United Church of Christ

What United Church of Christ does

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a Cleveland-headquartered Protestant denomination and IRS 501(c)(3) religious non-profit, founded in 1957 through the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. It operates a federated structure comprising 33 regional conferences, 4,794 local churches, approximately 773,500 members, and roughly 10,000 authorized clergy in the United States, supported by a National Setting staff of 51-100 employees. The denomination is governed through a triennial General Synod and a Board of Directors, with affiliated ministries providing pension, insurance, lending, and investment services to congregations.

The UCC delivers its mission through a portfolio of programs and content rather than a unified technology platform. Core offerings include the Our Whole Lives (OWL) comprehensive sexuality education curriculum co-developed with the Unitarian Universalist Association, Worship Ways, Sermon Seeds, the New Century Hymnal, Faith INFO faith formation resources, and the Pilgrim Press publishing arm. Advocacy infrastructure includes the Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet), Global H.O.P.E. humanitarian outreach, and specialized ministries covering racial, environmental, gender and sexuality, and economic justice. The technology stack is primarily composed of standard digital channels: ucc.org, an online Church Finder, a UCC Everywhere website builder for local churches, email newsletters, Zoom-based webinars, and active social media accounts across Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

The UCC's revenue model is dominated by voluntary donations and mission contributions rather than commercial pricing. Sources include per-capita Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) contributions from local congregations, five special mission offerings (One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, Christmas Fund, and 5 for 5), publication sales through uccresources.com, federal grants from HHS, FEMA, and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and service flows from six affiliated financial ministries. Customer segments are exclusively non-profit: local congregations, individual members and seekers, authorized clergy, conference leadership, and global ministry partners, served through conference-mediated distribution and direct digital channels.

Name

United Church of Christ

Legal name

National Setting of the United Church of Christ

Website

https://ucc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The United Church of Christ is a Cleveland-headquartered Protestant denomination serving 773,500 members across 4,794 U.S. churches and 33 regional conferences, delivering worship resources, faith formation curricula, advocacy programming, and humanitarian outreach through a federated national setting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Denomination Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Religious denomination
• Faith education
• Worship resources
• Social justice advocacy
• Congregational ministries

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Offerings and Donations: Voluntary donations and offerings from the 773,500 members across local churches support denominational ministries and mission work. The national setting receives per capita mission support from local congregations.
2. Special Mission Offerings: Five special mission offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing (hunger, relief, refugee ministries), Strengthen the Church (building up the church), Neighbors in Need (justice ministries), Christmas Fund (clergy and lay employee support), and 5 for 5 (comprehensive mission support).
3. Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM): Annual mission funding through which local churches support the national setting's ministries and operations. The 5 for 5 giving program encompasses all five mission offerings.
4. Pilgrim Press Publications and Resource Sales: Revenue from The Pilgrim Press (now Faith-Forming Publications and the Pilgrim Press) through sale of books, curricula including the Our Whole Lives program materials, worship resources, and The New Century Hymnal.
5. Federal Grants and Foundation Support: Grant funding from federal agencies including HHS and FEMA for specific ministry programs such as disaster relief, refugee resettlement, and security grants (Nonprofit Security Grant Program).
6. Affiliated Ministry Relationships: Affiliated ministries including Church Building & Loan Fund, Cornerstone Fund, Insurance Board, Pension Boards, and United Church Funds provide financial services to local churches and may contribute to denominational support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

The United Church of Christ is a Protestant religious denomination that operates a national network supporting 4,794 local congregations and 773,500 members across the United States. It delivers faith formation curricula, worship and liturgical resources, sexuality education programs, advocacy and justice ministries, humanitarian relief, and publishing services through affiliated ministries and regional conferences.

Product overview

The United Church of Christ operates as a religious denomination offering a diverse portfolio of programs, resources, and ministries rather than a technology product company. The core offerings include worship resources (Worship Ways, Sermon Seeds, Weekly Seeds), educational curricula (Our Whole Lives sexuality education, Faith INFO), advocacy platforms (Justice and Peace Action Network, Racial Justice Ministries, Environmental Justice Ministries), and publishing (The Pilgrim Press, Daily Devotional). The denomination also provides practical tools for local churches including the Church Finder directory, UCC Everywhere website services, and governance publications (Manual on Local Church, Manual on Ministry). Global humanitarian work is conducted through Global H.O.P.E., while Our Faith Our Vote supports civic engagement within legal parameters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stillspeaking: The stillspeaking initiative represents the UCC's progressive theological identity and outreach
• Global H.O.P.E.
• Our Whole Lives (OWL)
• Justice & Peace Action Network (JPANet)
• UCC at the United Nations
• The Pilgrim Press

