As 2024 is well upon us, I’m excited to share some updates about the state of our membership.
2023 was a year of significant growth in our membership. We’ve also grown in our knowledge and understanding of our members. We’re thrilled to share insights and statistics that showcase the assets of our association community.
We ended 2023 with 2,806 members, up from 2,070 members in 2022. We continue to see growth in membership year over year despite challenging economic conditions for so many within our membership.
Pastors and executive directors make up half of our membership, with many wearing several hats in the non-profit, church, and denomination spaces. 44% of our members listed working for a non-profit as their connection to CCD work, while just over 25% listed church employment or some combination (including church) as their connection.
Our membership represents slightly more women than men. The majority of our members work in urban settings, and nearly 50% listed something other than primarily urban as their geographic context.
Our members are significantly more diverse than the broader population of the United States when it comes to Race/Ethnicity.
Members find themselves all along the Christian Community Development journey. Nearly 30% are just getting started, representing a lot of long-term potential. Additionally, over 80% of our members live where they work, representing a significant fidelity to CCD principles and praxis.
The State of Member Organizations
Nearly 70% of our members work in organizations with less than 10 employees, showing that we are still very much grassroots-driven. Despite the small size of many of our members’ organizations, it’s evident that they are very effective based on the individuals served.
The statistics for organization type track very similarly to the connection to CCD with the majority being church or non-profit. Again we can see that CCD members very much represent grassroots practitioners.
Looking ahead, we are optimistic and energized to continue fostering a thriving and inclusive community for our members. We remain dedicated to delivering valuable resources, fostering meaningful connections, and amplifying the voices of our members within the community development landscape.
We believe in the power of collective action and collaboration, and we look forward to providing resources, tools, connection, and more to help you achieve even greater things together in the coming year.
