Plymouth United Church of Christ

What Plymouth United Church of Christ does

Plymouth United Church of Christ (legal name: Plymouth Congregational Church) is a non-profit religious congregation founded in 1857 in Des Moines, Iowa, and affiliated with the United Church of Christ denomination. It operates from a historic facility at 4126 Ingersoll Avenue featuring a 500+ seat sanctuary, Common Grounds café, Waveland Hall, Greenwood Room, Recital Hall, and Memorial Garden. The church serves community members, families with children, music and arts enthusiasts, LGBTQ+ individuals and allies (as an Open & Affirming congregation since 1993), and social justice advocates through a portfolio of worship, education, music, and service programs. Its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries are Plymouth Nursery School (a DHS-licensed half-day preschool for ages 2-5 established in 1954) and the Plymouth Church Foundation (a 501(c)(3) planned-giving entity established in 1979 with $10.4M in total assets as of December 31, 2025).

The organization's core product set is non-technological: it delivers weekly worship services (Saturday evening contemporary, Sunday morning Word & Table and traditional Sanctuary), faith formation programs (Church School, Confirmation, Stepping Stones, OWL sexuality education), a multigenerational music and arts program with 300+ participants anchored by the largest pipe organ in Iowa, a 27-month Transition into Ministry clergy residency, weddings, funerals, baptisms, and a Memorial Garden. Its underlying technology stack is administrative — the Church Center platform for member directory, event registration, group management, and online giving, supplemented by YouTube livestreaming, digital check-in kiosks for youth programming, and email newsletters. There are no AI/ML capabilities or proprietary software products disclosed.

Revenue mechanics combine four streams: (1) recurring tithes and offerings from congregants, (2) Plymouth Nursery School tuition (rates not publicly disclosed), (3) Plymouth Church Foundation planned and deferred gifts (wills, trusts, gift annuities, life insurance, lifetime contributions) plus competitive and strategic grantmaking, and (4) designated special offerings (e.g., a $10,000 AMOS goal). A Memorial Garden interment requires a minimum $250 contribution to the maintenance fund. The church's GTM is direct-to-congregant via in-person worship, small groups, service opportunities, fellowship events, and digital channels including website, YouTube, and email newsletter. Operating geography is single-site in Des Moines, Iowa, with regional digital reach via livestream.

Name

Plymouth United Church of Christ

Legal name

Plymouth Congregational Church

Website

https://plymouthchurch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1857

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Plymouth Congregational Church is a Des Moines, Iowa non-profit UCC congregation (founded 1857) delivering weekly worship, faith formation, music and arts programming (300+ participants), a licensed nursery school, and a $10.4M planned-giving foundation from its historic 500+ seat sanctuary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

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

Keywords

• Religious congregation services
• Faith formation programs
• Music and arts ministry
• Preschool education services
• Worship services

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

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, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional church giving through weekly/monthly donations from congregants during worship services and online giving options
2. Plymouth Church Foundation: Planned and deferred gifts including wills, trusts, gift annuities, life insurance, and lifetime contributions. Foundation total assets of $10,404,350 as of December 31, 2025
3. Plymouth Nursery School Tuition: Half-day preschool program for children ages 2-5, licensed by Iowa Department of Human Services, operating since 1954
4. Special Offerings and Designated Donations: Specific collection designations for causes like AMOS ($10,000 goal), Central Iowa Shelter meals, and capital campaigns

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Plymouth Church operates as a traditional brick-and-mortar religious congregation offering weekly worship services, comprehensive faith formation programs for all ages, music and arts ministry featuring the largest pipe organ in Iowa, a licensed preschool (Plymouth Nursery School), and community engagement initiatives including social justice advocacy. Core programming includes Saturday evening and Sunday morning worship, multigenerational choirs, church school and confirmation classes, wedding and funeral services, and a memorial garden.

