Cedar Lane Unitarian Church

What Cedar Lane Unitarian Church does

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a 501(c)(3) liberal religious nonprofit (EIN 52-0629773) founded in 1955 and headquartered on a six-acre wooded campus at 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, Maryland. The congregation serves more than 600 members across Montgomery County and is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association. Its core offerings include Sunday worship services at 10:30 AM ET (livestreamed via YouTube and Facebook), faith formation programs for nursery through high school (including the Our Whole Lives comprehensive sexuality education curriculum), Soul Circles small-group ministry with over 120 participants, music and arts programming, social justice ministries, pastoral care, and venue rentals on the campus. Notable physical assets include a Sanctuary built in 1955 and designed by modernist architect Pietro Belluschi, a Chapel, Fellowship Hall, meeting rooms, and 125 parking spaces located minutes from the Capital Beltway (I-495).

The organization operates on an annual budget of approximately $1.4M, funded primarily by member pledges (over 60% of annual revenue, renewed through an annual pledge campaign tied to a July–June fiscal year), with secondary streams from one-time and honor/memorial donations, a formal Legacy/Planned Giving program (bequests, IRA beneficiary designations, Qualified Charitable Distributions, donor-advised funds, and a Legacy Society recognition program), and venue rental fees generated by weddings, memorials, concerts, workshops, and community events hosted on the campus. There is no fee-for-service pricing for worship, faith formation, or pastoral care; engagement is supported through voluntary contributions.

The technology stack is operationally focused rather than product-oriented: Realm by ACS Technologies serves as the church management system (member records, volunteer tracking, small-group coordination, online giving via onRealm.org), QuickBooks is in use with a planned migration to QuickBooks Online, YouTube and Facebook handle live streaming, Google Workspace supports internal productivity, Canva is used for graphic design, and Google Maps is embedded for visitor directions. No proprietary platforms, patents, AI/ML capabilities, or external institutional investment were identified. The congregation is currently issuing a request for an Operations Consultant to modernize administrative systems, including optimization of Realm and migration to QuickBooks Online with automated payroll and timesheet integration.

Name

Cedar Lane Unitarian Church

Legal name

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Website

https://cedarlane.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a 501(c)(3) liberal religious community in Bethesda, MD, serving over 600 members with weekly worship, faith formation, social justice programming, and venue rentals, operating on a roughly $1.4M annual budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services and Faith-Based Community

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Progressive faith community
• Worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Pastoral care
• Social justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Pledges and Donations: Over 60% of the annual budget comes from pledges of support from members and friends. The congregation conducts annual pledge campaigns for FY periods (July 1 - June 30). Donations can be made as one-time or recurring gifts to the offering, in honor of loved ones, or to fulfill annual pledges.
2. Legacy Giving: The congregation accepts legacy gifts through bequests in wills or trusts, beneficiary designations for IRAs/retirement plans/life insurance, Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs for those 70½ or older, and donor-advised funds. The Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have committed to give or have already given a portion of their estate to Cedar Lane.
3. Venue Rentals: Cedar Lane offers venue rental services for various events including social or non-profit meetings, concerts or performances, weddings, memorial/celebration of life services, baby dedications, and community events. Spaces include the Sanctuary (built 1955, designed by Pietro Belluschi), Chapel, Fellowship Hall, Meeting Rooms, and outdoor spaces. Features include a state-of-the-art AV system, live streaming capabilities, and eco-friendly policies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation provides weekly multigenerational worship services, lifespan religious education (faith formation), pastoral care, social justice advocacy programs, a music program, and venue rentals at its sanctuary in Bethesda, Maryland. The congregation serves approximately 600+ members with 15+ staff and an annual budget of $1.4 million.

