Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1840
- HeadquartersSaint Mary Of The Woods, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods does
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is a Catholic religious congregation of women founded in 1840 by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and headquartered on a single campus in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. The non-profit organization employs 101-250 people across a diversified ministry portfolio spanning education, healthcare, social services, spiritual ministries, and the arts, with a historical mission presence extending into Southeast Asia. Governance rests with a General Superior (currently Sister Dawn Tomaszewski) and a leadership council operating under canonical rather than corporate ownership structures.
The congregation's flagship operational asset is the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a working farm ministry that combines a 5-acre USDA certified organic garden, an alpaca herd established in 1998, beekeeping, and orchard management. Educational and experiential offerings include farm tours, structured farm internships, alpaca yoga, "Snackin' with the Alpacas," mushroom-growing workshops, and Earth Day Every Day programming. The center integrates organic agriculture with Catholic social teaching, anchored by the 2010 Providence Climate Agreement and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary-like core ministry of the congregation.
Revenue is generated through four streams: charitable donations and planned gifts (including adopt-an-alpaca and monthly giving), Farm Store and Terre Haute Farmers Market produce sales, venue rental for weddings and retreats, and farm internship programs. Distribution is regional, concentrated in the Wabash Valley, with no digital product and no disclosed pricing. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on Providence Associates, alumni networks, volunteers, website content, newsletters, and HOPE Magazine rather than paid acquisition channels.
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
- Legal name
- Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
- Website
- https://whiteviolet.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1840
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Nonprofit Ministry and Eco-Justice Agriculture
- NAICS
- Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)
- akta.pro industry
- Sustainable Agriculture & Food SystemsBusiness & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation OrganizationsCulinary Herb Farming (Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Mint, Parsley)Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Specialty & Industrial Crop Farming (Tobacco, Hops, Spices, Medicinal/Aromatic Plants)Asparagus, Artichoke & Specialty Vegetable Farming (Asparagus, Artichokes, Celery, Okra)Agriculture & Food Production/Crop Farming/Vegetable & Melon Farming (Leafy Greens, Root Crops, Cucurbits, Tomatoes)Farmstay Rooms (Working Farms/Ranches)
Keywords
Where Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Mary Of The Woods
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Planned Gifts: The organization relies heavily on charitable donations from supporters, including monthly giving, adopt-an-alpaca programs, honor/memorial gifts, and planned giving options.
- Farm Store and Produce Sales: Sales of organic produce, honey, maple syrup, coffee, raw milk cheese, pet treats, and other locally made products through the Farm Store and Terre Haute Farmers Market.
- Venue Rental: Rental of event spaces including weddings and retreats at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
- Farm Internship Program: Internship opportunities with hands-on learning in the local food system.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods operates the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a working farm ministry producing USDA certified organic vegetables, fruit, and herbs on a 5-acre garden, with an alpaca herd, Farm Store, agritourism tours, internships, and educational workshops. The organization also delivers spiritual ministries including retreats, pilgrimages, weddings, and venue rentals at its Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana motherhouse campus.
Product overview
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods operates the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice as its primary ministry offering. This working farm encompasses a USDA certified organic garden, alpaca farm, Farm Store, and various educational programs. The portfolio includes direct agricultural products (organic produce, alpaca fiber), retail operations (Farm Store), experiential programs (tours, internships, alpaca yoga), and community events (Lunch and Learn workshops, Farmers Market). These offerings are integrated under the eco-justice mission to teach, care for, and inspire stewardship of creation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- White Violet Center for Eco-Justice: Environmental justice ministry featuring organic farming, alpaca husbandry, farm store, nature trails, and educational workshops on sustainable agriculture
Products and services
- Farm Store On-site retail store selling USDA certified organic produce grown at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods along with locally made products including honey, maple syrup, coffee, raw milk cheese, and pet treats, serving local community members and visitors.
- Farm & Alpaca Tours Guided agritourism tours of the working farm including alpaca encounters, group tours, and farm experiences for visitors and groups.
- Farm Internships Hands-on learning program providing experience in the local food system through farm internships at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.
