Salem Lutheran Church

What Salem Lutheran Church does

Salem Lutheran Church is a non-profit religious congregation established in 1869 and located at 1700 W. War Memorial Drive in Peoria, Illinois. The church is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is governed by its Congregational Council under ELCA's ecclesiastical structure. Its core offering is weekly Sunday worship at 9 a.m., delivered both in-person and via a YouTube livestream, with Holy Communion served at every service. The congregation it serves is the local Peoria-area community of individuals and families seeking faith formation, spiritual guidance, and fellowship, including life milestone services (baptism, confirmation, marriage, funerals).

The church operates a portfolio of faith formation and community programs beyond worship, including Sunday School (ages 2 through 8th grade), a Senior High Youth Group, a three-year Faith for Life confirmation ministry for grades 6–8 led by Pastor Craig Swenson, adult Bible studies, men's and women's fellowship circles, and a music ministry with Chancel Choir, Chancel Bells, and other ensembles. A wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Salem Lutheran Preschool, provides half-day Christian-based early childhood education for 3- and 4-year-olds at $190 per child per month under Director Pam Machacek, who has been involved with the program for 30 years. The church also operates the Salem Lutheran Library (800+ book collection) and runs local and global outreach through partnerships with Midwest Food Bank, Bethel United Methodist Food Pantry, C.T. Vivian Primary School, Crittenton Centers, The Center for Prevention of Abuse, Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, and Marion Medical Mission (well-building in Zambia).

Salem's revenue model is donation-driven, with the majority of income from voluntary tithes and offerings collected via Electronic Funds Transfer, Text+Give mobile, and mail-in contributions, supplemented by preschool tuition, a Capital Appeal Fund, designated funds (Altar Flowers, World Hunger, Global Missions), and memorial/endowment gifts overseen by trustees. GTM is community-based: digital top-of-funnel via YouTube, Facebook, and the salemofpeoria.com website; mid-funnel engagement through the Bugle monthly newsletter and Bugle Blast; and offline in-person worship and preschool enrollment as the primary conversion surfaces. Technology infrastructure is minimal and entirely dependent on third-party SaaS (YouTube, Zoom, JotForm, Vanco, SoundCloud) with no proprietary platform, app, or API surface area.

Name

Salem Lutheran Church

Legal name

Salem Lutheran Church

Website

https://salemofpeoria.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Salem Lutheran Church is an ELCA-affiliated non-profit congregation in Peoria, Illinois, founded 1869, offering weekly worship, faith formation for all ages, a half-day preschool, and local and global outreach programs funded primarily by member donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Educational Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAA

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAD

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYMPABALAA

Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Religious/Faith-Based Broadcasting

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Christian education programs
• Preschool early childhood education
• Faith formation ministries
• Community outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Peoria, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Church members contribute through Electronic Funds Transfer, Text+Give mobile giving, and mail-in contributions. Various designated funds exist including General Fund, Capital Appeal Fund, Altar Flowers, World Hunger, Global Missions, and Memorials.
2. Preschool Tuition: Monthly tuition for preschool program. Additional fees include application fee.
3. Memorials and Endowments: Memorial gifts are received and tracked for families, with trustees overseeing the endowment fund that supports special ongoing ministry needs, scholarships, and mission work.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Salem Lutheran Church provides Christian worship services (in-person and via YouTube livestream), religious education programs for youth and adults, music ministry, and early childhood education through Salem Lutheran Preschool. It also operates local and global community outreach initiatives and accepts donations through electronic and traditional giving channels. The church is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Product overview

