The Cornerstone Fund

What The Cornerstone Fund does

The Cornerstone Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit financial services organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, operating as the affiliated lending and investment ministry of the United Church of Christ (UCC). It serves two interconnected customer groups: (1) churches and faith-based non-profit organizations that need financing for property purchase, new construction, renovation, multi-use development, refinancing, pre-development, bridge financing, lines of credit, accessibility upgrades, environmental sustainability projects (Creation Care), and disaster recovery; and (2) individual and institutional investors seeking faith-aligned investment products including Flexible Demand Notes, Term Notes (10-, 20-, and 30-month maturities), Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Education Savings, and a Kids Club program. The organization's product surface is supplemented by giving bonus programs targeting LGBTQIA+, ministry, and racial equity causes, and digital tools including an online loan calculator and the Membernet member portal.

The business model is a classic community development lending spread: the fund raises capital from investors (paying them interest) and deploys it as loans to churches and faith-based organizations (charging interest), retaining the net interest margin. Revenue mechanics therefore depend on loan portfolio yield relative to investor note rates, with $115M+ in total assets, 3,000+ investors, and 700+ financed projects totaling $350M+ in cumulative funded value. The go-to-market motion is community-led and direct-to-consumer hybrid — driven by UCC denomination referrals and faith-based networks on the lending side, paired with website-based self-service applications and rate quote tools on the investment side. There is no proprietary technology platform disclosed; the organization operates on standard financial services infrastructure.

The Cornerstone Fund's strategic posture has shifted toward environmental sustainability and social reconciliation, evidenced by 2026 partnerships with Insurance Board and Solar TAC for solar financing and energy sovereignty, and a flagship partnership with The Pūʻā Foundation supporting a Redress and Reconciliation program in Hawaii. The organization has also recently appointed Rev. Kimberly Wood as Chief Relationship Officer, signaling investment in member-facing relationship management. Distribution is exclusively domestic (United States), and the organization is governed by a Board of Directors under the United Church of Christ without traditional equity ownership.

Name

The Cornerstone Fund

Legal name

The Cornerstone Fund

Website

https://CornerstoneFund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cornerstone Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit financial services organization affiliated with the United Church of Christ, providing loans and investment products to churches, faith-based non-profits, and faith-aligned individual investors across the United States since 1993.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Lending and Investment Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Church lending services
• Faith-based investments
• Religious organization loans
• Fixed-income investment notes
• Community development finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income on Loans: The Cornerstone Fund generates revenue by providing loans to churches and faith-based organizations, earning interest on the loan portfolio. This includes property purchase loans, construction loans, renovation loans, refinancing, and other financing products.
2. Investment Products: The organization offers investment products including Flexible Demand Notes, Term Notes, IRAs, and Education Savings accounts. Investors earn interest on their investments, which the fund uses to capitalize its lending operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Cornerstone Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit financial ministry that provides fixed-rate loans to churches and faith-based organizations for property purchase, construction, renovation, refinancing, disaster recovery, and community development. It also raises capital by offering faith-based investment products to individuals, including Flexible Demand Notes, Term Notes, IRAs, Education Savings, and Kids Club accounts.

Product overview

The Cornerstone Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit financial services organization founded in 1993, offering a comprehensive suite of loan and investment products specifically designed for churches and faith-based organizations. The product portfolio consists of two main categories: (1) Loan Products including property purchase, new construction, renovation, multi-use development, disaster care, refinancing, pre-development, bridge solutions, and lines of credit, along with specialized programs for accessibility/inclusion, creation care, natural disasters, and community development; and (2) Investment Products including flexible demand notes, term notes (available in 10-, 20-, and 30-month terms), IRAs, education savings, and kids club accounts, supplemented by giving bonus programs for LGBTQIA+, ministry, and racial equity causes. The organization also provides digital tools including a loan calculator and Membernet member portal. With over $115M in assets, 3,000+ investors, and 700+ financed projects worth $350+ million, the fund serves as a financial partner to the United Church of Christ and faith-based organizations across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Property Purchase Loan Loan product for purchasing property for churches and faith-based organizations.
• New Construction Loan Financing for new construction projects for churches and faith-based organizations.
• Renovation & Maintenance Loan Loan product for renovation and maintenance needs of church properties.
• Multi-use Development Loan Financing for multi-use development projects by churches and faith-based organizations.
• Refinancing Debt refinancing solutions for existing church loans to help reduce costs.
• Pre-Development Financing Early-stage development financing for church projects before full construction.
• Bridge Solutions Short-term financing bridge solutions for churches during transition periods.
• Line of Credit Revolving credit facility for churches and faith-based organizations.
• Accessibility & Inclusion Loans Specialized financing program promoting accessibility and inclusion in faith communities.
• Disaster Care Investment and Loan Program Specialized loan program for disaster recovery and care for faith-based organizations.
• Creation Care Investment and Loan Program Environmental sustainability loan program for eco-friendly church projects.
• Natural Disaster Loans Financing solutions for churches affected by natural disasters.
• Community Development Programs Loan programs supporting broader community development initiatives by faith-based organizations.
• Flexible Demand Notes Flexible investment notes with demand withdrawal options for individual investors.
• Term Notes Fixed-term investment notes with specified maturity dates (10-, 20-, and 30-month options available) for individual investors.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts integrated with faith-based investments for individual investors.
• Education Savings Education savings investment products for families seeking faith-aligned savings vehicles.
• Kids Club Investment savings program for children operated through faith-based investment accounts.
• LGBTQIA+ Giving Bonus Giving bonus program supporting LGBTQIA+ causes and organizations linked to investor accounts.
• Ministry Giving Bonus Giving bonus program supporting ministry initiatives linked to investor accounts.
• Racial Equity Giving Bonus Giving bonus program advancing racial equity initiatives linked to investor accounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ financed projects worth $350+ million across the U.S.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Insurance BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for solar resources and energy sustainability initiatives. The Cornerstone Fund collaborates with Insurance Board to provide resources and financing options for solar installations at churches and faith-based facilities.
• The Pūʻā FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Redress and Reconciliation program addressing historical injustices in Hawaii. The Cornerstone Fund has the privilege and duty to support The Pūʻā Foundation through this partnership, advancing right relationship and reconciliation efforts.
• Solar TACcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership focused on advancing energy sovereignty. The collaboration aims to promote renewable energy and sustainability in faith-based communities through the Solar TAC initiative.
• United Church of ChristflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Founding and affiliated denomination. The Cornerstone Fund operates as the official lending and investment ministry of the United Church of Christ, with deep integration into UCC networks and governance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ELCA Mission Investment Fund: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Mission Investment Fund is the closest direct peer: a denomination-affiliated 501(c)(3) ministry that accepts investments from members and lends to Lutheran congregations and related non-profits. Identical business model — investor notes funding church loans — and operates in the same faith-based, mission-aligned lending category.
• Presbyterian Investment & Loan Corporation: Presbyterian Investment & Loan Corporation is the official lending and investment ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offering term notes and church loans. Directly comparable as another mainline Protestant denomination-affiliated capital intermediary with overlapping customer base and products.
• Church Extension Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): The Disciples of Christ Church Extension provides capital and financial services to congregations, offering loans for new church development and investments to members. A mainline denomination-affiliated counterpart with parallel mission and structure.
• MMA (Ministry Management Associates): MMA provides insurance, retirement plans, and investment services to Lutheran churches and related ministries. Comparable as a faith-based financial services organization serving mainline Protestant congregations, though more diversified beyond lending.
• Catholic Extension Society: Catholic Extension funds construction and ministry in underserved Catholic communities through grants and loans. Comparable as a denomination-affiliated financial ministry serving religious institutions, though grant-heavy rather than predominantly loan-funded like Cornerstone.

Regional players

• Baptist Foundation of Texas: A faith-based foundation that invests and lends on behalf of Baptist churches and ministries in Texas. Comparable faith-aligned capital intermediary model, though denominational focus (Baptist) and regional scope (Texas) differ from Cornerstone's UCC and national footprint.

Emerging players

• Jewish Free Loan Association: A faith-based non-profit offering interest-free loans to community members. Comparable as a religiously affiliated lending institution serving a defined faith community, though operates on a no-interest model rather than market-rate lending.
• Self-Help Federal Credit Union: A community development financial institution (CDFI) that lends to underserved communities, including faith-based and non-profit borrowers. Comparable as a mission-driven financial institution deploying capital into community development projects, though structured as a credit union rather than a non-profit foundation.
• Faith Capital (Faith-Based Investment Platforms): An emerging fintech platform offering faith-aligned investment products to individual investors. Comparable mission-aligned investment product positioning, though a digital-first competitor rather than a denomination-affiliated non-profit lender.

Others

• National Council of Churches / Convergence loans: An ecumenical body representing multiple mainline denominations, including the UCC. Comparable as an ecosystem-level participant in mainline Protestant institutional finance, though not a direct lender in the same product category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Cornerstone Fund