First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte

What First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte does

First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte is a PC(USA)-affiliated, non-profit urban congregation founded in 1821 and headquartered at 200 W. Trade Street in Uptown Charlotte, NC. It operates a comprehensive ministry platform centered on two weekly Sunday worship services — a contemplative service at 9 a.m. in the Chapel and a traditional service at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary — supported by a 60-plus-year television broadcast partnership with WAXN-Channel 64, livestream distribution via BoxCast, YouTube sermon archives, and the "Faith Unfiltered" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The church serves approximately 2,000 members across age-segmented formation programs (Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Adult Formation) and operational sub-units including the Child Development Center, Weekday School, Music Ministry, Stephen Ministry, Presbyterian Women, and the Presby Psych Counseling Center.

The organization runs a unified operational stack built on Realm (membership management, online giving, event registration), SignUpGenius (volunteer scheduling), Calendly (spiritual direction appointments), text-to-give via SMS, and standard productivity tooling. Its technology surface is conventional for a mid-to-large mainline church: no proprietary AI, data, or platform IP is disclosed; the organization is a consumer of best-of-breed SaaS rather than a builder of technology. Strategic differentiation comes from accumulated community infrastructure — a six-area Advocacy Ministry, a 39-year on-site food pantry, sustained partnerships with Westerly Hills Academy (since 2000), Roof Above, Crisis Assistance Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, and Nourish Up — rather than from technology.

FPC's revenue model is a non-profit hybrid: voluntary tithes and offerings from members (teaching a 10% tithe standard) form the core, collected in-person and through Realm/text-to-give; the on-site Presby Psych Counseling Center generates professional-services revenue through insurance billing (Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Medicare, United Healthcare) and sliding-scale/pro bono fees; the Child Development Center and Weekday School generate tuition revenue; and nominal program fees (e.g., $25 Grands Camp) supplement program-specific costs. The church is governed by an elected session of elders within PC(USA) polity, has no external investors, and is currently in senior-pastor transition with a Transitional Pastor leading while a Pastor Nominating Committee searches for the next senior pastor.

Name

First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte

Legal name

First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte

Website

https://firstpres-charlotte.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1821

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte is a PC(USA) non-profit congregation founded in 1821 in Uptown Charlotte, serving approximately 2,000 members through weekly worship, formation programs, preschools, an on-site counseling center, and community outreach partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Religious/Faith-Based Cable Networks (MPABAFAK)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Community outreach ministry
• Christian preschool education
• Pastoral counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: The primary revenue stream is voluntary tithes and offerings from congregation members. The church teaches a standard of 10% giving (tithe) from income, though acknowledging that some give more or less based on circumstances. Gifts are collected weekly during worship services and through various digital channels.
2. Program Registration Fees: Revenue generated from program registrations such as Vacation Bible School ($0 per child, free for church families), Grands Camp ($25 per family), and other educational and formation programs.
3. Online Giving: Digital giving through the Realm platform including one-time gifts and scheduled recurring donations. Text-to-give option available via SMS to 73256.
4. Counseling Center Fees: Revenue from professional mental health counseling services provided by Presby Psych therapists in the on-site Counseling Center. Services include insurance billing and sliding scale fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte is a PC(USA) congregation providing weekly Christian worship services (Traditional at 11 a.m. and Contemplative at 9 a.m.), multi-generational faith formation programs (children, youth, young adults, adults), music ministry ensembles, pastoral care and Stephen Ministry, on-site mental health counseling through the Presby Psych Counseling Center, two preschools (Child Development Center and Weekday School), and extensive community outreach and advocacy across housing, food insecurity, education equity, racial justice, climate, and gun violence prevention. The church distributes worship through in-person services, WAXN-Channel 64 TV broadcast, online livestream, sermon archive, and a podcast, while operating ministries such as Vacation Bible School, Grands Camp, Presbyterian Women, and FPC Travels educational trips.

Product overview

First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte is a PC(USA) congregation offering a comprehensive suite of worship, formation, care, and community service programs. The church operates a unified ministry model centered on Sunday worship services (Contemplative and Traditional) with digital extensions including sermon archives and podcasts. Formation programming spans all ages from nursery through adults, including Children's Ministry with VBS, Youth Ministry with confirmation and mission trips, and Adult Formation with Bible studies. The Music Ministry offers ensembles for all ages from Carol Choir to Sanctuary Choir. Additional offerings include an on-site Counseling Center operated by Presby Psych, FPC Preschools (Child Development Center and Weekday School), and extensive outreach through Advocacy Ministry (housing, racial justice, climate, education) and Local Outreach (food pantries, tutoring, volunteer programs). The church also provides Stephen Ministry for confidential peer support, Presbyterian Women circles, and FPC Travels for experiential learning trips.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services including Contemplative Worship (9 a.m., Chapel, with communion, Scripture, sermon, and extended silence) and Traditional Worship (11 a.m., Sanctuary, with prayer, hymns, scripture, and sermon). Available in-person, via livestream, and broadcast on WAXN-Channel 64.
• Presby Psych Counseling Center On-site mental health counseling center operated in partnership with Presby Psych, providing individual, couples, and family therapy with trauma-informed and LGBTQ+ sensitive care. Accepts Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Medicare, and United Healthcare; offers sliding scale fees and pro bono services for qualifying individuals.
• FPC Preschools (Child Development Center and Weekday School)
• Children's Ministry
• Youth Ministry
• Music Ministry
• Stephen Ministry
• Advocacy Ministry
• Local Outreach Programs
• Life Events Services
• Faith Unfiltered Podcast
• Sermon Archive
• FPC Travels Experiential learning trips and pilgrimages for congregation members, including the 2027 Reformation Trip to Switzerland, Germany, and France exploring Protestant Reformation sites, plus music tours (England 2026, NYC 2026) and Montreat conferences.
• Presbyterian Women
• Online Giving via Realm

