Minnesota Council Of Churches

What Minnesota Council Of Churches does

Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ecumenical organization founded in 1947 and headquartered at 1600 University Ave. W., Ste. 500, St. Paul, Minnesota, with additional offices in Minneapolis and Mankato. MCC operates as the combined witness of 27 member Christian denominations and judicatories representing over 1,000,000 Christians across Minnesota, and delivers a portfolio of social service programs rather than a proprietary technology product. Its core offerings include Refugee Services (resettlement, immigration legal services, and case management; the largest program in Minnesota since 1984 with nearly 1,000 individuals resettled in 2024), MCC Respectful Conversations (a structured facilitated dialogue methodology launched in 2012 with Bush Foundation support that has engaged over 9,000 people across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota), Truth and Reparations (racial justice work for Indigenous and Black communities), Interfaith Relationships (Taking Heart Ramadan Iftars, Blessed Ramadan), Justice Advocacy via the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, and the Better Together Film Festival.

The organization's revenue model is multi-stream: individual donations (one-time, monthly recurring via website/PayPal, and planned bequests), federal grants channeled through Episcopal Migration Ministries for refugee Reception and Placement, fee-for-service Respectful Conversations delivered to cities, university campuses, and congregations since 2015, and collective support from 27 member denominations and judicatories. MCC has no proprietary software platform, API, or technology stack; program delivery relies on human staff, ecumenical networks, and institutional partnerships. Recent operational changes include the October 2024 installation of Elder Suzanne P. Kelly as CEO following a national search, and a March 21, 2025 reduction of refugee services R&P staff by 15 percent (seven layoffs) after a January 24, 2025 notice from Episcopal Migration Ministries terminating approximately $2,880,000 in 2025 federal funding for client support and staff operations following the refugee entry suspension executive order.

Name

Minnesota Council Of Churches

Legal name

Minnesota Council of Churches

Website

https://mnchurches.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minnesota Council of Churches is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit federation of 27 Christian denominations in Minnesota that delivers refugee resettlement, civic depolarization (Respectful Conversations), racial justice truth and reparations, and interfaith bridge-building programs across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based Social Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Refugee resettlement services
• Faith-based social services
• Interfaith dialogue programs
• Civic depolarization programs
• Racial justice advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: MCC accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations from individuals via its website through PayPal. Donors can also make planned gifts through bequests in their estate plans. EIN: 41-0693871.
2. Federal Grants and Contracts: MCC previously received federal funding through Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) for refugee Reception and Placement (R&P) programs. Federal stop work orders and executive orders have severely disrupted this revenue stream since January 2025, ending approximately $1,584,000 in client support funding and nearly $1,296,000 for staff salaries and operations in 2025.
3. Fee-for-Service Programs: MCC Respectful Conversations have been offered on a fee-for-service basis since 2015, with cities, campuses, and congregations paying for facilitated dialogue events. Begun with Bush Foundation support in 2012.
4. Denominational Membership Dues: MCC represents 27 member communions and judicatories. Member denominations support the organization collectively, and the organization advocates on their behalf.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Minnesota Council of Churches is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers five integrated program areas: refugee resettlement and immigration legal services for newcomers to Minnesota; structured facilitated dialogue (Respectful Conversations) that reduces affective polarization; racial justice truth-telling and reparations work led jointly with Indigenous and Black community leaders; interfaith bridge-building across Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities; and faith-based legislative advocacy through the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition. Programs are delivered through 27 member denominations, paid institutional partnerships, and direct service delivery.

Product overview

Minnesota Council of Churches is a faith-based nonprofit organization (not a technology company) offering a portfolio of social service programs. The organization operates as a federation of 27 member denominations representing approximately 1,000,000 Christians in Minnesota. The core programs include: Refugee Services (the largest resettlement agency in Minnesota), MCC Respectful Conversations™ (a depolarization and peacebuilding program), Truth and Reparations (racial justice work), Interfaith Relationships (including Taking Heart Ramadan Iftars), Justice Advocacy (faith-based organizing), Better Together Film Festival, and News for the Common Good newsletter. These programs are social/community service offerings, not technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MCC Respectful Conversations: Structured, facilitated conversation program designed to reduce affective polarization and build empathy across differences. Has engaged over 9,000 people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota since 2012.

Products and services

• Refugee Services Comprehensive refugee resettlement program providing reception, placement, immigration legal services, employment counseling, and intensive case management for vulnerable refugees and immigrants arriving in Minnesota. Includes Twin Cities and Mankato Area Services and Immigration Legal Services.
• MCC Respectful Conversations Structured, facilitated peacebuilding conversations designed to reduce affective polarization and build empathy across differences. Hosted on a fee-for-service basis through cities, university campuses, and faith congregations, with a parallel In Schools version co-developed with Civic Youth Minnesota.
• Truth and Reparations Racial justice initiative focused on truth-telling, reconciliation, and reparations work addressing historical and ongoing harm to Black and Indigenous communities. Includes land acknowledgments, sacred site tours, and church reconciliation on racial harm.
• Interfaith Relationships Programs including Taking Heart Ramadan Iftars and Blessed Ramadan that build bridges across faith traditions and foster understanding between Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities in Minnesota.
• Justice Advocacy Faith-based community organizing and advocacy work, including the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC), focused on systemic change, legislative advocacy, and public witness on issues affecting Minnesotans.

