Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross

What Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross does

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross is a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1868 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, by four women — Pauline LaPlante, Christine Rousseau, Pius Doyle, and Mary Van Lanen — responding to Father Edward Francis Daems's request to minister among immigrants on the Wisconsin peninsula. Officially recognized by the Diocese of Green Bay on March 14, 1881, and adopting its current name in 1956 (previously Sisters of St. Francis of Bay Settlement), the community operates from St. Francis Convent at 3110 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, with a secondary presence at the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wisconsin. The community delivers spiritual ministries including vowed religious life, vocation discernment, education, healthcare chaplaincy, pastoral care, and social justice advocacy through vowed Sisters, Lay Associates, and a small lay staff, serving women discerning religious vocation, lay people seeking Franciscan spirituality, donors and supporters, and people in need across Northeast Wisconsin.

The community does not sell products or services and is funded entirely by tax-deductible charitable donations and estate planning gifts as a 501(c)(3) corporation. For fiscal year 2023-2024 (September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024), audited by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, the community received and distributed $705,686 across general expenses ($304,487), retirement and area of greatest need ($396,639), and ministries for persons in need ($4,560). The go-to-market centers on vocation outreach for women considering religious life, an Associate program operating since 1984 (now 20+ named members), donor cultivation via a Development office, weekly e-spiritual reflections through Constant Contact, and advocacy coalitions such as the LCWR-Wisconsin Region anti-human trafficking initiative that reached all 755 Wisconsin parishes with a toolkit and route-targeted advertising.

Technically, the organization operates no software products. Its most notable infrastructure investment is a 696-panel solar array (416 installed in 2014, expanded by 280 in 2019) that supplies approximately 50% of St. Francis Convent's electrical needs and supports a public solar education walking path open May–October. The community's digital footprint consists of gbfranciscans.org, Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and YouTube channels, a vocation blog, and a printed newsletter issued five times per year. Governance rests with an elected Leadership Team — President Sister Rose Jochmann, First Vice President Sister Jane Riha, Second Vice President Sister Mary Kabat, Secretary Sister Lynne Marie Simonich — supported by CFO Greg Johanski, Communications Director Renae Bauer, Administrator Elisha Mumm, and Archivist Sister Agnes Fischer.

Name

Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross

Legal name

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF THE HOLY CROSS

Website

https://www.gbfranciscans.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross is a Catholic religious community founded in 1868 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, offering spiritual ministries, education, pastoral care, and social justice advocacy through vowed Sisters, Lay Associates, and donor-supported programs across Northeast Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Spiritual Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Religious community services
• Catholic spiritual ministry
• Faith-based education
• Social justice advocacy
• Charitable nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Green Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Gifts: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the community receives donations from supporters. Fiscal year 2023-2024 (Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2024) shows Total Received of $705,686 distributed across General Expenses ($304,487), Retirement Fund & Area of Greatest Need ($396,639), and Ministries for Persons in Need ($4,560). Donations accepted online via secure credit card processing and by mail.
2. Estate Planning Gifts: The community encourages supporters to include them in estate planning as part of their development strategy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross operate a Catholic religious congregation providing spiritual formation, religious education, healthcare chaplaincy, pastoral care, and social justice advocacy. Their ministries span vocation discernment for women considering religious life, a Lay Associate program for lay partners in Franciscan spirituality, parish religious education, retreat and prayer services at the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, and advocacy campaigns on human trafficking, debt relief, immigration reform, and environmental stewardship. The community operates from St. Francis Convent in Green Bay, Wisconsin and reaches communities across Northeast Wisconsin.

