First Parish In Concord

What First Parish In Concord does

First Parish in Concord is a Unitarian Universalist congregation founded in 1635, operating as an independent nonprofit religious organization under congregational polity in Concord, Massachusetts. It serves 540 active members and 156 active friends across 421 households, delivering weekly Sunday worship services, multi-generational religious education (Little RE, Children's Program, Coming of Age, Youth Groups, Our Whole Lives), music programs (including an adult choir and pipe organ), pastoral care, lifecycle ceremonies (weddings, child dedications, memorials), and a slate of social action committees (Racial Justice, Immigration Justice, Accessibility, Environmental/Green Sanctuary, Reclaim our Democracy, UU the Vote). The organization is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association through a covenant relationship (contributing $137 per active member to the UUA Annual Program Fund) and self-governs via an elected Governing Board, with 13 employees overall.

The church's revenue model is donor-supported, with annual member pledges accounting for over 70% of operating income. For FY 2024-2025, 308 households pledged with an average of $3,004 and a median of $1,200, supplemented by plate collections, fundraising events, endowment distributions, securities donations (processed via Fidelity Investments), and Qualified Charitable Distributions. The Legacy Investment Fund (endowment, established 1885, managed by the Trustees of Parish Donations) pays out 3.5-4% annually, providing approximately 9% of the operating budget. A Charitable Gift Annuity program is operated jointly with the UUA Office of Legacy Gifts and State Street Global Advisors (minimum $10,000 initial gift). Operating cost is approximately $4,640 per pledging household.

Infrastructure consists of a WordPress website (firstparish.org), email newsletter distribution (FP Weekly via eepurl.com), Facebook/Instagram presence, YouTube livestreaming, and online giving tools (text-to-plate, automated debit, credit card, securities transfer). Distribution is split between in-person services at the historic 20 Lexington Road meeting house (Sundays at 10:00am) and remote participation via YouTube. Geographic footprint is domestic Concord, MA with a flagship international partnership in Székelykeresztúr, Transylvania (Romania) since 2012. No AI/API/external integrations are disclosed.

Name

First Parish In Concord

Legal name

First Parish in Concord

Website

https://firstparish.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Parish in Concord is a Unitarian Universalist congregation founded in 1635 in Concord, Massachusetts, serving 540 active members through weekly worship, religious education, pastoral care, justice programs, and legacy giving, funded primarily via annual member pledges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregation Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Unitarian universalist congregation
• Religious worship services
• Religious education programs
• Pastoral care services
• Legacy giving program

Headquarters

HQ city

Concord

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. Annual Pledges: Annual pledge campaign where members commit to yearly financial contributions. Pledges cover the fiscal year (July through June) and represent over 70% of First Parish's operating income. 308 households pledged for 2024-2025 with an average pledge of $3,004 and median pledge of $1,200.
2. Plate Collections and Special Offerings: Sunday offering plate collections, text-to-plate mobile donations, and special occasion gifts. Plate collections support First Parish operations and Share the Plate recipients (charitable giving to external organizations).
3. Legacy Gifts and Bequests: Planned gifts including bequests in wills, revocable trusts, retirement account beneficiary designations, life insurance beneficiary designations, and charitable gift annuities. The Legacy Investment Fund (endowment) has been accumulating contributions since 1885 and provides 3.5-4% annual payout to support operating budget (approximately 9% of total operating budget).
4. Fundraising Events and Other Sources: Annual fundraising events, contribution from Trustees of Parish Donations (endowment distribution), Wright Tavern community classes, and miscellaneous other sources. These account for approximately 30% of total income combined.
5. Securities Donations: Donations of marketable securities (stocks, bonds) transferred via Fidelity Investments brokerage. Securities are sold upon receipt and donors receive gift letters for tax purposes.
6. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): IRA owners age 70½ or older can donate directly from IRAs to charities, potentially avoiding income tax on distributions. First Parish member George Gagliardi has shared information about this giving method.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First Parish in Concord is a Unitarian Universalist congregation providing weekly Sunday worship services, religious education programs for children, youth, and adults, pastoral care, social action and justice initiatives, music programs, life-cycle ceremonies (weddings, memorials, child dedications), and a structured annual pledge-based membership model supported by a Legacy Investment Fund established in 1885.

