United Church Funds

What United Church Funds does

United Church Funds (UCF) is a New York-based nonprofit investment management organization founded in 1909 (originally as the United Church Foundation) that exclusively serves institutional clients of the United Church of Christ and affiliated faith-based organizations. Its core offering is a family of 11 professionally managed investment funds — seven standalone funds (Cash & Equivalent, Fixed Income, Domestic Core Equity, Small Cap Equity, International Equity, Alternatives, and Beyond Fossil Fuels) plus four funds of funds — built on a values-aligned investment platform featuring exclusionary ESG screening, shareholder engagement, and proxy voting aligned with UCC General Synod resolutions. UCF also provides related services including planned giving programs, Brown Endowment scholarship administration, endowment governance consulting, and trust services at no additional fee, supported by a regional Institutional Relationships sales team and the Innovue client portal.

The organization generates revenue primarily through recurring asset-based management fees on the Common Investment Fund plus endowment reimbursements, reaching $9.6M in total revenue for 2025 against $1.3B in assets under management. It serves over 1,100 clients across five primary segments — local churches, judicatories/conferences, seminaries, healthcare institutions, and denominational ministries — maintaining a 98% retention rate in 2025. Distribution is fully domestic (U.S.) and channeled exclusively through institutional relationships, with no retail offering.

Strategically, UCF has positioned itself as a leader in faith-based responsible investing, holding founding-member status at the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (since 1971) and PRI signatory status (since 2006). It co-developed the Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund with Pension Boards-UCC in 2014, which has delivered approximately 14% annualized returns over its first decade. In 2025, UCF expanded its Investment Policy Statement to explicitly address systemic risks including climate change, promoted Lan Cai to Chief Investment Officer, welcomed Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson as Board Chair, and co-filed litigation to defend values-aligned stewardship against Texas SB 2337, signaling an increasingly activist posture in defending its operating model.

Name

United Church Funds

Legal name

United Church Funds

Website

https://ucfunds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Church Funds is a faith-based nonprofit investment manager serving over 1,100 United Church of Christ institutions—including churches, judicatories, seminaries, and healthcare organizations—through a values-aligned platform of 11 investment funds, managing $1.3B in assets from New York.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based Institutional Investment Management

NAICS

Other Financial Vehicles (525990), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Endowments (Universities, Foundations, Nonprofits) (FSAAAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Fund Governance Support (Board/Trustee, Minutes, Policies, Oversight) (FSAAAMAH)

Keywords

• Faith-based investment management
• Values-aligned institutional investing
• ESG screening services
• Planned giving programs
• Church endowment management

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Investment Management Fees: UCF generates revenue through fees charged on assets under management in the Common Investment Fund (CIF). The organization balances operating budgets primarily through these fee revenues, with total revenues of approximately $9.6 million for 2025.
2. Endowment Management Reimbursements: UCF earns reimbursements from endowments it manages, including the Richard and Helen Brown Endowment, as part of its operating revenue structure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Church Funds manages a family of 11 professionally managed investment funds — including the Cash & Equivalent, Fixed Income, Domestic Core Equity, Small Cap Equity, International Equity, Alternatives, Beyond Fossil Fuels, Total Equity, UCF Balanced, Alternatives Balanced, and Beyond Fossil Fuels Balanced Funds — exclusively for institutional clients such as local churches, UCC conferences, seminaries, denominational ministries, and faith-based healthcare organizations. Beyond pooled investment management, UCF delivers values-aligned ESG screening, shareholder activism, proxy voting, planned giving program support, trust services, and endowment governance consulting on a nonprofit basis.

Product overview

United Church Funds offers a family of 11 professionally-managed investment funds (7 managed funds and 4 funds of funds) designed for churches and faith-based organizations. The managed funds include: Cash & Equivalent Fund, Fixed Income Fund, Domestic Core Equity Fund, Small Cap Equity Fund, International Equity Fund, Alternatives Fund, and Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund. The funds of funds include: Total Equity Fund, UCF Balanced Fund, Alternatives Balanced Fund, and Beyond Fossil Fuels Balanced Fund. Beyond the investment fund platform, UCF provides planned giving services for charitable gift annuities, manages the Brown Endowment scholarship program, offers shareholder activism and proxy voting guidelines, provides endowment governance consulting, and operates a client portal (Innovue) for online account access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund: Investment fund free of companies that explore for fossil fuels, launched in 2014
• Beyond Fossil Fuels Balanced Fund
• Richard and Helen Brown Endowment for Church Leadership
• Just Investing Podcast

