Los Altos United Methodist Church

What Los Altos United Methodist Church does

Los Altos United Methodist Church (LAUMC) is a non-profit religious organization founded in 1950, operating two campuses in Los Altos and Mountain View, California, and serving congregants across all age groups through a comprehensive suite of faith-based programs. The organization is affiliated with the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church and operates as a member congregation under the denomination's framework without external ownership. LAUMC delivers worship services on Sundays at 8:30 am and 10:00 am in-person and online via the LAUMC Live! livestream platform at live.laumc.org, alongside age-segmented ministries including Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry (grades 6-12), gen2gen senior programs, and adult GroupLife small groups. The church also hosts the Changemaker Initiative, a social entrepreneurship program developed in partnership with Ashoka, and operates the Children's Center Preschool at its campus.

LAUMC's core product surface includes worship services, pastoral care and counseling, music and choir programs (New Covenant adult choir, youth choirs Lightshine and Starfire Singers), and an extensive service and social justice portfolio encompassing Hope's Corner, Habitat for Humanity support, disaster response teams, the Jubilee Initiative micro-lending program, and international mission work including the African Student Education Fund (68+ African women sponsored at Africa University since 2002). The Mountain View campus doubles as a community hub, housing seven non-profit organizations including Hope's Corner, JobTrain, a women's winter shelter, and the Community Health Awareness Council. The underlying technology stack is composed of standard third-party SaaS integrations: Zoom for virtual programming, MinistryPlatform for member directory and event management, and OnlineGiving for donation processing.

LAUMC's revenue model is entirely donation-based, with no pricing for services. Income streams include tithes and offerings collected in-person, online giving via one-time gifts, recurring donations, text-to-give, stock donations, and vehicle donations, plus designated special offerings for specific causes and planned legacy giving through estate planning. The church has 31 employees and is led by Senior Pastor David Samelson (announced February 2022) and Associate Pastor Jeong Park, with a lay leadership governance structure including a Church Council, Board of Trustees, and various committees. The operating geography is California, USA, with international reach through mission partnerships and global livestream access.

Name

Los Altos United Methodist Church

Legal name

Los Altos United Methodist Church

Website

https://laumc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Los Altos United Methodist Church is a non-profit United Methodist congregation serving Los Altos and Mountain View, California, with two campuses providing weekly worship, age-segmented ministries, social justice programs, and an Ashoka-affiliated Changemaker Initiative funded by congregational donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Faith-Based Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Community outreach
• Pastoral care
• Social justice ministries

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Altos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: LAUMC receives voluntary financial contributions from congregants through in-person collection during worship services, reflecting traditional church giving practices.
2. Online Giving: The church accepts donations through online platforms including one-time gifts, recurring donations, text-to-give, stock donations, and vehicle donations. Donors can give via laumc.onlinegiving.org or text donations.
3. Special Offerings: LAUMC collects designated offerings for specific causes and community organizations throughout the year, including disaster relief, mission trips, and charitable programs.
4. Legacy Giving: The church offers planned giving and legacy giving programs for congregants who wish to include LAUMC in their estate planning.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LAUMC provides weekly in-person and livestreamed worship services, age-segmented faith formation ministries (Children's, Youth, gen2gen seniors, Adults), pastoral care and counseling, music and choir programs, the Ashoka-partnered Changemaker Initiative for social entrepreneurship, and community service/social justice outreach programs. Programs are offered at no charge and funded by congregational donations, tithes, and offerings.