Product overview

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a liberal religious community in Bethesda, MD, with over 600 members. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of spiritual, educational, and community programs centered on Unitarian Universalist values. Core offerings include Weekly Worship Services (livestreamed via YouTube and Facebook), Children/Youth/Families Faith Formation programs, Soul Circles small groups, Music and Arts Ministry, Social Justice programs, Caring Ministry, and Venue Rentals of their historic campus (including the Sanctuary designed by Pietro Belluschi). Additional services include Summer Programs, Online Giving, and Legacy Giving. The congregation operates with a $1.4M budget and a staff of over 15, utilizing Realm church management system and QuickBooks Online for operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly multigenerational worship services held at the Cedar Lane sanctuary in Bethesda, Maryland, featuring sermons, music, and community gathering for the congregation's 600+ members and visitors.
• Faith Formation Program Lifespan religious education program offering classes and curriculum for children, youth, and adults grounded in Unitarian Universalist principles and progressive theology.
• Pastoral Care Services Spiritual support and counseling provided by the clergy team to members during life events including illness, bereavement, weddings, and other milestones.
• Social Justice and Advocacy Programs Action initiatives and advocacy efforts undertaken by the congregation in collaboration with the Unitarian Universalist Association, addressing social and ethical issues in the Washington DC region.
• Venue Rentals Rental of the Belluschi-designed sanctuary and facilities for weddings, memorials, and community events held by external groups and members.
• Music Program and Choir Performing arts program including choir and musical leadership for worship services and special events at the congregation.
• Small Group Ministries (Covenant Groups) Small covenant groups that provide members with structured opportunities for spiritual reflection, discussion, and personal connection within the congregation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120+ participants in Soul Circles small group ministry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Faith in ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith in Action is a partner organization with which Cedar Lane members participate in actions such as 'Praying With Our Feet' demonstrations. Cedar Lane members engage in interfaith actions organized through this partnership, including recent ICE resistance demonstrations.
• MARCH (Multiracial, Anti-Racism, Change and Healing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMARCH is a network that called together interfaith clergy and faith leaders for demonstrations in Minneapolis to resist ICE and provide moral witness. Rev. Dayna Edwards participated in these actions as part of Cedar Lane's commitment to justice work.
• Faith in Action NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in the context of organizing and advocacy work. Cedar Lane participates in actions and organizing through this network alongside other congregations.
• Realm (by ACS Technologies)coreTechnology or IntegrationRealm is the church management system used by Cedar Lane for member management, volunteer tracking, group coordination, and engagement pathways. Cedar Lane is undergoing enhanced Realm implementation as part of operational modernization efforts.
• Aging and Disability Resource Unit (Montgomery County)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty resource providing personalized assistance and referrals to seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers. Referenced in Caring Ministry as a resource for congregation members.
• Montgomery County Crisis CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty mental health crisis services providing free 24/7 support via telephone and in-person. Referenced in Caring Ministry as a resource for members experiencing mental health challenges.
• Food & FriendsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing specialized home-delivered meals and groceries to people with life-challenging illnesses. Referenced in Caring Ministry as a resource.
• Manna Food CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood assistance organization providing food through distribution sites, market-style distributions, and grocery vouchers. Cedar Lane supports through food drives and volunteering.
• Mid-County United Ministries (MUM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides emergency food and assistance to people in crisis in Montgomery County. Cedar Lane holds regular food drives and ongoing collections for MUM.
• Shepherd's TableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization in downtown Silver Spring providing meals and support. Cedar Lane members volunteer to help prepare meals, chop vegetables, and make deliveries.
• New Leaf ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter receiving Cedar Lane support through meal contributions. Volunteers sign up to contribute portions of meals on the 4th Tuesday of each month.
• Food Justice DMVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization coordinating grocery deliveries to low-income immigrant families who may avoid traditional food distributions due to fear. Cedar Lane volunteers make deliveries.
• Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national association of Unitarian Universalist congregations. Cedar Lane is part of this covenantal network and draws from the heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage building on the foundation of love.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Sixth & I Historic Synagogue: Urban progressive congregation in downtown Washington, D.C., notable for event rentals, contemporary programming, and appeal to younger unaffiliated seekers. Comparable in programming innovation and venue rental model.
• Temple Beth Ami: Large Reform Jewish congregation also in Bethesda, MD, with comparable scale, family programming, social justice emphasis, and facility-based event hosting. Geographic competitor for religious households.
• Westminster Presbyterian Church: Mainline Protestant congregation in Bethesda serving a similar educated suburban demographic with comparable programming breadth and venue rental capacity. Comparable as a non-UU progressive congregation in the same market.

Direct peers

• River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation: UU congregation also located in Bethesda, MD, with overlapping service area, similar progressive identity, comparable programming model, and direct competition for members and venue rental clients in the same submarket.
• Mount Vernon Unitarian Universalist Church: UU congregation in the Alexandria/Fairfax area offering worship, faith formation, and social justice programming to a similar demographic profile; comparable member scale and pledge-based funding model.
• Washington Ethical Society: Humanist/progressive congregation in Washington, D.C., serving seekers disillusioned with traditional religion. Closely comparable in value proposition, member demographic, and non-theistic progressive identity.
• All Souls Church, Unitarian Universalist: Large historic Unitarian Universalist congregation in Washington, D.C., directly comparable to Cedar Lane in progressive theology, programming breadth (faith formation, social justice, music, pastoral care), and member scale. Closest functional peer.
• Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington: Mid-sized UU congregation in Northern Virginia serving a similar suburban DC-area demographic. Comparable in progressive programming, faith formation, and small-group ministry structure.
• Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville: Nearby UU congregation in Rockville, MD, serving Montgomery County. Overlaps with Cedar Lane's geographic market and offers comparable progressive programming and governance structure.

Others

• Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA): National denominational body to which Cedar Lane is affiliated. Provides governance, resources, ministerial credentialing, and shared identity rather than competing directly, but shapes the broader UU ecosystem in which Cedar Lane operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CedarLaneUU
• Instagraminstagram.com/cedarlaneuucongregation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cedar-lane-unitarian-church

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Cedar Lane Unitarian Church