Franciscan Life Process Center

What Franciscan Life Process Center does

The Franciscan Life Process Center is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and affiliated with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, operating two campuses in Michigan: a 230-acre rural farm campus in Lowell and an urban campus on the third floor of the Basilica Center in Grand Rapids (opened September 2010). The Center delivers a portfolio of human-services programs including board-certified music therapy (individual and group sessions, lessons for individuals with special needs, and an AMTA-aligned internship program of 1,040 hours over six months), licensed counseling for individuals, couples, families, and groups, art workshops and open studio sessions, a retreat and rental facility, environmental education for 5th grade students, summer programs for children (True Adventure Experiences), private music lessons, and the annual Franciscan Rhythms Trail Run & Walk fundraiser.

The business model combines fee-for-service clinical revenue (counseling at $130/hour with $155 intake sessions; art workshops at $285-$900 depending on duration; music therapy typically not insurance-reimbursed but HSA-eligible), contracted B2B services with 40+ schools, nursing homes, hospice organizations, and assisted living facilities across seven West Michigan counties (Kent, Ottawa, Allegan, Barry, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon), facility rentals for retreats and events, and charitable donations including the ongoing ReVITALize capital campaign launched in 2024. Customer segments span individuals with special needs (autism, developmental disabilities), children/adolescents/adults seeking counseling, seniors in hospice and assisted living, schools, church groups, artists, and volunteers. Marketing relies on the Center's website and events calendar, Constant Contact email newsletter, Facebook/YouTube/Instagram presence, a podcast on Spotify/Anchor, the annual Trail Run and Beggar Bell Bash fundraiser, and referral networks through West Michigan schools, healthcare providers, parishes, and existing clients.

The Center recently underwent a major leadership transition: foundress and longtime Executive Director Sister Colleen Ann Nagle, FSE passed away on June 14, 2025, and Sister Gabriella Pettirossi, FSE, MA, LMFT was appointed Executive Director effective May 30, 2025 following a year-long transition, approved by the General Council of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. The organization is governed by its parent religious community rather than external investors and does not have subsidiaries, public funding rounds, or M&A activity; the ReVITALize campaign is its most material capital initiative.

Name

Franciscan Life Process Center

Legal name

Franciscan Life Center Network, Inc.

Website

https://lifeprocesscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Franciscan Life Process Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 and affiliated with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, operating two Michigan campuses that deliver board-certified music therapy, licensed counseling, art workshops, retreats, and environmental education to individuals, schools, and healthcare facilities across West Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Wellness and Therapeutic Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Music therapy services
• Faith-based counseling
• Art education programs
• Environmental education
• Retreat center rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Lowell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Therapy and Counseling Services: Fee-for-service counseling sessions at $130 per hour for individual therapy, with $155 for 90-minute intake sessions. Insurance may be used depending on deductible and co-pay arrangements.
2. Art Workshops and Classes: Multi-day art workshops with tuition fees ranging from $285 to $900 depending on duration and instructor. Franciscan Artists weekly open studio at $15 per session. Guardian Gallery exhibitions.
3. Music Therapy Services: Individual and group music therapy sessions, music lessons for those with special needs, and internship program. Services contracted with schools, care facilities, and hospice organizations. Typically not covered by insurance but Health Savings accounts may be used.
4. Retreat Center and Facility Rentals: Rental income from multi-purpose rooms, retreat center accommodations, and meeting spaces. Kitchen and dining room use fees. Outdoor amenities available upon request. 20% deposit required for reservations.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from supporters, grant funding, and annual fundraising events including Beggar Bell Bash. Capital campaign (ReVITALize) for building renovations. ReVITALize Campaign for campus updates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Franciscan Life Process Center is a faith-based nonprofit that delivers Music Therapy, Counseling, Art Program, Land Experiences, and Retreat Center & Rental Facilities services from two Michigan campuses (Lowell and Grand Rapids) and on-site at contracted partner facilities across West Michigan. Its services are integrated under Franciscan spirituality, serving individuals, families, schools, healthcare facilities, and community groups.