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 600 sandwiches per month to homeless neighbors through Operation Sandwich
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Westerly Hills AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Longstanding partnership since 2000 with this under-resourced school in zip code 28208. FPC supports Fall Festival, Winterfest, Mobile Food Pantry, Eagle Bucks School Store, and provides volunteer tutors through Augustine Literacy Project and Heart Math Tutoring programs.
• Presby PsychcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresby Psych provides licensed therapists practicing in FPC's on-site Counseling Center. The partnership addresses mental health as a community priority identified through the Opening Doors Capital Campaign. Presby Psych provides inclusive, affordable mental health services including sliding scale fees and pro bono care for qualifying individuals.
• Crisis Assistance Ministry (CAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPC volunteers support CAM's FreeStore through monthly Second Saturday Service events. CAM works to prevent homelessness among Charlotte's most vulnerable population. Church members volunteer to stock shelves, receive deliveries, and assist clients with grocery shopping.
• Roof Above (formerly Urban Ministry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPC is a founding church of the Room in the Inn program, providing overnight lodging for 10 unsheltered guests Monday and Tuesday evenings December through March. FPC also supports Operation Sandwich, producing up to 600 sandwiches monthly for the Roof Above College Street Day Center.
• Habitat for Humanity CharlotteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual fall home-building partnership. FPC provides volunteer labor, snacks, and family support for homeowners working toward homeownership. Annual builds beginning September.
• Nourish UpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPC houses and operates a Nourish Up food pantry in the Poplar Street building basement. Volunteers stock shelves, receive deliveries, assist clients, and manage a Home Delivery program for food-insecure families in the 28208 neighborhood.
• Augustine Literacy ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPC volunteers provide tutoring to elementary students at Westerly Hills Academy through this literacy intervention program.
• Heart Math TutoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPC volunteers provide math tutoring support to elementary students through this community partnership program.
• WAXN-TV (Channel 64)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal TV station broadcasting FPC's 11 a.m. Sunday worship service live and rebroadcast on Saturdays. This partnership has provided television ministry for over 60 years, extending reach beyond those able to attend in person.
• Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)coreOthersFPC is a member of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., the largest Presbyterian denomination in the US. The church is part of the Reformed tradition and participates in presbytery activities and denominational mission.
• Covenant Network of PresbyteriansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPC is a member of the Covenant Network, which seeks equity for LGBTQIA+ people in church and society through invitation, education, and equipping for advocacy and activism.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago: A large PC(USA) congregation located in downtown Chicago, comparable to FPC Charlotte as an urban flagship Presbyterian church with comprehensive programming, broadcast ministries, music programs, and extensive community outreach. Operates a similar ministry model blending traditional worship, formation, and social services in a major downtown setting.
• First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta: A large PC(USA) congregation in a major Southeastern downtown (Midtown Atlanta), directly comparable to FPC Charlotte as an urban Presbyterian flagship with music programs, formation, outreach, and denominational affiliation in the same regional market.
• Highland Park Presbyterian Church: A large historic PC(USA) congregation in Dallas with deep formation programming, music, and outreach operations in a major urban market, comparable to FPC Charlotte in denomination, programming breadth, and urban flagship positioning.
• First Baptist Church Charlotte: A large historic Baptist congregation in uptown Charlotte offering worship, formation, music, and community programs, comparable to FPC Charlotte in scale, urban Charlotte positioning, and traditional-worship style.
• Myers Park Baptist Church: One of Charlotte's largest historic downtown-affiliated Baptist congregations, comparable to FPC Charlotte as a large, established Charlotte congregation offering comprehensive programming across all ages, music ministries, and community outreach. Direct geographic and denominational neighbor competing for similar Charlotte members.
• Westminster Presbyterian Church Charlotte: A Charlotte-based PC(USA) congregation offering worship, music, formation, and outreach, directly comparable to FPC Charlotte as a same-denomination, same-city Presbyterian peer competing for members and engagement within the Charlotte metro.
• Peachtree Presbyterian Church: A large PC(USA) congregation in Atlanta comparable to FPC Charlotte in denomination, programming breadth, music ministry strength, and family formation offerings in a major Southeastern urban market.
• Forest Hill Church Charlotte: A large non-denominational Charlotte congregation offering comprehensive programming for all ages with local outreach, comparable to FPC Charlotte as a direct Charlotte competitor for families and traditional-worship attendees in the same regional market.
• Christ Episcopal Church Charlotte: A large historic mainline Episcopal congregation in Charlotte offering traditional worship, music, formation, and outreach, comparable to FPC as a downtown-affiliated faith community with similar reach, programming breadth, and traditional liturgical style.

Regional players

• Saint Luke's Episcopal Church Charlotte: A historic mainline Episcopal congregation in Charlotte offering traditional worship and formation, comparable to FPC Charlotte as a same-city mainline traditional congregation; competes for similar member demographics in the Charlotte market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@firstprescharlotte
• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstPresbyterianChurchofCharlotte
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstprescharlotte
• Xx.com/fpccharlotte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-presbyterian-daycare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries4 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 First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte