First Presbyterian Church of Evanston

What First Presbyterian Church of Evanston does

First Presbyterian Church of Evanston (FPCE) is a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation located at 1427 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, Illinois, operating as an independent nonprofit religious organization with 15 paid staff. The church delivers a multi-generational ministry portfolio anchored by weekly Sunday worship services at 10:30 a.m., available both in-person and via live stream at live.firstpresevanston.org, with communion observed on the first Sunday of each month. Programming spans nursery and children's Christian education, youth ministry (middle school through college age), Vacation Bible School, adult discipleship and small groups, men's breakfast, and structured new-member onboarding through the "Life Together" class. The church also co-locates and operates the School for Little Children on its campus.

The underlying technology stack is non-proprietary and built on third-party SaaS: a WordPress website serves as the communications hub, Realm (ACS Technologies) handles online giving and member management, Church Center provides event registration and calendar functionality, and live streaming infrastructure supports remote participation and on-demand archival of past services. Marketing and outreach are conducted through the website, email newsletters (eNews), and organic social channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest).

The revenue model is overwhelmingly donation-driven — tithes, offerings, and pledges collected during services and through the Realm giving platform — with marginal program fee income from specific activities (youth outings at $10/person, Appalachia mission trips at $135/student, family camp at $250-$300/family with a church subsidy tier at $300, free Vacation Bible School). The church is governed by a Session of elected Elders and a Board of Deacons, and recently transitioned senior pastoral leadership to Rev. Derek Zeyl. Outreach extends to local Evanston community members in need through partnerships with Family Focus of Evanston, Good News Partners / New Life Shelter, and Chicagoland Prison Outreach, alongside a 25+ year sister-church relationship with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and a developing tie to Church of Hope in Ramallah.

Name

First Presbyterian Church of Evanston

Legal name

First Presbyterian Church of Evanston

Website

https://firstpresevanston.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Presbyterian Church of Evanston is a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation in Evanston, Illinois serving members of all ages through Sunday worship, Christian education, youth and family ministries, community outreach, and international mission partnerships, funded primarily by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Religious services
• Christian worship
• Religious education
• Youth ministry
• Pastoral care

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional church giving through weekly offerings and regular tithes from congregation members, collected during worship services and through online giving platforms.
2. Event Fees: Modest fees charged for specific programs and activities such as youth outings ($10 per person), youth mission trips ($135 per student), and family camp ($250-$300 per family).

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Presbyterian Church of Evanston is a Protestant Christian congregation that provides weekly worship services, religious education programs for children and adults, youth ministry, pastoral care, choral and musical offerings, and community outreach/mission programs. Its core deliverable is in-person and online community-based religious programming delivered to congregants and the wider Evanston, Illinois community.

Product overview

First Presbyterian Church of Evanston offers a comprehensive suite of ministry programs centered around weekly worship services and community outreach. The church operates a multi-generational program portfolio including Sunday worship (in-person and live-streamed), children's ministry, youth ministry with seasonal activities and mission trips, Vacation Bible School, small groups, and various community service initiatives. The church also maintains digital giving capabilities through an online donation platform. Key seasonal programs include the annual Rainforest Falls VBS, Deacons' Backpack Project for local students, Angels of Hope Christmas gift collection, and overnight shelter hosting for unhoused community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekly Worship Services Sunday Protestant worship services held at the church and online for members, visitors, and the broader Evanston community.
• Religious Education Programs Christian education classes for children, youth, and adults covering scripture, theology, and faith formation.
• Youth Ministry Youth fellowship, formation, and service programs for young people in the congregation.
• Choir and Music Programs Choir and musical ensembles that lead congregational singing and perform sacred music during worship and concerts.
• Pastoral Care One-on-one pastoral counseling, visitation, and prayer support for members during life events and transitions.
• Community Outreach and Mission Programs Outreach programs, food assistance, and partnership missions that serve people in need in Evanston and beyond.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Family Focus of EvanstoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Family Focus of Evanston for the Deacons' Backpack Project, providing 27 local students with new backpacks filled with essential school supplies. The Board of Deacons coordinates fundraising of $2,400 to cover costs.
• Good News Partners / New Life SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGood News Partners ministry in Rogers Park provides housing and care for those facing homelessness. FPCE Deacons host annual Christmas Celebration for shelter guests with wrapped gifts, dinner, and activities.
• Chicagoland Prison OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Angels of Hope project in partnership with Chicagoland Prison Outreach, collecting new toys and items for children of incarcerated individuals from the region.
• Christmas Lutheran Church in BethlehemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister-church relationship spanning over 25 years. Christmas Lutheran Church bears faithful witness to Christ's birth through worship, service, and education in the West Bank.
• Church of Hope in RamallahminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowing relationship with Church of Hope in Ramallah following Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac's move from Christmas Lutheran Church. FPCE supports through prayer and visits, celebrating milestones and strengthening ministries.
• Bethlehem Bible CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner offering Roads of the Holy Land online lecture series. FPCE members participate in these educational programs supporting one of their mission partners.
• First United Methodist Church of EvanstonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for high school mission trips through Appalachia Service Project (ASP). FUMC and FPCE students serve together repairing homes in the Appalachian region.
• Camp StrongholdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Family Camp venue. Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center in Oregon, IL provides lodging, meals, and activities including archery, swimming, and devotionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Christ Church Lake Forest: Large Episcopal congregation in nearby Lake Forest, IL serving the affluent North Shore suburbs. Comparable in demographic target and program sophistication, though operating in a different immediate market.
• Moody Church (Chicago): Historic Chicago church with comparable programming scope and live-streaming capability, though more evangelical in orientation. Represents alternative theological choice for Chicago-area church seekers.

Direct peers

• Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago: Larger PC(USA) congregation in downtown Chicago with comparable multi-generational programming, extensive mission outreach, and similar Presbyterian worship style. Most directly comparable peer given shared denomination, urban-suburban Chicago footprint, and similar program mix.
• Northminster Presbyterian Church (Evanston): PC(USA) church serving the Evanston/North Shore community. Same denomination and immediate service geography, providing direct head-to-head competition for Presbyterian-preferring local families.
• First United Methodist Church of Evanston: Fellow Evanston mainline Protestant congregation already partnering with FPCE on youth mission trips (Appalachia Service Project). Comparable size, programming mix, and immediate geographic competition for mainline Protestant members.
• Holy Covenant Congregational Church (Chicago): Open and affirming mainline Protestant congregation in the Chicago metro area with similar progressive identity, community outreach emphasis, and intergenerational programming — competing for similar values-driven families.
• St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Evanston): Episcopal congregation in Evanston with comparable progressive mainline Protestant identity, strong community outreach, and similar demographic target. Direct competitor for spiritually progressive Evanston families.

Broad incumbents

• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): National denomination providing governance, resources, and shared infrastructure to FPCE. Sets theological and programmatic standards for the church and represents the broader institutional context for any PC(USA) congregation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-presbyterian-church-of-evanston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Evanston