Quantifiable outcome

• On average, 70% of Respectful Conversations participants report having a stronger sense of empathy for those whose viewpoint is different from their own.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM)coreOthers · 24 January 2025EMM was MCC's federal partner for the refugee Reception and Placement (R&P) program, administering federal funding for refugee resettlement. On January 24, 2025, EMM notified MCC it would immediately end funding for the R&P program following a federal stop work order, affecting approximately $1,584,000 in client support and nearly $1,296,000 for staff salaries and operations throughout 2025.
• Twin Cities Refugee ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-running quarterly coordination meeting led by the four metro refugee resettlement agencies: Arrive Ministries, Lutheran Social Service, International Institute of Minnesota, and Minnesota Council of Churches. Meetings were paused indefinitely in March 2025 due to federal policy changes affecting the Reception & Placement program.
• 27 Member Denominations and JudicatoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCC is the combined witness of 27 member communions building the common good of truth and justice. Member denominations include Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, United Methodist Church, ELCA synods, Presbyterian Church USA, United Church of Christ, and others. These judicatories collectively represent over 1,000,000 Christians in Minnesota.
• Obama FoundationnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerRev. Jerad Morey, MCC Director of Strategic Relationships and leader of Respectful Conversations, was named a 2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader, participating in a six-month virtual leadership development program focused on civic engagement and democratic culture.
• Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences / Polarization and Social Change LabnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCC won a competitive Strengthening Democracy Field Test Grant from Stanford's Polarization and Social Change Lab to partner with Michigan State University's Belief Systems Lab for an experiment in boosting democratic attitudes using MCC Respectful Conversations as the platform.
• Aspen InstitutenotableGTM or Marketing PartnerRev. Jerad Morey was named an Aspen Institute Better Arguments Ambassador in 2022 for the impact of MCC Respectful Conversations in building civic discourse across disagreement.
• ListenFirst Coalition / Bridge Entertainment Labs / National Week of ConversationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCC hosted the Minnesota chapter of the Better Together Film Festival, a national week-long film festival coordinated by the ListenFirst Coalition, with screenings at six churches and community groups across Minnesota.
• Arrive MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four metro refugee resettlement agencies co-leading the Twin Cities Refugee Consortium alongside Lutheran Social Service, International Institute of Minnesota, and MCC.
• Lutheran Social Service of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four metro refugee resettlement agencies co-leading the Twin Cities Refugee Consortium alongside Arrive Ministries, International Institute of Minnesota, and MCC.
• International Institute of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four metro refugee resettlement agencies co-leading the Twin Cities Refugee Consortium alongside Arrive Ministries, Lutheran Social Service, and MCC.
• ALIGHT (formerly American Refugee Committee)minorOthersKathleen Motzenbecker, MCC's new Director of Refugee and Immigration Services, previously worked as Director of U.S. Partnerships at ALIGHT before joining MCC.
• Christ Temple Apostolic Church (Roseville)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe home church of CEO Elder Suzanne Kelly and Bishop Jeffrey L. Smith. A member denomination of MCC under the 7th Episcopal District Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Bishop Smith offered the first sermonic charge at Elder Kelly's installation.
• Episcopal Church / Archbishop Hebda (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhile Catholic judicatories are not members of MCC, the organization values partnerships with Catholic institutions including the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on matters of public health, creation care, interfaith events, depolarizing conflict, and legislative advocacy.
• Tapestry (Richfield)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAn ecumenical, multicultural church plant in Richfield, MN, affiliated with the Minneapolis Area Synod ELCA and MCC. Has been supported by MCC Respectful Conversations, MCC Refugee Services staff connection, newsletter promotion, and a Calvin Institute Worshiping Communities grant.
• Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Saint Cloud)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted a Respectful Conversation about the 2024 election that resulted in MCC Lead Facilitator Victoria McWane-Creek receiving the Star Tribune Bridge Builder 2024 Award.
• University of St. ThomasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCC partners with University of St. Thomas on matters including interfaith events and legislative advocacy alongside other Catholic institutions.
• Minnesota Department of Human Services / Resettlement Programs OfficecoreOthersMN DHS RPO hosts the monthly Welcoming Minnesota Forum for refugee resettlement organizations, which MCC is recommended to attend as an alternative to the paused Twin Cities Refugee Consortium meetings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: Large national faith-based social services federation. Overlaps with MCC on refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and interfaith advocacy but operates at much greater national scale and serves a broader service portfolio.

Direct peers

• HIAS: Jewish-American refugee resettlement agency with a similar mission to MCC's Refugee Services, including resettlement, legal services, and advocacy. Comparable faith-rooted refugee services operating model.
• Braver Angels: National depolarization organization running structured cross-red/blue dialogue workshops. Directly comparable to MCC's Respectful Conversations program in methodology, audience, and civic depolarization mission.
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service: Faith-based refugee resettlement organization with deep Lutheran ties. Closely mirrors MCC's resettlement + immigration legal services portfolio and member-denomination coalition model.
• Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota: Twin Cities Refugee Consortium co-member with MCC. Provides refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and broader social services in Minnesota with overlapping service geography.
• Church World Service: National faith-based refugee resettlement agency that directly competes with MCC for federal Reception & Placement contracts. Both organizations are ecumenical Protestant bodies providing refugee reception, placement, and immigration legal services across the U.S.
• International Institute of Minnesota: Twin Cities Refugee Consortium co-member alongside MCC. Directly comparable refugee resettlement and immigrant integration services in the same Minnesota market.
• World Relief: Evangelical Christian refugee resettlement and immigrant services organization. Directly comparable faith-rooted refugee services operation with similar community-based resettlement model.
• Arrive Ministries: Twin Cities-based refugee resettlement co-member of the Twin Cities Refugee Consortium alongside MCC. Most direct local peer in refugee reception, placement, and case management.

Emerging players

• More in Common: International organization working to reduce affective polarization and build bridges across divides. Comparable depolarization research and intervention focus to MCC Respectful Conversations, with stronger national policy influence.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MNChurches
• Facebookfacebook.com/mnchurches
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mnchurches

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Council Of Churches