First Congregational Church of San Jose

What First Congregational Church of San Jose does

First Congregational Church of San Jose (FCCSJ) is a nonprofit religious congregation affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC) and operating within the Santa Clara Association of the Northern California-Nevada Conference. Located at 1980 Hamilton Avenue in San Jose, California, the church serves a broad community through weekly Sunday worship services at 10:00 a.m. and a portfolio of programming including Sunday School, Family Ministries, Youth Ministries for grades 6 through 12, Adult Education, Small Group Ministries, Music Department programming, and Concerts on the Corner. Stated full-time and part-time staff comprise approximately 8 to 10 individuals including an Interim Senior Minister, Director of Music, Director of Family Ministries, Office Manager, Treasurer and Operations Manager, Organist/Pianist, Accompanist, Webmaster, and Nursery Attendants.

The church's core differentiator is its Open and Affirming designation, welcoming LGBTQ+ individuals and families, and its progressive Christian theological stance that explicitly accepts believers, seekers, and those without faith. Its mission, "To understand and live out Jesus' vision for a just and loving world," is operationalized through a Community Service Ministry (cookie ministry, food drives, support for unhoused individuals via the Safe Parking program) and a Social Justice program (founding participation in the Silicon Valley Sponsoring Committee, democracy initiatives, and equity work). The church also maintains a physical Labyrinth for meditation and rents its facilities — Sanctuary (350 capacity), Fellowship Hall (270 capacity), and additional rooms — to community organizations and individuals for events and gatherings.

FCCSJ generates revenue through two primary streams: voluntary tithes and offerings from congregants (donated in-person and via the Vanco online giving platform), and facility rental income. The church is led by Interim Senior Minister Olive Hinnant, an ordained UCC Minister called from Aurora, Colorado, with governance provided by a Board of Trustees and program boards. The organization's customer base is effectively its congregation and broader community of attendees, with no enterprise or commercial customers and a supporter concentration that is broadly distributed across individuals rather than concentrated in any single donor or institutional source.

Name

First Congregational Church of San Jose

Legal name

First Congregational Church of San Jose

Website

https://firstccsj.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Congregational Church of San Jose is a United Church of Christ congregation providing weekly worship, faith education, family and youth programs, music programming, and community outreach to residents of San Jose and the broader Silicon Valley area. The church is notable for its Open and Affirming LGBTQ+ stance, social justice activism, and its 350-seat Sanctuary venue available for facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith community programs
• Religious education
• Community outreach ministry
• Facility rental events

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions from congregation members during worship services and online giving platform.
2. Facility Rental: Rental of church facilities including Sanctuary (capacity 350), Fellowship Hall (capacity 270), Friendship Room, Choir Room, classrooms, Kitchen, and Courtyard/Labyrinth to organizations and private individuals for events, concerts, and gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Congregational Church of San Jose is a progressive, Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ that provides weekly Sunday worship services, Christian education for children and adults, youth and family ministries, and an active community service and social justice ministry. The church also rents its Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, classrooms, and other spaces to community organizations and individuals for events, concerts, and gatherings, and operates a contemplative outdoor labyrinth open to the public.

