Willow Creek Community Church

What Willow Creek Community Church does

Willow Creek Community Church is a private, nonprofit, multi-site Christian church headquartered at 67 Algonquin Road in South Barrington, Illinois, operating seven physical campuses across Chicagoland — Crystal Lake, Huntley, North Shore, South Barrington, South Lake, Wheaton, and Willow Español — plus a digital streaming channel called Willow Online / WillowCreek.TV. Founded in 1975, the church serves a multi-generational, multi-ethnic congregation through age-targeted ministries including Willow Kids (birth–grade 5), Junior High Ministry, High School Ministry, and Willow Young Adults (18–34), with Willow Friends providing disability inclusion programming. Community formation is delivered through small groups meeting in 10-week terms and the Rooted 10-week discipleship curriculum, supported by an Internship & Residency Program for emerging ministry staff.

The underlying technology stack centers on a digital platform comprising the Willow Creek Church mobile app (iOS and Android), Willow Online live streaming service, the MyWell giving platform (supporting bank transfer, credit card, Apple Pay, Venmo, and recurring donations), and a Group Finder portal at portal.willowcreek.org. Distribution is amplified across web, mobile, Apple TV, Google TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV, with AI-assisted translation, voice-dubbing, and lip-syncing used to localize content into Spanish, Polish, and Russian. The church also operates Camp Paradise, a 1,300+ acre wilderness retreat in Michigan's Upper Peninsula owned since 1976, and a separate Care Center providing food, clothing, transportation, job training, and legal services.

Revenue is generated primarily through voluntary tithes and offerings (modeled as recurring giving based on a 10% biblical principle), supplemented by one-time fees for weddings ($350–$700 officiant), premarital mentoring ($125/couple), global serving trips ($1,900–$4,000 by destination), Camp Paradise retreats, and a paid internship program ($15/hour). The church is ECFA-accredited and audited annually by an independent CPA, but does not publicly disclose revenue or attendance figures. Following the 2018 leadership transition and the February 2024 closure of the Willow Chicago campus, the organization has repositioned around the 'What is Next, Is Now' vision initiative announced in 2025.

Name

Willow Creek Community Church

Legal name

Willow Creek Community Church

Website

https://willowcreek.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Willow Creek Community Church is a private, nonprofit multi-site Christian church operating seven Chicagoland campuses plus Willow Online streaming, serving a multi-generational congregation through age-targeted ministries, small groups, the Rooted discipleship program, global serving teams, and the Camp Paradise retreat in Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Faith-based ministry
• Worship services
• Community outreach
• Spiritual formation

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Primary revenue stream from congregants giving 10% of income (tithing) as a biblical principle. Donations collected during weekend services, online via MyWell, check/cash, Venmo, stocks, and donor-advised funds.
2. Camp Paradise Fees: Fees for wilderness retreat programs including Dads Camp, Women's Retreat, Summer Staff program, and volunteer work weeks. Camps serve families and individuals in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
3. Wedding and Premarital Services: Wedding officiant fee of $350, Willow-hosted wedding fee of $700, and premarital mentoring program at $125 per couple.
4. Global Serving Trip Fees: Fees for global mission trips ranging from $1,900 to $4,000 depending on destination and duration, covering airfare, lodging, food, and in-country transportation.
5. Internship Program: Paid internship program at $15/hour for 10-week summer terms at 40 hours per week, providing ministry experience in areas like Willow Kids, Willow Students, Compassion & Justice, and Creative Arts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Willow Creek Community Church operates as a multi-site Christian church delivering weekend worship services across seven physical campuses in Chicagoland plus an online streaming platform (Willow Online). The ministry portfolio spans age-targeted spiritual formation programs (Willow Kids, Junior High Ministry, High School Ministry, Young Adults), small group discipleship, global mission trips, social services through the Care Center, and the Camp Paradise wilderness retreat in Michigan.

Product overview

Willow Creek Community Church is a multi-site Christian church with eight locations across Chicagoland offering a comprehensive portfolio of spiritual formation, community, and outreach programs. The core offering centers on weekend worship services (in-person and via Willow Online/WillowCreek.TV) supported by the Willow Creek Church App. The ministry portfolio includes age-targeted programs: Willow Kids (birth-grade 5), Junior High Ministry (JHM), High School Ministry (HSM), and Willow Young Adults (18-34), plus Willow Friends for disability inclusion. Community formation is delivered through Groups (small groups meeting in 10-week terms) and Rooted (10-week discipleship curriculum). The church operates Camp Paradise in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and provides Compassion & Justice outreach including a Care Center, local partnerships, and Global Serving Teams. Additional services include baptism, grief support, premarital/wedding support, mental health resources, and an Internship Residency Program. Giving is facilitated through the MyWell platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Willow Kids: Children's ministry for birth through grade 5
• Junior High Ministry (JHM)
• High School Ministry (HSM)
• Willow Friends
• Willow Young Adults
• Willow Creek Care Center
• C.A.R.S. Ministry
• Rooted
• Camp Paradise

