What Brethren In Christ Foundation does

Brethren in Christ Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit financial services organization founded in 1972 and headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. It operates exclusively as the financial ministry of the Brethren in Christ (BIC) U.S. denomination, serving three primary constituencies: BIC congregations and affiliated organizations (financing facility construction, renovation, and expansion); credentialed BIC ministers and missionaries (home mortgages and retirement planning); and individual BIC members and constituents (deposit products and charitable giving tools). The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors that includes the BIC General Conference National Director and General Treasurer by virtue of their offices, and all new loans require approval from one of seven regional BIC conferences.

The Foundation's product portfolio comprises two main lines. On the investment side it offers Demand Certificates (TAP) and Term Certificates (SIC) at variable rates, a Common Trust Fund with socially responsible options, Youth Savings Certificates (UTMA-governed), Health Savings Accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts (Traditional, SEP, Roth), and a 403(b)(9) retirement plan. On the lending side it issues facility loans to qualified congregations (requiring minimum 20% equity) and home mortgages to ministers and missionaries (requiring minimum 5% equity), both with no closing fees, no points, and no prepayment penalties. The Foundation also administers the BIC U.S. Retirement Plan, a Matching Grant Program for new ministry initiatives, a Gift Deposit Account for charitable giving, Planned Giving resources, and — as of July 2026 — GiftWise, a free online will-creation tool developed in partnership with BIC U.S.

The business model is a closed-loop faith-based financial intermediary: investor deposits from BIC members fund loans to BIC congregations and ministers, with revenue generated primarily through the net interest spread between lending rates and deposit rates. As of 2025, the Foundation reported just over $49 million in total investments and a $36.6 million loan portfolio across nine recently hired staff. Distribution runs through direct staff consultation, regional conference meetings, denominational referrals, and a recently launched online portal; Spanish-language materials were added in July 2026 to serve the growing Hispanic BIC population.

Name

Brethren In Christ Foundation

Legal name

Brethren in Christ Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://bicfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brethren in Christ Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1972 that provides investment products, facility loans, mortgages, retirement plans, and charitable giving tools exclusively to Brethren in Christ U.S. congregations, ministers, and individual members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Denominational Financial Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Savings Institutions, Not Federally Chartered (6036), Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based & Affinity Credit Unions (FSABAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Faith-based financial services
• Denominational lending
• Ministry investment products
• Church facility loans
• Retirement plan administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Mechanicsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Loans: The Foundation generates revenue primarily through interest charged on facility loans to BIC congregations and home mortgages for BIC ministers and missionaries. Interest rates are variable and competitive within the faith-based lending space.
2. Investment Returns: Individual and organizational investors deposit funds into demand certificates, term certificates, IRAs, and other investment vehicles. The Foundation uses these funds to issue loans and generates revenue from the spread between lending and investment rates.
3. Ministry Grants Program: The Foundation operates a matching grant program that provides up to $2,000 for new ministry initiatives in first year, $1,000 in subsequent years. Grants are 50% reimbursement of qualifying expenses for outreach-focused initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Brethren in Christ Foundation provides faith-based financial services exclusively to the Brethren in Christ U.S. denomination. Its core offerings include investment products (Demand and Term Certificates, Common Trust Fund, IRAs, HSAs, Youth Savings Certificates) and loan products (facility loans for congregations and mortgages for credentialed ministers and missionaries). The Foundation also administers the BIC U.S. 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan, a Matching Grant Program for new ministry initiatives, and charitable giving tools including Gift Deposit Accounts, Planned Giving resources, and the GiftWise online estate planning tool.

