Presbyterian Church of Western Springs

What Presbyterian Church of Western Springs does

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs (PCWS) is a PCUSA-affiliated religious nonprofit founded on December 18, 1955 with 67 charter members and currently located at 5250 Wolf Road, Western Springs, Illinois. Its core offering is weekly Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m., delivered in-person in the sanctuary and simultaneously livestreamed via Facebook Live and YouTube with archived recordings. Around this anchor service, the church operates an intergenerational program suite including Midweek Bible Study (in-person and Zoom), multiple adult book and discussion groups (Early Risers, PCWS Book Group, Interfaith Book Group with Mosque Foundation partners, Presbyterian Women Bible Study, Men's Groups, Theology & Brew), music ministry (Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Praise Band), Children's Ministry (Grace Space, Sunday School, nursery), Youth Ministry (confirmation grades 7–9 plus Appalachia Service Project mission trips), Summer City Adventures day camps for ages 5–12, and a Stephen Ministry lay-caregiver program.

Revenue is generated almost entirely from congregational giving through four primary streams: weekly tithes and offerings, an annual pledge campaign, a multi-fund planned-giving program (Endowment, Building, Ministry & Mission, Memorial, Designated Gifts), and nominal ancillary fees (chancel flower dedications at $40 and yoga at $15/session). Digital infrastructure supports this model: Vanco Payment Solutions processes online giving and pledges, Constant Contact distributes the "Weekly Connection" newsletter, Zoom facilitates virtual studies, SignUpGenius coordinates volunteer participation, and the church website (presbyws.org) hosts sermon archives, event calendars, and donation flows. Staff consists of eight paid personnel (Senior Pastor, Parish Associate, Music Director, Director of Children & Family Ministry, Church Administrator, Financial Secretary, and two Nursery Attendants).

The church's go-to-market is community-led: engagement is driven through in-person worship, small-group participation, an annual summer mission calendar, and a portfolio of 8+ active mission partners including BEDS Plus (homeless services), People's Resource Center (school supplies — 989–1,200 students served annually), Rise Against Hunger and Feed My Starving Children (meal packing, 56,000+ meals cumulative), Margaret's Village (50+ year shelter work), RefugeeOne (2022 resettlement), and a 15+ year international partnership with Nueva Paz Presbyterian Church in Cuba including a Living Waters for the World water system. Marketing channels are predominantly organic (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, weekly email) plus community referral via partners such as Summer City Adventures.

Name

Presbyterian Church of Western Springs

Legal name

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs

Website

https://presbyws.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs is a PCUSA-affiliated congregation founded in 1955 in Western Springs, Illinois, delivering weekly Sunday worship, intergenerational faith formation, and a multi-partner local and international mission program to its suburban members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Community mission outreach
• Pastoral care ministry
• Church youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Western Springs, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Regular Sunday worship offerings collected from congregation members during in-person services and through online giving platform (Vanco Payment Solutions)
2. Pledge Commitments: Annual stewardship campaign where members pledge financial support to the church through online pledge system, one-time or recurring payments
3. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts, bequests, charitable trusts, annuities, IRA/401k beneficiary designations, and property transfers to support long-term church mission. Five dedicated funds: Endowment Fund, Building Fund, Ministry & Mission Fund, Memorial Fund, and Designated Gifts
4. Designated Gifts: Special donations for specific purposes including chancel flowers ($40), special music, scholarships, and mission trip support
5. Program Fees: Morning Yoga classes at $15 per person per session

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs (PCWS) is a PCUSA-affiliated congregation that delivers weekly Sunday worship services both in-person and online via Facebook Live and YouTube, alongside faith formation programming for all ages including adult Bible studies and book groups, children's Sunday School and Grace Space, youth confirmation classes, music ministry (choirs and praise band), Stephen Ministry one-to-one pastoral care, and a Safe Space child protection program. The church runs a mission program supporting local food pantries, homeless shelters, refugee resettlement, and hunger-relief organizations, and maintains a 15+ year partnership with Nueva Paz Presbyterian Church in Cuba. Funded by member tithes, annual pledges, and planned giving, PCWS also offers Summer City Adventures day camp and Morning Yoga as community-facing programs.

Product overview

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs is a PCUSA congregation founded in 1955 offering a comprehensive suite of faith-based programs and services. The core offering is Sunday worship (in-person and online via Facebook/YouTube), supplemented by Bible study groups, book clubs, music ministry (Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Praise Band), and children's programs (Grace Space, Sunday School, nursery). Youth ministry includes confirmation classes and annual Appalachia Service Project mission trips. The church operates a robust mission program supporting local partners (BEDS Plus, food pantries) and international partnerships including a 15+ year relationship with Nueva Paz, Cuba featuring water purification and feeding programs. Additional services include Stephen Ministry (one-to-one pastoral care), Safe Space child protection program, Summer City Adventures day camp, and planned giving/online giving financial services. The church uses Zoom for virtual gatherings, SignUpGenius for volunteer coordination, and Constant Contact for email newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m. with in-person attendance at the Western Springs sanctuary and online streaming via Facebook Live and YouTube, including sermon archives and weekly bulletins. Designed for the full congregation including children via Grace Space and remote participants worldwide.
• Midweek Bible Study