Products and services

• Weekend Worship Services Sunday worship services held across seven physical campuses in Chicagoland (South Barrington, Crystal Lake, Huntley, North Shore, South Lake, Wheaton, and Espa\u00f1ol) for congregants and visitors.
• Willow Online Streaming Live streaming of weekend services at 9 and 11 a.m. CDT plus on-demand message archives, accessible via website, mobile app, Apple TV, Google, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nazarene Church (Asia & Middle East)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nazarene Church networks in Asia and Middle East for global compassion and justice initiatives, supporting local churches in serving their communities.
• Questscope (Asia & Middle East)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner working with local churches in Asia and Middle East regions to fight poverty and injustice through community development programs.
• RIMI (Asia & Middle East)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in Asia and Middle East engaged in poverty alleviation and justice work through church partnerships.
• Jubilee Centre (Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican partner organization working to fight poverty and injustice in partnership with local churches across the continent.
• TDI (Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican development initiative partner supporting church-based poverty and justice programs in Africa.
• Enlace (Latin America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatin American church network partner facilitating Willow's global outreach to Central and South American communities.
• Red Viva (Latin America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatin American Christian network partner for regional compassion and justice initiatives supporting local church ministries.
• AVI (Latin America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatin American partner organization working alongside Willow's global teams to serve local communities through church-based programs.
• Home of the SparrowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrystal Lake campus partner dedicated to empowering homeless women, children, and families with housing solutions and supportive services to achieve self-sufficiency.
• World ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Barrington campus partner that helps welcome and resettle refugees by providing resources and education to help families thrive in the community.
• Safe FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Barrington campus partner bringing church and community together to keep children safe, support families, prevent abuse and neglect, and reduce foster care entries.
• Exodus World ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Shore campus partner mobilizing volunteers to welcome and befriend refugees, helping families adjust to life in the United States.
• C24/7 (North Shore)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Shore campus partner dedicated to improving lives of children and young adults by providing tools, security, and environment for economic, social, and spiritual thriving.
• Love Inc (South Lake)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Lake campus partner helping churches help people by connecting neighbors with clothing, kitchen items, furniture, educational classes, mentorship, and community events.
• District 300 Food Pantry (Huntley)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuntley campus partner providing food and support to individuals and families in the community.
• Senior Connect (Wheaton)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheaton campus initiative serving seniors with groceries delivered directly to apartment complexes in the community.
• Breakthrough Urban MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago partner organization that Breakthrough teams volunteer with, building connections and opening doors of opportunity for those affected by poverty.
• Fellowship HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner helping single mothers build homes, providing housing support and empowerment programs.
• Journeys | The Road HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPalatine-based partner providing services to those experiencing homelessness, with opportunities for organizing donations, serving food, and community support.
• Naomi's HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing Saturday morning yard work to beautify the home of survivors of trafficking in Winfield.
• My Half Non-Profit KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheaton-based partner kitchen supporting women healing from trauma including survivors of trafficking, refugees, and those overcoming hardship through employment and mentorship.
• The Ruth ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner operating The Storehouse for donations and The Farm for family support, offering volunteer opportunities including childcare, yardwork, greenhouse, and prayer team.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elevation Church: Charlotte, North Carolina-based multisite church founded by Steven Furtick with multiple regional campuses, strong digital content production, and small-groups emphasis — comparable to Willow Creek's multi-site and streaming strategy.
• Life.Church: Edmond, Oklahoma-based multisite church and pioneer in online church experiences (Church Online Platform, YouVersion Bible app) — directly comparable to Willow Online in digital streaming and multi-campus reach.
• Church of the Highlands: Birmingham, Alabama-based multisite megachurch with a strong small-groups model, community outreach, and multiple regional campuses — directly comparable structure and programming philosophy to Willow Creek.
• Gateway Church: Dallas/Fort Worth multisite megachurch with multiple regional campuses, age-tiered Next Gen ministries, and global missions — directly comparable to Willow Creek's seven-campus model and family programming.
• North Point Community Church: Atlanta-area multisite megachurch founded in 1995 with a multi-campus model, age-tiered children's and student ministries, and strong small-groups program — directly comparable to Willow Creek's structure and programming.
• Saddleback Church: Lake Forest, California-based multisite megachurch with regional campuses, global PEACE Plan missions, and Purpose Driven discipleship — overlapping with Willow Creek's multi-site, global outreach, and small-groups approach.

Others

• Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA): Accreditation body for evangelical nonprofits; Willow Creek is an ECFA member and peers share similar compliance and reporting standards — useful as an ecosystem comparable.

Regional players

• CrossPoint Church: Midwest-based evangelical multisite church; offers a directly comparable multisite, age-tiered ministry model in a neighboring geography to Willow Creek's Chicagoland base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/willowcreekcc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/willowcreek
• Facebookfacebook.com/willowcreekcc
• Instagraminstagram.com/willowcreekcc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Willow Creek Community Church