Products and services

• Our Whole Lives (OWL) Comprehensive, inclusive sexuality education program co-developed with the Unitarian Universalist Association, offering age-appropriate curriculum for children, youth, and adults across lifespan stages from K-1 through adult.
• Worship Ways Original liturgies written in English and Spanish by UCC pastors based on the Revised Common Lectionary, provided for worship preparation in local congregations.
• Sermon Seeds Worship preparation resource featuring lectionary text, reflections, prayers, and focus questions for discussion, supporting pastors in sermon development.
• Weekly Seeds Weekly Bible study materials provided for congregational use and faith formation.
• Manual on Local Church Governance guide providing perspective for shared expectations in essential ministry for Committees on Ministry and local church leadership.
• Manual on Ministry Guide and perspective for shared expectations in the essential ministry of Committees on Ministry, accessible for individuals and ecumenical partners.
• Faith Education, Innovation and Formation (Faith INFO) Programmatic, visionary, and strategic support for local churches including children and youth engagement and congregational engagement resources.
• Justice and Peace Action Network (JPANet) Advocacy network composed of individual members and local congregations providing weekly alerts with opportunities to take action on federal justice issues including immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, peace, and economic justice.
• Global H.O.P.E. Humanitarian outreach ministry providing volunteer ministries, refugee and migration ministries, and disaster ministries coordinated with FEMA and Church World Service.
• The Pilgrim Press & Stillspeaking Publishing arm producing books and publications that nurture spiritual growth, including the Daily Devotional created by the Stillspeaking Writers' Group and curriculum materials sold through uccresources.com.
• Church Finder Online directory tool that helps individuals find welcoming UCC churches near them, serving as the primary channel for new member acquisition.
• UCC Everywhere Website service providing website maintenance tips, templates, and digital ministry resources for local churches.
• Our Faith Our Vote Nonpartisan voter engagement and political action resources for congregations operating within IRS 501(c)(3) guidelines.
• Racial Justice Ministries Antibias and antiracism initiatives and restorative racial justice practices for advocacy and education across the denomination.
• Environmental Justice Ministries Environmental justice initiatives continuing the movement started in the 1980s through local church ministries and Creation Justice Webinars.
• UCC at the United Nations Monthly meetings and programming connecting UCC with UN initiatives and interfaith partners, supporting the denomination's global advocacy work.

