A partnership, not a transaction.
CACC certification is the credential. The partnership is what makes it durable. Here's how the relationship works from your first conversation through the years that follow.
Five phases. One ongoing relationship.
Most church-vendor relationships end at the sale. Ours starts there. Every partner church moves through five phases — some lasting weeks, some lasting years.
1
Discover
A free 30-minute conversation with a founder. We learn about your church and walk you through how CACC could fit. No deck, no pressure.
2
Certify
The 90-day CACC certification path. Self-assessment, site review, Gap Report, supported implementation, final review.
3
Recognize
Credential awarded. Your church receives the full recognition package (decal, lapel pins, signage, digital assets) and gets listed publicly in the CACC directory.
4
Renew
Annual renewal: updated self-assessment, one check-in call, refreshed directory listing, and new digital assets for the year ahead.
5
Multiply
Refer other churches, mentor pilot congregations, or sponsor scholarships. Partner-church discounts and Summit alumni access compound year over year.
What each side brings.
Partner churches commit to the work; we commit to the structure. Both sides need to follow through for inclusion to actually take root in a congregation.
We bring
- ✓The 80-question self-assessment across all six inclusion domains
- ✓A virtual or in-person site review with an experienced consultant
- ✓A prioritized Gap Report with realistic timelines
- ✓Founder check-ins throughout the implementation window
- ✓Templates, sample policies, and volunteer-training frameworks
- ✓The full recognition package and directory listing on credential
- ✓Ongoing access via the certified-church community after recognition
You bring
- ✓A point person on staff who can answer questions and coordinate the process
- ✓Senior-pastor or executive-team buy-in on the path forward
- ✓Honest answers on the self-assessment — even where things aren't going well
- ✓Willingness to make real changes during the implementation window
- ✓Your time on the kickoff call, site review, and final review
- ✓The certification fee for your tier, or willingness to apply for a scholarship
What partner churches actually use, day to day.
The CACC badge is the marketing artifact. These are the things partner churches tell us actually move the needle inside their congregation.
A documented inclusion protocol
The kind of thing a children's pastor can hand to a new volunteer on day one. Most churches don't have this; partner churches do.
A local resource directory
Vetted local disability-service providers in your region, so when a family asks "do you know anyone who can help with...", you have an answer.
A way for families to find you
Families searching for an inclusive church find your listing in the public CACC directory before they even visit your website.
Ongoing peer access
A small community of other certified churches working on the same things you are. Annual Summit alumni track, shared templates, real-time questions.
Refresh, not stagnation
Annual renewal updates your assets and standards. You don't drift toward outdated inclusion language or stale policies.
A referral economy
Refer other churches that certify and you stack renewal discounts. Three referrals = lifetime 20% off renewals. Real money over time.
If you're considering partnership.
There are three reasonable first moves depending on where your church is. None of them lock you in. None of them cost anything.
Just exploring
Read more about how certification works and look through our free resources. No need to talk to anyone yet.
How Certification Works →Ready to talk
A free 30-minute discovery call. We'll learn about your church and lay out what partnership could look like.
Book a Discovery Call →Pastor or lead staff
Sign up directly and a founder will reach out personally with next steps tailored to your church.
Sign Up as a Pastor →Common questions from prospective partner churches.
How is a partnership different from just buying certification?
Certification is the credential. Partnership is the ongoing relationship — annual renewal, a place in the certified-church community, scholarship pairing if your church is in a position to give, and a standing line back to a founder when questions come up.
How long does it take to become a partner church?
The CACC certification process itself runs 90 days. Partnership begins the day you sign up, continues through certification, and remains in place as long as you renew annually.
What if our church can't afford certification right now?
Partial and full scholarships are available for congregations under 150 attendees with demonstrated financial need. We'll match scholarship-eligible churches with donor sponsorships at no impact to program quality.
Do we have to be a specific denomination?
No. CACC is non-denominational. We partner with Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and other Christian traditions. The standards are about inclusion practice, not theology.
What happens if we don't pass on the first try?
Most churches don't pass every domain on the first review. The certification process is built around an implementation window — we identify gaps in the Gap Report, you address them with our support, and we re-review before the credential is awarded. Defer-and-resume is part of the design.
Partner with us.
The fastest way to know if it's a fit is a 30-minute conversation. No deck, no pressure, no sales rep.