fcmm ltd church

What fcmm ltd church does

FCMM Benefits & Retirement is the designated denominational benefits organization of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), founded in 1971 and incorporated in 2012 as a separate Minnesota-based corporation, headquartered at 901 East 78th Street, Minneapolis, MN. The organization provides a 403(b)(9) Church Retirement Plan with multiple investment options — FCMM-managed collective funds (Lifetime Fund / Option C, Managed Stock Fund / Option D, Managed Bond/Income Fund / Option E) and self-directed options including American Funds, Vanguard, Christian Investors Financial certificates, and biblically-responsible funds from Timothy Plan, GuideStone, and Eventide — alongside a legacy defined-benefit pension plan frozen in 2003.

Beyond retirement, FCMM sells group Long Term Disability and Life/AD&D insurance, Long Term Care Insurance (via Newman LTC), Health Plan Solutions (via GuideStone), and Payroll Services (via MinistryWorks / Brotherhood Works). The technology stack is entirely outsourced: Alerus Financial hosts the participant account portal (inherited from its 2016 acquisition of Alliance Benefit Group), LeapFILE handles secure document exchange, and partner carriers and fund families handle underwriting and custody.

Revenue is generated through asset-based and participant-based fees on the retirement plan, group LTD/Life premiums, payroll service fees, and commissions/fees from partner-distributed products. The customer base is the EFCA denomination — its ~1,500 member churches, their pastors, staff, and missionaries — with services purchased through employer adoption agreements and individual participation; FCMM reports that two-thirds of EFCA churches with 650+ weekly attendance use its plan. Marketing is denominational rather than commercial, conducted via EFCA conferences (EFCAOne, Theology Conference), tax and finance workshops (Jerry Rich, VP), the quarterly News & Notes newsletter, downloadable tax guides, and ECFA accreditation as credibility signaling.

Name

fcmm ltd church

Legal name

FCMM Benefits & Retirement

Website

https://fcmmbenefits.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Short description

FCMM Benefits & Retirement is the designated 403(b)(9) church retirement and benefits provider for the Evangelical Free Church of America, offering retirement plans, group disability and life insurance, and partner-distributed health, payroll, and long-term care benefits to EFCA pastors, church staff, and missionaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Church Retirement and Benefits Administration

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro primary industry

Ancillary Employer Benefits (Life/Disability/Accident/Critical Illness) (HLAEAAAK)

Keywords

• Church retirement plans
• Minister disability insurance
• Clergy benefits administration
• 403(b)(9) church plans
• Ministry payroll services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Retirement Plan Administration and Investment Management: FCMM generates revenue through fees charged to participants for plan administration and investment management. The plan offers FCMM-managed collective funds (Options C, D, E) and self-directed mutual fund options (Options F, G, J, H). FCMM deducts management fees from fund returns and in some cases applies direct participant fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FCMM Benefits & Retirement is the denominational benefits provider for the Evangelical Free Church of America, administering a 403(b)(9) Church Retirement Plan with multiple investment options, group Long Term Disability and Life/AD&D insurance, health plan solutions through GuideStone, long-term care insurance, and payroll services through MinistryWorks/Brotherhood Works for EFCA churches, pastors, staff, and missionaries.