Product overview

Brethren In Christ Foundation operates as a faith-based financial services organization offering a portfolio of investment products, loan services, and charitable giving tools for BIC congregations, ministers, and individuals. Investment products include Demand Certificates (TAP) and Term Certificates (SIC) with variable interest rates, Common Trust Fund with Total Market and Socially Responsible Investing options, Youth Savings Certificates for minors, Health Savings Accounts, and Individual Retirement Accounts (Traditional, SEP, Roth). Loan offerings include facility loans for congregations and mortgages for ministers and missionaries. The Foundation also provides the Matching Grant Program supporting new ministry initiatives, Gift Deposit Account for charitable giving, Planned Giving resources, and administers the BIC U.S. 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan. Most recently, GiftWise provides free online will creation in partnership with BIC U.S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Demand Certificates (TAP) Flexible investment option allowing investors to add or redeem funds at any time without penalty, earning variable interest accumulated monthly. Available to BIC congregations, organizations, ministers, and individual investors.
• Term Certificates (SIC) Fixed-term investments from 6 months to 5 years offering higher interest rates than Demand Certificates, with minimum $25 investment and early redemption penalties. Available for individuals, congregations, and IRAs.
• Common Trust Fund Pooled investment vehicles for eligible church organizations offering Total Market Funds and Socially Responsible Investing options across Growth with Income, Balanced, Conservative, Fixed Income, and Money Market strategies.
• Youth Savings Certificate UTMA-governed custodial investment product for children that matures at age 21, designed to teach financial stewardship while supporting BIC ministry. Yields 5.84% APY (6.00% rate).
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Investment accounts for medical-related payments and purchases, available as Demand Certificates for frequent transactions or Term Certificates for fixed-term investment.
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Retirement accounts including Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, and Roth IRA options, with funds housed in Term Certificates, Demand Certificates, or IRA Notes (including a 10-year IRA Note).
• Loans for Facilities Loans to qualified BIC U.S. congregations and affiliated ministries for purchase, construction, remodeling, or expansion of facilities. Requires minimum 20% combined equity and down payment, with regional conference guarantee up to 100% and no fees, points, or prepayment penalties.
• Mortgages for Ministers and Missionaries Home loans for credentialed BIC U.S. ministers and missionaries to finance purchase, construction, remodeling, or expansion of primary residence. Requires minimum 5% combined equity and down payment, with no fees, points, or premiums during construction and no prepayment penalties.
• Matching Grant Program Grant program providing 50% reimbursement of qualifying outreach expenses for new ministry initiatives, capped at $2,000 in the first year and $1,000 in subsequent years, with $2,000 maximum per site per calendar year.
• Gift Deposit Account Donor-advised-style charitable giving account allowing donors to contribute cash or securities, receive immediate tax deduction, and recommend future charitable distributions through BIC ministries.
• Planned Giving Resources and consultations helping supporters structure biblically-based charitable giving plans that benefit donors, loved ones, congregations, and ministries.
• BIC U.S. Retirement Plan (403(b)(9)) Foundation-administered retirement plan for BIC U.S. congregations, pastors, and employees supporting pre-tax employer non-elective, employer matching, employee salary reduction, and rollover contributions under IRC 403(b)(9).
• GiftWise Free online estate planning tool offered in partnership with BIC U.S. that walks users through creating a Last Will and Testament, Health and Financial Power of Attorney, and planned charitable giving options supporting BIC U.S. ministry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Five congregations paid off loans early in 2025, averaging just 8.5 years on 30-year mortgages
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BIC U.S.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with BIC U.S. to offer GiftWise, a free online will-creation tool for the BIC U.S. family. The Foundation funds the tool which is promoted through BIC U.S. channels to help families with estate planning and charitable giving.
• BIC U.S. Regional ConferencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven regional conferences of BIC U.S. (Allegheny, Susquehanna, Great Lakes, Midwest, and others) refer congregations to the Foundation for financing and participate in loan approval processes. Regional conference approval is required before new loans are approved.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LCMS Foundation: The LCMS Foundation is the financial services arm of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, providing loans to congregations, investment products, and planned giving services for LCMS members, pastors, and ministries. It is a structurally and functionally similar denominational depository and lending foundation.
• Church Finance Group: Church Finance Group is a specialty lender providing church building and capital loans to Christian congregations and ministries. It overlaps with the BIC Foundation on the church facility loan product line, although it does not offer investment products.
• Baptist Foundation of Texas: The Baptist Foundation of Texas provides loans to Baptist churches for building projects, plus investment and planned giving products for Baptist individuals and congregations. Its denomination-bounded model of church lending plus member investment offerings is structurally comparable to the BIC Foundation.
• Christian Community Credit Union: Christian Community Credit Union is a faith-based, member-owned credit union serving Christian churches, pastors, missionaries, and individuals. It offers competitive deposit products, church and pastor loans, and investment services, closely mirroring the BIC Foundation's model of faith-aligned depository and lending services for ministry professionals.
• Everence Financial: Everence Financial is the faith-based credit union and financial services organization of the Mennonite/Anabaptist tradition (formerly MMA). It accepts deposits, offers loans to members and church entities, and runs investment products with a faith-aligned mission, making it the closest functional and philosophical analogue to the Brethren in Christ Foundation.
• Catholic Extension Society: Catholic Extension supports Catholic dioceses, parishes, and ministries with financial services, capital loans, and gift planning tools. Its combination of denomination-bounded lending and charitable giving infrastructure is functionally analogous to the BIC Foundation.
• Presbyterian Foundation: The Presbyterian Foundation serves the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with investment products, loans for church building projects, and charitable giving tools for members, pastors, and congregations. Like the BIC Foundation, it functions as the financial ministry of a specific Protestant denomination.
• Free Methodist Foundation: The Free Methodist Foundation provides loans to Free Methodist churches and ministries, plus investment and planned giving products for FM members and pastors. It is a smaller Protestant denominational foundation with a similar faith-aligned depository, lending, and grantmaking model.
• Mennonite Brethren Foundation: The Mennonite Brethren Foundation is the financial services arm of the U.S. Mennonite Brethren denomination, providing loans to MB churches and agencies, investment products, and charitable giving tools for MB constituents. Its Anabaptist heritage, denominational scope, and product mix make it a strong peer to the BIC Foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Thrivent Financial: Thrivent is a Fortune 500 faith-based financial services organization offering banking, lending, investments, and insurance to Christian individuals and congregations. It is a much larger, broader incumbent in the same faith-based financial services category that the BIC Foundation operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Brethren In Christ Foundation