Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation

What Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation does

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization founded on January 25, 1871 in Oak Park, Illinois, and currently operating with approximately 13 staff. It conducts Sunday worship services and a comprehensive set of spiritual, educational, and community programs out of the 1909 Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Unity Temple building at 875 Lake Street, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 as part of "The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright." The congregation serves local members and friends plus regional participants attracted by its progressive Unitarian Universalist theology, social justice orientation, music programs (multiple ensembles plus an annual Spring Music Festival), religious education from nursery through high school, small-group formation programs, mindfulness and meditation practice, pastoral care, rites of passage ceremonies, and a Justice Network spanning ten or more advocacy areas.

The underlying technology is modest and operational rather than productized: worship services are live-streamed via a YouTube channel with recordings archived afterwards; member data is managed through the Realm directory platform; and the public website serves as the primary content surface for programs, donations, and event information. There is no proprietary software, AI/ML capability, or app; the only customer-facing digital assets are standard social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Libsyn podcast) and the donation/registration forms embedded in the website.

Revenue mechanics are those of a typical mid-sized UU congregation. The primary stream is voluntary tithes, offerings, and donations from members and friends during weekly Sunday services and ongoing pledge campaigns, with half of the weekly Sunday collection supporting congregational programs. Secondary streams include building rental fees for weddings, concerts, retreats, and nonprofit galas (quote-based, undisclosed publicly); annual Religious Education registration at $100 per child with scholarships available; and Spring Music Festival ticket sales that also fund three annual $1,000 vocal scholarships. The go-to-market relies on word-of-mouth referrals, a visitor form, an email newsletter (Unity Voices), website content, and partnership referrals from organizations such as ICIRR, Faith in Place, and the Institute for Non-Violence Chicago. Financial results are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Legal name

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Website

https://unitytemple.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unity Temple is a non-profit Unitarian Universalist congregation founded in 1871 in Oak Park, Illinois, serving local members and friends through Sunday worship, religious education, music, social justice, and pastoral care programs out of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed UNESCO World Heritage building.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN)

Keywords

• Unitarian universalist congregation
• Religious education programs
• Worship services
• Social justice advocacy
• Community ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Park, IL

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes, Offerings, and Donations: Voluntary contributions from members and friends during weekly Sunday services and ongoing pledge campaigns. Half of weekly Sunday collection supports the congregation's programs.
2. Building Rentals: Revenue from renting the historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building for concerts, retreats, nonprofit galas, and weddings to the broader community.
3. Religious Education Fees: Registration fees for children and youth religious education programs; $100 per child per program year with scholarship assistance available.
4. Music Program Revenue: Spring Music Festival ticket sales support the Vocal Music Scholarship Competition and general operating fund.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a non-profit religious organization that delivers weekly Sunday worship services (in-person and live-streamed), a structured religious education program for children and youth, multiple music ensembles and an annual Spring Music Festival, and a Justice Network of advocacy programs covering democracy, immigration, ecojustice, housing, and other social issues. It also offers pastoral care, rites of passage ceremonies, small-group programming, retreats, and practical support services such as a community fridge and food rescue. The historic 1909 Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, anchors the congregation and is also rented out for external events.