Quantifiable outcome

• 773,500 members and counting served through 4,794 local churches
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Economic Policy InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 April 2026The UCC is part of a coalition of more than 40 organizations led by the Economic Policy Institute, We Build Progress, AFL-CIO Tech Institute, and Workshop, calling on Congress to center workers in federal AI legislation. The coalition delivered a letter to Congress urging worker protections in AI regulation.
• We Build ProgresscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 April 2026Coalition co-leader with Economic Policy Institute, AFL-CIO Tech Institute, and Workshop on federal AI legislation advocacy to protect worker rights, privacy, and economic stability.
• AFL-CIO Tech InstitutecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 April 2026Coalition co-leader with Economic Policy Institute, We Build Progress, and Workshop on federal AI legislation advocacy for worker protections.
• WorkshopcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 April 2026Coalition co-leader with Economic Policy Institute, We Build Progress, and AFL-CIO Tech Institute on federal AI legislation advocacy.
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UCC and Disciples of Christ maintain Global Ministries, a joint mission partnership representing the largest mainline Protestant bilateral partnership in the world. This partnership coordinates global mission work, international partnerships, missionary sending, refugee resettlement, disaster response, and church-to-church relationships. The partnership enables shared witness and ministry extending across 40+ countries.
• Unitarian Universalist AssociationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development and co-publishing of the Our Whole Lives (OWL) comprehensive sexuality education curriculum, offered across lifespan stages from K-1 through adult. The partnership represents a unique interfaith collaboration on faith-based sexuality education, with joint webinar programming through the 'OWL Taking Flight' series featuring co-hosts from both denominations.
• United Methodist ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative relationship for the Our Whole Lives program, with the UMC embracing the OWL curriculum as part of their sexuality education ministry. Joint programming during Sex Ed for All Month and ongoing OWL Taking Flight webinar collaboration.
• Church World ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC Global H.O.P.E. partners with Church World Service on disaster relief efforts and humanitarian response, including coordination of clean-up buckets for flood response. CWS is referenced as a key partner in humanitarian and refugee ministries.
• EdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC supports THRIVE 2026, Eden's one-day conference for nonprofit leaders, clergy, organizers, and community advocates. The denomination is creating a scholarship initiative to support UCC cohort participation in Eden's certificate program for leadership formation grounded in justice, spirituality, and organizing.
• Center for Faith Lived OrganizingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker from the Center for Faith Lived Organizing serves as featured speaker for UCC's 'Faith, Leadership, and Organizing for This Moment' webinar, exploring leadership, organizing, public theology, and community engagement approaches.
• Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and People's Justice CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC co-hosts monthly Creation Justice Webinars with Rev. Michael Malcom, Executive Director of Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People's Justice Council. These webinars address environmental justice and climate action issues.
• RESULTSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC's Creation Justice Webinar features Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS, a highly successful anti-poverty organization. Daley-Harris has trained advocates for over 45 years in achieving tangible legislative results, and authored 'Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen's Guide to Transformational Advocacy.'
• Affiliated Financial MinistriescoreOthersSix affiliated ministries support local churches with operational, financial, and social services: Church Building & Loan Fund (community transformation through church development), Cornerstone Fund (financial services), Insurance Board (property/casualty insurance), Pension Boards (retirement benefits for clergy and lay employees), United Church Funds (investment management), and The Council for Health and Human Ministries (health and social service ministry support).
• ConvergenceminorOthersAffiliated ministry focused on connecting churches with resources for mission and ministry, supporting local church vitality and mission engagement.
• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)coreOthersUCC Global H.O.P.E. coordinates with FEMA on disaster response efforts. Some local churches have received FEMA grants to support their ministries and disaster response capabilities.
• HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)coreOthersSome local churches have received HHS grants supporting specific ministry programs. The national setting provides guidance on HHS grant terms and conditions including compliance requirements.
• DHS/FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant ProgramminorOthersThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides funding for security-related expenses at nonprofits including houses of worship. Some UCC local churches plan to apply for this federal funding for security upgrades.
• Honest Sex Ed MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Meg Bartlett-Chase, founder and executive director of Honest Sex Ed Minnesota, serves as featured speaker for UCC's 'Sex Ed as Resistance' webinar. Her organization focuses on sex education policy, practice, and advocacy.
• Congregational Library & ArchivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC partners with the Congregational Library & Archives for archival education programming. Archivists Billy McCarthy and Zachary Bodnar present UCC webinars on church record preservation and archival best practices.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Mainline Protestant denomination organized into presbyteries and synods, similar theological range, comparable educational resource (curriculum/Publishing House) and advocacy infrastructure. Closely matches UCC on governance and product mix.
• Unitarian Universalist Association: Strategic partner (joint publisher of Our Whole Lives) and most progressive-theology peer denomination. Comparable congregational structure and shared mission orientation, with overlap on social-justice advocacy and education programs.
• Episcopal Church (USA): Mainline Protestant denomination with progressive theology overlap, federated diocesan structure comparable to UCC's 33 conferences, and parallel publishing/formation operations.
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): Partner in Global Ministries (the largest mainline Protestant bilateral partnership), overlapping polity, and shared publishing/formation heritage. Highly comparable on operations and member services.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Mainline Protestant denomination with a similar congregational-federated structure, ~3 million members, comparable governance via synods, and overlapping social-justice advocacy. Comparable on structure, member-facing services, and resource publishing.
• American Baptist Churches USA: Mainline Protestant denomination with similar congregational polity, comparable member scale, and overlapping regional/association governance. Direct competitor for progressive Baptist switchers.

Others

• Church World Service: Disaster response and refugee resettlement partner. Directly comparable on disaster relief coordination and humanitarian ministry operations, functioning as both ecosystem partner and adjacent peer.

Regional players

• Evangelical Covenant Church: Smaller mainline-leaning denomination with congregational polity and similar resource publishing/formation operations. Comparable denominator on structure and member scale benchmarks.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National faith-based services network with disaster response, refugee resettlement, and humanitarian grants — many of the same federal grant programs UCC churches tap (FEMA, HHS). Comparable at scale on social-service funding streams.
• United Methodist Church (Global Ministries): Larger mainline denomination and OWL partner; broader global footprint and significantly larger membership. Comparable on curriculum and global ministries partnerships, but at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unitedchurch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/uccvideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedChurchofChrist
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2710235/admin/dashboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedchurchofchrist
• TikToktiktok.com/@unitedchurchofchrist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries8 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 United Church of Christ