Salem Lutheran Church offers a comprehensive suite of faith-based programs and services centered around its core worship ministry. The church provides Sunday worship services (in-person and online via YouTube) as its primary offering, complemented by the Salem Lutheran Preschool (a half-day kindergarten preparation program), Youth Education and Faith Formation programs (Sunday School through confirmation), Music Ministry with multiple ensembles, Adult Discipleship groups, and the Salem Lutheran Library. Additional services include Local and Global Outreach programs, and Electronic Giving options. The church is affiliated with the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) denomination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalem Lutheran Church is affiliated with the ELCA, a mainline Protestant Christian denomination. This affiliation provides theological guidance, connection to wider Lutheran network, and participation in ELCA initiatives like 'God's Work. Our Hands.' service Sunday.
• Marion Medical MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical, Christian, front-line, hands-on volunteer nonprofit that responds to Christ's call to serve by working with God's people in Africa. Salem members travel to Zambia to support building wells through this organization.
• Lutheran World Relief (LWR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLWR saves and improves lives in the poorest parts of the world by persisting until love reaches every neighbor. Salem collects and assembles Personal Care Kits for LWR disaster relief efforts.
• Bethel United Methodist Church Food PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalem partners with Bethel United Methodist Church food ministry by collecting non-perishable goods for their pantry to support local food security.
• Midwest Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeeks to alleviate hunger and poverty by delivering food and disaster relief free of charge. Salem organizes groups to serve at Midwest Food Bank Peoria Division throughout the year.
• C.T. Vivian Primary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSalem members serve as tutors, pen-pals with third graders, and reading helpers with K-4 students. Also supports families with food baskets at Christmas.
• The Center for Prevention of AbuseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExists to help all people live free from violence and abuse. Salem donates pajamas, personal care products, and cash donations.
• Crittenton CentersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission to protect and nurture children and families. Current needs include diapers, formula, wipes, and basic baby supplies.
• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit social service organization of the three Illinois synods of the ELCA. Provides critical programs including foster care, mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, affordable senior housing, and services for people with disabilities. Serves over 50,000 Illinois residents annually.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI): The social-service arm of the three Illinois ELCA synods, serving 50,000+ residents annually with foster care, mental health, addiction treatment, and senior housing. Comparable as a faith-affiliated nonprofit operating at scale in Illinois, partnered with Salem for community outreach.
• Catholic Diocese of Peoria: The geographic Catholic authority overseeing parishes in central Illinois, including parish schools that compete with Salem Lutheran Preschool. Comparable as a larger, established faith body operating parishes and schools in the same Peoria market.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): The parent denomination of Salem Lutheran Church. Comparable as the umbrella body that provides theological framework, programmatic support, and the broader Lutheran network that shapes Salem's ministry offerings and missional identity.

Direct peers

• Bethel United Methodist Church (Peoria): A mainline Protestant congregation in the Peoria area with which Salem actively partners on the food pantry ministry. Comparable as a similarly sized neighboring mainline congregation pursuing worship + community-outreach programming.
• Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS): The other major Lutheran body in the U.S. While doctrinally distinct from the ELCA, LCMS congregations operate a directly comparable model: neighborhood Lutheran parishes with worship, Sunday School, preschool ministries, and member stewardship. Most direct denomination-side comparison.
• The Salvation Army Peoria: A long-established faith-based community organization running worship, social services, and family support programs across Peoria. Comparable as a mission-driven congregational/worship-plus-services organization with similar geographic and demographic footprint.

Others

• Midwest Food Bank (Peoria Division): A faith-grounded regional nonprofit serving food-insecure households, where Salem organizes volunteer groups. Comparable as a regional faith-rooted organization drawing on similar volunteer and donor pools in central Illinois.
• United Way of Greater Peoria: A Peoria-area umbrella nonprofit raising and distributing funds for community programs. Comparable as a competing nonprofit fundraising channel in the same local market where Salem solicits donations for outreach and missions.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Peoria: A Peoria-based community nonprofit (faith-rooted in origin) that Salem members support. Comparable as a regional faith-adjacent nonprofit competing for the same volunteer hours and donor dollars in the Peoria market.

Regional players

• Concordia University System (LCMS): The network of LCMS-affiliated higher education institutions. Useful as a comparable Lutheran education ecosystem, though focused on higher education rather than early childhood - included as a regional Lutheran ministry peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SalemLutheranChurch
• Facebookfacebook.com/Salem-Lutheran-Church-312318842227/?ref=bookmarks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salemofpeoria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Salem Lutheran Church