Product overview

The Franciscan Life Process Center is a faith-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of therapeutic and educational services through multiple programs. The core offerings include Music Therapy (board-certified services for individuals with special needs, autism, dementia, and hospice care), Counseling Services (individual, couples, family, and group therapy), Art Program (workshops, galleries, and open studio sessions), and Land Experiences (230-acre farm with trails, volunteer programs, and environmental education). Supporting services include a Retreat Center with rental facilities, summer programming for children (True Adventure Experiences), Private Music Lessons, and the annual Franciscan Rhythms Trail Run & Walk fundraiser. The Center operates two campuses in Lowell and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Therapy Board-certified music therapy services using evidence-based research to assist development in cognition, social, physical, and communication domains. Services include individual and group therapy, music lessons for those with special needs, consultation services for educational facilities and homes for the elderly, and a music therapy internship program.
• Counseling Services Mental health counseling services for individuals, couples, families, and groups including children, adolescents, and adults. Services include individual counseling, couples counseling, family counseling, group counseling, school population services, and consultation services.
• Art Program Visual arts program offering workshops, retreats, and sessions with renowned artists teaching participants of all ages and skill levels. Features the Guardian Gallery displaying artwork from local artists, Franciscan Artists open studio sessions, and art workshops taught by experienced artists in various media.
• Land Experiences Work, recreational, and educational experiences on a 230-acre farm campus including trails, disc golf, Rosary Walk, gardens, working farm with livestock, and prairie restoration. Programs include volunteer workdays, Environmental Education Program for 5th grade students, Summer Experiences for children ages 8-12, and Eagle Scout projects.
• Retreat Center & Rental Facilities Event spaces and meeting rooms for professional events, conferences, team-building retreats, and private events including retirement parties and baby showers. Accommodations include queen bed rooms and rooms with twin beds, full kitchen facilities, and access to outdoor amenities.
• True Adventure Experiences Technology-free weeklong summer experiences for children designed to develop life skills, enhance critical thinking, and foster creative artistic exploration. Programs include Wild West, In the Footsteps of St Francis, and Crafty Creations themes.
• Private Music Lessons Private music instruction on piano, guitar, drums, and brass instruments offered to students of all ages and skill levels.
• Environmental Education Program Outdoor classroom adventure program for 5th grade students with three-week visits during fall, winter, and spring seasons. Learning includes hiking, animal care, art creation, and outdoor journaling, led by Sister Mary Paul Moller, FSE.
• Franciscan Rhythms Trail Run & Walk Annual 5K trail run and walk event benefiting the music therapy program and land restoration efforts. The all-ages event takes place at the Lowell campus through woodland, pine forest, and restored prairie.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 40 facilities across West Michigan with music therapy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lincoln Developmental CentercoreOthersMusic therapy services provided for children with developmental needs at this facility in West Michigan.
• Corewell Health HospicecoreOthersMusic therapy services for hospice patients across multiple counties including Allegan, Barry, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, and Ottawa.
• Lowell Public SchoolscoreOthersSchool-based music therapy services for students in the Lowell school district.
• Family Hope FoundationminorOthersProvides scholarship assistance up to $1000 for families needing financial support for music therapy services at FLPC. Applications accepted twice yearly.
• Boy Scouts of AmericaminorOthersScouts complete Eagle Scout projects at the center including benches, picnic tables, flower beds, disc golf course, fire pit, and entrance signs. 18 projects completed 2007-2021.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Hospice of Michigan: Michigan's largest nonprofit hospice provider. Comparable as a hospice partner ecosystem where FLPC delivers contracted music therapy services, and as an adjacent end-of-life care provider serving overlapping populations.

Direct peers

• Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services: Grand Rapids-based Christian mental health system providing outpatient counseling, therapy and behavioral health services across West Michigan. Most directly comparable to FLPC's licensed counseling program and faith-integrated mental health approach, with overlapping regional catchment.
• Weber Center (Adrian Dominican Sisters): Michigan-based Catholic retreat and conference center offering spiritual programs, overnight accommodations and meeting facilities. Closely comparable to FLPC's Retreat Center & Rental Facilities service line and faith-based mission orientation.
• St. Francis Retreat Center: Faith-based retreat house offering preached, directed and private retreats with accommodations and meeting space. Comparable to FLPC's retreat center operations and faith-integrated programming model.

Broad incumbents

• Bethany Christian Services: Grand Rapids-headquartered, faith-rooted nonprofit providing counseling, foster care and family services across multiple states. Comparable as a West Michigan faith-based human services organization with overlapping counseling and family services.
• Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital: Grand Rapids-based rehabilitation hospital system providing therapeutic services including music therapy across inpatient and outpatient settings. Comparable to FLPC's clinical/music therapy work with special needs populations and West Michigan footprint.
• Samaritas: Michigan human services nonprofit offering counseling, refugee support, family services and senior living programs. Comparable to FLPC as a regional faith-affiliated social services organization with overlapping counseling and senior-serving programs.
• Catholic Charities of Michigan: Statewide Catholic social services network offering counseling, family services and community programs. Comparable to FLPC as a faith-based nonprofit delivering counseling and outreach across Michigan, though broader in scope and not specialized in music therapy or retreats.

Emerging players

• Capper Foundation: Nonprofit providing music therapy and adaptive music lessons primarily to children with special needs. Comparable to FLPC's Music Therapy program in mission (music therapy for individuals with developmental needs) and target population, though smaller geographic footprint.
• Ox-Bow School of Art: Michigan-based artist residency and art school offering workshops and classes. Comparable to FLPC's Art Program service line (multi-day workshops with guest artists, open studio sessions) with a similar instructional art workshop model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVq0VSJo9sshEAF5icqXk_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/FranciscanCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/franciscanlifeprocesscenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franciscan-life-process-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Franciscan Life Process Center