congregational development
• Christian formation

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is a religious nonprofit organization that provides pastoral leadership, worship oversight, Christian formation, and administrative support to 58 Episcopal congregations across the state of Iowa, serving nearly 7,000 members. Its core offerings include the bishop's spiritual leadership, regional missioner services, congregational development through grant programs (GILEAD Grants), youth ministry (EPIC Summer Camp), missional communities (The Way Station), specialized ministries (Episco-PRIDE, Beloved Community Initiative, Agape Café), and Safe Church training for clergy and lay leaders.

Product overview

The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa is a religious organization within The Episcopal Church, not a technology product company. It provides church finder services, news communications (eNews newsletters), ministry resources for congregations, grant programs (GILEAD Grants), Safe Church training coordination, and various pastoral and administrative services to its member churches across Iowa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Episco-PRIDE: LGBTQ+ ministry initiative of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, organizing welcoming events and advocating for LGBTQ inclusion.
• Episco-PALS
• GILEAD Grants
• EPIC Summer Camp
• Iowa Connections Magazine

Products and services

• Diocesan Pastoral Leadership and Episcopal Worship Services Pastoral leadership, sacramental ministry, and worship oversight provided by the Bishop of Iowa and diocesan clergy across 58 affiliated congregations spanning the state of Iowa, serving nearly 7,000 members.
• Church Finder Tool Online directory tool that helps individuals locate the nearest of the 58 Episcopal congregations across Iowa.
• GILEAD Grants Program Grant funding program offering financial support to congregations and ministry projects for new ministries, liturgical space renewal, tools and technology, and youth programs.
• EPIC Summer Camp Annual diocesan summer camp program designed for youth, providing Christian formation, fellowship, and outdoor ministry experiences.
• Iowa Connections Magazine Official diocesan publication magazine providing news, feature stories, and ministry updates to Episcopal congregations and members across Iowa.

Quantifiable outcome

• Received $1.25 million Lilly Grant
• +3 more outcomes

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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trinity Cush ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Sudanese congregation formed by immigrants and admitted to the diocese in 2020 as the newest congregation. Represents the diocese's commitment to multicultural ministry and immigrant welcome.
• St. Paul's Indian MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing ministry serving Native American communities, located in Sioux City, Iowa. Part of the diocese's commitment to indigenous peoples and multicultural ministry.
• The Way StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissional ministry in Spencer, Iowa that received a $30,000 New Episcopal Community Grant in 2020. Part of the diocese's new church starts and missional communities initiative.
• Beloved Community InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDismantling racism and racial healing ministry program operated in partnership with the diocese, focusing on training and education for church leaders.
• Agape CaféminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized ministry of the diocese focused on community feeding and hospitality programs.
• Diocese of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-companionship relationship with Diocese of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Diocese of Brechin, Scotland. Includes joint youth conferences, pilgrimages, and clergy exchanges. Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya of Eswatini was the first female Anglican Bishop in Africa.
• Diocese of Brechin (Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-companionship relationship with Diocese of Eswatini and Diocese of Brechin, Scotland. Includes joint youth conferences, pilgrimages, and clergy exchanges as part of the three-diocese partnership.
• Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (IMMJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide membership-based legal service and advocacy organization driven by immigrant and refugee voices. Described as a GILEAD Grant partner organization. IMMJ provides resources, legislative updates, community bulletins, and advocacy for immigrants.
• Iowa Faith and Climate NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-rooted climate action network in Iowa. Partnered with Dubuque Interfaith Green Coalition for events and activities supporting environmental stewardship and climate justice.
• Dubuque Interfaith Green CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith coalition in Dubuque focused on environmental sustainability and climate action. Co-hosts events with Iowa Faith and Climate Network including meet-and-greet gatherings.
• Camp CourageousminorOthersCamp facility used for EPIC summer camp programs and other diocesan youth and family ministry events.
• Christian Conference CenterminorOthersRetreat center in Newton, Iowa where EPIC 2021 summer camp was scheduled to be held.
• Casa Maria (Minnesota)minorOthersMinistry of the Diocese of Minnesota providing food, supplies, and community support to families affected by immigration enforcement. The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa directs donors to support this ministry.
• Episcopal Migration MinistriesminorOthersNational Episcopal Church ministry providing emergency migration support. The diocese promotes donations to support dioceses caring for immigrants during difficult times.
• Various Iowa Denominations (Ecumenical Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint statement with 21 denominational leaders from 10 denominations across Iowa urging congregations to refrain from in-person gatherings during COVID-19 pandemic. Includes United Methodist Church, UCC, Catholic Diocese of Davenport, multiple ELCA synods, and others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Episcopal Diocese of Chicago: Same Episcopal Church structure serving a Midwestern state with urban concentration; shares governance model, formation programs, and grant-based congregational support frameworks at a larger scale.
• Episcopal Diocese of Missouri: Same Episcopal Church (USA) structure covering a bordering Midwestern state; comparable in operating model, congregational oversight, and formation programming for parishes.
• Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin: Same Episcopal Church (USA) denomination covering a neighboring Upper Midwestern state; operates with analogous diocesan convention, bishop-led governance, and member congregation network.
• Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota: Same Episcopal Church (USA) denomination, neighboring Upper Midwest geography, and parallel diocesan governance structure overseeing member congregations and parish support programs; operates ministries including Casa Maria for immigrant support referenced in the Iowa diocese's partner network.
• Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska: Direct Episcopal Church peer covering a single rural-heavy Plains state; comparable size profile, similar reliance on agricultural-region demographics, and identical diocesan governance conventions.

Broad incumbents

• The Anglican Church in North America: Anglican-tradition denomination that overlaps with Episcopal constituencies across the US; represents a broader incumbent alternative for members attracted to or departing from Episcopal Church (USA) dioceses.

Others

• Diocese of Brechin (Scottish Episcopal Church): Tri-companionship partner with the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; shares governance structure and engages in clergy exchanges, youth pilgrimages, and joint ministry initiatives referenced in the Iowa diocese's partnerships.

Regional players

• Southeastern Iowa Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: ELCA regional governing body covering part of Iowa; co-signed the ecumenical COVID-19 statement and operates analogous congregational support, formation, and advocacy programs in shared territory.
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines: Different Christian denomination (Roman Catholic) but operates in the same Iowa geography with parallel diocesan governance structure; competes for the same faith-based donor and member base in the Des Moines region.
• Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church: Mainline Protestant denominational governing body covering the same Iowa geography; was a co-signatory with the diocese on the 2021 ecumenical COVID-19 statement, reflecting parallel structure and similar member needs.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbWez8hg76Ke-qKfqlDM7BQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/EpiscopalDioceseOfIowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/episcopal-diocese-of-iowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Episcopal Diocese of Iowa