Product overview

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a religious organization offering a comprehensive suite of spiritual, educational, and community programs. The core offerings include Sunday worship services (held in-person with live streaming), a Religious Education program for children and youth, music programs featuring multiple ensembles and the annual Spring Music Festival, and the Justice Network for social advocacy. Additional programs include the Mindful Reflection Community for meditation practice, Soul Connections small groups, Spiritual Care Team for pastoral support, Caring Committee for practical assistance, support groups, social groups, retreats, rites of passage ceremonies, and the Community Fridge for food assistance. The congregation also operates the Realm Directory as an internal member management tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• Community of CongregationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate a community fridge and pantry at Gale House (124 North Kenilworth, Oak Park) to address food insecurity. Congregations collaborate on this initiative to keep the refrigerator and pantry stocked for community members needing assistance. Monthly non-perishable collection drives held on 2nd Sundays.
• Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-wide advocacy network that Unity Temple participates in as a leader. UUANI provides leadership training, builds congregational capacity, and organizes statewide advocacy efforts. Unity Temple's affiliated community minister Rev. Scott Aaseng serves as UUANI's Executive Director. Congregation participates in congregational catalyst program.
• Frank Lloyd Wright TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrank Lloyd Wright Trust manages tours of Unity Temple. The Trust is a separate organization that schedules and conducts architectural tours of the historic building. Contact through https://flwright.org/tours
• Faith in PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental justice organization that Unity Temple helped start. Key partner in sustainability and advocacy for environmental justice. Congregation is an active member of the Oak Park Interfaith Green Network (15+ local faith communities).
• Institute for Non-Violence Chicago (INVC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner for gun violence prevention. INVC representatives have been guests in the Unity Temple pulpit. Organization works on violence prevention and community safety.
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmigration justice advocacy organization. Unity Temple organizes members to take actions with ICIRR and other local faith groups advocating for immigration justice.
• Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for pen pal program matching Unity Temple members with incarcerated individuals in Illinois prisons and jails. Also provides group services at Cook County Jail. Supports 'text pal' correspondence option.
• Housing ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless services organization. Unity Temple members support through collection drives and volunteering at the First United Church site (across from Unity Temple) on 4th Mondays, 6-10:30pm, or 5-7am mornings.
• Beyond HungerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood rescue partner. Every Friday Unity Temple team rescues food from Trader Joe's in Oak Park, delivers, unpacks, and sorts items for Saturday distribution at Beyond Hunger.
• Migrant MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for immigrant communities. Unity Temple works with Migrant Ministries on advocacy and support services for migrants in the community.
• Moms Demand ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGun safety advocacy organization. Works with Unity Temple's Democracy in Action team and UUANI on common-sense gun safety legislation advocacy.
• Side With LoveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Unitarian Universalist organization working against oppression. Unity Temple participates in campaigns and workshops related to their initiatives.
• Stronghold Camp and Retreat CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamp and retreat facility in the Central Midwest region. Hosts Central Midwest Chapter of Unitarian Universalist Ministers' retreats. Unity Temple ministers and staff participate in retreats at this location.
• Oak Park Interfaith Green NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration of 15+ local faith communities working on environmental justice and sustainability. Unity Temple is an active member alongside Faith in Place.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• First Unitarian Church of Chicago: Largest Unitarian Universalist congregation in the Chicago area, offering similar worship, RE, music, and social justice programming. Most direct geographic and denominational comparable.
• Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN: Prominent progressive Midwest Unitarian Universalist congregation with comparable breadth in worship, RE, music, and social justice programs and a similar urban-suburban member base.
• First Unitarian Society of Madison, WI: Historic Midwest Unitarian Universalist congregation also housed in a distinctive architect-designed building (Nakashima), with comparable programming and member profile.
• All Souls Church Unitarian, New York City: Large, progressive Manhattan Unitarian Universalist congregation with comparable programming across worship, music, RE, and social justice; useful scale and program-breadth comparable.
• Unitarian Church of Evanston: Suburban Chicago-area Unitarian Universalist congregation serving a comparable progressive, well-educated North Shore demographic with similar worship and education programs.

Others

• Frank Lloyd Wright Trust: Operates architectural tours of Unity Temple and other Wright sites. Directly comparable as the steward of heritage tourism revenue tied to the same building asset.
• Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA): National denominational body of which Unity Temple is a member congregation; relevant governing/affiliation peer for understanding how a local UU congregation plugs into curricula (e.g., OWL) and resources.

Broad incumbents

• Riverside Church, New York City: Historic progressive mainline congregation known for its landmark building, social justice programming, music programs, and arts rentals; serves as a structural (architectural and programmatic) comparable rather than denominational peer.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGOgqUgLq_LnMZq_-z6YtFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Unity-Temple-Unitarian-Universalist-Congregation/189716541060721
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unity-temple-unitarian-universalist-congregation
• Instagraminstagram.com/utuuc_oakpark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation