Baptist Joint Committee

What Baptist Joint Committee does

The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1936 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to defend religious freedom for all persons and advocate for the separation of church and state. BJC operates as a coalition of Baptist denominations and serves as the preeminent national Baptist voice on church-state law and policy, providing legal advocacy in courts and legislatures, educational resources, and coalition building across religious traditions. The organization is led by Executive Director Amanda Tyler and General Counsel Holly Hollman, with a staff of 11-50 employees.

BJC's primary products and programs include the Respecting Religion podcast (7+ seasons, 100+ episodes, 100,000+ downloads), the Christians Against Christian Nationalism (CACN) initiative launched in 2019 (nearly 50,000 signatories), and the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation acquired in 2023, which houses the BJC Fellows Program (100+ advocates trained since 2015), the Religious Freedom Immersion Experience, the Neighborhood Love Quest Curriculum (for youth ages 10-14), and the "African Americans and Religious Freedom" publication. Distribution occurs through digital channels (website, podcast platforms, social media including Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky), grassroots organizing through local groups across the country, and institutional partnerships with theological seminaries and legal organizations.

BJC's revenue model is donation-based: the organization is funded primarily through tax-deductible contributions from individuals and member Baptist denominations, solicited via its website and engagement campaigns. It does not sell products or services and does not charge fees for its programs, podcasts, publications, or educational resources. Its go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on grassroots organizing, interfaith and interdenominational coalition building, digital content marketing, and legislative advocacy to expand its movement and donor base.

Name

Baptist Joint Committee

Legal name

Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty

Website

https://bjconline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1936 that advocates for religious freedom and church-state separation through legal advocacy, grassroots organizing, and educational programs, serving Baptist denominations, congregations, clergy, and interfaith allies nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: BJC operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals and member Baptist denominations. The organization solicits contributions through its website ('Give' functionality) and engagement campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BJC is a nonprofit advocacy organization that defends religious freedom for all Americans and advocates for the separation of church and state. It delivers this mission through educational programming (podcasts, curricula, publications, fellowship), grassroots mobilization (local groups, advocacy campaigns like Christians Against Christian Nationalism), and policy engagement (court case involvement, legislative action, public statements). All resources and programs are offered free of charge, supported by donations from individuals and member Baptist denominations.

Product overview

Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC) is a religious freedom advocacy organization offering educational programs, advocacy initiatives, and content resources rather than a traditional technology product. The core offerings include the Respecting Religion podcast series, the Christians Against Christian Nationalism initiative, and the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation housing educational programs like the BJC Fellows Program and Neighborhood Love Quest Curriculum. Additional offerings include publications (African Americans and Religious Freedom book, Report from the Capital), virtual events (Clergy Quarterly Touchpoints), scholarship contests, and local organizing groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Respecting Religion Podcast: BJC podcast series discussing religion and the law, hosted by Executive Director Amanda Tyler and General Counsel Holly Hollman
• BJC Fellows Program
• Religious Freedom Immersion Experience
• Neighborhood Love Quest Curriculum

