Newman Center at Oregon State University

What Newman Center at Oregon State University does

The Newman Center at Oregon State University is a 501(c)(3) Catholic campus ministry (EIN 93-0463598) operating at 2127 NW Monroe Ave in Corvallis, Oregon, founded in 1917 and currently staffed by approximately 7 paid employees plus 6 volunteer missionaries and 20+ student leaders. It serves primarily undergraduate students at Oregon State University, with secondary programming for graduate students and young professionals, and operates a vertically integrated formation pathway (Alpha, Venture, Fragua, Summit/OCIA, Omega) supplemented by the annual GoFish Pacific Northwest conference, a Pilgrimage to the Grotto, Mission Trips to Belize, Newman Households for off-campus students, Mentoring, Newman Lectures, and regular liturgical services (3 weekly Masses, daily confession slots, and Thursday adoration). The center is a ministry under the care of the Saint John Society and affiliated with the Archdiocese of Portland, partnering with St. Mary's Parish in Corvallis for Sunday Mass and shared access to FORMED.org.

Its product surface is human-delivered spiritual formation and community programming, not technology. Underlying infrastructure is a modest stack of commodity SaaS: Flocknote for email communications, Google Forms for registrations, Google Calendar/iCal feeds for events, Squarespace Commerce for the online merchandise store, Square for in-person payments, and FaithDirect for donations, plus a Daily Gospel Meditations podcast distributed on Spotify, Anchor, and Apple Podcasts.

The revenue model is a non-profit donor-and-fee hybrid. Core ministry programs are free to students; revenue is generated through (1) tax-deductible donations processed via FaithDirect, including one-time gifts and a recurring Monthly Support Team; (2) event registration fees such as GoFish Conference at $140/attendee and the Pilgrimage to the Grotto at $55/person; and (3) branded merchandise sales (t-shirts from $22, sweaters and hoodies $38–$46) through the online store. The center has no equity funding, no venture backing, and reports no publicly disclosed revenue.

Name

Newman Center at Oregon State University

Legal name

OSU Newman Center

Website

https://osunewman.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Newman Center at Oregon State University is a 501(c)(3) Catholic campus ministry founded in 1917 that provides spiritual formation, weekly Mass, retreats, and community programming primarily to undergraduate students at Oregon State University, with additional regional programming for Pacific Northwest Catholic college students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Campus Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Catholic campus ministry
• Faith formation programs
• Student retreat services
• Religious education services
• Spiritual formation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Corvallis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that relies on donations from supporters. They accept one-time gifts and recurring monthly donations through FaithDirect. Donations support ministry growth and student resources.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded merchandise including t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and other Catholic lifestyle products through their online store. Products include classic Newman apparel, 'Cor ad Cor Loquitur' items, and themed merchandise.
3. Conference and Event Registration Fees: Revenue from event registrations including GoFish Conference ($140 per person), Pilgrimage to the Grotto ($55), and other program fees. These events include accommodations, meals, and activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Newman Center at Oregon State University is a Catholic campus ministry that delivers spiritual formation programs and sacramental services to college students. Its core offerings include the Alpha course, Venture freshman retreat, Fragua discipleship formation, Summit/OCIA Catholic initiation, and Omega senior formation program, supplemented by weekly Mass, confession, adoration, the annual GoFish Conference, Pilgrimage to the Grotto, mission trips, and one-on-one mentoring. The organization also sells branded Catholic lifestyle merchandise through an online store.

Product overview

The Newman Center is the Catholic Campus Ministry at Oregon State University, providing a comprehensive suite of spiritual formation programs and community services. The core offerings include: Alpha (7-week faith exploration course), Venture (freshman retreat), Fragua (discipleship formation), Summit/OCIA (Catholic initiation), and Omega (senior preparation), along with the annual GoFish Conference and Pilgrimage to the Grotto. Additional programs include Newman Households, Mentoring, Newman Lectures, Mission Trips, and the Volunteer Missionary Program. The organization also operates a merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories, and hosts regular events including Mass, Adoration, Confessions, and community social activities. The ministry aims to call students to encounter Christ, form them as disciples, and send them into the world.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alpha: A series of group conversations exploring the essentials of the Christian faith in a friendly environment
• Venture
• Fragua
• Summit/OCIA
• GoFish Conference
• Newman Lectures
• Omega
• Newman Households
• Young Adult Group

