Disciples Church Extension Fund

What Disciples Church Extension Fund does

Disciples Church Extension Fund (legal name: Board of Church Extension of Disciples of Christ Inc.) is a private, non-profit faith-based financial ministry founded in 1883 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It operates as the formally designated general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), providing financial, building, and ministry services to congregations, camps, and retreat centers across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The organization is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors and employs 11-50 staff, including a regional network of bilingual Building and Capital Services Advisors who deliver in-person consultation. The technology stack is a faith-based financial platform for managing church investments, loans, and ministry services, without public APIs, SDKs, or AI capabilities.

DCEF's core product surface spans Investment Notes (a denomination-aligned deposit-like product paying 3.75% as of October 2025), Building Loans (construction, property purchase, renovation, refinancing), Capital Fundraising Campaign consulting, Building Disaster Response (free, in partnership with Week of Compassion), and the proprietary New Beginnings assessment process. Add-on programs include the Accessibility Loan Fund, Holy Places Grant, Annual Manna Fund, and an Interest-Free Loan Fund. The business model combines a subscription/recurring component (investment-note liabilities and recurring charitable gifts), a transaction-fee component (loan interest and origination), and professional-services revenue (capital campaign consulting). Go-to-market is relationship-led: lead flow originates through Regional Minister referrals and General Assembly participation, then converts via direct field advisory engagement rather than digital self-serve.

Since 2021 the organization has executed a leadership renewal — appointing Belinda R. King as the first African American and first woman President, expanding the C-suite with new CFO, Chief Relationship Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer roles (2023-2024), and announcing Rev. Dr. Courtney Stange-Tregear as the next President and CEO effective March 2, 2026. Cumulative loan approvals surpassed $1 billion in December 2020, with record annual loan closings above $26.7M and record investments above $25.8M during King's tenure, alongside a Board-approved operating budget increase to $11.65M (from $8.67M) under a new three-year strategic plan.

Name

Disciples Church Extension Fund

Legal name

Board of Church Extension of Disciples of Christ Inc.

Website

https://disciplescef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Disciples Church Extension Fund is a non-profit financial ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), providing loans, investment notes, capital campaign consulting, and disaster response services to congregations across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Financial Services for Congregations

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

Keywords

• Church lending services
• Faith-based investments
• Capital fundraising campaigns
• Congregation financial planning
• Church disaster response

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Notes: DCEF accepts investments from individuals who earn a return while their capital is used to fund church loans. Investors receive interest payments reported on IRS Form 1099-INT.
2. Loan Interest: DCEF provides loans to congregations for construction, renovation, property purchase, and refinancing. Interest payments on loans constitute a primary revenue stream.
3. Capital Campaign Services: DCEF offers capital fundraising campaign consulting services to help churches raise funds for projects, charging fees for campaign guidance and implementation.
4. Charitable Gifts: The organization receives charitable donations through various mechanisms including the Annual Manna Fund, planned giving, stock donations, IRA rollovers, and donor advised funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Disciples Church Extension Fund is a faith-based financial ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that provides loans for church construction, renovation, property purchase, and refinancing, while accepting investment notes from individuals who earn a return on funds lent to congregations. It also offers capital fundraising campaign consulting, free disaster response services, and ministry planning assessments to help congregations maximize their people, property, and finance resources.

