Institute for Faith, Work & Economics

What Institute for Faith, Work & Economics does

The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, operating under the brand Institute for Faith & Culture (IFC), is a U.S.-based 501(c)-style nonprofit religious think tank founded circa 2011-2012 by Hugh Whelchel. The organization produces educational content, podcasts, and structured programs aimed at helping Christians integrate biblical theology with their professional work, economic life, and civic engagement. Its core offerings include the multi-semester Certificate Program, a 10-week Summer Internship Program for college students (with expense-paid travel to Washington D.C. and Havana), the annual Kingdom Come Conference, and the Executive Roundtable for marketplace leaders. Media products include the City of God, City of God Families, and Redeeming Work podcast series, alongside white papers and position papers published through the Center for Christian Statesmanship division (founded 1995 by D. James Kennedy).

The Institute operates from a headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, affiliated with Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, and employs approximately 12 staff under current leadership of founder Dr. Rob Pacienza (who also serves as Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian and CEO/President of Coral Ridge Ministries). Its distribution is primarily digital and direct-to-consumer: owned website (institutefc.org), Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, email newsletter, and an online store selling books such as Hugh Whelchel's 'How Then Should We Work?' Revenue is generated predominantly through charitable donations ('Give Now' is the primary CTA), supplemented by book/resource sales, conference registration fees, and newsletter subscriptions. Pricing for most programs is not publicly disclosed, with the notable exception of a $2,000 stipend provided to internship participants.

In 2024, founder Hugh Whelchel passed away after a four-year ALS diagnosis, prompting an organizational transition under Rob Pacienza. The Institute has subsequently expanded its programmatic footprint (Certificate Program, Internship Program) and in 2026 partnered with iVoterGuide to produce an Election Voter Guide for the midterm elections. There are no disclosed funding rounds, external investors, public listings, or AI/technology capabilities; the Institute is a content-and-convening nonprofit rather than a technology product company.

Name

Institute for Faith, Work & Economics

Legal name

Institute for Faith & Culture

Website

https://tifwe.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (operating as Institute for Faith & Culture) is a U.S.-based nonprofit that produces biblical worldview educational content, podcasts, certificate programs, an internship pipeline, and an annual conference for Christians seeking to integrate faith with work, economics, and civic engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Faith-Based Education

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Media, Publishing & Broadcasting (Radio, TV, Digital, Press) (BPAGAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), Denominational & Community Periodicals (Church Magazines, Diocesan/Temple Newsletters) (MPAJAHAI)

Keywords

• Christian worldview education
• Biblical theology publishing
• Faith-work integration
• Religious think tank
• Christian leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Giving: The organization relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals and supporters, with a prominent 'Give Now' CTA on the website.
2. Store/Bookstore: Sale of books, resources, and materials through the online store including titles like 'How Then Should We Work?'
3. Conference Registration: Revenue from Kingdom Come Conference registrations and related events.
4. Newsletter Subscription: Newsletter subscription for resource updates and articles.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (operating as Institute for Faith and Culture) produces faith-based educational media, programming, and resources that integrate Christian biblical theology with work, economics, culture, and public life. Standalone offerings include multi-semester Certificate Programs, a 10-week Summer Internship Program with travel components, the annual Kingdom Come Conference, podcast series (City of God, Redeeming Work, City of God Families), Executive Roundtables for marketplace leaders, the God's Design resource series, and books/resources sold via online store.

Product overview

The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE), operating as Institute for Faith and Culture, offers a multi-faceted portfolio of educational and media products centered on integrating Christian faith with work, economics, and culture. The core offerings include the Certificate Program (a multi-semester course requiring 4 core and 2 elective courses), the 10-week Summer Internship Program, and the annual Kingdom Come Conference. Media products include the City of God Podcast and Redeeming Work Podcast. The organization also produces Research Papers and White Papers through its Center for Christian Statesmanship division, covering topics such as economics, race and justice, human dignity, and cultural issues. Additional offerings include the Executive Roundtable for marketplace leaders and the City's God Families series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• City of God Podcast: Podcast series exploring faith, culture, and American founding principles
• Redeeming Work Podcast
• Kingdom Come Conference
• Summer Internship Program
• Certificate Program
• Center for Christian Statesmanship

