First Congregational Church-UCC

What First Congregational Church-UCC does

First Congregational Church-UCC is a historic Protestant congregation located at 300 South Minnesota Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, organized on July 7, 1872 and affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Iowa, Nebraska & South Dakota Conference. The church operates as an autonomous non-profit governed by a Church Council and led by Senior Pastor Rev. Carol Hallman (Yale Divinity School), supported by a staff including a Finance Administrator, Director of Congregational Life, Choir Director, Organist, Coordinator for Children and Families, Office and Communications Coordinator, and Facilities Manager. The church building, constructed beginning in 1907 with its cornerstone laid October 5, 1907, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and underwent a major sanctuary renovation completed in January 2008 that included installation of the Bedient Opus 81 pipe organ.

The congregation offers weekly worship services (in-person and live-streamed on YouTube), Sunday School for children Pre-K through 6th grade, Bible study (in-person and via Zoom), music ministry (Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, Children's Music), arts programming, and outreach initiatives including meal service and immigrant/refugee support. Since March 2011 the church has maintained an Open & Affirming (ONA) designation, unanimously reaffirmed in June 2021, that explicitly welcomes LGBTQIA2S+ members and other historically excluded groups into full congregational life. The church shares its building with advocacy co-tenants South Dakota Voices for Peace and the Naomi Project, extending its civic footprint into immigrant, refugee, and worker advocacy.

The church's revenue is generated entirely through voluntary contributions: recurring and one-time online donations via Tithe.ly and PayPal, in-kind giving through Amazon Wish Lists (hygiene supplies and children's program needs), traditional cash and check contributions, and volunteer labor supporting ministries. Governance modernization is evident in the 2023 adoption of a Behavioral Covenant and the February 2024 By-Laws revision. Operational technology consists of standard SaaS platforms — Tithe.ly, PayPal, Constant Contact, YouTube, Zoom, Google Calendar, and Google Drive — with no proprietary software, API, or AI/ML capability disclosed.

Name

First Congregational Church-UCC

Legal name

First Congregational Church

Website

https://firstcongucc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1872

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

First Congregational Church-UCC is a historic 1872 United Church of Christ congregation in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, providing worship, education, music, and outreach programs for an Open & Affirming community. Operations are funded by voluntary donations and volunteer labor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Tithes: The church accepts financial contributions through Tithe.ly platform, PayPal recurring gifts, cash, and check/ACH withdrawal. These donations support the church's operational costs and outreach programs.
2. Amazon Wish List Donations: The church receives in-kind donations through Amazon Wish Lists for hygiene products and children's program needs, which are shipped directly to the church.
3. Volunteering and Service: Church members volunteer their time for various ministries including outreach, music, children's programs, and facility maintenance, contributing to the church's operational capacity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Congregational Church-UCC is a historic non-profit UCC congregation that provides weekly Christian worship services (in-person and online), religious education for children and adults, music ministry programs, and volunteer-led community outreach. All programs are offered free of charge to attendees and are funded by voluntary donations and tithes from members and supporters. The church also makes its historic downtown Sioux Falls facility available for community use and shared office space with local non-profits.

Product overview

First Congregational Church-UCC is a historic Protestant church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering a comprehensive portfolio of worship, educational, and community programs. The church provides in-person and online worship services with live streaming, music ministry including Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, and Children's Music, Sunday School for children Pre-K through 6th grade, Bible study groups, and outreach programs serving the local community. The church also offers arts ministry events, utilizes a historic Bedient pipe organ, and provides online giving options through Tithe.ly and PayPal. The church building serves as a community facility and shares space with local non-profits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services Weekly Christian worship services held in-person on Sundays at 8:30 am and 10:30 am (summer schedule: 9:30 am), with the 10:30 am service also live-streamed on YouTube. Open to all attendees free of charge.
• Music Ministry Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, and Children's Music programs for all ages that support weekly worship and special services. No auditions required for most ensembles.
• Sunday School Religious education program for children from Pre-K through 6th grade, including breakfast and classes on Sunday mornings during the school year.
• Outreach Programs Community service initiatives including serving meals at the Banquet, supporting families in need, learning immersion trips, and the Kids Against Hunger program.
• Arts Ministry Music and arts program using the church as a venue to foster and celebrate arts as reflections of God's inspiration. Includes concerts and art events.
• Online Giving (Tithe.ly/PayPal) Digital giving platform allowing members to make one-time or recurring donations and tithes online via Tithe.ly or PayPal.
• The Bedient Organ Historic Bedient pipe organ (Opus 81) installed in 2007-2008, serving as the central musical instrument in worship services. Features multiple manuals and pedal divisions.
• Bible Study Weekly Bible study sessions held on Thursday mornings, covering lectionary gospel readings. Available both in-person and via Zoom.
• Facility Use and Rental The church building and Jones Hall are available for community use and rentals, with shared office space provided to local non-profits (e.g., South Dakota Voices for Peace, Naomi Project).

Segments1 record

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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• South Dakota Voices for Peace (SDVFP)minorOthersSDVFP shares building office space with First Congregational Church. The organization builds power and enables healing in immigrant, refugee, and Muslim communities by amplifying their voices and working in solidarity with all who dismantle bigotry and racism. They envision a South Dakota that is diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist.
• Naomi ProjectminorOthersThe Naomi Project shares building office space with First Congregational Church. It is a worker center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that builds innovative models ensuring a fair and just future for all workers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Old South Church in Boston: Historic UCC congregation in a major U.S. city with a strong music ministry, progressive theology, and substantial community programming. Comparable as a heritage UCC church with deep music and civic-engagement identity.
• First Congregational Church UCC, Boulder CO: Long-standing UCC ONA congregation with a comparable progressive theology, music-forward worship, and active outreach/social-justice programming. Closely matches FCC Sioux Falls in denomination, ONA status, and program mix.
• Glendale United Church of Christ (Cincinnati area): Mid-sized UCC congregation with progressive ONA-style welcome, music programming, and community engagement. Useful as a comparable peer for program mix and congregation size.
• Mayflower Congregational Church UCC (Oklahoma City): UCC ONA congregation with similar inclusive welcome, music ministry, and outreach profile. Comparable in denomination, ONA commitment, and congregational programming.
• Plymouth Congregational Church (Sioux Falls): Another UCC-affiliated congregation in Sioux Falls offering comparable Sunday worship, music ministry, and community outreach. Operates in the same local market with the same progressive mainline positioning.

Emerging players

• St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral (Seattle): Progressive mainline cathedral with a renowned music program and inclusive LGBTQ+ welcome. Comparable in theology, music-forward identity, and community programming, though Episcopal rather than UCC.
• All Souls Church Unitarian (Washington DC): Large, progressive, LGBTQ-affirming congregation with social-justice programming. Comparable in inclusive welcome, civic engagement, and cultural-programming profile.
• Westminster Presbyterian Church (various locations): Progressive mainline congregation with strong music and arts ministry. Comparable as an inclusive, music-centered Protestant body, though Presbyterian rather than UCC.

Others

• United Church of Christ national body: Denominational parent organization for FCC and the other UCC peers listed. Comparable as the institutional counterparty for affiliation, governance, and shared resources.

Broad incumbents

• The Riverside Church (New York City): Large progressive mainline (UCC) congregation with a celebrated music program and extensive community outreach. Broader incumbent in the same UCC family with similar theology, music emphasis, and social-justice mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/firstcongucc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClkbc5ZSwSjAPOvWIT9oZ0A/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/firstcongucc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-congregational-church-ucc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 First Congregational Church-UCC