Product overview

FCMM Benefits & Retirement is the church benefits provider for the Evangelical Free Church of America, offering a portfolio of retirement and benefit products centered on its core 403(b)(9) Church Retirement Plan. The portfolio includes multiple investment options: FCMM-managed collective funds (Lifetime Fund/Option C, Managed Stock Fund/Option D, Managed Bond Fund/Option E), self-directed mutual funds (American Funds/Option F, Vanguard Funds/Option G, Biblically-Responsible Funds/Option J including Timothy Plan, GuideStone, and Eventide), and Christian Investors Financial (Option H). Beyond retirement planning, FCMM offers group benefit products including Long Term Disability Insurance with Life/AD&D coverage, Health Plan Solutions through GuideStone, Long Term Care Insurance, and Payroll Services through MinistryWorks. The organization serves pastors, staff members, and missionaries of EFCA churches with tax-advantaged benefits including the unique clergy housing allowance designation for retirement distributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FCMM Retirement Plan (403(b)(9) Church Plan) Defined contribution retirement account plan designated as a 403(b)(9) Church Plan that lets ministry employees save for retirement with tax-advantaged contributions, multiple investment options (FCMM-managed funds plus self-directed mutual fund families), and the unique ability for ministers to designate retirement distributions as housing allowance.
• Benefit Plan (Long Term Disability & Life/AD&D Insurance) Group Long Term Disability Insurance paying 60% of qualified monthly salary (up to $6,000/month) for pastors and church staff, plus optional Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage up to $50,000 per participant.
• Payroll Service through MinistryWorks (Brotherhood Works) Church-focused payroll service covering tax reporting, W-2s, and automatic handling of FCMM Retirement Plan contributions and reporting.
• Health Plan Solutions through GuideStone Group and individual health insurance plans distributed through GuideStone Financial Resources for EFCA churches and ministry staff, including guideStone Secure Health 3000 low-cost plan option.
• Long Term Care Insurance Long-term care insurance planning service through partnership with Newman Long Term Care agency to help church staff address extended care needs and protect retirement assets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ years of continuous operation and 50% plan growth in 2009
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Newman Long Term CaresupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017FCMM partnered with Newman Long Term Care Insurance agency to help address extended care planning needs for EFCA church staff and FCMM-participating organizations. Newman LTC works with multiple leading insurers to provide competitive quotes. FCMM agents Jeff Englin and Jerry Rich serve as initial contact for LTC discussions.
• GuideStone Financial ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015GuideStone is the denominational benefits organization for Southern Baptist and select evangelical ministries. Since 2015, FCMM has partnered with GuideStone to offer EFCA churches access to group and individual health insurance plans. GuideStone developed insurance solutions for groups starting with two eligible employees. FCMM also offers GuideStone Mutual Funds as Option J (Biblically Responsible Funds).
• Timothy PlansupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2013Timothy Plan is added as Option J, providing biblically-responsible investing mutual funds for FCMM participants. Timothy Plan includes 9 funds covering major asset classes with moral screening for abortion, pornography, alcohol, tobacco, casino gambling, anti-family entertainment, and alternative lifestyles.
• Christian Investors Financial (CIF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Christian Investors Financial (CIF) is the EFCA-affiliated provider of ministry capital financing, capital campaign coaching, and church consultation. CIF provides Option H (Adjustable Rate Investment) for FCMM participants to invest in church mortgages. CIF also pays administrative fees to FCMM for funds invested in this option.
• Alerus FinancialcoreTechnology or IntegrationAlerus Financial provides the online participant account access platform for FCMM Retirement Plan members. In 2016, Alerus acquired Alliance Benefit Group (ABG), which had previously provided FCMM's mutual fund access and online platform since 2008. Alerus handles all web-accessible account information using banking-level cybersecurity protocols.
• American FundssupportingTechnology or IntegrationAmerican Funds (Option F) is one of the self-directed mutual fund families available to FCMM participants. Participants can invest in American Funds through their FCMM accounts with no up-front load fees. FCMM switched American Funds to institutional class in 2019.
• Vanguard FundssupportingTechnology or IntegrationVanguard Funds (Option G) are available as a self-directed investment option for FCMM participants. The Vanguard option is designed for advanced investors who make their own investment decisions. FCMM switched Vanguard funds to Admiral (institutional) class in 2019.
• GuideStone FundssupportingTechnology or IntegrationGuideStone Mutual Funds are available as part of Option J Biblically Responsible Funds, providing additional biblically-responsible investment choices for FCMM participants alongside Timothy Plan and Eventide Funds.
• Eventide FundssupportingTechnology or IntegrationEventide Funds are available as part of Option J Biblically Responsible Funds, offering another biblically-responsible investment option for FCMM participants.
• Thompson Insurance AgencysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThompson Insurance Agency partners with FCMM to provide Long Term Disability Insurance to EFCA pastors and church staff. CEO Kim Thompson authored content on Salary Continuation Plans for FCMM.
• Ballard Spahr LLPsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFCMM developed healthcare tax guidance chart with counsel from Ballard Spahr LLP, a law firm, for tax educational purposes regarding the Affordable Care Act and health insurance benefit taxation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Concordia Plan Services: Benefits provider for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, offering retirement, health, disability, and survivor benefits to LCMS clergy and workers. Closely comparable in scope, structure, and vertical-specific benefits model.
• GuideStone Financial Resources: Denominational benefits organization serving the Southern Baptist Convention and other evangelical ministries. Provides 403(b)(9) retirement plans, health insurance, and insurance products — directly comparable to FCMM and already a partner on health plans.
• Church Pension Group: Benefits and pension organization for the Episcopal Church, providing retirement, health, and disability benefits to clergy and lay employees. Operates a similar denominational benefits model with a defined benefit/career-based pension and ancillary benefits.
• Church Benefits Board / Ministers Life Insurance: Denominational insurance and benefits provider serving Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and other evangelical/Protestant clergy with retirement, life, and disability products — analogous denomination-tied benefits model.
• Pension Plan of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): Denominational pension and benefits plan serving Disciples of Christ ministers and lay workers. Comparable denomination-scoped retirement and survivor benefits structure to FCMM.
• MinistryWorks (Brotherhood Works): Church-specific payroll and HR services provider already partnered with FCMM. Provides comparable payroll and employer services to the same church segment, with potential overlap in benefits administration.
• Church Alliance: Coalition of denominational benefits plans (including FCMM) that collectively advocate on legal and regulatory issues affecting church plans (e.g., clergy housing allowance cases). Comparable in mission and constituency to FCMM's broader denominational advocacy interests.

Broad incumbents

• Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company: Large insurance carrier focused exclusively on faith-based organizations (churches, camps, schools), offering property, liability, and group benefits. Adjacent incumbent in church benefits, broader in scope than FCMM's benefits focus.
• New York Life Insurance (clergy-focused offerings): Broad life insurance carrier with historical clergy/missionary insurance offerings and group benefits capabilities. Represents incumbent scale in the life/AD&D and LTC products that FCMM distributes through partnerships.
• Church Mutual Insurance: Established church-focused property and casualty insurer also offering group benefits to faith-based employers. Larger incumbent offering overlapping disability and group benefits products alongside insurance lines FCMM does not offer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 fcmm ltd church