Product overview

Plymouth Church is a traditional brick-and-mortar religious congregation offering a portfolio of spiritual formation, community engagement, and worship programs rather than technology products. The core offerings include the Music & Arts Academy (spanning Pre-K through adult choirs, handbells, and instrumental ensembles), Plymouth Nursery School (a DHS-licensed preschool established 1954), Church School and Confirmation for children/teens, the Transition into Ministry residency program for clergy, the Plymouth Church Foundation for planned giving, and various worship services. Programs are offered as distinct ministry areas rather than an integrated software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services
• Plymouth Nursery School
• Music and Arts Program
• Church School
• Confirmation Program
• Stepping Stones
• Our Whole Lives (OWL)
• Transition into Ministry (TiM)
• Plymouth Church Foundation
• Wedding Services
• Creation Care and Justice
• Memorial Garden

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AMOS (Arenas of More Options and Strategies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlymouth is a member institution of AMOS, a community organizing group working on issues including water quality, EMS response times, Silver Alert for vulnerable seniors, public education, and immigrant and refugee support. Plymouth committed 250 members to attend the 30th anniversary convention and pledged $10,000 donation. AMOS includes over 40 institutional members.
• Central Iowa Shelter and Services (CISS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlymouth serves meals at CISS on the 26th and 27th of every month, providing both volunteer staffing and funding for two meals monthly. Volunteers sign up through Church Center to serve meals while CISS prepares the food.
• Community Foundation of Greater Des MoinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Plymouth Church Foundation funds are managed professionally by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, providing professional money management, diverse fund options, and rigorous reporting and accountability.
• LSI Global Greens (Lutheran Services in Iowa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSI Global Greens refugee farmers sell fresh produce at Plymouth Church on Sundays during summer months (9:30-11:30 AM on upper level parking deck), supporting refugee economic empowerment while providing local food access.
• Des Moines Metro OperaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlymouth hosts recitals for the Des Moines Metro Opera as part of their concert and event programming, supporting local arts ecosystem.
• Heartland Youth ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlymouth partners with Heartland Youth Choir to host the Meet the Composer Festival, fostering youth choral music education and community.
• Greater Des Moines Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlymouth members volunteer for Habitat for Humanity through various roles including signage assistance, office administration, and community ambassador positions at events and construction sites across Polk, Dallas & Jasper counties.
• OPN ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationOPN Architects designed Plymouth's roof replacement master plan including natural slate, seamed copper, EPDM, and solar panel systems. They provide construction drawing development and oversight.
• Neumann Brothers ConstructioncoreTechnology or IntegrationNeumann Brothers serves as construction manager for Phase 2 of Plymouth's roof, masonry and solar project ($7,735,000 contract), managing various trade partners including Baker, Seedorf, and Academy Roofing.
• Horizon Event CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for AMOS 30th Anniversary Convention on August 30 from 3-5 PM in Clive, Iowa.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trinity Church Boston: Historic progressive Episcopal congregation in Boston's Back Bay with strong music programming, social justice initiatives, and cultural programming in a landmark building. Comparable to Plymouth in progressive mainline identity and music/arts scope, though Episcopal rather than UCC.
• The Riverside Church (NYC): Large progressive interdenominational congregation in New York City known for music programs, social justice activism, and cultural programming. Comparable to Plymouth in progressive identity and music/arts scope, though larger and interdenominational rather than UCC.
• Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago: Large progressive Presbyterian (PCUSA) congregation in downtown Chicago with music and arts programming, social justice initiatives, and historic building. Comparable to Plymouth as a progressive mainline congregation with similar program breadth and urban cultural role.
• All Souls Church Unitarian (Washington DC): Progressive Unitarian Universalist congregation in Washington DC with strong music programs, social justice engagement, and community organizing. Comparable to Plymouth in progressive theological orientation, program breadth, and cultural-community role.
• First Unitarian Church of Chicago: Large progressive Unitarian Universalist congregation in Chicago with music-rich worship, social justice programming, and long-standing community footprint. Comparable to Plymouth in scale, progressive identity, and program diversity.

Direct peers

• First Congregational Church of Los Angeles: Large progressive UCC congregation in Los Angeles with strong music programs, Open & Affirming identity, and active social justice engagement. Comparable to Plymouth as a same-denomination progressive congregation with broad programming.
• Old South Church in Boston: Historic United Church of Christ congregation in Boston with progressive identity, Open & Affirming designation, and strong music programming. Most directly comparable to Plymouth as a same-denomination progressive congregation with comparable scale and program breadth.
• First Church in Cambridge, Congregational: Historic UCC congregation in Cambridge, MA with progressive theology, social justice programming, and multi-generational music and arts programs. Directly comparable UCC peer with similar Open & Affirming stance and programming depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PlymouthChurchDSM/streams
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/plymouth.nursery.school_dsm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plymouth-congregational-united-church-of-christ

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Plymouth United Church of Christ