Products and services

• Respecting Religion Podcast A podcast series hosted by BJC's Executive Director Amanda Tyler and General Counsel Holly Hollman discussing religion, law, and religious freedom through court cases, Christian nationalism, voting rights, and church-state separation issues. Distributed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Audible, Amazon Music, and Pandora with over 100,000 downloads.
• Christians Against Christian Nationalism Initiative A grassroots advocacy campaign launched to combat Christian nationalism by educating and activating Christians across denominations. Includes a statement of principles signed by nearly 50,000 signatories, local organizing groups, and digital organizing tools.
• BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation An educational center engaging leaders, students, and communities in theological, historical, and civic reflection on religious freedom. Houses programs including the BJC Fellows Program, Religious Freedom Immersion Experience, and the African Americans and Religious Freedom educational resources.
• BJC Fellows Program An immersive summer leadership program equipping young adults to advocate for religious freedom and justice, with seminars, training, and ongoing alumni engagement. Applications open each fall.
• Neighborhood Love Quest Curriculum A curriculum series helping congregations address Christian nationalism through love of neighbor, designed for youth ages 10-14.
• Religious Freedom Immersion Experience A program encouraging students and life-long learners to reflect on religious liberty through creative engagement.
• African Americans and Religious Freedom Publication A book exploring novel interpretations of religious freedom informed by African American culture, history, ideas, and religious experiences, edited and contributed to by Dr. Sabrina E. Dent in collaboration with Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
• Clergy Quarterly Touchpoint A quarterly online gathering for pastors and ministry leaders to learn about current challenges, share practical ways congregations can support civic engagement, and build relationships across denominations.
• Religious Liberty Scholarship Contest An annual scholarship contest for students, expanded in 2024 to include a video category alongside the traditional essay format.
• Report from the Capital A regular publication providing updates on legislative and policy developments related to religious freedom.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 50,000 Christians have signed the Christians Against Christian Nationalism statement
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Interfaith PartnersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019BJC approached Christians Against Christian Nationalism as an interfaith partnership. After talking with partners of different religious backgrounds and those of no religious background, BJC realized this was work that Christians need to do first. Non-Christian partners continue to help spread the word about the campaign.
• Chicago Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago Theological Seminary, a progressive Protestant seminary, is listed as a partner of the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation. The partnership supports educational programs and theological reflection on religious freedom and justice issues.
• Wake Forest University School of DivinitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWake Forest University School of Divinity collaborated on the 'African Americans and Religious Freedom' book and publication. Dean Corey D.B. Walker serves on the Advisory Council for the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation.
• Columbia Law School Law, Rights & Religion ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbia Law School's Law, Rights & Religion Project provides the Black Religious Liberty Curriculum as an additional resource for the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation. This video series features interdisciplinary scholars in conversation on topics at the intersection of race, religion, and the law.
• Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (Historical)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation emerged from the heritage of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR). BTSR was part of the multi-racial and ecumenical Richmond Theological Consortium. The Center was incorporated in October 2019 out of merger talks involving BTSR.
• Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA historically Black seminary and founding member of the Richmond Theological Consortium, which was instrumental in the formation of the Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation.
• Religious Freedom Committee, American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRahmah Abdulaleem, co-chair of the Religious Freedom Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, serves on the Advisory Council for the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism: A faith-based advocacy and education organization that mobilizes its community around religious liberty, social justice, and church-state separation. Comparable in combining congregational organizing, legislative advocacy, and educational programming.
• First Amendment Foundation: A nonprofit advocating for government transparency and First Amendment rights, including religious freedom. Comparable in its commitment to First Amendment principles but with a primarily journalism and open-government orientation.
• Interfaith Alliance: A national nonpartisan nonprofit that champions religious freedom and an inclusive, pluralistic democracy. Closely comparable in mission and advocacy model, though Interfaith Alliance represents multiple faith traditions rather than focusing on Baptist constituencies.
• Americans United for Separation of Church and State: The most direct peer, a national nonprofit advocating church-state separation and religious freedom. Like BJC, it engages in litigation, legislative advocacy, and grassroots education, but with a broader interfaith rather than Baptist-specific orientation.
• Freedom From Religion Foundation: A national nonprofit advocating for the separation of church and state, primarily from a non-theistic perspective. Direct peer in advocacy and litigation, though BJC approaches religious liberty from a faith-based Baptist viewpoint.
• Religious Freedom Center: Education-focused nonprofit dedicated to advancing understanding of religious freedom and pluralism, comparable in its educational programming, curriculum, and interfaith leadership development.

Others

• Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI): A nonpartisan research organization studying the intersection of religion, culture, and public policy. Comparable as a thought leader informing religious freedom discourse, though it operates as a research institution rather than an advocacy or organizing body.

Broad incumbents

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Operates the broadest religious liberty and church-state practice among major civil liberties organizations, with far greater resources. Comparable as a religious liberty advocate in courts and legislatures, but with a much wider portfolio beyond BJC's faith-and-freedom focus.
• ADL (Anti-Defamation League): A major civil rights organization that, among other work, combats religious extremism and protects religious freedom. Comparable in its advocacy, education, and litigation on religious discrimination, though its scope is much broader than BJC's.
• National Council of Churches: A broad Christian ecumenical body that engages in policy advocacy and coalition work on religious liberty and church-state issues. Comparable as a faith-based advocacy coalition, though covering a wider set of traditions and policy domains.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BJContheHill
• Instagraminstagram.com/endchristiannationalism
• TikToktiktok.com/@endchristiannationalism
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReligiousLiberty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/baptist-joint-committee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Baptist Joint Committee