Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm

What Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm does

The Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm is a non-profit ecclesiastical jurisdiction headquartered at 1421 6th Street North, New Ulm, Minnesota, serving Catholics across fifteen counties in southwestern Minnesota under the leadership of Bishop Chad W. Zielinski (the fifth Bishop, installed September 27, 2022). Its core operations span sacramental ministry through a parish network anchored by the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Catholic K-12 schooling, Catholic Charities social services, the Permanent Diaconate and Vocations Office (which cultivates a pipeline of 16+ seminarians), Hispanic and Family Life ministries, a Tribunal, and a Diocesan Review Board for Sexual Misconduct instituted in 1993. The diocese also partners with eleven women's religious communities and the Schoenstatt secular institute that staff parishes, schools, healthcare, and retreat ministries across the territory. Operationally, it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on March 10, 2020 and currently faces a significant pension underfunding in the Christian Brothers Employee Retirement Plan, reported in late July 2025 as requiring over $2 million in annual contributions for 25 years to cover 800+ active, vested, and retired participants.

The diocese's technology stack is intentionally lightweight and centered on third-party SaaS rather than proprietary systems. Its digital hub is a Squarespace-hosted website (dnu.org) supplemented by live-streaming infrastructure for liturgies from the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity; donor-facing giving is processed through Blackbaud NXT (the Online Giving portal and 2025 Diocesan Ministries Appeal "Bringing Hope to Homes"); compliance training is delivered via VIRTUS Online (Protecting God's Children and Empowering God's Children curricula); pilgrimages are registered through JotForm, Microsoft Forms, and third-party tour operators (206 Tours, Proximo Travel); and events expose Google Calendar/ICS feeds. Safe-environment compliance is enforced via Policy 13 (Sexual Misconduct Policy, updated May 6, 2019) and a multi-decade record of USCCB Charter audits (2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014). No mobile app, public API, or AI/ML capability is operated by the diocese.

The diocese does not operate on a commercial revenue model; it is funded through voluntary donations, parish offertory and stewardship contributions, Catholic school tuition, the annual Diocesan Ministries Appeal (also available in Spanish as "La Campaña de Ministerios Diocesanos"), the Catholic School Matching Grant Challenge, charitable gift annuities (with a $10,000 minimum), and endowments managed by the Catholic Community Foundation (which has been entrusted with over $1 million in endowments, annuities, and agency funds since 2007 across more than 15 parishes, schools, and cemeteries). Customer concentration is essentially the Catholic faithful within the 15-county territory, served through a community-led, event-driven pastoral model rather than a transactional commercial go-to-market.

Name

Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm

Legal name

Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm

Website

https://dnu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm is a non-profit ecclesiastical jurisdiction serving Catholics across 15 counties of southwestern Minnesota from its New Ulm pastoral center, delivering sacramental ministry, Catholic K-12 schooling, Catholic Charities, vocations formation, and Hispanic Ministry through a parish network under Bishop Chad W. Zielinski.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Catholic Diocesan Pastoral Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Catholic parish services
• Diocesan pastoral ministry
• Catholic school education
• Religious formation programs
• Charitable giving services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Ulm

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Diocesan Ministries Appeal (Annual Fundraising Campaign): Annual parish-based fundraising appeal (2025 theme "Bringing Hope to Homes") funding Catholic Charities, Catholic schools, youth/young adult ministry, family life, social concerns, vocations, permanent diaconate, Hispanic ministry, and evangelization. Recurring annual solicitation across the diocese.
2. Catholic Community Foundation Endowments & Planned Gifts: Institutional and individual endowments (e.g., Bishop John M. LeVoir Catholic Schools Scholarship, Archbishop John C. Nienstedt Catholic Schools Scholarship, Seminary Burse Endowment, Priest Retirement Fund), charitable gift annuities ($10,000+ minimum), and charitable remainder trusts. Principal protected in perpetuity; distributions made per donor designation. Over $1,000,000 in endowments, annuities and agency funds have been entrusted to CCF since 2007.
3. Catholic School Matching Grant Challenge: Donor-matching fundraising program for the diocesan Catholic school system.
4. Online Giving (Restricted Funds): Targeted online giving via Blackbaud NXT to Priest Retirement Fund, Catholic Charities, Seminary Aid Fund, and other designated funds.
5. Parish and School Stewardship Contributions: Underlying parish offertory, tithing, school tuition, and stewardship contributions collected locally and remitted through participating entities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm provides Roman Catholic pastoral, sacramental, educational, charitable, and social services across 15 counties of southwestern Minnesota under the authority of its bishop. Its core offerings include Mass and the sacraments, Catholic K-12 schooling, faith formation, marriage and family ministry, youth and young adult ministry, vocations discernment, Catholic Charities outreach, Hispanic ministry, immigration advocacy, and charitable giving vehicles (Diocesan Ministries Appeal, endowments, gift annuities). It also administers a Safe Environment compliance program aligned with the USCCB Charter, a diocesan review board for sexual misconduct, and a live-streamed broadcast of liturgies and lectures from the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