Product overview

Los Altos United Methodist Church offers a comprehensive suite of faith-based programs and services centered around its worship ministry. The church provides in-person and online worship services, along with age-specific ministries including Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, and gen2gen (Wisdom Generation) for seniors. Additional programs include The Changemaker Initiative for social entrepreneurship, Service & Social Justice outreach, Music & Choirs, Pastoral Care, and GroupLife Small Groups. The Children's Center Preschool operates as an affiliated program. The church uses digital platforms including Zoom for virtual gatherings, MinistryPlatform for church management, and OnlineGiving for donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services In-person and online worship services held on Sundays at 8:30 am and 10:00 am, featuring music, sermons, and communion. Services are livestreamed via LAUMC Live! and made available to congregants who cannot attend in person.
• Children's Ministry Faith formation program for children from birth through elementary age, featuring Sunday School, storytelling, games, art, fellowship, Vacation Bible School, and service opportunities to learn about the Christian faith.
• Youth Ministry Faith development program for students in grades 6-12 providing opportunities for spiritual growth through games, fellowship, classes, service trips, Confirmation, and youth choirs (Lightshine and Starfire Singers).
• gen2gen@LAUMC (Wisdom Generation / Senior Ministry) Senior ministry program offering monthly activities for older adults including guest speakers (in person and on Zoom), picnics, movie groups, service projects, intergenerational tea parties, and other fellowship opportunities.
• The Changemaker Initiative Social entrepreneurship and changemaking program developed in partnership with Ashoka, designed to help congregants identify as changemakers and translate compassion into practical social innovation across families, schools, workplaces, and communities.
• Service & Social Justice Programs Outreach programs including Compassion Week, Hope's Corner, Our Neighbor's House, disaster response teams, social justice ministries, food collections, and other volunteer service opportunities for congregants and the wider community.
• Music & Choirs Musical programs including the New Covenant adult choir, youth choirs (Lightshine and Starfire Singers), and special musical presentations supporting worship services and community events.
• Pastoral Care Pastoral care services including counseling, prayer ministry, congregational care, support groups (Cancer, Caregiver, Grief, The Parent Club), Angels On Call, Silver Link Ministry, and memorials and funerals.
• GroupLife Small Groups Adult faith formation through small groups, study groups, membership classes, fellowship activities, support ministries, and United Methodist Women.
• Children's Center Preschool Preschool program operated at the LAUMC campus providing early childhood education, also serving as a community outreach ministry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 68 African women have received tuition scholarships at Africa University since 2002
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Hope's CornercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope's Corner operates from LAUMC's Mountain View campus, providing food, showers, and laundry services for local people experiencing hardship. LAUMC provides facility space and volunteer support for this community outreach ministry.
• Community Services Agency (CSA) - Mountain ViewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC partners with CSA to collect non-perishable food donations and fresh produce for families in need in Mountain View. The church conducts monthly Food Donation Sunday and Fresh Produce Sunday collections.
• Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon ValleysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC supports Habitat for Humanity through volunteer work at their Fremont condominium complex and Playhouse warehouse, financial contributions, and raising awareness in worship. The church hosts Outreach Connection presentations featuring Habitat.
• Day Worker Center - Mountain ViewsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC supports the Day Worker Center through monetary donations, volunteer teaching (English, computer literacy, job training), tool donations, and by employing day workers for church and personal projects.
• Project WeHOPEsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC volunteers prepare and serve holiday dinners at the Project WeHOPE shelter in East Palo Alto. The church has made this an annual tradition, providing a feast for shelter guests.
• Rebuilding Together Silicon ValleysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC organizes volunteer teams to repair homes of low-income homeowners in San Jose through Rebuilding Together's home rehabilitation program.
• AshokacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAshoka is a social entrepreneurship organization that partners with LAUMC to develop the Changemaker Initiative. Ashoka identifies changemakers, provides training, and helps translate compassion into practical social change through the church community.
• California-Nevada Conference of The United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC is a member congregation of the California-Nevada Conference, participating in conference-wide initiatives including disaster response teams, Volunteers in Mission, and the Go, Sow, Grow prayer initiative.
• California-Nevada Conference ERT (Early Response Team)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC hosts Early Response Team training for the California-Nevada Conference, training volunteers to provide Christian presence and light cleanup in disaster-affected communities.
• Pacifica InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC partners with Pacifica Institute for interfaith programs, including the Ramadan Feast and Fellowship event to build bridges between faith communities.
• Our Neighbor's HousesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC supports Our Neighbor's House, a ministry that provides essential services and support to community members in need.
• Children's Center PreschoolsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Children's Center Preschool operates at LAUMC, providing early childhood education and serving as a community outreach ministry. LAUMC promotes the preschool through its website and community.
• Starfire SingerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarfire Singers is LAUMC's youth choir ministry founded by Dirk and Carol Damonte, which has created original musicals and performed at community events. The choir is integral to LAUMC's music and youth ministry.
• Cupertino Rotary ClubsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cupertino Rotary Club sponsored and organized a volunteer effort to install solar panels on LAUMC's Mountain View campus, substantially reducing costs through donated volunteer labor from five Rotary clubs.
• Hope Crisis Response Network (HCRN)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCRN organizes dormitory-style housing for volunteers doing fire recovery work in Middletown. LAUMC teams work with HCRN for California fire disaster response trips.
• United Methodist Federal Credit UnionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jubilee Initiative, a social justice ministry at LAUMC, provides small personal loans through the United Methodist Federal Credit Union to refute predatory lenders.
• San Francisco Gay Men's ChorussecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAUMC partnered with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus for 'With One Voice' - an evening of worship and song promoting full inclusion and solidarity with LGBTQ communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Los Gatos United Methodist Church: UMC congregation in nearby Los Gatos within the same California-Nevada Conference, operating parallel worship, faith formation, and community service programs in a similar South Bay demographic.
• St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Palo Alto): Mainline Christian congregation in nearby Palo Alto offering worship, formation, and outreach programs serving a similar Silicon Valley demographic with overlapping values around inclusion and community engagement.
• First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto: United Methodist congregation in nearby Palo Alto serving a similar Silicon Valley demographic with comparable worship, faith formation, and community outreach programming. Same denominational affiliation and conference (California-Nevada), making it the closest direct competitor for congregants.
• St. Andrew's United Methodist Church (Saratoga): California-Nevada Conference UMC congregation in Saratoga with comparable worship, music, youth, and outreach ministries serving a similar affluent Silicon Valley-adjacent demographic.
• Los Altos Lutheran Church: Mainline Christian congregation based in Los Altos, directly competing with LAUMC for the same local congregant base with similar worship, children's, and community outreach programming in the immediate geographic market.
• Wesley United Methodist Church (Cupertino): United Methodist congregation in Cupertino operating under the same California-Nevada Conference as LAUMC, with parallel worship, faith formation, and community ministry programming serving an overlapping Silicon Valley population.
• First Presbyterian Church of Los Altos: Mainline Protestant congregation physically located in Los Altos offering worship, faith formation for all ages, and community service programs that directly compete with LAUMC for congregants in the same neighborhood.
• Sunnyvale United Methodist Church: California-Nevada Conference UMC congregation in adjacent Sunnyvale, offering similar worship, youth, and community service programs to a Silicon Valley congregant base with overlapping demographic characteristics.
• Christ Episcopal Church (Los Altos): Mainline Christian congregation in Los Altos offering similar worship, children's, youth, and outreach programming in direct competition with LAUMC for local congregants.

Regional players

• Peninsula Covenant Church: Large evangelical congregation in Redwood City serving the broader Peninsula/Silicon Valley region with comparable children's, youth, and community service programs at greater scale than LAUMC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/laumc
• Facebookfacebook.com/LosAltosUnitedMethodistChurch
• Instagraminstagram.com/losaltosumc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/los-altos-united-methodist-church

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Los Altos United Methodist Church