catholic business network of montgomery county

What catholic business network of montgomery county does

Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County (CBN-MC, legal entity CBN-MC, Inc.) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1993 (predecessor Catholic Business Alliance, 1991-1993) and headquartered at P.O. Box 34549, Bethesda, Maryland. Its mission is to convene Catholic business owners, executives, and professionals in Montgomery County who seek to apply Catholic moral principles in their commercial work, and to direct philanthropic support toward local Catholic schools. The organization operates a recurring events portfolio — bi-monthly breakfast meetings at Columbia Country Club (80-100 attendees), bi-monthly evening happy hours (50-80 attendees), an annual Christmas Mass and Reception, an annual Catholic School Scholarship Awards Ceremony (120-150 attendees), and an Annual Awards Gala — supported by an online membership portal hosted on a GrowthZone association management platform.

CBN-MC's product surface is a portfolio of three scholarship and grant programs for Montgomery County Catholic schools: Essay Scholarships ($1,000-$2,500 each, 18 winners annually, for seventh-grade students), Need-Based Scholarships (initiated 2007, seeded by $10,000/year from John C. Grimberg Co.), and School Project Grants ($17,000 awarded to 17 schools in 2024 for items such as Smart Boards and assessment software). Since inception, the organization has distributed over $1,300,000 in total scholarships and grants.

Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring annual membership dues, tiered corporate sponsorships (Premier/Leading/Key), annual Gala ticket sales and donations (the primary scholarship funding mechanism), and tax-deductible donations to the CBN-MC Foundation. Named Premier sponsors include Grimberg, Palm Facility Services, Cornerstone Government Affairs, United Bank, Ruppert Landscape, Payroll Network Inc., and CREA. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with one paid administrator and operates with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed revenue. Its primary customer segment is Catholic business professionals in Montgomery County; its primary beneficiary segment is the 17+ Catholic elementary schools receiving annual grants.

Name

catholic business network of montgomery county

Legal name

CBN-MC, Inc.

Website

https://cbnmc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides professional networking for Catholic business professionals in Montgomery County, Maryland, and channels over $1.3 million in cumulative scholarships and grants to local Catholic elementary schools through annual events and tiered sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking Association

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Professional networking association
• Membership nonprofit organization
• Faith-based business community
• Scholarship grant programs
• Corporate sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual professionals and businesses that provide access to networking events, the member directory, and the ability to participate in CBN activities and sponsor events.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at multiple tiers (Premier, Leading, Key) that provide visibility at events, recognition at the annual gala, and association with the Catholic education cause. Sponsors include companies like Grimberg, PalmFS, Cornerstone Government Affairs, and United Bank.
3. Gala Revenue: Annual Awards Gala ticket sales and donations that raise funds specifically for Catholic school scholarships. The gala is the primary fundraising event where most scholarship funds are generated.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the CBN-MC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, designated for Catholic school support and scholarships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County (CBN-MC) is an independent non-profit membership organization that brings together Catholic business owners, executives, and professionals in Montgomery County, Maryland for faith-based networking through bi-monthly breakfast meetings, quarterly happy hours, and an annual Awards Gala. The organization channels membership dues, event revenue, and corporate sponsorships into Catholic school support, distributing scholarships (essay-based and need-based) and project grants to schools throughout the region.

Product overview

Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County (CBN-MC) is a non-profit networking organization that operates as a unified platform of community services focused on supporting Catholic education in Montgomery County, Maryland. The organization provides a portfolio of member networking events (breakfast meetings, happy hours), annual awards programs (Gala, Youth Coaches Hall of Fame, Christmas Mass), and charitable grant programs including Essay Scholarships, Need-Based Scholarships, and School Project Grants. The core offering combines professional networking opportunities with fundraising and scholarship distribution to Catholic schools, all facilitated through a membership portal. Since inception, CBN-MC has distributed over $1.3 million in grants and scholarships through these interconnected programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Breakfast Meetings Bi-monthly networking breakfast meetings bringing together an average of 80-100 members and guests, held from 8:00am to 9:00am on the 2nd Wednesday of every two months at Columbia Country Club, featuring speakers and networking opportunities for Catholic business professionals.
• Bi-Monthly Networking Happy Hour Evening networking events drawing 50-80 members and guests, held bi-monthly on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, rotating across Montgomery County venues, designed for Catholic business professionals to connect and build referral relationships.
• Annual Awards Gala The preeminent annual fundraising event for the Catholic community of Montgomery County, raising money for Catholic school scholarships and conferring awards including Businessperson of the Year, Community Leader of the Year, Paul G. Zurkowski Founder's Award, and the Tim Strachan Young Leaders Award.
• Catholic School Scholarship Awards Ceremony Annual ceremony held each April to celebrate seventh-grade students excelling in the Essay Scholarship competition, awarding scholarships of $1,000 to $2,500 to 18 winning students annually.
• Essay Scholarships Scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 awarded to seventh-grade students attending Catholic middle school, with 18 winners selected annually based on the quality of a 500-word essay judged by the Board of Directors and Scholarship Committee.
• Need-Based Scholarships Scholarships awarded to Montgomery County Catholic elementary school students and families with financial, physical, or learning challenges. Initiated in 2007 with $10,000 in annual funding from John C. Grimberg Co., Inc.
• School Project Grants Grants awarded to Catholic elementary schools in Montgomery County for projects such as Smart Boards, restroom fixtures, student assessment software, and other teaching tools. The program has awarded over $150,000 to 21+ schools since its 2013 inception.
• Youth Coaches Hall of Fame Annual recognition program honoring youth athletic coaches and volunteers who have made extraordinary contributions to CYO and other youth athletic programs with at least five years of volunteer service.
• Christmas Mass and Reception Annual holiday event combining a Mass celebrated at Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Rockville with a wine tasting and catered reception, drawing 50-65 attendees.
• Membership Portal Online member portal at members.cbnmc.com providing access to the event calendar, member directory for business referrals, sponsorship applications, donation capabilities, and new member applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1,300,000+ distributed in scholarships and grants to Catholic schools since 1993
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