Product overview

The Diocese of New Ulm operates a unified Squarespace-based digital platform at dnu.org that ties together its ministries, news, events, and operational services, with no separate "product modules" in the conventional software sense. The core platform (Diocese of New Ulm Website) integrates with several third-party services — VIRTUS Online for the Safe Environment Program (Essential 3) compliance and background-check workflow, Blackbaud for Online Giving and the 2025 Diocesan Ministries Appeal ("Bringing Hope to Homes"), JotForm and Microsoft Forms for pilgrimage and pension-plan sign-ups, and 206 Tours and Proximo Travel for the Pilgrimage Opportunities program. Operational services include the Diocesan Live Stream Service (broadcasts of bishop-led liturgies and lectures), the CBERP retirement plan administered by Christian Brothers Services with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. advisory support, The Prairie Catholic Print Archives of historical diocesan publications, and dedicated program hubs for Vocations (including a seminarian roster), Catholic Schools, Catholic Charities, Consecrated Life/Religious Vocations, and the Diocesan Review Board for Sexual Misconduct.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Our Lady of the Prairie: Patroness of the Diocese of New Ulm; a diocesan Marian devotion with sacred artwork introduced to the diocese in 2025 and permanently housed at the Church of St. Mary, designated a diocesan shrine on March 26, 2026.
• The Prairie Catholic

