The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

What The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference does

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, that nurtures, sustains, and mobilizes the African American faith community in collaboration with civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders to address human rights and social justice issues through education, advocacy, and activism. The organization serves a national network of pastors, lay leaders, seminarians, and youth activists across denominational lines, and holds United Nations NGO Consultative Status that extends its reach into global policy forums. Core offerings include the annual Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference (drawing nearly 1,200+ attendees and 200+ seminarians from 40+ institutions), the Critical Conversations webinar series, the Innovation Hub for congregational development, the Micah Institute & Fund for clergy financial literacy, and a portfolio of specialized sub-brands covering youth activism (GenNow Proctor), LGBTQ inclusion (Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute), pan-African engagement (Pan African Justice Institute), and innovation funding (Carruthers Innovation Fund). SDPC also distributes educational resources such as study guides on mass incarceration, reparations, Project 2025, and racial healing.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (anchored by the $15/month Fifteen4TheFuture campaign), corporate and foundation sponsorships (30+ organizations in 2025 including Grow with Google, Climate Reality Project, Every Town for Gun Safety, Trinity Church Wall Street, and Lilly Endowment), annual conference registration fees, and resource sales. The organization operates with a small staff (11-50 employees) and is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Bishop Leah D. Daughtry. Following a December 2025 leadership transition, Rev. Damien Durr serves as General Secretary, succeeding founding leader Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, who continues as General Secretary Emerita and trustee. Underlying technology is limited to commodity digital platforms — Squarespace for the website, Zoom and YouTube for webinar delivery, and email/social media for supporter engagement — with no proprietary software product.

Name

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

Legal name

Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Inc.

Website

https://sdpconference.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC) is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes the African American faith community through its annual Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference, Critical Conversations webinar series, and a portfolio of specialized justice institutes, serving pastors, lay leaders, seminarians, and youth activists across the U.S. and globally via UN NGO Consultative Status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Social Justice Advocacy Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (81392), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (813990), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Faith-based advocacy
• Social justice education
• Clergy leadership development
• Community organizing
• Nonprofit convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly giving program 'Fifteen4TheFuture' asking supporters to commit $15/month. Also accepts one-time and major gifts.
2. Corporate/Organizational Sponsorships: Annual sponsorships from corporations and foundations supporting the conference and programs. In 2025, had 30+ sponsors including Black Churches for Digital Equity, Climate Reality Project, Grow with Google, Every Town for Gun Safety, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Trinity Church Wall Street.
3. Conference Registration: Revenue from annual Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference registration fees.
4. Resource Sales: Sale of educational resources such as the Till Discussion Guide and other study materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC) is a 501(c)(3) faith-based nonprofit that nurtures, sustains, and mobilizes the African American faith community through education, advocacy, and activism on social justice issues. It convenes an annual Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference attracting nearly 1,200+ attendees, hosts the Critical Conversations webinar series, runs specialized institutes (GenNow Proctor for youth, Murray-Rustin for LGBTQ inclusion, Pan African Justice Institute), and publishes educational resources and study guides on topics including mass incarceration, reparations, and voting rights.

Product overview

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC) is a faith-based justice organization that does not offer a unified software product or platform. Instead, it provides a portfolio of programs, initiatives, and educational resources centered on social justice advocacy within the African American faith community. Key offerings include: Critical Conversations (a webinar series on justice topics), the Annual Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference, and the Innovation Hub for congregational development. The organization operates several specialized institutes including the Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute (focused on LGBTQ inclusion), the Pan African Justice Institute (global advocacy), and GenNow Proctor (youth engagement). SDPC also produces educational resources and study guides on topics including mass incarceration, reparations, Project 2025, and racial healing. The organization achieves its mission through education, advocacy, and activism rather than through technology products or software platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GenNow Proctor: National youth social justice movement fully committed to expand and sustain faith-driven advocacy, activism, and education beyond the church.
• The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute
• Carruthers Innovation Fund
• Pan African Justice Institute

