St Margarets Episcopal Church

What St Margarets Episcopal Church does

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization headquartered at 47535 Hwy. 74 in Palm Desert, California, founded in 1963 and consecrated in its current sanctuary in 1989. The parish operates under the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and delivers weekly Sunday and Wednesday Eucharist services, faith formation programs (Education for Ministry, Adult Formation, Children's Ministry with Godly Play), pastoral care, and recovery/12-step groups. Its music program is anchored by the Quimby Pipe Organ (Opus 50, 4,291 pipes, 71 ranks) and a 24-season Friends of Music concert series that has featured performers such as the Vienna Choir Boys, Chanticleer, Canadian Brass, and internationally known organists. The parish is LGBTQ+ affirming with ordained LGBTQ+ clergy and openly welcomes general community members, seasonal residents and retirees, young families, seniors, and families in need.

Beyond worship, St. Margaret's runs an extensive outreach portfolio. Neighbors-4-Neighbors, launched in 2007, distributes food and clothing to approximately 600 families per week with 70+ active volunteers and has cumulatively served over 200,000 families. The Read with Me literacy program operates across 15 Coachella Valley schools with 400+ volunteers drawn from 11 sponsoring churches. Peace and justice ministries include the Solidarity with Immigrants and Refugees (SIR) program — formerly Desert Support for Asylum Seekers, now partnering with Border Compassion in Mexicali — the Neighbors of the Cahuilla land acknowledgment ministry, Sacred Ground, and Living Without Fear. The Creation Care Ministry runs the Good Earth Project composting partnership with Desert Compost (launched October 2021; nearly 29,000 pounds diverted) and the Unity Garden. Facilities include an 800-capacity Sanctuary, Firestone Chapel (modeled after St. Margaret's Chapel in Edinburgh Castle), Karns Community Center (165 capacity), an 11-circuit Chartres-style labyrinth, a 72-niche columbarium, and the Peggy & Donald Cravens Pet Memorial Garden.

The church's revenue model is diversified across annual pledges and weekly offerings (10% tithe suggested), facility rentals (weddings, quinceañeras, receptions), wedding and event fees, columbarium/pet memorial niche sales, and a 2023-endowed Legacy Society with two permanent endowment funds. Online giving is processed via Abundant.co across multiple designated funds; live streaming uses YouTube; church management runs on accessACS. There is no proprietary technology stack and no AI/ML capability. The paid staff of 11 is led by the Seventh Rector, Rev. Andrew G. Butler III (appointed June 2020), and includes clergy, a Director of Music & Organist, Controller, Neighbors-4-Neighbors Program Director, Parish Administrator, Communications lead, Children's Minister, Bookkeeper, and Housekeeping; the Vestry serves as the elected lay governing body.

Name

St Margarets Episcopal Church

Legal name

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church

Website

https://stmargarets.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Episcopal parish in Palm Desert, California, providing weekly worship services, faith formation, and outreach ministries including Neighbors-4-Neighbors food assistance and Read with Me literacy programs serving a diverse Coachella Valley community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Community outreach programs
• Facility rental services
• Faith formation programs
• Pastoral care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Desert

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Members make annual financial pledges and weekly/monthly offerings to support church operations and ministries. The church encourages 10% of income as the goal per scripture.
2. Donations and Offerings: One-time donations for various purposes including General Fund, Friends of Music, Neighbors-4-Neighbors outreach program, Flower fund, and Facility Rentals.
3. Legacy Society/Endowment Fund: Planned giving and estate gifts directed to Ministries & Facilities Permanent Endowment or Fred Swann Music Permanent Endowment. Endowment established by Vestry in 2023.
4. Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from Karns Community Center and Sanctuary for events including weddings, quinceañeras, receptions, and other celebrations. Karns Hall accommodates up to 120-160 people; Sanctuary accommodates up to 800 people.
5. Wedding and Event Fees: Fees for wedding ceremonies in the Sanctuary or Wedding Chapel, with tax-deductible offering structure as the ceremony confers intangible religious benefit.
6. Columbarium and Pet Memorial Garden: Sale of niches for cremated remains in the columbarium (72 niches) and pet memorial garden with memorial plaques.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church is a 501(c)(3) religious parish that fundamentally provides weekly Episcopal worship services, pastoral care, and a broad portfolio of community ministries. Its primary sellable offerings include worship services, the Friends of Music concert series, facility rentals (weddings, quinceañeras, events), columbarium and pet memorial garden niches, and faith formation programs. It also runs the Neighbors-4-Neighbors food and clothing assistance program, which has served over 200,000 families since 2007.