Products and services

• Cash & Equivalent Fund Money market fund invested primarily in high quality US Dollar-denominated money market instruments with remaining maturities of 13 months or less. Provides the least market risk and lowest total rate of return of UCF's 13 funds. Designed for churches and ministries seeking capital preservation for short-term reserves.
• Fixed Income Fund Fund invested primarily in intermediate and long-term US Dollar-denominated government and investment-grade corporate fixed income obligations, carrying relatively low market risk. Designed for institutional clients seeking diversified bond exposure within a values-aligned framework.
• Domestic Core Equity Fund Broadly diversified portfolio invested primarily in large capitalization common stock of US-headquartered corporations, with up to 10% of portfolio in international stocks. Designed for institutional investors seeking values-aligned domestic equity exposure.
• Small Cap Equity Fund Invests in a diversified portfolio of US small capitalization stocks typically with average market capitalization under $1.5 billion. Carries the highest degree of risk among UCF's domestic funds. Designed for institutional investors seeking higher-risk small-cap exposure.
• International Equity Fund Invested largely in common stock of companies headquartered in developed countries with 15-35% invested in emerging markets, offering broader diversification opportunities. Designed for institutional investors seeking global equity exposure.
• Alternatives Fund Invests in a combination of hedge funds, real estate funds, real asset funds and other investments, seeking to increase diversification across additional asset classes and achieve returns not correlated with standard indices. Designed for institutional investors seeking alternative asset exposure.
• Beyond Fossil Fuels Fund Broadly diversified enhanced index portfolio invested in common stock of global corporations that avoids investments in exploration and production companies in oil and gas industries and thermal coal companies. Achieved approximately 14% annualized returns over 10 years vs ~3% for energy-sector benchmarks.
• Total Equity Fund Fund of funds comprising units of the Domestic Core Equity, Small Cap Equity, and International Equity Funds. Invests primarily in a broadly diversified portfolio of domestic and international common stocks of both small and large capitalization.
• UCF Balanced Fund Fund of funds comprising units of the Fixed Income and Total Equity Funds. Pursues a middle-of-the-road approach with target allocation of 40% Fixed Income and 60% Total Equity. Designed for institutional investors seeking moderate balanced exposure.
• Alternatives Balanced Fund Fund of funds for investors who prefer the Moderate Balanced Fund's asset allocation with additional diversification via modest allocation to the Alternatives Fund. Target allocation: 40-60% Total Equity, 20-40% Fixed Income, 10-30% Alternatives.
• Beyond Fossil Fuels Balanced Fund Fund of funds emphasizing stocks for higher capital appreciation while maintaining a significant fixed income component. Target allocation: 50-70% Global Equity, 30-50% Fixed Income, 0-10% Cash. Values-aligned balanced option avoiding fossil fuel exposure.
• Planned Giving Services Helps UCC churches and ministries launch and integrate planned giving into existing endowment programs. Provides resources to maximize planned giving initiatives including Charitable Gift Annuities, donor options, and tools for promoting fundraising campaigns.
• Richard and Helen Brown Endowment for Church Leadership Endowment established in the 1990s to support pastoral ministry in the UCC by providing scholarships for seminarians and continuing education grants. Administered by UCF with application processing via SmarterSelect.
• Shareholder Activism and Proxy Voting Services UCF partners with faith-based and values-aligned peer investors to push portfolio companies toward more sustainable practices through ICCR, ClimateAction 100+, shareholder resolutions, and corporate dialogues. Includes proprietary Proxy Voting Guidelines reflecting UCC stances on environmental, labor, and equality issues.
• Innovue Client Portal Online portal providing authorized officers of client organizations with secure access to view account information, transactions, fund balances, statements, and reports. Third-party platform used by UCF for institutional client self-service.
• Trust Services UCF can serve as trustee for many client trust accounts at no additional fee, providing fiduciary oversight for faith-based organization trust accounts.
• Endowment Governance Consulting UCF staff work with client churches and organizations to review, update, and develop policy documents to help churches or organizations meet their fiduciary obligations for endowments.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.3B in assets under management - highest level in UCF history
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF is a founding member of ICCR (since 1971) and participates in shareholder engagement coalitions addressing human rights, environmental health, and worker rights. UCF works with ICCR to file shareholder resolutions and engage corporations on ESG issues.
• ClimateAction 100+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF is a member of ClimateAction 100+, an investor-led initiative working to ensure the world's largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take action on climate change. This partnership enables collective engagement on climate risk and sustainability.
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF has been a signatory to the UN PRI since 2007, committing to incorporate environmental, social and governance issues in investment portfolio construction, maintenance and oversight.
• Church Building & Loan FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC Financial Ministry partner assisting new and renewing congregations with funding for property purchases, construction, renovation and development of church-owned properties.
• Cornerstone FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC Financial Ministry partner helping local churches and non-profit organizations create change within their communities through transformative financial products.
• Insurance BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC Financial Ministry partner managing church property and liability insurance programs serving churches within UCC and other denominations.
• Pension Boards-United Church of ChristcoreTechnology or IntegrationManages the Cash & Equivalent Fund on behalf of UCF. UCF and Pension Boards jointly developed the Beyond Fossil Fuels Funds in response to UCC General Synod resolutions.
• BNY MelloncoreTechnology or IntegrationUCF's custodian bank that processes stock donations and securities transfers for client accounts.
• As You SowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with UCF on shareholder resolution urging ExxonMobil to address single-use plastics production, resulting in 20.8% shareholder support.
• Green Century FundsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-filed shareholder resolution with UCF calling on AIG to issue a climate transition plan, which led to AIG's agreement to publish such a plan.
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-filed shareholder resolution with UCF calling on AIG to issue a climate transition plan describing emissions reduction goals.
• Migrant JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF partnered with Migrant Justice to represent investors at Ahold Delhaize AGM in Amsterdam, amplifying voices of immigrant dairy farmworkers calling for improved labor conditions.
• Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF collaborates with IASJ on advancing Indigenous Peoples' rights through shareholder advocacy, including agreement with JPMorgan Chase on indigenous rights.
• U.S. Sustainable Investment Forum (US SIF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF participates in high-level advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill alongside US SIF partners to address systemic risk and create positive change aligned with responsible investing values.
• United Church of ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF is an associated ministry of the UCC, established in 1909. UCF's investment strategies align with UCC General Synod resolutions and the denomination's values of justice, stewardship, and care for creation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TIAA-Kaspick: TIAA's institutional asset management arm serving faith-based, nonprofit, and higher education endowments with responsible investing options. A broad incumbent with overlapping faith-based institutional distribution but a much wider product suite and larger AUM base than UCF.
• Commonfund: A larger, established nonprofit investment manager serving endowments, foundations, and other institutional investors with outsourced CIO services. Overlaps with UCF on faith-based and nonprofit institutional clients but operates at meaningfully greater scale and asset-class breadth.

