First Congregational Church of Berkeley

What First Congregational Church of Berkeley does

First Congregational Church of Berkeley (FCCB), operating under the legal name First Congregational Church of Berkeley, United Church of Christ, and also doing business as First Church Berkeley and First Church, is a religious nonprofit organization located at 2345 Channing Way in Berkeley, California. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination and operating as a 501(c)(3), the church serves a multi-generational congregation of individuals and families through weekly Sunday worship services held at 10 am, offered both in-person on its Berkeley campus and via online streaming. Its ministry portfolio includes music programs (including the Resonance ensemble), children and youth religious education, young adult ministries, small groups, congregational care, and community events such as the Healing Arts Festival and Over 60s programming. The organization is staffed by approximately 12 employees and is governed by its congregation.

The church's underlying technology stack is modest and conventional for a mid-sized congregation: a WordPress-based website (firstchurchberkeley.org), Mailchimp-powered email distribution including the Carillon Weekly newsletter and segmented lists (Sunday Online Worship Guide, Children & Family News, Young Adult News), live and archived online worship streaming, and the Realm (e.onrealm.org) member database for management and communications. There are no proprietary software products, no APIs, and no disclosed AI capabilities; technology is used to extend the reach of in-person programming rather than as a standalone product surface.

The business and revenue model is pluralized across traditional and modern giving mechanisms: weekly tithes and offerings from Sunday services, sustained recurring giving programs, planned legacy gifts through the First Church Legacy Circle, and episodic capital campaigns for building and community initiatives. Room reservations provide an additional auxiliary revenue or cost-recovery channel for members and external groups. The church does not publish pricing or contribution data and operates as a voluntary-giving nonprofit. Its go-to-market positioning emphasizes inclusivity (including explicit LGBTQ+ affirmation), social justice engagement, healing, and intergenerational community, which functions as its primary differentiator within the competitive Bay Area faith market.

Name

First Congregational Church of Berkeley

Legal name

First Congregational Church of Berkeley, United Church of Christ

Website

https://fccb.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Congregational Church of Berkeley is a UCC-affiliated religious nonprofit in Berkeley, California, serving an inclusive multi-generational congregation through weekly worship, music, youth and young adult programs, pastoral care, and social justice initiatives, supported by tithes, recurring gifts, and legacy giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Congregational care
• Religious education programs
• Community ministry
• Faith based programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional church giving through Sunday offerings and donations
2. Sustained Giving: Recurring giving programs for regular contributors
3. Legacy Giving: Planned giving and endowment programs including the First Church Legacy Circle
4. Capital Campaign: Special fundraising campaigns for building projects and community initiatives

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Congregational Church of Berkeley delivers weekly Sunday worship services both in-person at its Berkeley campus and through online streaming, alongside a music ministry that includes the Resonance ensemble. It supplements worship with religious education for children and youth, young adult ministry, small groups, congregational/pastoral care, and community-building events such as the Healing Arts Festival. The church is funded through voluntary donations, recurring giving, legacy planned giving, and capital campaigns.

Product overview

First Congregational Church of Berkeley offers a unified suite of spiritual and community services centered around weekly worship. The core offering consists of Sunday worship services (both in-person and online), complemented by music ministry programs including the Resonance ensemble, children and youth educational programs, young adult ministries, small groups and ministries, and congregational care. Additional offerings include the Carillon Weekly Email newsletter, the Healing Arts Festival community event, and capital campaign fundraising initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly in-person worship services held on Sundays at 10 am at the Berkeley campus, with online viewing options available, designed for the congregation and broader community.
• Online Worship / Watch Online Live streaming and recorded video of worship services for remote congregation members and visitors who cannot attend in person.
• Music Ministry Church music program including worship music, community music activities, and the Resonance ensemble, for congregation members and the broader Berkeley community.
• Children & Youth Programs Religious education and youth development programs for children and teenagers, offering age-appropriate spiritual formation and family engagement.
• Young Adult Ministries Spiritual community and programs specifically designed for young adults in their 20s and 30s seeking fellowship, spiritual exploration, and social justice engagement.
• Small Groups & Ministries Various small groups and ministry communities for fellowship, spiritual growth, and deeper connection among congregation members.
• Congregational Care Pastoral care and support services for congregation members, providing spiritual and emotional support during life events.
• Healing Arts Festival Annual community event focused on healing arts and wellness, offered to the congregation and broader Berkeley community.
• Capital Campaign Fundraising initiative for church capital improvements and building projects, supported by congregation donations.

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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Church of ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenominational affiliation providing theological framework, resources, and connection to broader UCC network. First Church Berkeley is part of the United Church of Christ denomination.
• Faith In Action East BayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly offering recipient in July 2026; local interfaith social justice organization focused on community engagement and advocacy in the East Bay area.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Glide Memorial Church (San Francisco): Iconic progressive congregation in San Francisco known for social justice, radical inclusion, and community service. Highly comparable in inclusive values and community engagement model, though larger and more national in profile.
• Kehilla Community Synagogue: Progressive Jewish congregation in Berkeley, CA with explicitly inclusive (LGBTQ+ affirming) values, social justice activism, and a comparable congregational model. Directly competes for the same progressive Berkeley demographic.
• Lake Merritt United Methodist Church (Oakland): Progressive mainline Protestant congregation in Oakland affiliated with the Reconciling Ministries Network, comparable in inclusive theology and East Bay location. Offers similar worship, music, and community programming.
• First Congregational Church of San Francisco: Historic UCC-affiliated congregation in nearby San Francisco with comparable progressive theology, social justice emphasis, and inclusive community identity. Operates a similar model of worship, music ministry, and community outreach programs.
• St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church (Berkeley): Progressive Episcopal congregation in Berkeley, CA offering comparable worship, music, youth programs, and social justice orientation. Directly competes for the same progressive Berkeley Episcopal-adjacent seeker.
• Old First Presbyterian Church (San Francisco): Progressive mainline Protestant congregation in San Francisco with comparable inclusive positioning, social justice focus, and broad programmatic offering. Comparable in denomination-adjacent identity and Bay Area market.
• First Congregational Church of Oakland: UCC-affiliated progressive congregation in Oakland, CA, directly comparable to First Church Berkeley in denomination, progressive values, and Bay Area regional positioning. Serves a similar congregational demographic with comparable worship, social justice, and community programming.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific School of Religion: UCC-affiliated seminary in Berkeley, CA within the Graduate Theological Union. Comparable in theological tradition and UCC affiliation, and an institutional neighbor that supports and is supported by Bay Area progressive congregations.
• United Church of Christ (National): National denomination of which First Church Berkeley is a member congregation. Provides theological framework, resources, and network; relevant as an institutional incumbent setting standards and supporting member congregations.

Others

• Berkeley City Club: Historic Berkeley community institution offering events, programming, and space rentals. While not a religious peer, it competes for community programming, event space, and member engagement in the same Berkeley geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-congregational-church-of-berkeley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about First Congregational Church of Berkeley