What Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) does

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) is a US-based nonprofit membership association founded in 1987 by practitioners of the Christian Community Development (CCD) philosophy pioneered by Dr. John Perkins. The organization "inspires, trains, and connects" individual practitioners, churches, and partner organizations working in under-resourced communities across the United States, grounded in the CCD philosophy's 8 Key Components: Reconciliation, Redistribution, Relocation, Leadership Development, Empowerment, Church-Based, Listening to the Community, and Wholistic Approach. It serves a network of 1,000+ associated organizations with approximately 70,000 monthly online reach and ~2,000 annual conference attendees, and operates with a small staff of 19 employees plus contractors, volunteers, and interns.

CCDA's core products form an integrated training and community ecosystem: the annual CCDA National Conference (rotating cities, with Richmond VA in 2026, Madison WI in 2027, and Knoxville TN in 2028), the CCDA Institute Online e-learning platform with structured courses including the flagship Immerse series (co-developed with the American Bible Society), the two-year Leadership Cohort program for ages 18-29 ($2,000 participation fee), one-day CCDA Intensives, week-long Immersion experiences, and Local and Affinity Networks organized by geography and issue area (Immigration, Education Equity, AAPI, Behavioral Health, Accessibility & Inclusion, Economic Empowerment, Indigenous). Supporting products include the CCDA Café gatherings, Philosophy & Community eight-week series, Civic Engagement Toolkit, and a 936-SKU CCDA Store selling books, recordings, toolkits, and merchandise. Technology infrastructure is built on Wild Apricot membership software and a WordPress-based e-commerce stack — CCDA is a content-and-community platform rather than a software company.

CCDA's business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack. Streams include annual membership dues (pricing not publicly disclosed), conference registration (with a $69 volunteer rate), Leadership Cohort fees ($2,000), online courses priced at $5-$10 (with many free for members), sponsorship and advertising (booth packages starting at $1,500, podcast ads at $100 per 30-second spot or $1,000 per featured episode, standalone newsletter sponsorships at $1,500), and voluntary charitable donations. The organization is ECFA-accredited, publishes IRS 990 filings and audited financial statements, and operates under CEO & President Dr. Lorenzo A. Watson with a board chaired by Bethany Rivera Molinar and including founding figures Dr. Wayne "Coach" Gordon (President Emeritus) and Dr. John M. Perkins (Board Chair Emeritus).

Name

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)

Legal name

Christian Community Development Association

Website

https://ccda.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CCDA is a US nonprofit membership association that inspires, trains, and connects Christian Community Development practitioners through an annual national conference, online courses, a two-year Leadership Cohort, and regional/affinity networks. It serves 1,000+ associated organizations and thousands of individual practitioners working in under-resourced communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Not explicitly stated

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, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for practitioners and partner organizations providing access to resources, training, networks, and member benefits.
2. Conference Revenue: Registration fees for annual national conference in Richmond, VA (October 7-10, 2026) and future conferences in Madison, WI (November 2027) and Knoxville, TN (August-September 2028). Also includes preconference events and Go & See experiences.
3. Leadership Cohort Program: Two-year leadership development program for ages 18-29 with a $2,000 participation fee covering retreats, materials, and conference access.
4. Online Courses and Products: Sale of online courses ($5-$10 per course), conference recordings, books, toolkits, and educational materials through the CCDA store.
5. Sponsorship and Advertising: Conference sponsorships (booth packages starting at $1,500), podcast ads ($100 per 30-second spot, $1,000 per featured episode), newsletter sponsorships ($1,500 per sponsored email), and social media advertising.
6. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Voluntary donations from supporters to advance the mission of inspiring, training, and connecting Christian Community Development practitioners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CCDA is a membership-based nonprofit association that inspires, trains, and connects Christian Community Development (CCD) practitioners through an annual national conference, online institute courses, in-person training intensives and immersion experiences, a two-year leadership cohort program, regional local networks, and topic-based affinity networks. Revenue is generated from annual membership dues, paid training and conference fees, online course and book sales through the CCDA Store, event sponsorships, advertising, and charitable donations. The organization's intellectual anchor is its proprietary eight-component CCD Philosophy Framework, developed over nearly four decades by founder Dr. John Perkins.