Product overview

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church is a single-site parish offering a unified portfolio of worship, educational, and community service programs. The core offerings center on Sunday and Wednesday worship services featuring the renowned Quimby Pipe Organ and choir. Supporting programs include: faith formation (Education for Ministry, Adult Formation, Children's Ministry with Godly Play), music (Choir, Handbell Choir, Friends of Music concert series), outreach (Neighbors-4-Neighbors food/clothing assistance, Read with Me literacy program), peace & justice (Solidarity with Immigrants and Refugees, Creation Care, Neighbors of the Cahuilla), pastoral care, recovery groups, and facilities (weddings, quinceañeras, pet memorial garden, columbarium, labyrinth). The church operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no technical product or developer offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services Weekly Episcopal worship services including Sunday Eucharist (9 AM) and Wednesday mid-week Eucharist (10 AM in the Chapel), featuring liturgical worship, music, scripture readings, sermon, prayers, and open communion for all.
• Friends of Music Concert Series Annual concert series featuring world-class performers including the Vienna Choir Boys, Chanticleer, Canadian Brass, Boston Brass, internationally-known organists, and other renowned choirs and ensembles. Now in its 24th season.
• Neighbors-4-Neighbors Food and Clothing Assistance Free food and clothing assistance program serving approximately 600 families per week with supplemental food packages (fresh produce, protein, bread, pantry staples) and donated clothing. Operated by 70+ active volunteers, free of charge.
• Wedding Services Wedding ceremonies in the main Sanctuary (capacity 700) or intimate St. Margaret's Chapel (capacity 50) with mountain views. LGBTQ+ affirming venue. Fees are tax-deductible as the ceremony confers intangible religious benefit.
• Facility Rentals Rental of event venues including the Church Sanctuary (capacity up to 800), Karns Community Center (capacity 165), and St. Margaret's Chapel. Suitable for weddings, quinceañeras, receptions, and other celebrations. Quote-based pricing.
• Quinceañera Celebrations Event venue and celebration services for quinceañera ceremonies held in Karns Community Center with vaulted ceilings, french doors, and covered patio. Capacity up to 160 people inside.
• Columbarium Niches Sacred memorial space on the church campus with 72 niches for placement and perpetual care of cremated remains. Simple marker plates with engraved names. Established 1998.
• Pet Memorial Garden The Peggy & Donald Cravens Pet Memorial Garden provides resting place for pet cremains in a tranquil garden setting with granite wall niches and brass memorial plaques. Open year-round for visits.
• Education for Ministry (EfM) Program Lay theological education program through the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Four-year seminar covering Scripture, church history, and theology with theological reflection. Classes meet 36 weeks September through May.
• Read with Me Literacy Program Volunteer literacy program since 2004 bringing volunteers from 11 sponsoring churches to 15 schools serving disadvantaged students throughout the Coachella Valley. Over 400 volunteers serve annually.
• St. Margaret's Labyrinth Outdoor Chartres-style labyrinth (11 circuits, 6-petal rose center) open to the public for meditation walks. Open Monday-Saturday dawn to dusk, Sunday 1pm to dusk. Participates in World Labyrinth Day. Established 2001.
• Funeral and Memorial Services Funeral and memorial services conducted in the church Sanctuary and grounds, with support for the columbarium and pet memorial garden, along with pastoral care for grieving families.
• Good Earth Project Composting Community composting partnership with Desert Compost, the first in the Coachella Valley. Diverts food waste from the Neighbors-4-Neighbors pantry to create compost for community gardens. Has diverted nearly 29,000 pounds of organics since October 2021.
• Recovery and 12-Step Groups Campus-based recovery support hosting multiple independent 12-step groups including AA, Al-Anon, CODA, NA, OA, and ACA meetings throughout the week. The church provides the meeting space; groups are independently operated.
• Children's Ministry Program Godly Play spiritual curriculum for children ages 4+ offered first and third Sundays (September-May), professional childcare every Sunday, and an annual Christmas pageant. Vision emphasizes inclusivity for all children and families.
• Adult Faith Formation Ongoing adult formation programs including Hear the Spirit (Wednesday Zoom Bible study), Reflections on the Word (Sunday Scripture study with art commentary), and seasonal book studies like St. Margaret's Reads.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 200,000+ families with food and clothing assistance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

