Zion United Church of Christ
Solar Powered from the Parking Lot
Zion United Church of Christ is a community-minded church in Marion, Illinois. Their meal programs feed hundreds of city residents of all ages annually. Roughly five years ago they wanted to advance their Creation Care commitments by installing solar.
NEED
Zion UCC saw its electricity bills triple in the past several years. In the interest of saving money and caring for the Earth, they needed funding to install a solar canopy over part of the church's parking lot.
CALLING
Zion UCC is called to Creation Care initiatives because of their concern for the earth, lower energy bills, and wanting to demonstrate the ease of clean energy installation to their city.
"Our tradition teaches that caring for creation is a sacred trust," church leadership said in a statement. "This project is one way our congregation seeks to honor that calling by reducing our environmental footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future for our community and our world."
God Math
The Cornerstone Fund’s Creation Care loan for $273,000 helped the congregation install a solar canopy over part of its parking lot. The project continues their Creation Care commitments; it will lower church energy bills and demonstrate the power of clean energy to all of Marion.
Learn more about Zion’s solar project in these articles:
“Zion UCC to Dedicate Solar Array”
“Churches Turn to Solar Power to Support Ministry”
Click here to learn more about our Creation Care Investment and Loan Program.
“When utilities spike, it directly affects what we can offer our community,” Holst said. “We serve meals every Sunday. We host programs, community events, support groups. Solar helps ensure we don’t have to choose between keeping the lights on and keeping our ministries alive.”
– Rev. John Holst, pastor of Zion United Church of Christ, from this article.
Community Congregational Church UCC
Creation Care in Action
Community Congregational Church UCC in Benicia, California, wanted to demonstrate their commitment to Creation Care — and to its energy savings — so they wanted to switch to solar power and energy storage.
NEED
Community Congregational UCC saw its electricity bills rising steadily as well as its congregation's commitment to Creation Care. They decided to install solar panels and a Tesla Powerwall energy storage system.
CALLING
Community Congregational UCC is called to Creation Care initiatives because of their concern for the earth, lower energy bills, and wanting to demonstrate the ease of clean energy installation to their city.
God Math
The Cornerstone Fund’s Creation Care loan for $63,122 helped the congregation install solar panels on the building’s roof. They’re now saving thousands of dollars and are averaging 72% solar-powered electricity since February 2026. The Tesla Powerwall is also allowing them to keep energy in storage in the case of emergency outages.
Click here to learn more about our Creation Care Investment and Loan Program.
“Thank you to the Cornerstone Fund for all your help in securing the approval of our application and in facilitating the timely disbursement of the loan funds for our solar panel project at Community Congregational Church UCC of Benicia. We are truly grateful for your responsiveness and efficiency in bringing this project to fruition. We are especially appreciative of the Creation Care Loan program and Cornerstone Fund’s support of environmentally conscious faith communities.“
– Dale Olm, Community Congregational UCC church treasurer
Important April Information
Happy April Fool's Day!
We couldn't help ourselves. Please have a silly day.
UCC Issues Appeal to Support Relief Efforts as Historic Flooding Continues to Impact Hawaii
The Cornerstone Fund sends our prayers to those affected by the flooding in Hawaii.
This article is cross-posted from the National United Church of Christ blog.
The United Church of Christ has issued an appeal to support those who’ve been impacted by the historic floods in Hawaii.
By Charles Jefferson, Jr. -- March 24, 2026
Reports indicate this is the worst flooding to hit Hawaii in two decades. Homes have been swept off their foundations, cars have floated out of driveways, and thick volcanic mud has oozed into buildings, covering floors and walls.
Authorities in Hawaii said no deaths have been reported, but more than 230 people had to be rescued. On Monday, a fresh downpour of rain set off more flooding on Oahu’s south side while residents on the island’s North Shore cleaned up and assessed destruction from last week’s storms.
The Global H.O.P.E. (Humanitarian, Opportunities, Partnerships, Empowerment) team is in regular communication with the Hawaii Conference staff, ecumenical partners in disaster recovery, and response coordination calls with the national network of voluntary organizations active in disasters (VOAD).
The appeal, which was enacted by UCC General Minister and President/CEO the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, along with the UCC’s Disasters Ministries Team, an arm of the Global H.O.P.E. team, calls the church to give support to the immediate recovery, and relief efforts that will be needed on ground in Hawaii.
Reports from those on the ground say at least three UCC churches have been damaged by the storms. Several other UCC churches have made their buildings available as shelters for those who need refuge from the elements.
“We know that as the flood waters recede, affected communities face a long road ahead,” said Andrew Long-Higgins, Global H.O.P.E. minister and team leader. “Through the special appeal we will be able to accompany those communities in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Our hearts and prayers are with all of those affected across the Hawaiian Islands.”
CLICK HERE to read the full appeal and to donate, and learn more about how your funds will be used to support relief efforts.
Congregational United Church of Christ
A Lasting Legacy Thanks to Covenant and Collaboration
When the Congregational United Church of Christ of Arlington Heights, Illinois was deciding on its future several years ago, the church found itself with few options. Members of the church were discerning that it was perhaps time to consider closure, but they were also discerning how best to honor their legacy as a faithful and generous congregation.
As a new church start in the late 1950s, the congregation’s identity was deeply rooted in community and missional support. “We’ve been mission-focused throughout our history,” said church board member Jeff Pattee.
The church property was situated on 2.5 acres next to a large hospital complex, which had used the church parking lot for years and then bought the property in April 2024. During the time it took for the sale to be completed, the congregation met numerous times to discuss the future.
In addition to considering legacy, the logistical process of closing a church is complicated and can often feel overwhelming. “Closing is a very difficult and emotional time for church leadership and there are many details to attend to,” said Rebecca Perera, Vice President and Chief of Credit for the Cornerstone Fund.
Thankfully the United Church of Christ financial ministries are able to help. First, the congregation reached out to United Church Funds and then the Cornerstone Fund for support.
“UCF was originally approached by the church through referral based on UCF’s previous experience guiding churches through the process of creating a legacy endowment,” said Matt Wagner, UCF’s Vice President of Institutional Relationships. “In consultation with church leadership, a portion of the legacy endowment would be invested in Cornerstone Fund’s term notes at the discretion of UCF and in alignment with the asset allocation plan in the legacy agreement.”
Additionally, the church was concerned about the continuing financial obligations it would have through the closing process, especially given that they were involved in a major commercial real estate transaction with a large entity. The church was relieved to learn that the Cornerstone Fund could provide a line of credit to the church which could be used to pay for utility bills, legal fees, and other final costs, giving the leadership peace of mind and the ability to manage the church’s affairs without the stress of wondering how to pay. “Cornerstone is ready to support churches in all phases of the church life cycle,” said Cornerstone Fund’s Rebecca Perera.
In the end, due to the sale of the church being moved closer to their closure date, Congregational UCC ended up not needing the line of credit, but knowing it was available relieved a great deal of stress.
Relieved of the logistical stress, the congregation could turn all of their attention to considering the distribution of their assets and the legacy they would leave. “We weren’t going to merge with another church, so we decided to build a legacy endowment with a 20-year life cycle,” said Pattee. “We decided to use half of our assets for immediate grants to agencies we’ve long supported – 23 agencies received that support — and we wanted to use the other half to build an endowment for long-term funding of those agencies.”
This type of endowment, offered by United Church Funds and the Cornerstone Fund, was exactly what the congregation wanted. Rather than giving a one-time donation to the organizations they support, they worked with UCF and Cornerstone to structure a legacy plan so that their preferred agencies get gifts every year for 20 years.
UCF and the Cornerstone Fund also solved one of the church’s first worries about the function of their endowment.
“Most places we researched (to manage the funds) required involvement from a church member as a trustee of the funds,” said church board member Tom Harris. “We were looking to separate and not have that responsibility – as we were also in the grieving process of saying goodbye of our beloved church.”
UCF and the Cornerstone Fund would manage the funds for the full cycle, requiring no long-term involvement from former church members.
Pattee, Harris, and the entire congregation loved that feature, but the first reason was that their values aligned with UCF’s and the Cornerstone Fund’s. The congregation appreciated that their remaining funds would help other churches and faith-based projects create change in their communities via Cornerstone Fund lending.
“We especially like how Cornerstone Fund investments can support new church starts – that’s what we were back in the 1950s,” said Pattee. “If we can use our money to help someone start a new church, what better legacy is that?”