Quantifiable outcome

• 989-1200 students served annually through school supply drives
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Nueva Paz Presbyterian Church (Cuba)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 200815+ year international partnership with a small rural church community approximately 40 miles southeast of Havana, Cuba. Includes annual visits, Living Waters for the World water purification system installation (2018), Nueva Paz Breakfast Club feeding program for elderly (since 2017), manse renovation support, and regular financial support through budgeted Mission funds.
• Second Baptist Church Food Pantry (LaGrange)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly delivery of non-perishable food items and fresh produce during summer months to support local families facing health and economic challenges. Church collects donations year-round in red bins at the church entrance.
• BEDS Plus CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for homeless shelter services in suburban Chicago including Meal Ministry program providing nutritious meals for residents at BEDS Medical Respite Center in Summit. Toiletry donations collected for clients since 1988.
• People's Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of annual school supply donations for mid-August backpack distribution. In 2025, PCWS helped fill 42 backpacks supporting 989 students. 2026 goal is 1,200 students.
• Rise Against HungermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual meal-packing events producing shelf-stable meals. 55 volunteers packed 10,152 meals sent to Ukraine (2023); 46 volunteers packed 10,152 meals for Timor-Leste (2024).
• Margaret's VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWork days at transitional homeless shelter for women and children. Partnership spanning over 50 years with full-day repair and general maintenance work.
• Bernie's Book BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBook sorting and packing events for underserved readers across Northern Illinois. Hundreds of book bags packed during annual mission projects.
• Feed My Starving ChildrenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeal packing events for children in need across the globe. PCWS volunteers have packed over 56,000 meals during past events.
• RefugeeOnemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported refugee family resettlement by gathering furniture and household items while recruiting volunteers to help the family acclimate. Family arrived September 2022 and moved into furnished apartment.
• Summer City AdventuresmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host two three-week day camps (ages 5-12) during summer. Camp runs June 8-26 and July 13-31, offering indoor/outdoor games, field trips, and on-site water park activities.
• Greater Chicago Food DepositorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonations to workforce development program (Chicago's Community Kitchen culinary training) in 2019 and 2022. Coins from collection plates shared with Pine Avenue Food Pantry in Austin neighborhood.
• PCUSA Presbytery of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenominational affiliation with active engagement in Presbytery's Cuba Partnership and Havana Chicago Partnership. Participation in four seasonal denominational collections: One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost Offering, Peace and Global Witness Offering, and Christmas Joy Offering.
• Mosque Foundation (Bridgeview)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith partnership formed in 2009 with women from Mosque Foundation and other local congregations for monthly book and film discussions to build bridges of friendship and understanding between Christian and Muslim neighbors.
• The BoulevardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual financial support for Chicago-based social services organization.
• Chicago HOPES for KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual financial support for Chicago organization supporting children experiencing homelessness.
• Night MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual financial support for Chicago organization providing services to youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.
• Opportunity InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual financial support for international microfinance organization.
• Pillars Community HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual financial support for suburban Chicago community health organization.
• Community Assisted Rides (CAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual financial support for suburban Chicago transportation services for those in need.
• Facing Forward to End HomelessnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual financial support for Chicago organization working to end homelessness.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• First Presbyterian Church of Hinsdale: PCUSA congregation in Hinsdale, Illinois, a nearby western suburb with a similar demographic profile. Directly comparable as a small-to-mid-sized PCUSA church offering Sunday worship, faith formation for all ages, and community outreach programs to an affluent suburban congregation.
• Hinsdale United Methodist Church: Mainline Protestant (United Methodist) congregation in Hinsdale, Illinois, in the same western Chicago suburban market. Comparable as a similarly sized mainline church offering Sunday worship, children's and youth programming, adult Bible studies, and community mission work to an overlapping demographic.
• First Presbyterian Church of La Grange: PCUSA congregation located in La Grange, Illinois, immediately adjacent to Western Springs. Comparable as a similarly sized suburban Chicago PCUSA church serving a comparable affluent commuter demographic with weekly Sunday worship, children's programs, and local mission activity.
• La Grange Bible Church: Community Christian church in La Grange, Illinois, adjacent to Western Springs. Comparable as a suburban Chicago congregation serving a similar demographic with Sunday worship, children's and youth programs, and adult small groups, though in a different denominational tradition than PCWS.

Others

• Mosque Foundation: Muslim community organization based in Bridgeview, Illinois, and a long-standing interfaith partner of PCWS since 2009. Included as an ecosystem peer representing the interfaith bridge-building dimension of PCWS's community work.
• BEDS Plus Care: Suburban Chicago nonprofit providing shelter and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness, and a long-standing mission partner of PCWS. Included as an ecosystem/partner peer sharing community impact goals through food, shelter, and homelessness programs.
• Habitat for Humanity Chicago: Regional affiliate of Habitat for Humanity serving the Chicago metropolitan area, focused on affordable housing and home repair, overlapping with PCWS's housing-related mission work. Included as an adjacent ecosystem peer in the same faith-aligned community services space.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large faith-based social services organization operating across the Chicago metropolitan area, including many of the same community domains PCWS supports (food insecurity, refugee resettlement, homelessness services). Comparable as a broader incumbent faith-based provider addressing overlapping community needs at significantly greater scale.
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): The national PCUSA denomination of which PCWS is a member congregation via the Presbytery of Chicago. Relevant as the broader denominational incumbent providing shared resources, theological framework, and coordinated mission and stewardship programs that shape PCWS's operating context.
• Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago: One of the largest and most established PCUSA congregations in the Chicago metropolitan area, located on Michigan Avenue. Comparable as a PCUSA church offering Sunday worship, extensive adult programming, music ministry, and significant mission outreach, though at a materially larger scale and urban setting than PCWS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyM1ll4zMG8nOz3uBloerSw
• Facebookfacebook.com/presbyws
• Instagraminstagram.com/presbyws
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/presbyterian-church-of-western-springs

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 Presbyterian Church of Western Springs