GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE NORTH SHORE

What GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE NORTH SHORE does

Grace Presbyterian Church of the North Shore is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) denomination, founded in 2001 when four families gathered in a living room and operating from its current building at 440 Ridge Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois since 2012. The church conducts weekly Sunday worship services at 10am with communion, alongside an extensive ministry portfolio including Children's Ministry (nursery through 3rd grade), Youth Ministry (4th grade through high school), men's and women's ministries, Grace Groups (small groups meeting twice monthly), prayer groups, and retreats. It serves the North Shore of Chicago community and supports two campus ministries at Northwestern University (Reformed University Fellowship for undergraduates and RUF-International for international students), eight local mission partners, and global mission work in Haiti, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Northern/Western Africa.

The church operates on a donation-based revenue model, accepting tithes and offerings, online giving through the Breeze payment platform, stock donations, and a three-year RENEW capital campaign launched in April 2024 with a $8.988 million budget spanning through May 2027. Technology infrastructure consists of third-party SaaS platforms (Church Center App for member engagement, Breeze for payment processing, YouTube/Spotify/Apple Podcasts for sermon distribution) with no proprietary technology, AI capabilities, or external APIs. The organization is governed by a Senior Pastor (Marshall Brown), an elder board, and committee chairs, with approximately 5 employees augmented by congregational volunteers.

The church is currently executing a major capital expansion plan: it received Village Board of Winnetka approval in June 2025 for the RENEW renovation to expand ministry space by approximately 65 percent, and will temporarily relocate to North Shore Country Day School from April 12, 2026 through December 2026 during construction. A home purchased in 2023 steps from Northwestern University supports long-term student outreach. Financial information is shared internally with the congregation through annual reviews by a CPA firm, and operating revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE NORTH SHORE

Legal name

Grace Presbyterian Church of the North Shore

Website

https://gracenorthshore.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grace Presbyterian Church of the North Shore is a 501(c)(3) PCA congregation in Winnetka, Illinois, founded in 2001, serving the North Shore Chicago community through Sunday worship, intergenerational ministries, and global missions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAA

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAD

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAG

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Youth ministry programs
• Community outreach
• Global mission partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnetka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions from congregation members. The church is a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax-deductible. Multiple giving methods are available.
2. Online Giving: Secure credit/debit card donations through Breeze payment platform. Donors can choose to cover processing fees.
3. RENEW Campaign: Capital campaign for building renovation project ($8.988 million as of October 2025) spanning April 2024 through May 2027. One-time and recurring gifts accepted.
4. Stock Donations: Appreciated assets (stock) can be donated directly to the church.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grace Presbyterian Church of the North Shore provides weekly Sunday worship services and a comprehensive range of faith formation ministries for all ages, including children's ministry (nursery through 3rd grade), youth ministry (4th grade through high school), men's and women's Bible studies, small groups (Grace Groups), and prayer gatherings. The church also engages in local community outreach and global missions through partnerships with organizations serving vulnerable populations. All services and programs are offered free of charge, funded by voluntary tithes and donations from members and supporters.