Product overview

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) operates a platform-based ecosystem of products and programs focused on strengthening and inspiring practitioners of Christian Community Development. The core offerings include the annual CCDA National Conference, the CCDA Institute Online learning platform, the Leadership Cohort 2-year development program, and regional/local structures (Local Networks and Affinity Networks). Supporting products include CCDA Intensives (one-day training events), Immersion (week-long experience), CCDA Café gatherings, Philosophy & Community series, the CCDA Store, Blog, and Civic Engagement Toolkit. The organization uses Wild Apricot membership software to manage member relationships. The Institute Online offers courses aligned with the eight CCD philosophy components (Relocation, Reconciliation, Redistribution, Church-Based, Listening to the Community, Leadership Development, Wholistic Approach, and Empowerment). The Immerse premium online course, developed with the American Bible Society, serves as a flagship digital learning product with companion devotionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CCDA National Conference Four-day paid annual event with workshops, worship, networking, preconference events, and Go & See community experiences for CCD practitioners across the United States.
• CCDA Intensives One-day in-person paid training events for emerging grassroots community developers, youth workers, pastors, lay leaders, and students.
• Immersion Week-long paid residential learning experience combining holistic learning labs, community formation, spiritual formation, and localized CCD practice.
• CCDA Institute Online Paid online learning platform with courses equipping practitioners to live out the CCD philosophy across categories such as Advocacy, Church-Based, Empowerment, Leadership Development, Reconciliation, and Relocation.
• Leadership Cohort Two-year paid leadership development program ($2,000) for ages 18-29 in the Southeast U.S., including four regional retreats, two national conference registrations, and ongoing development opportunities.
• Local Networks Regional community networks connecting CCD practitioners across cities, counties, and geographic regions such as DMV, Hampton Roads, NE Corridor, Akron, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Pacific Northwest, and Fresno.
• Affinity Networks Topic-based gathering spaces for CCDA practitioners around shared interests such as Education Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion, AAPI, Behavioral Health, Economic Empowerment, Immigration, and Indigenous.
• CCDA Store Paid e-commerce storefront offering books, courses, videos, conference recordings, audio files, toolkits, and downloads related to Christian Community Development.
• Membership Program Paid annual membership program (Practitioners and Partners) providing access to CCD-aligned resources, training, peer networks, and discounts on products and events.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Micah NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal association of hundreds of organizations in 80+ countries pursuing holistic, integral mission including Christian Community Development. CCDA connects international practitioners with Micah Network for transnational relationships and global CCD engagement.
• La Red Del CaminocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement focused on connecting churches and practitioners involved in integral mission in Latin America. CCDA recommends this network for practitioners in or connected to Latin American contexts.
• InnerCHANGEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian order among the poor worldwide. CCDA connects practitioners with this international organization for faith-based community development in global contexts.
• Servant PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement centered on Jesus Christ, planted in urban poor communities around the world. CCDA references this organization for practitioners seeking international CCD connections.
• American Bible SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with American Bible Society to create the Immerse Series - an online course combining CCD philosophy with Bible study. Digital Journeys devotionals created in partnership provide daily devotionals via text or email connected to CCD principles and biblical passages.
• IVP (InterVarsity Press)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCCDA partners with IVP to publish books. This partnership has produced various titles on Christian Community Development and faith-based community engagement.
• Richmond Marriott DowntownminorOthersConference venue partner for the 2026 CCDA National Conference at Greater Richmond Convention Center.
• Radiate Social ImpactminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner providing Disability Inclusion coaching circle services for CCDA practitioners through the Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry Network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD Institute): DePaul University-based institute founded by Dr. John McKnight and Dr. John Perkins, advancing similar community development philosophy. Directly comparable to CCDA through shared origins and overlapping practitioner networks (Dr. Mary Nelson sits on CCDA's board while leading ABCD).
• Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF): Faith-based association training and connecting healthcare practitioners in under-resourced communities. Closely analogous to CCDA in model (membership association, training pipeline, conferences) but focused on healthcare rather than holistic community development.
• InnerCHANGE: Christian missionary order among the poor worldwide. Listed as a partner of CCDA and operates comparable holistic community development model with religious community, training, and relocation components.
• Servant Partners: Christian community development organization planted in urban poor communities globally. Comparable to CCDA in approach (relocation, community-based, faith-rooted) with international scope and practitioner training programs.
• Micah Network: Global association of hundreds of organizations in 80+ countries pursuing holistic mission including Christian Community Development. Direct peer and CCDA partner for international engagement, with overlapping philosophy and constituency.

Broad incumbents

• Sojourners: Faith-based social justice movement with magazine, events, and community organizing programs. Comparable to CCDA as a faith-rooted organization training and mobilizing Christians for community transformation, though broader in scope and more politically oriented.
• Christian Churches Together (CCT): Broad ecumenical Christian network of churches and organizations in the US. Comparable to CCDA as a multi-constituency faith-based association with mission-aligned programming and convening role, though broader in scope.
• World Vision US: Large faith-based humanitarian organization with community development programs in under-resourced areas globally. Comparable to CCDA through faith-rooted community development, though vastly larger scale and primarily international focus.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Faith-based nonprofit building affordable housing and community development in under-resourced areas. Comparable to CCDA through faith-rooted community transformation model with training and volunteer engagement components.
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: Faith-based campus and graduate organization with community development and justice programming. Comparable to CCDA through training cohorts, leadership development, and faith-based community engagement, though oriented toward university students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/iamccda
• YouTubeyoutube.com/iamccda
• Facebookfacebook.com/iamccda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-
• Instagraminstagram.com/iamccda

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)