United Church Funds (UCF) is the leading provider of socially responsible, values-aligned investment management services to United Church of Christ churches and ministries, as well as all faith-based organizations. They offer customized investment portfolios and prudent investment strategies that provide competitive returns while also reflecting their clients’ values in seeking to achieve a just world. UCF also offers endowment governance consulting, planned giving programs and superior, personalized service from their dedicated Client Services team. Learn more at www.ucfunds.org.
The Cornerstone Fund is a non-profit financial institution that offers faith-based and socially responsible investments – which allows them to offer loans directly to churches and faith-based, non-profit organizations to create change in their communities. Their investing program offers an opportunity for individuals and organizations to take part in projects ranging from worship space renovations to transitional housing developments and everything in between.
The Cornerstone Fund offers resources when deciding your legacy, or the legacy of your church. Learn more: cornerstonefund.org/legacy
Happy Holidays and Thank You!
From Maria Coyne, president and CEO of the Cornerstone Fund:
Dear friends,
Thank you for another incredible year of helping create change in communities across the country! As a Cornerstone Fund investor, it is important for you to know that your participation directly supports loans to congregations and faith-based nonprofits doing spirit-filled and life-saving work. Your investment was a beacon of hope and inspiration throughout 2025 as the Cornerstone Fund continued to serve as a catalyst for ministries to thrive.
Your investments allowed us to help finance church and non-profit projects ranging from installing rooftop solar, to making sanctuaries more accessible to building more affordable housing, and everything in between. For example, our Disaster Care Program helped Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church rebuild in a more affordable and sustainable way after Hurricane Helene severely damaged their buildings in 2024.
This is just one example of the Cornerstone Fund Difference – our model of investing in and building community. We have several other examples on our website, and we also share them regularly on social media. We do this because it is important for you to know just how valuable and impactful you are. When you invest with Cornerstone Fund, you are investing in church vitality, anti-poverty initiatives, creation care, and so much more. Thanks to your support:
- Our investments increased by more than $8 million this year, making our total portfolio more than $126.4 million!
- Our loan portfolio grew by approximately $10.7 million this year, totaling more than $142 million!
You have made a world of difference! And our work together is not done! Here is a sneak peek on something big coming in 2026:
“Walking the Journey With You” is the new documentary about our partnership with Trinity Church – Chicago to build Imani Village. Learn more and see the trailer on our website.
Thank you for being a trusted partner. We value your commitment to this transformative work. You are truly a light in these times, and we hope your holiday season shines just as brightly.
We couldn’t do what we do without you!
Wishing you all the best for 2026,
Maria Coyne
President & CEO of the Cornerstone Fund
Cornerstone Fund Announces New Chief Financial Officer Tami Marinella
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 15, 2025
CONTACT:
Heather Moyer, Cornerstone Fund
443-418-4653; hmoyer@cornerstonefund.org
Cornerstone Fund Announces New Chief Financial Officer Tami Marinella
The Cornerstone Fund is thrilled to announce the hiring of Tami Marinella as its new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Marinella comes to the Cornerstone Fund after serving as the CFO of the United Church of Christ.
“The Cornerstone Fund lives its mission, vision, and purpose, and I look forward to ensuring its financial information is accurate, timely, and useful so that we can continue serving our investors by growing their investments and using those investments to positively impact communities across the US,” said Marinella.
Cornerstone staff are excited to have Marinella’s extensive financial experience.
“We’re thrilled to have someone with such financial acumen join our team,” said Cornerstone Fund President and CEO Maria Coyne. “Tami will be a great addition to our leadership team and an asset that will benefit our clients and partners.”
Prior to joining the UCC National Setting, Marinella served as the CFO of Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority for seven years. CMHA is the oldest and seventh largest public housing authority in the Country. Marinella also served in financial roles at the Cleveland Department of Public Health, the Cleveland Department of Public Utilities, and Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare. She looks forward to supporting the Cornerstone Fund’s vision.
“Saving and investing, we are taught, is a way to secure your future -- but the Cornerstone Fund offers so much more,” said Marinella. “The Cornerstone Fund is an opportunity to invest in community and in our neighbors. This is the most fundamental concept of all humanity, yet the one most overlooked in financial circles.”
Marinella begins her role January 1, 2026.
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About the Cornerstone Fund
Founded in 1993, the United Church of Christ Cornerstone Fund’s mission is joining together in faith to invest in and build community. The Cornerstone Fund is a non-profit financial institution that offers investments for individuals, churches, and faith-based non-profit organizations. The Cornerstone Fund then loans those funds directly to other churches and faith-based non-profit organizations for projects that create change in their communities.