Products and services

• Certificate Program A multi-semester educational program with core and elective courses covering Biblical Knowledge, Biblical Competency, and Biblical Influence. Students complete 4 core courses and 2 electives to receive a certificate of completion; intended for adult learners ranging from business leaders to stay-at-home parents who want to explore the intersection of faith and culture.
• Summer Internship Program A 10-week summer internship designed for rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors to deepen their biblical worldview, receive spiritual formation, and develop leadership skills; includes expense-paid trips to Washington D.C. and Havana, Cuba, capstone projects, and mentorship. Participants receive a $2,000 stipend.
• Kingdom Come Conference An annual conference that brings together Christians to explore the integration of faith with culture, work, economics, and public life; provides in-person education, networking, and spiritual formation (next scheduled event: Kingdom Come 2027).
• Executive Roundtable A program connecting business and marketplace leaders to explore how Christian faith informs work and economics.
• City of God Podcast A podcast exploring Christianity, the Constitution, and American founding ideals, featuring interviews with scholars and thought leaders on faith and culture; distributed via the Institute's website, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
• Redeeming Work Podcast A podcast focused on the intersection of faith and work, helping Christians understand how to apply biblical principles to their professional lives and vocations.
• City of God Families Podcast A podcast series focused on family and household topics from a Christian perspective; part of the Institute's City of God media family.
• God's Design Series A resource series exploring biblical design for various aspects of life including marriage, family, work, and culture.

Quantifiable outcome

• The organization publishes regular articles, podcasts, and research papers reaching thousands of readers and listeners interested in faith and economics

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• iVoterGuidecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Institute for Faith & Culture partnered with iVoterGuide for the 2026 midterms. iVoterGuide is described as the nation's largest candidate research organization focused exclusively on informing and mobilizing voters with biblical values. The partnership resulted in an Election Voter Guide to help Christians vote with confidence.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WORLD Magazine: Christian news publication covering culture, politics, and religion with a biblical lens — overlaps on faith/culture/politics editorial content and an evangelical audience.
• The Gospel Coalition: Large evangelical network producing articles, podcasts, conferences (TGC), and training programs for church leaders — comparable theological content and educational programming, but church-leader focused rather than marketplace-focused.
• Christianity Today: Major evangelical media publisher with magazines, podcasts, and digital content on faith, theology, and culture — overlaps on faith-and-culture publishing but at much larger scale and broader remit.

Direct peers

• Colson Center: Christian worldview organization producing daily commentary (BreakPoint), training resources, and fellowship programs for cultural engagement — comparable evangelical audience and content strategy.
• Faith Driven Entrepreneur: Faith-and-work community and content platform for Christian entrepreneurs and marketplace leaders — overlaps on faith-vocation integration content, podcasts, and events.
• Acton Institute: Faith-based think tank focused on the intersection of liberty, economics, and Christian morality; publishes research, hosts events, and runs educational programs — strong overlap on economics-from-a-Christian-perspective content.
• Denver Institute for Faith & Work: Direct peer in the faith-and-work formation niche, offering events, cohorts, and content for Christians integrating biblical theology with professional vocation — closely aligned mission and target audience.

Emerging players

• The Veritas Forum: University-based forum hosting events and conversations on faith, philosophy, and culture — comparable faith/culture educational content targeted at students and young leaders.
• Public Discourse (with the Witherspoon Institute): Online journal publishing scholarly commentary on law, culture, and religion from a natural-law/Christian perspective — comparable on faith-driven analysis of current events and culture.

Others

• Coral Ridge Ministries: Parent-affiliated media ministry (operated by the same leadership) producing Christian television and digital content — closely affiliated ecosystem partner rather than competitor, providing infrastructure and audience overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theinstitutefc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@instituteforfaithandculture
• Facebookfacebook.com/100089347885748
• Instagraminstagram.com/theinstitutefc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-faith-work-&-economics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Institute for Faith, Work & Economics