Product overview

First Parish in Concord is a Unitarian Universalist church congregation offering religious worship, education, and community programs. Its service portfolio includes weekly Sunday worship services, religious education programs for all ages, music programs featuring the Adult Choir, social action and justice initiatives, pastoral care, legacy giving programs, and online giving capabilities. The congregation operates primarily from its historic meeting house in Concord, Massachusetts, with digital engagement through its website, YouTube livestreaming, and weekly newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services held at 10:00am at the Concord meeting house, featuring worship, music, and spiritual reflection for members, friends, and visitors.
• Religious Education Programs Multi-generational religious exploration and education programs for children, youth, and adults including Little RE, Children's Program, Crossing Paths, Coming of Age, Youth Groups, and Our Whole Lives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 400 years of continuous community presence since 1635
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association, a denomination of autonomous congregations. The partnership includes shared principles (seven UU principles), ministerial credentialing, and collaborative programs. First Parish contributes to the UUA Annual Program Fund ($137 per active member annually). The UUA Office of Legacy Gifts administers First Parish's Charitable Gift Annuity program alongside State Street Global Advisors.
• Fidelity InvestmentscoreOthersFirst Parish uses Fidelity Investments as its designated broker for receiving securities donations. Donors transfer securities to Fidelity, which are then sold and converted to cash for First Parish's use.
• State Street Global AdvisorscoreOthersState Street Global Advisors professionally manages and administers First Parish's Charitable Gift Annuity program in partnership with the UUA Office of Legacy Gifts.
• Székelykeresztúr Community (Transylvania Partnership)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish maintains a longstanding partnership with the community of Székelykeresztúr, Romania (Transylvania region). Programs include youth exchanges, cultural visits, financial support, and family pilgrimages. Partnership began with visits in 2012 and continues with ongoing exchange programs, including a dance troupe and youth camp involvement.
• Kerem ShalomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhen First Parish's building was renovated in 2008, the congregation met at Kerem Shalom, a synagogue on Elm Street in Concord. This interfaith cooperation demonstrates the congregation's ecumenical and community relationships.
• First Parish in LexingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer consortium services rotate among local UU congregations. First Parish in Concord participates in joint summer worship services with First Parish in Lexington and other nearby UU churches.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• First Unitarian Society of Chicago: Historic Unitarian Universalist congregation in Chicago with comparable religious education, music, social action, and legacy-giving programs and similar progressive-values positioning.
• First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis: Established Unitarian Universalist congregation with similar pledge-driven operating model, RE programming across ages, and active social justice committees.
• Arlington Street Church: Large, progressive Unitarian Universalist congregation in Boston with similar worship, social justice, music, and community programs; comparable in progressive-values positioning and program breadth.
• All Souls Church (NYC): Prominent Unitarian Universalist congregation in Manhattan known for progressive theology, music programs, and social action; comparable in urban-suburban progressive identity and programmatic scope.
• First Parish in Lexington: Neighboring Unitarian Universalist congregation explicitly named as a summer consortium partner; shares denomination, congregational polity, and New England service area, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus: Mid-sized UU congregation with comparable pledge-based revenue model, religious education across ages, and active social justice committees; structurally similar in size and program mix.
• First Church in Cambridge: Historic Cambridge, MA congregation with Unitarian Universalist roots; comparable in New England location, progressive tradition, music programs, and community-engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• Unitarian Universalist Association: National denominational body to which First Parish is affiliated; not a direct competitor but the broader institutional incumbent that administers shared programs (Charitable Gift Annuity, ministerial credentialing) and shapes member expectations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8oixt68rn47AOg7V49nOdA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-parish-in-concord

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Parish In Concord