Start Right Community Development Corporation
Building Homes for Neighbors in Need
Start Right Community Development Corporation is an off-shoot of the Start Right Church in the Caledonia neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. The organization assists the neighborhood by addressing hunger and housing. Its Good Neighbor housing rehab program has renovated 11 homes to date, with 7 properties currently under renovation. The organization is continuing with its Caledonia Homes program, which builds new homes as in-fill projects in the long-neglected neighborhood.
NEED
Start Right CDC plans to build more homes in the neighborhood, but their latest home build ran into an issue when federal funds were redirected to its Good Neighbor program instead.
CALLING
Start Right CDC is building new homes to create affordable housing for current residents of the Caledonia neighborhood.
God Math
A line of credit with the Cornerstone Fund is allowing Start Right CDC to move ahead with its housing construction. The organization aims to build more than 20 additional homes in Caledonia in the coming years.
Shiloh Temple House of God
Expanding Worship and Community Outreach
Shiloh Temple House of God in Cleveland, Ohio is a church offering numerous services for its congregation and the surrounding community, including after-school programs, summer youth programs, food distribution, and healthcare guidance in partnership with nearby hospitals. Some 40% of neighborhood residents live below the line.
NEED
Shiloh’s congregation was outgrowing its building both in membership numbers and in community services. They needed space for a growing congregation to worship and help the neighborhood.
CALLING
The congregation’s dream was to build a bigger facility next to the current building to house a much larger sanctuary and allow them to continue offering critical services to the neighborhood.
God Math
Thanks to Cornerstone Fund investors, a loan of $5,215,000 helped Shiloh Temple House of God build the new facility – which boasts a large sanctuary, library, and offices. The old church building was transformed into a banquet hall and rooms for community and church use.
“(The Cornerstone Fund) understood where we were coming from….It was absolutely wonderful working with them and I would recommend them to anybody.”
— Apostle Steven L. Best, Sr., pastor of Shiloh Temple House of God.
Trinity Chicago's Imani Village Highlighted in Crain's Business
Reposted from Crain's Chicago Business
Imani Village Lays Down a Model for Transforming Far South Side
by Judith Crown, October 14, 2025
Over the summer, Chicago seniors began moving into a $36 million, 70-unit building with modern appliances and community spaces just steps from a new Metra station scheduled to open in 2027. It’s the first project at Imani Village at 95th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, a mixed-use development initiated by Trinity United Church of Christ.
Trinity says Imani, which means faith in Swahili, is envisioned as a beacon of hope in a neighborhood accustomed to poverty and disinvestment. It’s a “blueprint for transforming the face and future of Chicago’s Far South Side,” according to the Pritzker Traubert Foundation. The project is a finalist for the foundation’s 2025 Chicago Prize , which supports real estate development on the city’s South and West sides.
“We're building a model community, and we're anchoring the 95th Street Corridor Plan,” says Patricia Eggleston, executive director of Imani Village. The project is inspired by principles of economic development, health equity, environmental justice and reversing the negative impact of mass incarceration, she says.
Earlier this year Advocate Health Care announced plans to add an immediate care center to its outpatient clinic at Imani, a $10 million investment. The expansion will add 4,600 square feet to the clinic, which opened in late 2018, and include equipment to support triage and treatment, cardiac and vascular diagnostics, imaging services and virtually assisted care. It is scheduled to open by the end of the year.
A charter school on the site was converted to community and office space for Trinity’s nonprofit arm, The Endeleo Institute. The senior apartments, built with co-developer SPM Properties, required a capital stack that included tax credits and participation by the city of Chicago, the state of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. A second group of 62 apartments also is planned.
An ambitious part of the plan is conversion of the former Carpenter Technology steel distribution facility to build modular homes, called Imani Works, in partnership with Chicago-based builder Inherent L3C, which has been constructing affordable single-family homes on the West Side since 2022. Inherent will manufacture the first batch of homes at its West Side facility, then “gradually train us and our partners,” Eggleston says.
Imani’s vision and its standing as a finalist for the Chicago Prize open a major opportunity, says Juan Sebastian Arias, executive director of the nonprofit Elevated Chicago, one of the partner agencies on the plan to revive the 95th Street Corridor. “With all the infrastructure investment in the works, Imani will continue as a major hub of activity and it can be a generator of equitable community wealth building,” he says.