- Alpaca Yoga Yoga sessions held with alpacas at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, blending wellness and agritourism experiences.
- Snackin' with the Alpacas Educational program allowing participants to interact with alpacas at the White Violet Center while enjoying snacks.
- Lunch and Learn: Growing Mushrooms Educational workshop on growing mushrooms hosted at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.
- Venue Rental (Weddings and Events) Wedding venues and event spaces available for rental at the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods campus, including the Weddings at the Woods offering.
- Terre Haute Farmers Market Participation Sales booth at the Terre Haute Farmers Market held the first Saturday of every month until October, selling organic produce and locally made White Violet Center products.
- Alpaca Farm (Fiber and Manure Composting) Alpaca herd established in 1998, providing fiber for garments and contributing to organic gardens through manure composting, with adopt-an-alpaca donation program.
Companies that use Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit working farm and educational center in New York focused on sustainable agriculture, farmer training, and public programming. Comparable mission of combining organic farm operations with immersive educational and agritourism experiences.
- Abbey of Gethsemani: Trappist monastery in Kentucky operating a working farm and producing artisanal goods for sustenance and charitable outreach. Highly comparable as a contemplative religious community integrating monastic life with agricultural production.
- Hawthorne Valley Farm: Certified organic biodynamic farm in New York with an associated school and education programs. Comparable as a nonprofit agricultural operation offering farm products, internships, and learning opportunities to the community.
- Rodale Institute: Nonprofit dedicated to organic agriculture research, education, and farmer training in Pennsylvania. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit advancing regenerative and organic farming practices through experiential learning.
- Genesis Farm: Spiritual and educational center in New Jersey with a community-supported organic garden and Earth literacy programs. Comparable as a faith/values-rooted nonprofit integrating organic agriculture with formation and retreat experiences.
- New Melleray Abbey: Trappist monastery in Iowa producing organic products and hosting retreats and visitors on its rural grounds. Comparable as a contemplative religious order with working farm, retail products, and venue programming.
Others
- Catholic Worker Movement farms: Network of Catholic Worker houses and farms combining hospitality, sustainable agriculture, and social justice. Comparable in blending Catholic social teaching with working farm operations and volunteer engagement.
- Land Trust Alliance member farms: Network of nonprofit land trusts that operate community farms and conservation-focused agriculture. Thematically comparable as mission-driven organizations stewarding farmland for sustainable production and education.
Emerging players
- Polyface Farm: Family-run regenerative farm in Virginia known for farm tours, internships, and on-farm education. Comparable educational agritourism programming, though privately held rather than a nonprofit ministry.
Regional players
- Terre Haute Farmers Market cooperative vendors: Local vendor network in the same Indiana farmers market where White Violet Center sells its produce. Comparable as regional producers selling organic and locally made goods through the same farmers market channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods social profiles
Digital presenceSisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
What does Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods do?
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods operates the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a working farm ministry producing USDA certified organic vegetables, fruit, and herbs on a 5-acre garden, with an alpaca herd, Farm Store, agritourism tours, internships, and educational workshops. The organization also delivers spiritual ministries including retreats, pilgrimages, weddings, and venue rentals at its Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana motherhouse campus.
Is Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods a public or private company?
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods founded?
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods was founded in 1840. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods based?
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is headquartered in Saint Mary Of The Woods, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Planned Gifts are the primary driver. The others are farm Store and Produce Sales, venue Rental and farm Internship Program.
Who are Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, Abbey of Gethsemani, Hawthorne Valley Farm, Rodale Institute, Genesis Farm and New Melleray Abbey. Others are Catholic Worker Movement farms and Land Trust Alliance member farms. Polyface Farm is listed as an emerging player. Terre Haute Farmers Market cooperative vendors is listed as a regional player.
Does Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
What industry is Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in?
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods's product category is Religious Nonprofit Ministry and Eco-Justice Agriculture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAI, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, with a secondary code of AFAGAGAD, Culinary Herb Farming (Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Mint, Parsley). Its NAICS code is 1114 and its SIC code is 100.