Organization Type

Publisher: Global Church Alliance · Created: 2026-02-26 · 10 concepts

https://ontology.global.church/core#OrganizationTypeScheme

Classification of organizations by structural/governance form. Org types describe what an organization IS (Church, Agency, Network), not what it DOES — activity classification uses gc:EngagementAcceleratorScheme via gc:hasEngagementAccelerator.

Code	Label	Definition
`ACB`	Accreditation Body	An organization that evaluates and certifies other organizations against defined standards of governance, financial integrity, or operational practice. Accreditation bodies propagate behavioral trust — they don't do ministry directly but verify that accredited organizations meet independently audited criteria. Examples: ECFA, GuideStar/Candid.
`AGN`	Mission Agency	An organization that sends and supports cross-cultural workers, coordinates mission strategy, or provides missionary member care.
`CHR`	Church	A local gathering of believers — may or may not formally identify as a 'church'. Includes house churches, cell groups that function as churches, and traditional congregations.
`COA`	Coalition	A formal or informal coalition of organizations united around a specific strategic initiative, region, or people group cluster (e.g., Arabian Peninsula Network, Horn of Africa Cluster).
`DEN`	Denomination	A recognized grouping of churches sharing common beliefs, governance, and identity (e.g., Southern Baptist Convention, Assemblies of God).
`GIV`	Giving Intermediary	An organization that receives, stewards, and deploys charitable funds on behalf of donors. Includes donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsors, community foundations, and grant-making intermediaries. Distinguished from direct-ministry organizations by their fiduciary intermediary role — they route funds rather than performing ministry directly. Examples: National Christian Foundation, The Signatry, TrustBridge Global, WaterStone. In the trust graph, a Giving Intermediary has a distinctive profile: heavy on fiduciary credentials (ECFA accreditation, regulatory compliance), heavy on grant volume and distribution metrics, connected to many recipient organizations, but typically with zero direct engagement claims of its own.
`MOV`	Movement	A decentralized, catalytic movement united around a shared vision or methodology rather than formal organizational structure. Distinguished from Networks (which connect existing organizations) and Coalitions (which coordinate toward shared strategic goals) by their viral, grassroots character — movements spread through shared practices and identity rather than membership or governance. Examples: No Place Left, Faith Driven Entrepreneur, 24:14.
`NET`	Network	A relational network of organizations or individuals collaborating around a shared mission focus, geography, or people group (e.g., Ethne, Finishing the Task).
`PAR`	Parachurch Ministry	A Christian organization that operates outside and across denominational lines to engage in social welfare, evangelism, discipleship, or other specialized ministry functions.
`SEM`	Seminary	A theological training institution — seminary, Bible college, or ministry training center.