St. Mary Parish

What St. Mary Parish does

Saint Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish operating under the Archdiocese of Chicago at 10 N Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Founded in 1847 by German Catholic settlers and now operating from a 1,000-seat 1978 worship space attached to its historic 1899 Gothic brick church, the parish serves local Roman Catholic parishioners through daily and weekend Mass, the seven sacraments, faith formation, and sacramental preparation. The parish campus also houses Saint Mary School (founded 1855, two-time U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School, 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio, 30+ staff), serving preschool through 8th grade with Catholic education grounded in faith formation and academics.

Revenue derives from four principal streams: weekly/monthly tithes and offertory from parishioners, online giving through the Abundant.co platform (one-time and recurring), Saint Mary School tuition (amounts undisclosed; financial aid available through an endowment), and capital campaign pledges such as the 2024 Generation to Generation initiative ($2.4M pledged vs. $1.725M goal). Distribution is primarily in-person worship on the parish campus, supplemented by live-stream/YouTube Mass archives and an Archdiocese of Chicago TV broadcast. The underlying technology stack is a Squarespace website with integrated Abundant.co giving and PowerSchool for school management.

The parish's go-to-market is community-led: new members are acquired through word-of-mouth, local reputation, and parish outreach rather than paid marketing. It maintains an unusually deep ecosystem of ancillary organizations — Knights of Columbus, Men's Club, Women's Club, St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts Pack/Troop 140, music ministry, youth/young adult ministries, and Alpha — that anchor multi-generational engagement. Leadership consists of Pastor Rev. Dan Whiteside, Associate Pastor Rev. Mike Nacius (effective July 1, 2026), Resident Priest Rev. Richard Sztorc, three deacons, and lay staff including an Operations Director and Religious Education Coordinator.

Name

St. Mary Parish

Legal name

Saint Mary Parish

Website

https://stmarybg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1847

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Saint Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, founded 1847, serving local parishioners through worship, sacraments, faith formation, and an affiliated K-8 Blue Ribbon school, funded primarily by tithes, tuition, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization / Catholic Parish Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC), Catholic Broadcasting (MPABALAB)

Keywords

• Catholic religious services
• Catholic K-8 education
• Faith formation programs
• Parish community ministries
• Charitable outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Parishioners contribute weekly/monthly donations through offertory collections during Mass and online giving platform. Online giving is encouraged to save parish time and money on processing.
2. Online Giving Platform: Parish accepts donations through Abundant.co online giving platform with options for one-time or recurring gifts, including monthly giving.
3. Capital Campaign Donations: Generation to Generation campaign raising funds for parish priorities including church accessibility, school roof replacement, faith programs, tuition assistance endowment, and general maintenance. Pledges spread over five years.
4. Annual Catholic Appeal: Annual appeal to support the ongoing ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, separate from the capital campaign.
5. School Tuition: Saint Mary School charges tuition for K-8 Catholic education. Financial aid and tuition assistance available through endowment fund.
6. Mail-in Donations: Parish accepts check donations mailed to parish office address.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Saint Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, operating under the Archdiocese of Chicago. It provides weekly and daily Mass, the seven sacraments, sacramental preparation, faith formation for children and adults, and an affiliated K-8 Catholic day school (Saint Mary School, founded 1855). It also runs a broad set of ministries (youth, music, liturgical, human concerns) and charitable outreach programs (food pantry, bereavement and cancer ministries) for parishioners and the local community.