Product overview

Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross is a Catholic religious community based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, not a technology company. The organization does not offer commercial products or software services. Their ministry encompasses vowed religious life, vocation discernment support, education, healthcare chaplaincy, missionary work, prayer services, and justice and peace advocacy. The community operates programs including weekly reflections, blog posts on spirituality, solar energy initiatives, anti-human trafficking education, and associate membership programs. Their online presence consists of informational content about their faith-based mission rather than technology products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parish Religious Education Ministry Religious education instruction offered in Catholic parishes in Northeast Wisconsin. Sister Sharon Lasee provided religious education at Green Bay's Holy Cross Parish for nearly 30 years before retiring.
• Shrine of Our Lady of Champion Spiritual retreat and pilgrimage site in Champion (near Robinsonville), Wisconsin, where Marian apparitions to Adele Brise occurred in 1859. Bishop David Ricken declared the apparitions 'worthy of belief' on December 8, 2010. Houses a chapel and offers a place of prayer and spiritual retreat.
• Solar Energy Tour Self-guided educational walking tour of the convent's 696-panel solar array with informational signs explaining solar energy creation. Open May through October to visitors who want to learn about renewable energy.
• Vocation Discernment Program Program supporting Catholic women considering consecrated religious life, including vocation discernment resources, 'Be and Do Together' vocation blog content, becoming-a-Sister information, and Vocation Ministry support led by trained Spiritual Directors.
• Lay Associate Program Program established in 1984 through which women and men in single or married life, over age 20, join the Sisters in furthering the Franciscan spirit, prayer, and mission. Approximately 20+ named Associates participate, primarily from Northeastern Wisconsin.
• Prayer Request Service Online prayer request submission service allowing individuals to ask the Sisters to pray for specific intentions. Available via the community's website.
• Silence & Sunset Summer Prayer Events Summer evening prayer and quiet reflection events held at St. Francis Convent grounds from June through August, offering hospitality and contemplative experiences to visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Solar energy provides 50% of convent's electrical needs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Franciscans InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership in Franciscans International, which has an active presence at the United Nations. The Sisters participate with other Franciscans in concern for those in poverty, for Mother Earth, and for a just peace.
• NACAR (North American Conference of Associates and Religious)coreOthersAssociate program is part of NACAR network connecting Associates and Religious communities in North America. Also affiliated with Midwest Kindred Spirits regional group.
• Midwest Kindred SpiritsminorOthersRegional network of associate groups within NACAR, connecting Franciscan associates in the Midwest region.
• Wisconsin Catholic Parishes (Anti-Human Trafficking)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with 15 other congregations of women religious, the Sisters helped create an anti-human trafficking toolkit distributed to all 755 parishes in Wisconsin. Led LCWR-Wisconsin Region initiative including billboards and bus advertisements on human trafficking route between Chicago and Twin Cities.
• Interfaith and Civic GroupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sisters partner with Catholics as well as interfaith and civic groups in the promotion of justice and peace, including advocacy for immigration reform, poverty reduction, and environmental stewardship.
• Center for Defense InformationminorOthersResource partner for military spending redirect advocacy. CDI has conducted research on arms, military spending, and foreign policy since the 1970s.
• Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)minorOthersQuaker organization providing research on public policy related to alleviating poverty and redirecting military spending to meet social needs. The Sisters endorse FCNL programs.
• Jubilee USA NetworkminorOthersAdvocacy organization working for debt forgiveness with international lending institutions including IMF, World Bank, and regional banks. The Sisters support Jubilee 2000 Campaign for debt relief.
• U.S. Catholic Bishops (St. Francis Pledge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sisters have taken the St. Francis Pledge developed by U.S. Catholic Bishops to care for creation and the poor, committing to live more sustainably and advocate for climate change action.
• National Catholic Development ConferenceminorOthersThe Sisters' development office adheres to the guidelines of the NCDC, the professional association for Catholic charities, parishes, and religious organizations focused on fundraising and development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• School Sisters of St. Francis: Catholic women's Franciscan congregation headquartered in the Midwest (Pittsburgh/Milwaukee), sharing the same Franciscan charism, vow structure, and ministry model focused on education, spiritual formation, and outreach - directly comparable as a same-tradition women's religious community.
• Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi: Franciscan women's congregation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating ministries in education, elder care, and social services across the region - directly comparable same-charism peer with overlapping Northeast Wisconsin service area.
• Congregation of Holy Cross - Sisters of the Holy Cross: Catholic women's religious congregation with Holy Cross heritage, headquartered in Notre Dame, Indiana, operating education, healthcare, and pastoral ministries globally - directly comparable as a women's religious community with school, parish, and outreach ministries.
• Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Catholic women's religious congregation headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, focused on education, social justice, and pastoral ministry - directly comparable as a Midwest-based women's religious community with similar ministry mix and donor-dependent funding model.
• Sisters of Christian Charity: Catholic women's religious congregation with strong focus on education and spiritual ministries - directly comparable as a sister congregation engaged in K-12 education, parish ministry, and faith formation similar to the Holy Cross community's portfolio.

Regional players

• Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration: Franciscan women's religious community based in Mishicot, Wisconsin, sharing Franciscan spirituality and operating from a Wisconsin motherhouse with similar ministries including education, healthcare chaplaincy, and prayer-led outreach. Closest regional peer given geographic proximity.
• Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes: Catholic women's religious congregation based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, operating ministries in education, healthcare, and social services - comparable as a Wisconsin-based women's religious community with similar ministry mix and donor-supported revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas: Large Catholic women's religious congregation serving the U.S. with a comprehensive portfolio of ministries in healthcare, education, and social justice - comparable at scale as a women's religious community with similar ministry breadth and advocacy orientation.
• Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet: Large Catholic women's religious congregation with ministries across education, healthcare, and social services - comparable as a women's religious community with similar ministry mix and comparable governance through elected leadership.
• School Sisters of Notre Dame: International Catholic women's religious congregation dedicated to education, spiritual formation, and justice ministry - comparable as a teaching-focused women's religious community with global reach and similar donor-supported operational structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/gbfranciscans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SrStFrancisHolyCross
• Facebookfacebook.com/gbfranciscans
• Instagraminstagram.com/gbfranciscans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross