First Presbyterian Church of Normal

What First Presbyterian Church of Normal does

First Presbyterian Church of Normal is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination located at 2000 E College Ave, Normal, Illinois, serving the Bloomington-Normal / McLean County community. The church runs a dual-track weekly worship program — Traditional at 8:30am and Contemporary at 11am during the program year, collapsing to a single 10am combined service during summer — with services broadcast and archived via Boxcast livestream and supplemented by online giving through Vanco/eService Payments and digital connection tools (CCB/Church Community Builder, SignUpGenius, Google Forms for stewardship).

Its core programmatic products span the full age spectrum: Playmates Preschool (a wholly-owned subsidiary program serving ages 2–5 with tiered classes named Teddy Bears, Balloons, Rainbows, Sunshines, Moonbeams, and Starlight, running on Brightwheel for registration and tuition); FPC Kids Ministry (K-5th grade Sunday School, Kids' Worship, Vacation Bible School, Church Camp); Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade Sunday School, Confirmation, evening youth group, mission trips); Adult Discipleship (Blessing Women's Ministry, JOY for seniors, Young Adult Ministry, Something Supper Club); Music programs (Rock Choir, Chancel Choir, Youth/Adult Handbells, Praise Team); and roughly a dozen named small groups (Alpha, Empty Nesters, Freeman, Green Team, Knit-crochet, Men's Bible Fellowship, Moms Group, New Women, Next Chapter, Our First Rodeo, Thresholds Arts & Faith, Thursday Morning Book Group). Adjacent revenue/ancillary services include Building Use rental (weddings for members, funerals, events under a separate application), a Memorial Garden dedicated October 4, 2020 (columbarium niches under $3,000, scattering rights under $600), and Care & Share monthly donation drives supporting Home Sweet Home Ministries and The Salvation Army.

The business model is a typical nonprofit congregational funding stack: voluntary tithing and pledges (now formalized through a 2026 Online Stewardship Pledge), supplemented by tuition from Playmates Preschool (registration $90 + resource fee $75–$100 + tuition $145–$230/month), one-time Memorial Garden fees, building-use rentals, and targeted grants (e.g., a $3,500 Illinois Prairie Community Foundation grant for prairie development via the Green Team). The organization reports only 6 employees in firmographic data, operates exclusively from a single Normal, IL campus, and sustains an extensive volunteer-driven mission partnership network — Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal, Cedar Ridge and Fairview Elementary Schools (HOPE BAGS and PASS programs since 2021), Habitat for Humanity of McLean County (co-founded by FPC members in 1985), Home Sweet Home Ministries, Joy Care Center, Kemmerer Village, Mid Central Community Action, Midwest Food Bank, Project Oz, Western Avenue Community Center, YWCA Labyrinth, and Safe Harbor. It is affiliated with the Covenant Network of Presbyterians as an affirming congregation.

Name

First Presbyterian Church of Normal

Legal name

First Presbyterian Church of Normal

Website

https://firstpresnormal.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Presbyterian Church of Normal is a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation in Normal, Illinois, offering traditional and contemporary worship, a Playmates Preschool, full age-range faith formation, music and small groups, building rentals, and a Memorial Garden, serving members and the broader McLean County community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

First Presbyterian Church of Normal is a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation that provides weekly worship services (traditional and contemporary), a tuition-based preschool program (Playmates Preschool) for children ages 2-5, children's and youth ministry, adult discipleship, music programs, small groups, and community mission partnerships. The church also offers building rental services for weddings/funerals/events and operates a Memorial Garden columbarium for cremated remains interment.

Product overview

First Presbyterian Church of Normal is a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation offering a comprehensive suite of worship, educational, and community service programs. The church operates a dual-track worship model with Traditional (8:30am) and Contemporary (11am) services during the program year, plus summer combined services. Key programs include Playmates Preschool for children ages 2-5, FPC Kids Ministry with Sunday School and VBS, Youth Ministry with Confirmation and mission trips, Adult Discipleship classes, Music Programs (Rock Choir, Chancel Choir, Handbells, Praise Team), and various Small Groups. The church also provides Building Use services for weddings/funerals/events, operates a Memorial Garden with columbarium niches, and engages in community outreach through Mission Partners (including food banks, Habitat for Humanity, and youth organizations). Digital tools include CCB for member management, Brightwheel for preschool, online giving through Vanco, and RightNow Media for Bible study resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services Weekly worship services including Traditional (8:30am) and Contemporary (11am) formats during the program year, with a single combined 10am service during summer months. Services are livestreamed via Boxcast with archived sermons available online.
• Playmates Preschool Tuition-based child-centered preschool program for children ages 2-5+ offering multiple classes: Teddy Bears (2's), Balloons (3's), Rainbows (older 3's), Sunshines (4's morning), Moonbeams (4's afternoon), and Starlight (older 4's afternoon). Includes registration, tuition payments via Brightwheel, and a structured academic calendar.
• FPC Kids Ministry Children's ministry programs for elementary-aged children including Kids' Worship (K-5th grade during school year), Sunday School (preschool nursery and elementary), Kids of the Kingdom youth group, Church Camp, and Vacation Bible School (VBS).
• Youth Ministry Middle and high school student ministry featuring Sunday School, Confirmation classes, Sunday Evening Youth Group, Church Camp, VBS mentoring roles, and annual mission trips.
• Adult Discipleship Adult faith formation programs including Adult Discipleship classes, Blessing Women's Ministry, Just Older Youth (JOY), Something Supper Club, and Young Adult Ministry.
• Music Programs Musical enrichment programs including Rock Choir (K-5th grade), Chancel Choir, Youth Handbells, Adult Handbells, and Praise Team for contemporary worship services.
• Small Groups Various interest-based small groups including Alpha, Empty Nesters, Freeman Small Group, Green Team, Knit-crochet Ministry, Men's Bible Fellowship, Moms Group, New Women, Next Chapter, Our First Rodeo, Thresholds (Arts & Faith), and Thursday Morning Book Group.
• Building Use Services Facility rental for weddings (members only), funerals (for members, friends, or their families), and events. Wedding coordinator services included; event space rental governed by a separate Building Use Application.
• Memorial Garden Columbarium wall and memorial garden for cremated remains interment. Offers scattering services (under $600) and garden wall niches (under $3,000, includes sheet-bronze urns and inscription), available to church members and their families.
• Care & Share Program Monthly donation drive program supporting Home Sweet Home Ministries and The Salvation Army. Each month collects specific pantry, shelter, and kitchen needs for these local organizations.
• Green Team Environmental Ministry Environmental stewardship program focused on creation care, energy audits, Story Stroll events, summer garden sharing, solar exploration, and native prairie planting. Received a $3,500 Illinois Prairie Community Foundation grant for prairie development.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-NormalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth enhancement organization operating after-school and summer enrichment programs at three locations serving youth ages 5-18. Programs include homework help, STEM activities, arts introduction, leadership development, and career exploration. FPC supports through mission budget funding.
• Cedar Ridge Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2021, FPC has served through HOPE BAGS ministry addressing food insecurity by providing supplemental snack bags for students to access during weekends and breaks. Donations provided by Midwest Food Bank, volunteers sort and assemble bags.
• Fairview Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2021, FPC has offered PASS (Providing After School Safety) program providing homework assistance, recreational activities, and faith exploration for students while parents are at work. Free program supported by dedicated volunteers.
• Habitat for Humanity of McLean CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabitat brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. FPC members were instrumental in founding the McLean County affiliate in 1985. Church has historically provided one-fourth sponsorship of a home every other year.
• Home Sweet Home Ministries, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHas served the homeless and hungry in Bloomington since 1917. Provides case management, shelter, hot meals, clothing access, and job training. Goal is to help people find independence and restore hope. Innovative programs include Food for Life food co-op and Rapid Rehousing program. Receives funding through FPC missions budget.
