The Center for Process Studies

Academic Research and Education in Philosophy and Theologyctr4process.org

The Center for Process Studies is a US-based nonprofit think-and-action tank that conducts interdisciplinary research, education, and publishing in process philosophy, serving scholars, clergy, spiritual practitioners, and adult learners worldwide through journals, conferences, courses, and community cohorts.

Company typePrivate
Founded1973
HeadquartersSalem, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What The Center for Process Studies does

The Center for Process Studies (CPS) is a US-based nonprofit think-and-action tank (501(c)(3), EIN 88-3398956) headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that conducts interdisciplinary research and education rooted in the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. Founded with co-founder John B. Cobb Jr. and active since at least 1973, CPS maintains its flagship scholarly journal, Process Studies (now in Volume 55), alongside the Journal of Ecological Civilization Studies and a Process Studies Supplement, a digital library and archives, and a podcast series (Conversations in Process). Its product surface spans a certificate program, the China Project, Korea Project, Cobb Institute affiliation, Process & Science Network, Process & Faith, Mind-at-Large, Living Earth Co-Creative, community cohorts (Eco-Gardening, Music in Process, Process Mindfulness, SPARKS), and recurring international Whitehead conferences, with the 14th edition scheduled for July 17-20, 2026 in Zhuhai, China.

The organization's go-to-market is event- and content-driven: it operates a dedicated course portal (portal.ctr4process.org) for self-serve enrollment in courses such as 'Philosophers Speak of God' (beginning June 25, 2026), charges registration for conferences, and distributes books through referrals to Amazon and Bookshop.org. Marketing channels include a blog, monthly newsletter, podcast, and active social presence on Facebook (including a discussion group), Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube. CPS serves scholars, educators, graduate students, clergy, spiritual practitioners, and adult learners engaged in process philosophy, theology, ecological civilization, and interdisciplinary inquiry, and it partners with Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University, the International Process Network, the Cobb Institute, Linacre College Oxford, and the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love to extend its reach.

Revenue is generated primarily through tax-deductible individual donations accepted via Stripe (including planned legacy giving through the John Cobb Legacy Fund), educational program and conference fees, and book affiliate referrals. Financial figures, headcount, and funding rounds are not publicly disclosed; the named staff footprint in the data is limited, consistent with a small scholarly nonprofit. Core technology is intellectual rather than software-based, with proprietary frameworks centered on the Whiteheadian process-relational worldview, and there is no evidence of a software platform, mobile app, or AI/ML capability.

The Center for Process Studies firmographics

Firmographics

Name: The Center for Process Studies
Legal name: The Center for Process Studies
Website: https://ctr4process.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1973
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: The Center for Process Studies is a US-based nonprofit think-and-action tank that conducts interdisciplinary research, education, and publishing in process philosophy, serving scholars, clergy, spiritual practitioners, and adult learners worldwide through journals, conferences, courses, and community cohorts.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

The Center for Process Studies industry classification

Industry

Product category: Academic Research and Education in Philosophy and Theology
NAICS: Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
akta.pro primary industry: Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing (EDAGAFAL), Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing (MPAJABAK), Education, Research & Academic Congresses (THAHAJAD)

Keywords

Process philosophy research
Theological education programs
Scholarly journal publishing
Academic conference hosting
Nonprofit educational programs

Where The Center for Process Studies is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Salem
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

The Center for Process Studies business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a US-based nonprofit (EIN 88-3398956), CPS relies on donor generosity. The organization accepts tax-deductible donations via Stripe and offers planned legacy giving through the John Cobb Legacy Fund.
Educational Programs: Revenue generated from certificate programs and online courses such as 'Philosophers Speak of God' beginning June 25, 2026. Courses are delivered through a dedicated course portal.
Conference Registration: Fees collected for attending international conferences including the 14th International Whitehead Conference (July 17-20, 2026) and Mind-at-Large: A New Dawn conference.
Book Sales and Publications: The organization features and promotes books related to process philosophy and theology through the New Books section, linking to external retailers like Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Pay-as-you-go	Donation-based support for nonprofit operations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

The Center for Process Studies product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The Center for Process Studies is a nonprofit think-and-action tank that conducts interdisciplinary research and education rooted in Alfred North Whitehead's process philosophy and process theology. It sells and delivers educational programs and content, including a Certificate Program, online courses, community cohorts, regional initiatives (China Project, Korea Project), thematic programs (Process & Faith, Process & Science Network, Mind-at-Large), scholarly journals (Process Studies, Journal of Ecological Civilization Studies), a podcast (Conversations in Process), a digital library, and international conferences (e.g., 14th International Whitehead Conference).