Products and services

• Alpha Course A 7-week course exploring life, faith, and meaningful questions in an open and welcoming environment; includes dinner, talks, and group discussion; offered to Oregon State University students every academic term.
• Venture Retreat Weekend retreat for incoming Catholic freshmen to form deep relationships and integrate faith into college life; includes games, talks, small groups, and Mass.
• Fragua Program Discipleship formation program providing intellectual, spiritual, and moral formation through term-long courses, small groups, prayer, and evangelization opportunities for students who have gone through Alpha or Venture.
• Summit/OCIA Year-long Order of Christian Initiation for Adults course walking participants through Catholic Church beliefs and practices, with an exploratory inquiry period for those discerning conversion.
• GoFish Conference Annual 3-day conference for Catholic college students across the Pacific Northwest featuring keynote talks, small groups, adoration, Mass, and adventure activities; $140 per attendee includes accommodations and meals.
• Omega Program Year-long program for seniors who have been formed by Fragua, preparing them to be sent into the world with monthly formations on career, community, and relationships.
• Newman Households Spiritual formation program for students living off campus, providing formation in the context of Christian household community.
• Mentoring One-on-one accompaniment program for students seeking to further their relationship with God.
• Newman Lectures Three lectures per year fostering dialogue between faith and reason, bringing speakers to discuss faith and science.
• Pilgrimage to the Grotto 3-day walking pilgrimage from Salem to the Grotto of Our Lady of Sorrows in Portland; $55 per person includes food, lodging, and a t-shirt.
• Mission Trips Annual international mission trips to Belize where students bring the light of Christ and share their faith.
• Young Adult Group Ministry for grad students and young professionals seeking to grow in faith and fellowship, meeting weekly with prayer meetings, book clubs, game nights, and hikes.
• Volunteer Missionary Program Young adult program where volunteers dedicate a year of their lives serving as full-time missionaries after college.
• Newman Merchandise Store Online store selling Catholic lifestyle merchandise including t-shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and stickers featuring Newman Center branding and Catholic themes.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Saint John Society (SJS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Saint John Society is a society of apostolic life dedicated to the New Evangelization. OSU Newman is a ministry under the care of the Saint John Society and the Archdiocese. Priests from SJS serve as directors and chaplains. SJS provides formation resources, retreat centers, and a network of campus ministries across the Pacific Northwest.
• St. Mary's Parish (Corvallis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with St. Mary's Parish for Sunday Mass (held at St. Mary's Church), First Friday Holy Hour, confession times, and OCIA programs. The parish provides liturgical space and shares access to FORMED.org subscription for the Newman community.
• Local Etsy Shop (Catholic Lifestyle Merch)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with a local Etsy seller (Haley Traini) who creates Catholic lifestyle merchandise inspired by Newman Center's mission and mottos. Products are sold through the Newman Merch store.
• Fr. Bernard Youth Center (Mount Angel, OR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetreat venue used for Venture retreats and Holy Spirit Weekends. Located at 980 South Main Street, Mount Angel, OR 97362. Students carpool from the Newman Center for these overnight retreat experiences.
• Twin Rocks Friends CampcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference venue for the annual GoFish Conference. Located on the Oregon Coast. Twin Rocks Friends Camp provides accommodations, meeting spaces, and activity facilities for the 3-day Catholic college student conference.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UW Catholic Newman Center (University of Washington): Newman Center serving Catholic students at the University of Washington under the Saint John Society, using the same Alpha/Venture/Fragua formation framework—essentially the same operating model in a different Pac-12 campus context.
• FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students): National Catholic campus evangelization organization that places missionaries on U.S. university campuses to disciple students—same mission, same target audience, same faith-based formation model, with significantly larger scale and donor network.
• Catholic Student Center at University of Wisconsin–Madison: Catholic campus ministry serving UW–Madison students with sacraments, retreats, and student community—directly comparable in mission, scale, and programming structure to OSU Newman.
• Saint Paul Catholic Center at Indiana University: Catholic campus ministry at Indiana University offering Mass, sacraments, retreats, and student formation programs—same mission, comparable programming mix, and similar student-led leadership structure.

Broad incumbents

• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): Major interdenominational collegiate ministry with national reach, employing staff missionaries, conferences, and digital content—comparable to a Newman Center in student-evangelization scope but at vastly larger scale and Protestant.
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: Largest interdenominational campus ministry in the U.S., serving students at hundreds of universities with small groups, missions, and conferences—same campus-ministry category but evangelical Protestant rather than Catholic.
• University of Notre Dame Office of Campus Ministry: Catholic university campus ministry at a flagship Catholic institution—shares the faith-formation mission but operates with a vastly larger paid staff, more resources, and an institutional university sponsor.
• Chi Alpha (Assemblies of God Campus Ministry): Network of campus ministries at public universities offering worship, discipleship, small groups, and missions—same campus-ministry archetype with a Pentecostal denominational identity.

Emerging players

• Catholic Apostolate Center: Catholic organization producing digital formation content, podcasts, and online resources for young adults—overlaps with Newman Center content offerings (FORMED.org, podcasts, lectures) but without on-campus parish-style ministry.
• Newman Connection: National nonprofit connecting incoming college students with Newman Centers and Catholic campus ministries—operates in the same ecosystem as a coordination/awareness layer rather than running a specific center.

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdCy0lBEW0lI9kUsWcmo3xg
• Facebookfacebook.com/newmancenteratOSU
• Instagraminstagram.com/osunewman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/osunewman

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Newman Center at Oregon State University