Southwestern Association Of Episcopal Schools

What Southwestern Association Of Episcopal Schools does

Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES) is a regional nonprofit association headquartered in Canyon, Texas, founded in 1957 to serve as both a membership association and the only Episcopal accrediting agency for schools in the Southwest United States. SAES supports 80+ member schools across 10 Episcopal dioceses spanning Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Arkansas. The organization provides accreditation services, professional development programs, consultation services, and networking resources to Episcopal day schools, early learning centers, and parish schools, working in partnership with diocesan bishops and school commissions on canonical and Episcopal identity matters.

SAES generates revenue through multiple streams: recurring membership dues from member schools, paid event registrations (Leadership Symposium, Equip Chaplains and Rectors, New Heads University, Trustee Education Series, Parent Series), à la carte webinar purchases ($199/school), and customized consultation engagements covering Episcopal identity, strategic planning, governance, enrollment, and safety. Pricing across event programs ranges from $250-$1,050 per participant or school depending on program and member status. The product portfolio is anchored by a distinctive accreditation methodology that evaluates Episcopal identity alongside standard independent school criteria, supplemented by a webinar library, document library, and member-only discussion boards for Heads of School, Chaplains, and Business Managers.

The association operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees led by Executive Director Rob Devlin, Director of Accreditation Dr. Chris Carter, and Director of Professional Learning Mary Katherine Duffy, governed by a Board of Directors. SAES holds ICAISA recognition for accreditation quality and maintains a Solution Partner program with seven education-sector sponsors (Education Group, Meter, Indy School Consultancy, Flynn O'Hara Uniforms, FPC Architecture, BC CPA, Church Pension Group). Technology infrastructure is entirely third-party, with no proprietary platforms—operations rely on FACTS for website services, Zoom for webinars, Constant Contact for newsletters, and Google Calendar for events.

Name

Southwestern Association Of Episcopal Schools

Legal name

Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools

Website

https://swaes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAES is a regional nonprofit association and the only Episcopal accrediting agency serving 80+ member schools across 10 dioceses in the Southwest US, offering accreditation, professional development programs, consultation services, and community resources to Episcopal schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

K–12/School & District Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized/Single-Purpose Accreditors (e.g., seminaries, arts conservatories) (EDADACAD), Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

Keywords

• School accreditation services
• Episcopal education association
• Professional development programs
• School consultation services
• Educational membership association

Headquarters

HQ city

Canyon Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Schools pay membership fees to join SAES and gain access to accreditation, professional development resources, webinars, document libraries, and member-only content.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from in-person and virtual events including Equip Chaplains and Rectors ($250-325/person), Leadership Symposium, and New Heads University ($625-975 for members).
3. Trustee Education Series: Virtual four-session series for board members at $475/school for members and $525/school for non-members.
4. Parent Series Registration: Six-webinar series for parent communities at $725/school for members and $825/school for non-members.
5. Webinar Sales: On-demand webinars available for purchase at $199/school for member schools. Some webinars available free on-demand.
6. Consultation Services: Customized consultation services for schools seeking support with Episcopal identity, strategic planning, curriculum, marketing, enrollment, and safety assessments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAES is a regional membership association and accrediting agency serving Episcopal schools across the Southwestern United States. It delivers accreditation services, cohort-based leadership and trustee professional development programs, on-demand webinars, consultation services for school leadership challenges, and member-only resources spanning 10 Episcopal dioceses and 80+ member schools.

Product overview

SAES (Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools) is an association serving Episcopal schools across the Southwest, offering a portfolio of services organized around accreditation, professional development, and member resources. The core offerings include SAES Accreditation Services (a distinctive accreditation methodology for Episcopal schools), the Webinar Library and Document Library (professional development resources), Consultation Services (hands-on expertise for school leadership challenges), and event programs (Leadership Symposium, New Heads University, Trustee Education Series, Equip Chaplains and Rectors, Parent Series). Member-exclusive resources include discussion boards for Business Managers, Chaplains, and Heads of School, plus the SAES Newsletter and School Directory. The association leverages third-party platforms including Zoom for webinars, Constant Contact for email newsletters, and Google Calendar for event scheduling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SAES Accreditation Services Distinctive accreditation methodology for Episcopal schools that balances rigorous accountability with each school's unique context. Includes preliminary accreditation, self-study, and on-site visits, with Standards Committee oversight. Recognized by ICAISA.
• Consultation Services Hands-on expertise delivered to Episcopal schools seeking solutions to leadership challenges. Areas include Episcopal identity assessment, strategic planning, board development, curriculum assessment, marketing strategies, safety plan evaluation, and succession planning.
• Webinar Library Professional development platform of on-demand webinar recordings for member school professionals, covering governance, marketing, advancement, mental health, and Episcopal identity. On-demand webinars sold at $199 per school, with select free offerings.
• Leadership Symposium Annual day-long leadership conference for Episcopal school heads, senior administrators, and aspiring leaders featuring keynote speakers and fellowship opportunities.
• New Heads University One-year cohort program for leaders new to their position or community, covering leadership, governance, finances, Episcopal identity, church-school relationships, enrollment management, marketing, legal issues, and self-care. Includes in-person meetings and Zoom calls across multiple locations.
• Trustee Education Series Virtual four-meeting educational series for board members providing in-depth understanding of board roles and governance best practices for Episcopal schools. Covers governance, fiduciary duties, development, and head evaluation.
• Equip Chaplains and Rectors Conference for chaplains and rectors covering worship, religious education, service, community life, school governance, and parish-school dynamics. Includes worship sessions, pastoral care discussions, and religious studies tracks.
• Parent Series Virtual six-webinar program for independent school parents and caregivers covering executive function, positive psychology, screen balance, deepfakes, temperament, and motivation. Available for SAES member schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• St. Stephen's Episcopal School (Austin) ranked 2nd in Texas Math League Competition for eighth consecutive year

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Education GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Solution Partner for Leadership Symposium 2025. Provides marketing and promotional support for SAES events. Contact: Katherine Stuart at [email protected]. Tagline: 'Stronger Leaders. Better Schools. Brighter Futures'
• MeterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Solution Partner for Leadership Symposium 2025. Provides intuitive software solutions for schools. Contact: Dan Tehrani at [email protected]. Tagline: 'Intuitive Software'
• Indy School ConsultancyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Solution Partner for Leadership Symposium 2025. Empowers schools and candidates. Contact: Tim Viands at [email protected]
• Flynn O'Hara UniformsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Solution Partner for Leadership Symposium 2025. Provides quality uniform products. Contact: Sandra Riojas at [email protected]. Tagline: 'Quality products and a fair price'
• FPC ArchitectureminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Solution Partner for Leadership Symposium 2025. Architecture firm crafting meaningful spaces for schools. Contact: Adam Reed at [email protected]. Tagline: 'Crafting meaningful architecture'
• BC CPAminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Solution Partner for Leadership Symposium 2025. Provides dedicated financial consulting services for schools. Contact: Mike DeFalco at [email protected]
• Church Pension GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Solution Partner for Leadership Symposium 2025. Provides retirement and insurance products for church-related institutions. Contact: Clayton Crawley at [email protected]. Tagline: 'Clear Commitment. Clear Focus. Clear Vision.'
• International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAES is a member of ICAISA and has voluntarily submitted to rigorous review of its accreditation program, receiving commendation for quality
• Episcopal Dioceses (10 dioceses)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAES works with bishops and school commissions of 10 Episcopal dioceses to foster relationships between schools and the Church and ensure canonical requirements are met

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southwestern-association-of-episcopal-schools-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Southwestern Association Of Episcopal Schools