Product overview

The Center for Process Studies is a nonprofit think-and-action tank that offers interdisciplinary research and educational programs focused on process philosophy. Its offerings include certificate programs, regional projects (China Project, Korea Project), community cohorts (Eco-Gardening, Music in Process, Process Mindfulness, SPARKS), specialized programs (Mind-at-Large, Process & Science Network, Process & Faith), scholarly publications (Process Studies journal, Journal of Ecological Civilization Studies), a podcast (Conversations in Process), conferences, and online courses. The organization promotes Alfred North Whitehead's philosophy for human and planetary flourishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Certificate Program

Companies that use The Center for Process Studies

Customer profile

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

The Center for Process Studies technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

The Center for Process Studies partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Beijing Normal–Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2026Co-organizer of the 14th International Whitehead Conference (July 17-20, 2026) in Zhuhai, China. BNHU serves as the host venue and academic partner for this major international gathering of process philosophers, scholars, and practitioners.
International Process NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 14th International Whitehead Conference alongside CPS and Beijing Normal–Hong Kong Baptist University. The International Process Network is a key global partner for conference organization and process thought community building.
Cobb InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization listed under CPS Programs, dedicated to continuing the work and legacy of John B. Cobb Jr. The Cobb Institute represents a key institutional partnership for advancing ecological civilization scholarship.
Linacre College, Oxford UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference venue host for the Love of Nature project conferences that resulted in the book 'The Love of Nature and the Nature of Love'. Oxford venue partnership for scholarly gatherings.
Institute for Research on Unlimited LoveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirected by Stephen G. Post, the Institute commissioned essays for the book 'The Love of Nature and the Nature of Love'. Represents a research partnership for love studies and spirituality research.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

The Center for Process Studies competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS): Member-based scholarly society convening annual conferences and publishing on science-religion interaction. Comparable to CPS as a small nonprofit driving community-based interdisciplinary scholarship through conferences and member engagement rather than large-scale institutional programming.
Faraday Institute for Science and Religion: Cambridge-based interdisciplinary research institute exploring the relationship between science and religion through research, publications, and educational programs. Directly comparable as a nonprofit think tank bridging scientific and theological inquiry with global academic reach.
Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS): Berkeley-based research center conducting interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of theology, philosophy, and natural sciences. Comparable as a US nonprofit research and education organization producing scholarly publications and convening academic conferences in science-religion dialogue.
Zygon Center for Religion and Science: Chicago-based center supporting the Zygon journal and scholarly programs integrating religion and science. Directly comparable as a process-and-relational worldview research outfit publishing academic journals and running educational programming in the same niche.
International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR): International scholarly society supporting rigorous academic engagement between scientific and religious worldviews. Comparable to CPS as a globally oriented nonprofit producing conferences, publications, and member programs in interdisciplinary philosophy-and-religion scholarship.
Cobb Institute: Sister organization explicitly listed under CPS Programs, dedicated to continuing John B. Cobb Jr.'s work and legacy in ecological civilization scholarship. Closest peer given shared mission, leadership legacy, and adjacent programmatic focus.
Metanexus Institute: Formerly active nonprofit advancing interdisciplinary research on science, religion, and meaning through online publishing and grantmaking. Comparable to CPS as a digital-first think-and-action tank in the science-religion-philosophy space, though with broader scope than process-specific thought.
Center for Philosophy of Religion, University of Notre Dame: University-hosted research center producing scholarly work in philosophy of religion and theology. Comparable as a research-and-education hub publishing academic output and convening scholars, though embedded within a larger university rather than operating as a standalone nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

Society of Christian Philosophers: Large professional society for Christian philosophers with broad membership and major annual conferences. Comparable to CPS as a philosophy-of-religion scholarly community, but operating at significantly larger scale across a broader philosophical agenda than process-specific work.
John Templeton Foundation: Major philanthropic foundation funding research at the intersection of science, philosophy, and religion. Adjacent rather than competing, as Templeton often funds organizations like CPS rather than duplicating their programs, but operates in the same intellectual ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

The Center for Process Studies financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

The Center for Process Studies leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

The Center for Process Studies funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

The Center for Process Studies M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Center for Process Studies

What does The Center for Process Studies do?

Is The Center for Process Studies a public or private company?

The Center for Process Studies is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was The Center for Process Studies founded?

The Center for Process Studies was founded in 1973. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is The Center for Process Studies based?

The Center for Process Studies is headquartered in Salem, United States, in the North America region.

How does The Center for Process Studies make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are educational Programs, conference Registration and book Sales and Publications.

Who are The Center for Process Studies's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS), Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS), Zygon Center for Religion and Science, International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR), Cobb Institute, Metanexus Institute and Center for Philosophy of Religion, University of Notre Dame. Broad incumbents are Society of Christian Philosophers and John Templeton Foundation.

Does The Center for Process Studies have an API?

No public API is recorded for The Center for Process Studies.

What industry is The Center for Process Studies in?

The Center for Process Studies's product category is Academic Research and Education in Philosophy and Theology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADADAA, Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks, with a secondary code of EDAGAFAL, Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing. Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 8200.