Products and services

• Annual Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference An annual conference held during Black History Month convening nearly 1,200 clerical servants, grassroots organizers, and cross-sector experts for education, advocacy, and activism around social justice. Includes a seminary track attracting 200+ seminarians from 40+ institutions.
• Critical Conversations Webinar Series A webinar series featuring insightful discussions that educate, empower, and inspire clergy and communities on critical issues including voter engagement, reparations, AI in faith communities, Project 2025, and democracy. Delivered via Zoom and YouTube.
• Innovation Hub A program that guides congregations in the design, development, and implementation of programs and initiatives to address current and emerging issues, including grant-making, networking, peer support, college partnerships, and continuing education units.
• The Micah Institute & Fund Created with Lilly Endowment support to help reposition clergy and church leaders' understanding of faith, God, and money through financial literacy and community economic development initiatives rooted in a theology of sufficiency.
• GenNow Proctor A national youth social justice movement committed to expanding and sustaining faith-driven advocacy, activism, and education beyond the church, building a national network of youth and young adult activist organizations.
• The Murray-Rustin Social Justice Institute Named after Pauli Murray and Bayard Rustin, fosters holistic living for LGBTQ and non-gender conforming persons who have experienced trauma from non-affirming spaces, creating dialogue around sexuality in Black church spaces.
• Pan African Justice Institute An ecumenical, multi-faith, advocacy, and educational arm that connects Africans in diaspora to African foreign policy, renaissance ideas, and fellow collaborators across the globe.
• Carruthers Innovation Fund A fund created to honor Dr. Iva Carruthers' visionary tenure while securing the organization's future, underwriting program innovation, leadership development, and storytelling initiatives.
• Till Discussion Guide A historical and faith-based ministry guide accompanying the film 'Till', curated to ignite faithful communal vision and inspire actions of change through truth-telling and sacred memory.
• The New Jim Crow Study Guide A study guide supporting reading and discussion groups of Michelle Alexander's book 'The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness' to re-energize a national movement towards racial and class justice.
• Journeys Toward Justice Curriculum A curriculum designed to help equip, resource, and train justice-minded African American community organizations—faith-based and non—who seek to educate and advocate for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.
• A Credo to Legatees of the Black Church Tradition A proclamation focusing on decentering whiteness and deconstructing the religion of white supremacy, providing an ethical and moral vision pointing toward a shared and mutual future.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,200+ attendees at annual conferences with 200+ seminarians from 40+ institutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RainbowPUSH CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026SDPC partners with RainbowPUSH for joint programming, including RainbowPUSH annual conference June 10-13, 2026. SDPC promotes RainbowPUSH events to its network and collaborates on advocacy initiatives.
• Black Churches for Digital EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgrammatic funder supporting SDPC's work at the intersection of faith, technology, and social justice.
• Climate Reality ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgrammatic funder supporting SDPC's environmental justice initiatives and climate advocacy work.
• Grow with GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgrammatic funder supporting SDPC's digital literacy and technology initiatives for faith communities.
• Every Town for Gun SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgrammatic funder supporting SDPC's gun violence prevention advocacy work.
• McCormick Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey institutional partner; SDPC Trustee Dr. Teresa Smallwood served as seminary track co-dean; SDPC co-founder Dr. Iva E. Carruthers established Center for Reparatory Justice at McCormick.
• Trinity Church Wall StreetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgrammatic funder supporting SDPC's justice initiatives and advocacy programs.
• Fellowship of ReconciliationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDPC co-developed the Interfaith Resource Book with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, reflecting a broad coalition of religious groups addressing the global drug problem for UN engagement.
• Center for Reparatory Justice at McCormick Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDPC, led by Dr. Iva E. Carruthers, partners with this center focused on reparatory justice, transformation, and remediation initiatives.
• United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDPC holds NGO Consultative Status with the UN, enabling participation in global policy forums including the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, Commission on the Status of Women, and UN forums on racism and human rights.
• NAACPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSDPC collaborates with NAACP on voting rights advocacy and civic engagement initiatives.
• League of Women VoterscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSDPC partners with League of Women Voters for voter protection and civic engagement efforts.
• Live FreecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSDPC collaborates with Live Free (founded by Rev. Mike McBride) on community organizing, voter engagement, and democracy defense initiatives.
• Faith Out LoudcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSDPC works with Faith Out Loud (led by Rev. Traci Blackmon) on faith-based voter mobilization and voting rights advocacy across 15 Southern cities.
• One Million Black Voters Rising CoalitioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSDPC joined coalition effort for voter registration, re-registration, and verification in Black communities nationwide.
• Children's Defense FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRev. Damien Durr previously served as community engagement facilitator with CDF Nashville Team; ongoing relationship for youth and community programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bread for the World: Christian advocacy organization focused on hunger and poverty policy through federal legislative engagement and an annual Offering of Letters campaign. Direct peer to SDPC because both mobilize faith communities for policy advocacy, run annual convenings and educational campaigns, and publish faith-rooted educational resources.
• Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network): National faith-based community organizing network with affiliated clergy-led organizations across 1,000+ congregations. Direct peer to SDPC because both train clergy and lay leaders in advocacy, run large annual convenings, and operate issue campaigns on voting rights, criminal justice, and economic justice.
• African American Ministers Leadership Council: National network of African American clergy focused on civic engagement, voting rights, and economic justice. Direct peer to SDPC because both mobilize Black clergy for voter mobilization and policy advocacy, and compete for the same denominational networks and foundation funders.
• RainbowPUSH Coalition: Multiracial, interfaith social justice organization founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson that convenes an annual conference and runs economic justice, voting rights, and corporate accountability campaigns. Direct peer to SDPC because they hold a formal strategic partnership and share audience with African American clergy and lay leaders on overlapping issue work.
• Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy and anti-poverty organization founded by Marian Wright Edelman with deep faith-rooted programmatic work. Direct peer to SDPC because both focus on Black community advocacy, train and deploy clergy and community leaders, and partner on youth development (CDF previously employed SDPC's incoming General Secretary).
• Sojourners: Faith-based social justice organization mobilizing evangelical and progressive Christians on poverty, racial justice, and voting rights. Direct peer to SDPC because both operate faith-rooted advocacy platforms, host national convenings, publish educational resources, and engage in voter mobilization through a moral/religious frame.
• Fellowship of Reconciliation: Interfaith peace and justice organization with a 100+ year history and explicit UN engagement on interfaith resource development. Direct peer to SDPC because they are a confirmed co-development partner (Interfaith Resource Book on global drug policy), share an interfaith UN advocacy orientation, and operate overlapping faith-rooted educational programming.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Churches: Largest ecumenical body in the US representing 38 Protestant and Orthodox denominations, with UN NGO and advocacy infrastructure. Broad incumbent peer to SDPC because both coordinate across Christian denominations, engage in UN forums, and represent faith voices in policy; NCC operates at a larger denominational-governance scale.
• Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility: Coalition of 300+ faith- and values-based institutional investors engaging corporations on social and environmental issues. Broad incumbent peer to SDPC because both leverage faith authority for advocacy and corporate accountability, but ICCR operates at a substantially larger institutional-investor scale.

Emerging players

• Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice: Faith-rooted organizing center connecting religion, rights, and social justice through movement-building training. Emerging peer to SDPC because both train poor and marginalized communities in rights-based organizing, but Kairos is smaller and focuses more on grassroots leadership development than national convenings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sdpconference
• Facebookfacebook.com/proctorconference
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/samuel-dewitt-proctor-conference

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries4 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 The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference