LIGHT ON THE HILL INC

What LIGHT ON THE HILL INC does

Light on the Hill Inc is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit spiritual retreat center (EIN: 22-3164588) operating on a 236-acre property at 209 Blake Hill Road in Van Etten, Upstate New York. Co-founded by Alice and Larry McDowell, with the underlying property first acquired in 1985 and the organization officially incorporated on May 21, 1991, it offers contemplative and wellness retreat programming for individual seekers and small-to-mid-sized groups, drawing guests from over 20 US states and six countries.

The core product portfolio centers on Inner Light Lodge, a 28-guest group facility with an octagonal meeting space, commercial kitchen, dining room, and expansive deck, supported by six additional accommodations (Meadow Cottage, Woods Cottage, Pathlight Cottage, Pond Hut, Healing Hut) ranging from rustic off-grid huts to fully electrified cottages. Programming includes the signature Hidden Treasure 3-year course (~16 participants per cohort, five weekend retreats per year), individual self-guided and guided retreats, group retreats hosted by third-party leaders, and ancillary amenities such as Stillpoint Sanctuary, two labyrinths, and 236 acres of walking trails. The center's technology stack is deliberately minimal: most facilities lack electricity and WiFi, relying on propane heating and battery-powered lighting, with the lodge providing only basic audiovisual equipment.

Light on the Hill operates on a hybrid revenue model combining facility rentals (lodging priced $45-$125 per person per night on a sliding scale, with lodge group minimums of 15-18 participants and meals at $63/person/day) and donation-based income via the Tending the Flame annual campaign, Annual Sustainer Program ($100+/year recurring), and general unrestricted gifts. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, the organization's website and email newsletter, Facebook, and a network of third-party retreat leaders who act as channel partners by bringing their own participants. The center is supported by 7 employees and has been operationally transitioned from the co-founders to successive managing directors since 2017, while Alice and Larry retain mentor roles.

Name

LIGHT ON THE HILL INC

Legal name

Light on the Hill

Website

https://lightonthehill.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Light on the Hill is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit spiritual retreat center on 236 acres in Van Etten, New York, offering lodging, guided retreats, and the Hidden Treasure three-year program to individual seekers and third-party-hosted wellness groups nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spiritual Retreat Services

NAICS

All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wellness Retreats & Immersions (Multi-day, Digital Detox, Mind-Body Programs) (THAJAHAB), Private Wellness & Retreat Experiences (Personalized Spa, Yoga, Healing) (THAJALAI), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Spiritual retreat center
• Nonprofit retreat services
• Meditation accommodation
• Wellness retreat venue
• Spiritual programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Van Etten

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retreat Lodging and Facility Rental: The primary revenue stream comes from renting the Inner Light Lodge, cottages, and huts to retreat groups and individuals. Pricing varies by accommodation type with group minimums required for the lodge.
2. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 22-3164588), Light on the Hill receives tax-deductible donations through multiple campaigns including Tending the Flame annual campaign, annual sustainer program, and general unrestricted gifts.
3. Annual Sustainer Program: Recurring donations of $100 or more annually, with options for monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments via PayPal. Sustainers receive biannual e-journal with reflections, meditations, poetry, music, and artwork.
4. Retreat Guidance Services: Optional guided retreat services provided by Alice McDowell and other guides, with sliding scale pricing for partially guided, guided, and healing retreats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Light on the Hill operates an ecumenical, non-denominational spiritual retreat center on a 236-acre hilltop property in Van Etten, New York, renting overnight accommodations — the Inner Light Lodge (sleeps 32), smaller cottages, and rustic huts — to individuals and groups for self-guided and programmed retreats. Offerings include Individual Retreats (up to 10 persons), Group Retreats (up to 32 persons), communal meals, and the Hidden Treasure spiritual enrichment program, with intentionally limited technology on site.

Product overview

Light on the Hill is a retreat center offering accommodation and programming for spiritual growth and inner work. The core product portfolio consists of Inner Light Lodge (a 28-person group retreat facility with meeting space, dining, and lodging) and six individual retreat accommodations (Meadow Cottage, Woods Cottage, Pathlight Cottage, Pond Hut, Healing Hut) available for self-directed or guided retreats. Programming includes the Hidden Treasure three-year course and individual/group retreats with spiritual guidance. Amenities include Stillpoint Sanctuary, two labyrinths, and 236 acres of walking trails. The center serves seekers of all backgrounds and is not affiliated with any single religious organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Retreats
• Group Retreats
• Inner Light Lodge Accommodation
• Cabin and Cottage Rentals
• Rustic Huts with Wood Stoves
• Communal Meals
• Hidden Treasure Program

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Esalen Institute: Seminal nonprofit spiritual and personal growth retreat center in Big Sur, California on 27 acres of coastal property. Comparable as a long-established (50+ year) nonprofit retreat destination focused on humanistic and transpersonal psychology, meditation, and self-guided exploration.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Nonprofit yoga, mindfulness, and holistic health retreat center in Stockbridge, MA with 200+ guest rooms and a robust retreat leader/host model. Operates a nearly identical business model of hosting third-party wellness programs on owned property, making it the closest analog in scale and mission.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Nonprofit Buddhist meditation retreat center in Woodacre, California offering residential silent retreats, daylong programs, and teacher-led workshops. Comparable as a long-running nonprofit dedicated to contemplative practice on a sizeable rural property.
• Menla Retreat Center: Nonprofit retreat center in Phoenicia, NY (Catskills) focused on Tibetan Buddhist meditation and holistic wellness, hosting both Dharma programs and secular wellness retreats. Closely comparable geographically and operationally as a smaller Northeast spiritual retreat venue with a temple/meditation hall.
• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: Large nonprofit holistic retreat center in Rhinebeck, NY offering workshops, retreats, and wellness programming across multiple accommodations. Directly comparable as a Northeast US nonprofit spiritual/wellness retreat destination with similar workshop-host venue model and sliding-scale ethos.
• Copper Beech Institute: Nonprofit mindfulness and contemplative learning center in Woodstock, CT offering workshops, retreats, and teacher training. Directly comparable as a smaller Northeast nonprofit contemplative retreat center with similar sliding-scale pricing and workshop-host model.
• 1440 Multiversity: Nonprofit retreat center in Scotts Valley, CA offering workshops, conferences, and personal retreats with on-site lodging. Directly comparable in being a purpose-built group retreat venue that hosts external teachers and facilitators on an owned property.
• Hollyhock Leadership Institute: Nonprofit personal and professional development retreat center on Cortes Island, BC, Canada offering workshops, retreats, and experiential learning programs. Comparable as a nonprofit retreat destination that hosts external facilitators on a remote natural property.

Others

• Mind & Life Institute: Nonprofit organization convening dialogues between contemplative practitioners and scientists, hosting retreats and conferences. Comparable as a nonprofit ecosystem participant in the contemplative/spiritual space, though it focuses more on convening intellectual dialogue than lodging-based retreats.

Emerging players

• St. Benedict's Monastery / Snowmass Interreligious Conference: Smaller interreligious contemplative retreat programs held at monastic facilities with similar spiritual deepening, meditation, and group retreat formats. Comparable in its ecumenical, non-denominational approach to spiritual retreats for small cohorts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/light-on-the-hill-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 LIGHT ON THE HILL INC