SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA SYNOD ELCA

Name

SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA SYNOD ELCA

Legal name

Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA

Website

https://swmnelca.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Denominational Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI), Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Religious administration services
• Congregational support programs
• Rostered ministry services
• Youth ministry programs
• Grant funding programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA is a regional administrative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that provides pastoral oversight, ministry programs, and administrative support to 223 affiliated congregations and rostered ministers across southwestern Minnesota. Its core offerings include the Synod-Authorized Ministry (SAM) program, candidacy and call processes for pastors, youth and family ministry programs, grant programs (Gifts of Grace, Congregational Mission Grants), the Faithful Innovation and CaSTLE Project congregational renewal initiatives, worship supply resources, synod coaching, and the annual Synod Assembly.

Product overview

The Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA is a regional governing body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of church ministry programs and support services for 223 congregations and rostered ministers across the region. Core programs include the Synod-Authorized Ministry (SAM) program for lay ministry authorization, candidacy and call processes for ordaining ministers, youth and family ministry initiatives (including LYO and youth gatherings), grant programs (Gifts of Grace and Congregational Mission Grants), congregational renewal programs (Faithful Innovation, The CaSTLE Project), and administrative resources including compensation guidelines and worship supply support. These programs operate independently rather than as a unified product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Synod-Authorized Ministry (SAM) Program

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Harrison Presbyterian Church, SpicerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2026Zion Irving Lutheran Church and Harrison Presbyterian Church celebrated 50 years of ecumenical ministry together on July 19, 2026. This partnership predates the ELCA-Presbyterian Church (USA) full-communion agreement established in 1997, demonstrating long-term interdenominational collaboration.
• Gustavus Adolphus CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026Host venue for the 2026 Synod Assembly held at Christ Chapel on the Gustavus Adolphus College campus in St. Peter, MN. Margi Willmert provided hospitality coordination. The college has a long-standing relationship with the synod as an educational and ecumenical partner.
• ELCA FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 June 2026Served as Assembly Sponsor for the 2026 Synod Assembly. The ELCA Foundation provides legacy giving and endowment support resources to ELCA congregations and synods, including planned giving consulting and stewardship resources.
• Wartburg Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025Wartburg Theological Seminary awarded the first CaSTLE Project grants to strengthen small-town and rural congregations in the synod. The CaSTLE grant also supports a mentor program for Synod-Authorized Ministers (SAMs), including retreat funding and ongoing mentorship.
• ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe synod is a regional administrative unit of the ELCA. The ELCA Churchwide Organization sets denominational policy, provides churchwide mission support, and coordinates social statements and social ministry organizations. The synod participates in Churchwide Assemblies and contributes mission support dollars to the ELCA.
• Luther SeminaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuther Seminary in St. Paul offers a certificate program in lay ministry as well as Faith-Lead cohorts, which are referenced as one of the preparation paths for Synod-Authorized Ministers (SAMs).
• Region 3 (ELCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegion 3 offers a two-year track of six courses (Bible, Lutheran theology, pastoral care, worship, preaching, stewardship, and administration) for SAM preparation. Region 3 is one of the nine administrative regions of the ELCA.
• GSB FundraisingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSB Fundraising Consultants provide stewardship training and the 'Building a Culture of Generosity' program to synod congregations. The partnership offers Zoom stewardship trainings, professionally designed materials, letter templates, and six virtual live training events with a GSB Consultant.
• Lutheran Services in AmericaminorOthersThe synod provides information and support related to Lutheran Services in America's global refuge programming and advocacy efforts, connecting congregations with humanitarian and advocacy resources.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Others

• Gustavus Adolphus College: ELCA-affiliated college in St. Peter, MN that hosted the 2026 Synod Assembly and serves as a long-standing educational and ecumenical partner to the synod.
• Lutheran Services in America: National Lutheran social ministry organization that the synod connects congregations to for global refuge programming and advocacy resources, illustrating adjacent faith-based nonprofit collaboration.
• Luther Seminary: ELCA seminary in St. Paul, MN offering the lay ministry certificate program and Faith-Lead cohorts referenced as SAM preparation pathways by the synod; another educational pipeline partner.
• Wartburg Theological Seminary: ELCA seminary in Dubuque, Iowa that funds and supports the CaSTLE Project within this synod and prepares Candidacy candidates for Word and Sacrament ministry across ELCA synods.

Direct peers

• Southeastern Minnesota Synod ELCA: A neighboring ELCA regional synod serving a comparable geographic and congregational footprint in southeastern Minnesota, with similar ministry programs, call processes, and grant-making structures.
• Saint Paul Area Synod ELCA: Twin Cities ELCA synod with the same institutional structure, synod assembly governance, and ministry portfolio as Southwestern Minnesota Synod.
• Northeastern Minnesota Synod ELCA: Another ELCA synod operating with the same denominational structure, Rostered Minister support, SAM program, and assembly-based governance in a Minnesota region.
• Minneapolis Area Synod ELCA: Urban ELCA synod with comparable programs (call process, Candidacy, youth ministry) but serving a more metropolitan constituency, illustrating the same denominational governance model.
• Northwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA: Adjacent ELCA synod sharing rural ministry focus and a similar congregational scale; the synod office serves as Regional Gift Planner partner for ELCA Foundation alongside Southwestern Minnesota.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): Parent denomination of the synod and 64 other synods; sets churchwide policy, mission support allocations, and Candidacy standards that the Southwestern Minnesota Synod implements at the regional level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/swmnelca
• Facebookfacebook.com/swmnsynod
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southwestern-minnesota-synod-elca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA SYNOD ELCA