• Joy Care CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1993 to assist those released from prison/jail by strengthening spiritual and practical skills. Jobs Partnership empowers participants to improve personal and workplace performance and build foundation for positive future. FPC provides mission funding.
• Kemmerer VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresbyterian-affiliated organization helping children and families facing stress and turmoil. Programs include residential treatment, education, foster care, recreational therapy, equestrian and pet therapy. FPC has deacon support and mission funding relationship.
• Mid Central Community Action (MCCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCCA envisions healthy, self-sufficient families in strong, safe neighborhoods. Programs include Neville House emergency shelter, domestic violence hotline, healthy finances, healthy homes, and healthy neighborhoods initiatives. Receives mission funding from FPC.
• Midwest Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginated in 2003 in McLean County. Mission is to share love of Christ by alleviating hunger and malnutrition locally and globally with disaster relief. Volunteer-based national food bank serving non-profits. Provides donations for FPC's HOPE BAGS ministry.
• Project OzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes 8,000 youth annually working to reunite families, help kids stay in school, teach useful skills, and keep lives drug free. Also provides shelter and safety for homeless and runaway youth. FPC supports through mission budget.
• Western Avenue Community CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes more than 1,000 families annually through social, educational and recreational activities for all ages with focus on children, youth, and seniors. Includes Hispanic Outreach program with social services, interpretation, translation, and counseling. FPC provides mission funding.
• YWCA of McLean County (Labyrinth)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabyrinth program addresses needs of women released from Illinois Department of Corrections and McLean County Jail. Programs include mentoring, economic/employment services, transitional housing, and case management. FPC supports through mission budget.
• Covenant Network of PresbyterianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with Covenant Network of Presbyterians, a network of churches and individuals committed to building a more inclusive church. FPC is listed as an affirming congregation in their network.
• Safe HarborminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPC volunteers serve meals at Safe Harbor on the first Thursday of each month. Church groups including the Freeman Small Group and various volunteers participate in this feeding ministry.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• BoxCast: Live video streaming platform used by FPC for worship services. Vendor in the church/house-of-worship streaming space with similar customer profile.
• Brightwheel: Preschool/childcare management SaaS used by Playmates Preschool. A vendor in the early-childhood education software market; comparable in customer base (small preschools) to FPC's preschool arm.
• The Church Co: Vendor providing FPC's website platform. A church-focused tech vendor in FPC's ecosystem; comparable to other church SaaS providers. Indirect connection — vendor rather than peer.
• Church Community Builder (CCB) / Pushpay ecosystem: CCB (now part of the Pushpay/Tithely ecosystem) is FPC's member management platform. Adjacent vendor in the church technology stack with comparable ministry customers.
• Presbyterian Church (USA) — Office of the General Assembly: The national PCUSA denominational body. Not a peer in the operational sense, but the governing/affiliating structure that determines polity, resources, and shared services that FPC draws upon.

Direct peers

• First Presbyterian Church of Bloomington (IL): Another PCUSA congregation in the same Bloomington-Normal metro, serving the same overall market with traditional/PCUSA worship, education, and community programs. Direct local peer for benchmarking congregational size, programming scope, and preschool-style offerings.

Regional players

• Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Normal, IL): Mainline (Catholic) congregation in Normal, IL offering worship, formation, and likely school/parish programs. Same local market, same kind of community-anchored religious ministry model, but different denomination.
• Second Presbyterian Church (Peoria, IL): PCUSA congregation in a comparable mid-Illinois city, similar in size and program scope. Useful for regional denominational benchmarking in Mainline Protestant context.
• Immanuel Lutheran Church (Normal, IL): Mainline Protestant (LCMS or ELCA) congregation in the same local market with comparable programmatic footprint (worship, education, youth, music, small groups). Direct local competitor for congregants and community visibility.

Broad incumbents

• Westminster Presbyterian Church (various locations): Westminster-named Presbyterian congregations are typically larger, more established Mainline Protestant churches with broader programming, multiple staff, and often preschool/early childhood centers. Comparable to FPC in denomination and ministry model, but at larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/firstpresnormal
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstpresnormal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-presbyterian-church-of-normal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Presbyterian Church of Normal