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

• Border CompassioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Roman Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph to operate La Posada del Migrantes shelter in Mexicali, MX. Provides food, clothing, and legal aid to migrants. Original partnership initiated in 2019 under Desert Support for Asylum Seekers ministry.
• Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Immigration and Refugee ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with diocese immigration services for refugee support and immigration assistance programs.
• Episcopal Diocese of San Diego Migration MinistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiocesan-level migration ministry partnership providing support and resources for immigrants and refugees in the region.
• Episcopal Migration MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Episcopal Church ministry focused on migration and refugee services. Provides updates, resources, and coordination for immigration policy advocacy.
• TODEC (Training Occupational Development Educating Communities)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner providing training, occupational development, and education services for immigrant communities.
• Coachella Valley Food Distribution CentersminorOthersNetwork of food distribution centers throughout Coachella Valley referred to during Neighbors-4-Neighbors summer closure. Helps families access food resources year-round.
• Desert CompostmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership created in October 2021 to establish the first community composting program in Coachella Valley. Good Earth Project diverts food waste from Neighbors-4-Neighbors pantry to create compost for community gardens.
• College of the Desert Children's Center GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of finished compost from Good Earth Project for use in community garden education.
• Good News Garden MovementminorOthersNational Episcopal Church garden movement. Unity Garden is a member, providing connection to broader church environmental initiatives.
• Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (MPGC)minorOthersPollinator conservation initiative. Unity Garden participates to support pollinator habitat creation.
• Hope AcademyminorOthersHope Academy leased the Nordstrom school property from the parish in March 2013, generating rental income and community benefit.
• 11 Sponsoring Churches (Read with Me)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEleven churches sponsor the Read with Me program, bringing volunteers to fifteen schools serving disadvantaged students in Coachella Valley.
• Agua Caliente Indian ReservationminorOthersNeighbors of the Cahuilla ministry acknowledges and seeks to build relationships with local indigenous tribes including Agua Caliente.
• Cahuilla Band of Mission IndiansminorOthersNeighbors of the Cahuilla ministry recognizes the Cahuilla people as original peoples of the land where St. Margaret's sits.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• FIND Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the Coachella Valley; directly comparable to St. Margaret's Neighbors-4-Neighbors food distribution mission and similar beneficiary base, though operating at larger scale as a dedicated food bank with broader distribution infrastructure.
• McCallum Theatre: Premier performing arts venue in Palm Desert presenting world-class concerts and events; comparable to St. Margaret's Friends of Music concert series operations and cultural destination positioning in the same Coachella Valley market.
• Martha's Village and Kitchen: Indio-based nonprofit providing food, clothing, and social services in the Coachella Valley; directly comparable to Neighbors-4-Neighbors food and clothing assistance model serving similar families in need across the same region.
• Family YMCA of the Desert: Community-based nonprofit organization serving the Coachella Valley with programming across health, youth, and family services; comparable to St. Margaret's in serving as a multi-purpose community hub serving the same regional geography.
• Coachella Valley Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit organization serving the Coachella Valley with food, shelter, and recovery services; comparable faith-rooted community service model and overlapping beneficiary base with St. Margaret's outreach ministries.

Broad incumbents

• St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral (San Diego): The cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego; same Episcopal/Anglican tradition as St. Margaret's but operating at significantly larger scale with broader programming and regional reach across the same diocese.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@st.margaretsepiscopalchurc7155/streams
• Facebookfacebook.com/St.MargaretsEpiscopalChurch
• Instagraminstagram.com/stmargaretspd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-margarets-episcopal-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 St Margarets Episcopal Church