Product overview

First Congregational Church of San Jose offers a diverse portfolio of spiritual, educational, and community service programs. The church provides weekly Sunday worship services (10am) and Sunday School as its core religious offerings. Family and Youth Ministries serve children and teens through age-appropriate programming. Adult Education and Small Group Ministries foster ongoing spiritual growth and community connection. The Music Department and Concerts on the Corner series provide musical programming. Community Service and Social Justice Programs address local needs through initiatives like the Cookie Ministry, Safe Parking, and advocacy work. Facility Rental allows community use of the church's spaces. The church also offers unique programs like the Labyrinth for meditation and Pride on the Corner for LGBTQ+ celebration and support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly worship services held on Sundays at 10am in the church Sanctuary, featuring music, sermons, and communion, with childcare provided. Open to all.
• Sunday School Christian education program for children meeting on Sunday mornings with age-appropriate classes and activities.
• Family Ministries Programs for children including nursery care, Sunday morning programming, Kids' Night Out events, and family-focused activities.
• Youth Ministries Open and affirming programs for 6th-12th graders covering faith, social justice, identity, and providing service opportunities and youth gatherings.
• Adult Education Educational programs and classes for adults including discussions on faith, social justice topics, and spiritual growth.
• Small Group Ministries Various small group gatherings including Makers Meetup and meditation sessions that foster community and spiritual connection.
• Music Department and Concerts on the Corner Church music program including choir and the Concerts on the Corner music series featuring performances by various musicians.
• Community Service Ministry Outreach programs including Cookie Ministry, support for Bill Wilson Center, New Haven Inn, Next Door Solutions, and food pantry donations.
• Social Justice Programs Advocacy and organizing work including participation in Silicon Valley Sponsoring Committee, democracy initiatives, and equity work.
• Facility Rental Rental of church spaces including the Sanctuary (capacity 350), Fellowship Hall (270), Kitchen, Friendship Room (49), Choir Room (49), and classrooms to community organizations and private individuals for events, concerts, weddings, and meetings.
• The Labyrinth A meditative labyrinth walk experience available for individuals and groups for spiritual reflection and contemplation.
• Pride on the Corner Annual LGBTQ+ affirming event featuring Pride Sunday celebrations, community fair, food, entertainment, and support for local LGBTQ+ organizations.
• Safe Parking Ministry Program providing safe parking locations for unhoused individuals living in their vehicles, including meals, hospitality, and support services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised $10,163.29 for Nova Ukraine through benefit concert
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nova UkraineminorOthers · 30 April 2022Church hosted Love Notes for Ukraine benefit concert that raised $10,163.29 for Nova Ukraine humanitarian efforts. Nearly 200 community members attended.
• Silicon Valley Safe ParkingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2020Church serves as a location site for Safe Car Park program where unhoused individuals living in vehicles can park safely. Volunteers provide meals, hospitality, and support. 51 volunteers supported 15 guests.
• Bill Wilson CenterminorOthersMonthly cookie deliveries to support clients of this youth services organization. Also provides personal care item donations.
• New Haven InnminorOthersQuarterly celebratory meals and cookies for guests of this LGBTQ+-inclusive shelter in downtown San Jose.
• Next Door Solutions to Domestic ViolenceminorOthersAnnual holiday book drive collecting new books for children fleeing domestic violence with their mothers.
• Campbell Food PantryminorOthersWeekly food item donations to support the community food pantry.
• American Red CrossminorOthersChurch promotes and supports blood donation efforts during national blood crises.
• Stanford Blood CenterminorOthersCoordinates blood donation appointments at the Hamilton Ave location for community members.
• Silicon Valley Sponsoring Committee (SVSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch participates in founding a broad-based community organization for democratic organizing. Founding convention held November 3rd. Bilingual English/Spanish meetings.
• Avenidas Rainbow CollectiveminorOthersLGBTQ+ community partner at Pride on the Corner festival.
• The Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community CenterminorOthersLGBTQ+ community partner at Pride on the Corner festival.
• LGBTQ WellnessminorOthersLGBTQ+ community partner at Pride on the Corner festival.
• LGBTQ Youth SpaceminorOthersLGBTQ+ community partner at Pride on the Corner festival.
• The Q CornerminorOthersLGBTQ+ community partner at Pride on the Corner festival.
• Santa Clara County Office of LGBTQ AffairsminorOthersLGBTQ+ community partner at Pride on the Corner festival.
• Silicon Valley PrideminorOthersChurch marches in annual Silicon Valley Pride Parade and participates in Pride Festival.
• Rainbow Women's ChorusminorOthersFeatured performers at Pride Sunday worship services and celebrations.
• Harmonia CaliforniaminorOthersCommunity orchestra that performs concerts at the church facility.
• South Bay PhilharmonicminorOthersCommunity orchestra that performs concerts at the church facility.
• Rebuilding Together Silicon ValleyminorOthersChurch volunteers participate in annual home rehabilitation projects for low-income homeowners.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Glide Memorial Church: San Francisco progressive church renowned for social justice, feeding programs, and inclusive worship. Comparable as a Bay Area progressive congregation combining worship with high-visibility community service and advocacy.
• First Congregational Church of Berkeley: UCC-affiliated progressive congregation in the Bay Area with a long-standing Open and Affirming stance, social justice programming, and community service orientation. Most directly comparable peer given shared denomination, region, and progressive identity.
• Cathedral of Hope: Large LGBTQ+ affirming congregation with the progressive Christian identity, community outreach, and Pride integration that closely mirror FCCSJ's positioning. Compares as a flagship inclusive church with similar programmatic breadth.
• Metropolitan Community Church: Denomination founded specifically as an LGBTQ+ affirming Christian church. Comparable through shared mission of providing inclusive spiritual community, Pride participation, and ministry to marginalized populations.
• Trinity United Church of Christ: Prominent progressive UCC congregation with deep social justice programming and community service model. Comparable through shared UCC affiliation, progressive Christian theology, and integration of worship with activism.
• First Unitarian Church of San Jose: Progressive faith community in the same San Jose market, with comparable emphasis on social justice, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and adult education. Geographically overlaps most with FCCSJ and competes for the same progressive community members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-congregational-church-of-san-jose

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about First Congregational Church of San Jose