Products and services

• Safe Environment Program (Essential 3)
• Catholic Schools (Diocese of New Ulm Catholic Schools)
• Catholic Charities
• Online Giving
• Diocesan Ministries Appeal (Annual Fundraising Campaign)
• Catholic School Matching Grant Challenge
• Pilgrimage Opportunities Program
• Vocations Office Program
• La Campaña de Ministerios Diocesanos (Spanish Diocesan Ministries Appeal)
• Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 employees (active, vested, and retired) enrolled in the diocesan pension plan.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Catholic Community Foundation (CCF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2007Foundation of the Diocese of New Ulm; Bishop John C. Nienstedt entered into partnership with CCF in summer 2007. CCF manages institutional funds for over 15 parishes, schools, and cemeteries and has been entrusted with over $1,000,000 in endowments, annuities and agency funds from parishes and individuals.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerComprises actuaries, benefit consultants, investment managers, and legal advisors. Contracted by the diocese to help establish an ad hoc committee's next steps regarding the Christian Brothers pension plan underfunding crisis.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational body for U.S. Catholic bishops. The Diocese of New Ulm implements the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, follows USCCB Safe Environment and sexual misconduct policies, republishes USCCB pastoral messages (e.g., the 2025 Special Message on Immigration), and participates in the USCCB annual Safe Environment audit cycle. Bishop Chad W. Zielinski participates in USCCB Plenary Assemblies (Baltimore November 2025, Orlando June 2026).
• VIRTUS Online (National Catholic Risk Retention Group / VIRTUS®)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides the diocesan Safe Environment online training database, online registration, background-check consent integration, live "Protecting God's Children" awareness sessions, "Empowering God's Children" teaching safety, and quarterly employee training. All clergy, employees, and adult volunteers with minors must complete VIRTUS registration via the diocesan direct link.
• The Saint Paul SeminaryflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor seminary (School of Divinity, University of St. Thomas) where Diocese of New Ulm seminarians including David Rabaey, Brent Sundve, Matthew Collins, and Aaron Gnerer are formed; 17 seminarians were instituted as acolytes on October 27, 2025.
• Women's Religious Communities Serving in the Diocese (Adrian Dominicans; Benedictines of Marshall; Daughters of St. Mary of Providence; Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls; Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus; Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary; School Sisters of Notre Dame; Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet; St. Francis of Our Lady of Lourdes; Sisters of Mary Morning Star)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEleven women's religious communities plus the Schoenstatt secular institute partner with the diocese to staff parishes, schools, healthcare, retreat ministries, and vocation discernment (Come & See retreats). Locations within the diocese include Marshall, Sleepy Eye, Willmar, New Ulm, and Ghent.
• Blackbaud NXT (donor-form / online giving platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationDonor-facing online giving platform powering the Diocesan Ministries Appeal, Catholic School Matching Grant Challenge, endowments, and restricted funds for the Diocese of New Ulm.
• Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic-policy voice of Minnesota's Catholic bishops. Bishop Zielinski partnered with MCC Executive Director Jason Adkins and other faith leaders (Transform Minnesota, Jewish Community Relations Council of MN and the Dakotas) to issue a January 2026 open letter calling for an "off-ramp" to the immigration enforcement crisis in Minnesota.
• Diocese of Duluth (Fr. Richard Kunst / Vatican collection)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Diocese of Duluth's curated "Vatican Unveiled" collection (curated by Fr. Richard Kunst) was hosted at the Mall of America Jan. 10–Feb. 1, 2026, as a co-promoted cultural event highlighting the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis's 175th anniversary; coverage was republished by the Diocese of New Ulm.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (also listed under consulting)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerActuarial and benefits consulting firm engaged by the diocese to advise on the CBERP pension plan underfunding response.
• Catholic Bishop Reporting System (CBAR) / Archdiocese of St. Paul and MinneapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReporting channel for bishop misconduct allegations. The Diocese of New Ulm publishes Archbishop Hebda's statement on CBAR (www.ReportBishopAbuse.org) and Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis guidance for reporting bishop abuse.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Crookston: Northwestern Minnesota Catholic diocese serving a sparsely populated agricultural region; comparable in scale, parish-network delivery model, and reliance on the Diocese-wide annual appeal.
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Duluth: Neighboring Minnesota Catholic diocese of comparable rural scale; the two dioceses already co-promote events (e.g., the Vatican Unveiled collection at Mall of America) and share vocational formation resources in the Upper Midwest.
• Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud: Another Minnesota Catholic diocese with similar rural-agricultural geography, K-12 Catholic school system, and diocesan-wide DMA fundraising model — direct operational comparable.
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester: Southern Minnesota Catholic diocese covering a similar mix of small towns and rural counties, with parallel Catholic Charities, Catholic schools, and seminarian pipeline programs.

Regional players

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls: Catholic diocese covering South Dakota with a similar rural-town footprint and a comparable Catholic school and Hispanic ministry portfolio; useful regional benchmark rather than direct competitor.
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo: Adjacent Catholic diocese covering western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota; operates a parallel parish-school-charities structure and shares USCCB safe-environment frameworks, but serves a different state jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National umbrella for diocesan Catholic Charities agencies, including the Diocese of New Ulm's Catholic Charities arm; useful benchmark for funding models, advocacy positioning, and social-services delivery scale.
• Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: Metropolitan archdiocese of Minnesota; same USCCB safe-environment, Catholic schools, and Catholic Charities programming, but far larger in headcount, budget, and geographic scope — functions as a resource/incumbent peer to New Ulm.

Others

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) – Minnesota Synod: Operates parallel synod structure, parish network, schools, and charitable programs across Minnesota, providing a useful adjacent benchmark for rural-Midwest religious-membership organization economics and demographics.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Minnesota Public Affairs): Operates a parish/stake-equivalent network across rural Minnesota with a centralized funding model and youth programming; comparable as a structurally similar (but not theologically aligned) religious-membership organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/newulmdiocese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diocese-of-new-ulm-mn-education-center

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Roman Catholic Diocese of New Ulm