Product overview

Saint Mary Parish operates primarily as a religious and educational institution rather than a technology company. The organization's offerings consist of a parish website providing worship services and community information, a Catholic school (K-8) with Blue Ribbon designation, religious education programs, and various ministry services including youth ministry, music ministry, and charitable outreach programs. Additional digital services include an online giving platform and the Generation to Generation capital campaign portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saint Mary Catholic School (K-8 Education) Affiliated Catholic day school offering preschool through 8th grade education with academics, faith formation, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Designated a Two-Time U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School. Targets families seeking Catholic primary education; financial aid and tuition assistance available through an endowment fund.
• Religious Education Program Parish faith formation program offering religious education classes, OCIA process, and sacramental preparation including Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and teen ministry. Targets children, teens, and adults seeking Catholic formation.
• Worship Services (Mass & Sacraments) Weekly and daily Catholic Mass (weekday, Saturday vigil, Sunday, holy days), Reconciliation, and the seven sacraments. Includes live-streamed and archived Mass via YouTube and Archdiocese of Chicago RadioTV. Targets Roman Catholics seeking regular worship and sacramental access.
• Online Giving Platform Digital donation platform (Abundant.co) enabling parishioners to make one-time or recurring gifts, including monthly giving, to support parish operations. Targets registered parishioners and supporters.
• Generation to Generation Capital Campaign Multi-year capital campaign raising funds for parish priorities including church accessibility (ramp), school roof replacement, faith programs and staff, endowment for tuition assistance, and general maintenance. Pledges spread over five years. Targets parishioners and community donors.
• Youth & Young Adult Ministries Faith formation and fellowship programs for middle-school, high-school, and young adult parishioners including Confirmation preparation, teen ministry, peer ministry, and young adult fellowship activities. Targets parish youth and young adults.
• Music Ministry Liturgical music program featuring Saturday Ensemble, Parish Choir, Resurrection Choir, and Hand Bell Choir supporting worship services. Targets parishioners who sing or participate in musical worship.
• Human Concerns & Charitable Outreach Social outreach programs including the St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry, bereavement ministry, cancer ministry, substance abuse support, Ministry of Care, and Women's Club charitable initiatives (annual coats drive, Christmas gift card distribution). Targets community members in need and parishioners seeking service opportunities.
• Alpha Program Weekly parish program creating a welcoming environment for people to explore life, faith, and God together through shared meals, video talks, and small-group discussions. Targets adults curious about the Catholic faith.
• Give and Take Library Faith resource library located in the church vestibule where parishioners may take or leave inspirational books, CDs, and DVDs. Targets parishioners seeking faith enrichment materials.
• Disciple Maker Index Survey Parish engagement survey tool used to assess and enhance faith engagement among parishioners; 226 surveys completed representing 27% of average Sunday Mass-going parishioners. Targets parish leadership and parishioners for faith engagement measurement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 new coats provided to children in need annually through Women's Club
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Archdiocese of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Mary Parish is a member parish of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The parish participates in the Generation to Generation capital campaign to strengthen local parishes, spiritually renew parishes, support priests, and assist vulnerable communities across Cook and Lake counties. Parish goals are set at 130% of parish offertory income.
• Our Lady of the Grove Council 13448 - Knights of ColumbuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Knights of Columbus council at Saint Mary Parish focuses on Faith, Family, Community, and Life. They conduct charitable activities including Tootsie Roll Drive for the learning disabled, Respect Life Ministry support, and support for seminarians.
• Saint Vincent de Paul SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable outreach program of Saint Mary Parish focused on immediate help for the poor and needy. Sponsors food collection for parish food pantry, helps pay portions of rent, electric, and heating bills for those in need. Financed through donations to poor boxes and individual donations.
• Girl Scouts of Northern IllinoisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Mary Parish hosts Girl Scouts for girls in kindergarten through 8th grade. Activities include craft projects, games, field trips, camp-outs, and service projects.
• Boy Scouts of America - Pack 140/Troop 140minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCub Scouts (Pack 140) for boys and girls K-5 and Boy Scouts (Troop 140) meet at Saint Mary Parish. Focus on character building, citizenship development, and fitness through weekly meetings and monthly weekend outings.
• USML (University of Saint Mary of the Lake)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Deacon Formation Program - Parishioners can participate in the USML Deacon Formation Program for diaconal studies and formation.
• Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's Club is an affiliate of the ACCW, promoting community for all women of the parish through spiritual growth, service projects, social events, and intellectual programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Francis Xavier Parish (Winnetka, IL): Large Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic parish serving an affluent North Shore suburb with an affiliated school and broad ministry ecosystem—highly comparable in scale, demographic, and program offering.
• Our Lady of the Wayside Parish (Arlington Heights, IL): Archdiocese of Chicago suburban parish with parish school, faith formation, and community outreach—closely comparable operating model and suburban demographic.
• St. James Parish (Highland Park, IL): Nearby Catholic parish in Lake County under the Archdiocese of Chicago serving a comparable suburban community with Catholic education, multiple Mass times, and active outreach programs.
• St. Edna Parish (Arlington Heights, IL): Suburban Chicago Catholic parish within the Archdiocese operating an affiliated school and extensive ministries—comparable size, structure, and program portfolio to Saint Mary.
• Holy Family Parish (Inverness, IL): Affluent-suburban Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic parish offering parish school, multiple Mass times, and extensive outreach ministries—comparable in mission and operating scope.
• St. Theresa Parish (Palatine, IL): Large Catholic parish in the northwest suburbs under the Archdiocese of Chicago with parish school and ministries—comparable in scale and demographic profile.
• St. Raymond Parish (Mount Prospect, IL): Suburban Catholic parish with affiliated school in the Archdiocese of Chicago serving a similar family-oriented demographic with comparable ministries and educational programs.
• St. Mary Parish (Lake Forest, IL): A fellow Roman Catholic parish within the Archdiocese of Chicago serving a similar affluent North Shore suburb. Most direct peer given the shared name, archdiocesan affiliation, and overlapping demographic profile; also where Fr. Mike Nacius previously served as pastor.

Broad incumbents

• Archdiocese of Chicago: Parent ecclesiastical authority overseeing Saint Mary Parish; sets clergy assignments, runs the broader Generation to Generation capital campaign, and operates across 200+ parishes in the region. Relevant as the governing incumbent and capital-campaign parent.

Others

• Abundant.co: Online giving platform provider used by Saint Mary Parish. Relevant as an enabling technology partner for digital donations rather than a direct competitor; illustrates the parish's adoption of modern fundraising infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/StMaryParishBG
• Facebookfacebook.com/StMaryParishBG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-mary-parish

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 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. Mary Parish