Emerging players

• Cornerstone Capital Group: An emerging values-aligned investment advisor serving faith-based institutions, foundations, and impact-oriented investors with ESG-screened portfolios. A smaller, specialized competitor in the same intersection of faith-based and responsible investing as UCF.

Direct peers

• GuideStone Financial Resources: The Southern Baptist Convention's institutional investment and benefits organization, managing pooled funds with faith-aligned screens for churches, ministers, and institutions. A scale comparable denomination-affiliated manager with overlapping exclusionary investing capabilities.
• ELCA Foundation: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's endowment and planned giving services arm, managing pooled funds for congregations and ministries. Directly comparable to UCF in serving a mainline denomination with values-aligned investment products.
• United Methodist Church Investment Services: Investment services arm of the United Methodist Church serving conferences, congregations, and institutions with pooled funds and socially responsible investing options. Operates a directly analogous model to UCF within another mainline denomination.
• Episcopal Church Pension Fund: A faith-based institutional investor serving Episcopal clergy, churches, and institutions with pooled investment funds, retirement plans, and benefits administration. Comparable in mission, fund structure, and denominational alignment to UCF's CIF and BFF offerings.
• Presbyterian Foundation: The investment and stewardship arm of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), serving congregations and ministries with pooled investment funds, planned giving, and endowment services — a directly comparable denominational investment manager. UCF has even co-filed shareholder resolutions with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), highlighting operational overlap.

Regional players

• Church Pension Group (Church of England): The Church of England's pensions and investment services organization, managing pooled funds for clergy and Church institutions with similar ethical-investing screens. Comparable in structure and mission but serves a different geography (U.K.) than UCF.

Others

• Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ): A faith-based shareholder advocacy organization collaborating with UCF on shareholder resolutions; while not an asset manager, IASJ operates in the same values-aligned responsible investing ecosystem and recently awarded UCF's Director of Responsible Investing the Bridge Connector Award.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/563290538
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-church-funds
• Xx.com/ucfunds

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 →

Frequently asked questions about United Church Funds