Editor's note: This story has been edited to reflect the proper name and quotation to Ellen Adair Wyche.
One of Atlanta's oldest institutions is getting into the startup game.
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta has announced the debut of Epiphany, a new social entrepreneurship initiative, and is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for projects and startups that address social challenges.
Through the Epiphany incubator, the church will help nurture and fund selected social ventures with access to capital and community resources, according to a news release.
Entrepreneurs and startups selected will receive funding from a pool of $250,000, as well as financial and business planning assistance from FPC. The initiative is designed to promote individual economic empowerment and reinforce FPC’s identity as the Atlanta church that balances spiritual conviction with tangible compassion.
“By nurturing worthwhile social ventures that align with our values and mission, First Presbyterian wants to increase our direct impact in the community in ways we would not otherwise have imagined," Tony Sundermeier, senior pastor at FPC, said. "By collaborating with and equipping social entrepreneurs with the human and financial capital of the church, we can create an exponentially broader reach to meet some of the challenges experienced by our most vulnerable neighbors.”
Executive Pastor Rebekah LeMon said she wished she could say FPC was the first to come up with with the idea for a church-run social venture fund, but the church was able to connect with a Presbyterian church in Houston that had implemented a similar concept, thanks to Epiphany Co-Chair Ellen Adair Wyche. The church, which is nearing its 175th anniversary, was identifying strategic plans at the time for its future.
“Traditional churches have typically focused on giving things” Wyche said. “Epiphany is our effort to find new, innovative ways to be more impactful, and in a sustainable, respectful manner engage with the people who need help.”
With the Epiphany incubator, church members who have business or entrepreneur experience will now be able to offer their services at their place of worship, LeMon said. The concept is a combined initiative to get members involved and giving back to the community in a different, productive way.
"One of the things that was a real interest for us was…how do we engage our membership in a way that utilizes their gifts in ways that currently aren’t being utilized," Sundermeier said. "A lot of our outreach has been focused on the homelessness, the poor and vulnerable…but that’s very particular and discreet and not every member of the church could participate in that kind of work. And so we felt like this sort of leaded into our heart for the city but also gave us more opportunities to empower our members to use their gifts to make a difference in the world."
The fund came together from a donor's seed gift and some revenue the church received for allowing film project on its campus, LeMon said. With the Epiphany incubator, FPC is able to put that money back in the community but still continue its other social impact efforts.
"We’re treating it as a ministry of the church," she said.
Applications are due in early October, with concentrated coaching and venture refinement later this falls and winter. Applicants and their concepts do not have to be faith-based in order to be considered, LeMon said.
Startups and entrepreneurs who are selected will receive hands-on business advising from experienced mentors recruited from FPC’s membership. Semi-finalists will participate in a workshop with business and city leaders. Following the workshop, finalist will pitch their refined ideas to a panel of Epiphany judges at the end of February to select the final grant recipients.