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 premier, leading, key and minor.

• Palm Facility ServicespremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor providing facility services and supports networking events. Board member Tommy McCloskey represents PalmFS on CBN board.
• Cornerstone Government AffairspremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor and board participant. Board members Joe Barton and Geoff Gonella (President) are affiliated with Cornerstone.
• United BankpremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor providing banking services. Board member Eric Morales represents United Bank on CBN board.
• Ruppert LandscapepremierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor. Board member Tim Schofield represents Ruppert Landscape on CBN board.
• Payroll Network Inc.premierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor providing payroll and HR solutions as sponsor benefits.
• CREA (Commercial Real Estate Advisors)premierGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor providing commercial real estate advisory services.
• FCN Inc.leadingGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading sponsor, woman-owned small business providing IT services. Past Businesspersons of the Year (Dennis & Anne Sullivan, 2023).
• Founders BankkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerKey sponsor providing community banking services. Board member Will Gorman represents Founders Bank.
• Catholic StandardleadingGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading sponsor, official weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington providing media visibility.
• El PregoneroleadingGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading sponsor, Spanish-language newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington serving Hispanic Catholic community.
• Joseph W. McCartin InsurancekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerKey sponsor providing independent insurance agency services.
• Guadalupe Radio NetworkkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerKey sponsor, Catholic radio network associated with La Promesa Foundation providing media outreach.
• Capital PromotionskeyGTM or Marketing PartnerKey sponsor providing political and promotional materials.
• Columbia Country ClubminorOthersVenue partner hosting bi-monthly breakfast meetings at their facility in the Washington DC area.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Legatus: National Catholic organization for Catholic business owners and executives that provides networking, spiritual formation, and events for senior Catholic business leaders — directly comparable as a faith-based business networking organization, but operating at a national scale versus CBN-MC's single-county scope.
• C12 Group: Christian (broader-than-Catholic) peer advisory and business networking organization that convenes Christian business leaders in local groups for accountability and growth — comparable membership-based, faith-integrated business networking model, though serving an interfaith Christian audience.
• BNI (Business Network International): Global business networking franchise built on structured local chapter meetings and referral-driven member growth — directly comparable as a membership-based business networking model with recurring events and a member directory, but secular rather than faith-based.

Broad incumbents

• Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce: Established regional chamber providing business networking, advocacy, and events across Montgomery County — overlaps significantly with CBN-MC on networking events and member services, but serves a much broader secular membership base.

Regional players

• Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce: Hyper-local chamber serving the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area within Montgomery County — overlaps geographically with CBN-MC's primary footprint and competes for the same pool of local business professionals seeking networking.
• Vienna Business Association (VBA): Local business networking and civic organization in Northern Virginia offering breakfast meetings, mixers, and a community calendar — comparable structure of recurring events and member-driven engagement, though secular and operating across the river in Fairfax County.

Others

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Larger Catholic non-profit operating under the same Archdiocese of Washington umbrella that CBN-MC partners with — comparable faith-aligned mission and donor base, but focused on direct social services rather than professional networking or education grants.
• Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools Office: Centralized office overseeing Catholic K-8 and high schools across the Washington DC region — comparable institutional ecosystem in which CBN-MC operates as a funding/grantmaking partner, but functions as a governance body rather than a member-driven non-profit.

Emerging players

• Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School Corporate Work Study Program: Catholic high school in the region whose Corporate Work Study Program connects students with local businesses — comparable faith-based education-business partnership model that CBN-MC board members (e.g., Mark Shriver) and sponsors actively support, representing the school-side counterpart to CBN-MC's scholarship funding role.
• Holy Cross Catholic School Support Organizations (Regional): Other Catholic school parent and alumni support organizations in the DC metro area that fundraise and provide community for Catholic families — comparable as small, community-based non-profits supporting Catholic education, though typically tied to a single school rather than a multi-school network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catholic-business-network-of-moco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 →

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