Product overview

Grace Presbyterian Church of the North Shore is a community of faith offering Sunday worship services and diverse ministry programs. The church provides spiritual formation through Children's Ministry (nursery through 3rd grade), Youth Ministry (4th grade through high school), Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Grace Groups (small groups), and Prayer Groups. The church supports community outreach through local partnerships and global missions. The church offers digital resources including online sermons and provides online giving options through its website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Growing congregation with 6 adults and 17 children baptized in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Shore Country Day SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Temporary worship location partner during RENEW building renovation. Church will gather at the school's auditorium and cafeteria from April 12, 2026 through December 2026 while the main building is renovated.
• Tyndale Theological Seminary, NetherlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMario and Elsbeth serve at Tyndale near Amsterdam, training future Christian leaders from Africa and Asia. The seminary prepares pastors and missionaries for ministry in their home countries and engages in local church outreach in one of the world's most secular regions.
• RUF Tennessee State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry honors the legacy of Christian faith at Historically Black Christian Universities (HBCUs) by providing a supportive, gospel-centered community.
• El Shaddai Ministries International (ESMI), HaiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransforming communities across Haiti through church planting, schools, and orphan care. Network includes 121 churches, 40 schools with 7,000 students, and 9 children's homes serving 1,000 orphans. Opportunities to sponsor children, volunteer on medical trips, or purchase prayer booklets.
• Stephan and Karis Rigby, KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam leaders in Nairobi, Kenya helping team members engage in meaningful ministry while adapting to cross-cultural living. Passionate about leadership development, mentorship, and sharing the gospel across Kenya.
• Africans Reaching Africa (ARA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to spreading the gospel among unreached people groups in Northern and Western Africa by mobilizing African believers as missionaries through evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.
• Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at NorthwesterncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian community at Northwestern University committed to reaching students with the gospel. Andrew Barber serves as RUF Campus Minister and is a Grace member. Founded in 2005.
• RUF-International at Northwestern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes international students and scholars, creating space for spiritual growth, cultural exchange, and faith exploration. John Matta serves as RUF-I Campus Minister and is a Grace congregant. Launched in 2017.
• Safe Families For ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides temporary housing and support for children in crisis due to homelessness or family emergencies. Opportunities include hosting families, Family Friends, mentoring children, or attending training sessions.
• Younglife on the North ShoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntroduces students to Jesus Christ and helps them grow in faith through engaging programs for middle school, high school, and college students. Opportunities to volunteer as a leader, join the committee, or support financially.
• GRIP Outreach for YouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvests in lives of at-risk Chicago teens through Christ-centered, life-on-life mentoring relationships. Opportunities to volunteer in outreach programs or support service efforts.
• Living Hope Church, WoodlawnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiverse and inclusive community centered on Jesus Christ on the South Side of Chicago. Opportunities to donate, serve locally, or participate in mission trips.
• By The Hand Kids Club, ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter-school program walking alongside students from kindergarten through college, nurturing mind, body, and spirit in a Christ-centered environment. Opportunities to donate, volunteer, or organize fundraisers.
• Divine Hope Reformed Bible SeminaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides biblical and theological instruction within correctional facilities in Illinois and Indiana, bringing transformation and hope to inmates. Opportunities to donate, visit, or engage with students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Highland Park Presbyterian Church: PCA church in Dallas, TX, of comparable congregational size and demographic profile. Direct denominational peer with overlapping youth, children's, and small-group ministry models.
• Church of the Apostles: PCA church in Atlanta serving a similar suburban professional demographic with comparable multi-generational programming. Closely aligned in denomination, theological identity, and ministry structure.
• Menlo Church: Presbyterian-affiliated church in Menlo Park, CA, of comparable suburban professional demographic and similar emphasis on family/children's ministry, small groups, and sermon accessibility.
• Christ Presbyterian Church: PCA congregation in Nashville, TN, comparable in size, Reformed theological commitments, and emphasis on family/children's ministry — a strong structural and theological peer.
• Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church: Historic PCA congregation with comparable Reformed theological identity, congregational-scale programming, and a longstanding global mission footprint — closely analogous denomination and ministry profile to Grace.
• The Village Church: PCA-affiliated church in Flower Mound, TX, comparable to Grace in denomination, congregational scale, and Reformed theological identity. Both operate multi-generational ministries and active global mission partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• North Point Community Church: Large evangelical multisite church with comparable digital distribution strategy (online sermons, podcast) and family-oriented ministry programming — broader-scale analog for Grace's operating model.

Regional players

• Fourth Presbyterian Church: Mainline Presbyterian church on Chicago's North Michigan Avenue — geographically proximate to Grace and overlapping in North Shore/Chicago catchment, though substantially larger and PCUSA-affiliated rather than PCA.
• Winnetka Bible Church: Evangelical congregation located in Winnetka, IL, sharing the same immediate North Shore catchment and demographic profile as Grace. Geographically adjacent peer with overlapping member base potential.
• Christ Church Winnetka: Anglican congregation in Winnetka, IL, sharing the same village footprint as Grace and overlapping North Shore membership pool — direct local peer in catchment though differing in denomination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gracepresbyterianchurch8361
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grace-presbyterian-church-of-the-north-shore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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