Product overview

Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF) offers a comprehensive suite of financial and ministry services for congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The core offerings include Investment Notes for individual investors, Building Loans (construction, purchase, renovation, and special projects), Capital Fundraising Campaign consulting services, Building Disaster Response assistance, and New Beginnings assessment for congregations. Additional programs include the New Church Ministry for church planting, Accessibility Loan Fund, Holy Places Grant, Annual Manna Fund, and Interest-Free Loan Fund. The organization operates as a unified ministry platform where these services work together to help churches maximize their people, property, and finance resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investment Notes Financial investment products that provide a competitive rate of return (3.75% as of October 2025) while supporting church ministry work across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Investors receive interest payments reported on IRS Form 1099-INT, and can designate portions of interest as charitable gifts through the Great Commission Partnership.
• Building Loans Comprehensive loan services including construction loans, property/building purchase loans, renovation loans, and special projects loans for church facilities. Available to Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations seeking to build, renovate, purchase property, or refinance existing debt.
• Capital Fundraising Campaign (CFC) Services Expert consultation and guidance for faith communities to plan and execute capital fundraising campaigns, helping ministries meet or exceed their fundraising goals. Lay-led model that engages broad congregation participation; majority of churches exceed their goals.
• Building Disaster Response Service Free service provided in partnership with Week of Compassion to help churches recover from natural disasters including tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake, or fire damage. The service helps congregations assess immediate challenges, secure damaged facilities, navigate insurance claims, and plan reconstruction.
• New Beginnings Assessment Hands-on consulting service that guides congregations through assessment of ministry, resources, and community needs to clarify their future direction and develop a Future Story. Over 1,000 congregations have engaged with 99% finding clarity; 60% chose to re-envision mission and growth, 35% chose to redevelop their congregation, and 5% chose to close and leave assets as legacy gifts.
• New Church Ministry Denomination-wide program overseeing new church planting and development for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), supporting new church development initiatives.
• Accessibility Loan Fund Special low-interest rate loans to help churches remove physical barriers and improve accessibility for all people.
• Holy Places Grant Grant program to help new congregations purchase or build their first church facility.
• Interest-Free Loan Fund No-interest repair loans to help ministries move forward after disaster strikes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of congregations find clarity after New Beginnings assessment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCEF is a general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), providing financial and ministry services on behalf of the denomination. The organization oversees New Church Ministry for the church and receives referrals through denominational leadership.
• New Church MinistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCEF oversees New Church Ministry, a denomination-wide program supporting new church development efforts. This partnership positions DCEF as the primary resource for church planting within the Disciples movement.
• Week of CompassioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCEF partners with Week of Compassion to provide disaster response services to congregations affected by natural disasters. Week of Compassion is the disaster response ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
• National Benevolent AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA provides Mission and Ministry Grants to congregations, including some that partner with DCEF. Grants have supported initiatives like the WHOLE Initiative at Mosaic Christian Church.
• OSF HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Memorial/Mosaic Christian Church to provide mobile clinic services including school physicals and dental exams from the church parking lot.
• Wesley HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWesley Housing partnered with First Christian Church of Falls Church to develop 95 affordable housing units for older adults on church property.
• Hope Partnership for Missional TransformationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership since 2012 providing leadership development and congregational revisioning services. Restructured in 2019.
• Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc.minorOthersStock brokerage firm used for accepting gift of stocks, bonds, and securities donations. DTC code: 0226, Account ID: C4W 605 565.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Christian Church Foundation: A related Disciples of Christ organization offering long-term investment services, planned giving, and endowment management to congregations. Highly comparable as a sibling financial ministry serving the same denomination, often partnering with DCEF on joint client engagements.
• Church of the Nazarene Foundation: The Church of the Nazarene's charitable giving and planned giving foundation serving Nazarene congregations and institutions. Comparable as a denominational foundation providing investment products, planned giving, and grants to support member church projects.
• American Baptist Foundation: American Baptist Churches USA's affiliated foundation providing investment and planned giving services to ABCUSA congregations. Comparable as a mainline denominational financial services entity supporting church capital and ministry needs.
• UCC Cornerstone Fund: United Church of Christ's affiliated lending ministry providing building loans, capital campaign support, and investment opportunities to UCC congregations and related ministries. Directly comparable in mission, customer base, and product mix.
• Wespath Investments: The United Methodist Church's general agency providing pension, health, and investment services, including faith-based investment funds serving clergy and church institutions. Comparable as a large denominational financial services entity offering investment and lending solutions to faith-based clients.
• Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program: The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation's program providing investment products and loans to congregations for property, building, and capital projects. Directly comparable as a denomination-affiliated financial ministry offering loans and investment notes to member churches.
• ELCA Mission Investment Fund: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's faith-based lending and investment ministry, offering building loans, investment opportunities, and grants to congregations. Directly comparable as a denominational financial services arm serving church property and capital needs.

Regional players

• Church Loans & Investment Trust (CLINT): A UK-based faith lending and investment trust providing loans to churches and Christian organizations for property projects. Comparable in mission and product (faith-based lending) but operates in a different geography (UK) than DCEF (U.S./Canada/Puerto Rico).

Broad incumbents

• Week of Compassion: The disaster response and humanitarian aid ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), DCEF's established disaster response partner. Comparable mission focus on humanitarian relief for faith communities, though Week of Compassion specializes in disaster response rather than lending or capital campaigns.

Emerging players

• National Benevolent Association: A Disciples of Christ-affiliated organization providing grants, programs, and support for innovative ministries. Comparable as a sibling Disciples general ministry that partners with congregations on mission initiatives (e.g., the WHOLE Initiative grant at Mosaic Christian Church) that DCEF also finances.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChurchExtension
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disciples-church-extension-fund
• Instagraminstagram.com/churchextension
• Xx.com/churchextension

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Disciples Church Extension Fund