Making Spaces Welcoming, Inclusive, and Accessible
Every person deserves a place where they are welcomed, valued, and able to fully participate in the life of their community.
The Cornerstone Fund offers financing to help churches and non-profit organizations address a range of building-related needs, including accessibility improvements to support inclusion of people in all aspects of your mission. The Cornerstone Fund offers a variety of financing options for building accessibility improvements, including:
- Elevators
- Ramps
- Accessible bathrooms
- Sensory rooms
- Technology for hearing & visually impaired persons
- Other building modifications
We couldn't do this without our investors! Here are a few project examples we've helped finance to make spaces more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for everyone.
Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ - Denver, Colorado
Sixth Avenue United Church of Christ's building was constructed in 1923 and despite its 100 years of service and its mission of welcoming the community, the building never had a wheelchair-accessible bathroom. The congregation was aware that not only did this exclude members of its own parish life, but it also limited many rental events such as weddings and recitals. They watched for years as those events went elsewhere because of the lack of an accessible bathroom at Sixth Avenue UCC. What's more, many businesses and nonprofit organizations are barred by their policies from holding events where there is no accessible bathroom. Sixth Avenue UCC knew that the addition of an accessible bathroom would allow them to better serve the entire community.
Thanks to our investors, the Cornerstone Fund helped the church finance the construction of a new accessible bathroom - seen in the photo above.
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Faith United Church of Christ - New Braunfels, Texas
Faith United Church of Christ in New Braunfels, Texas, provides a central fellowship location for the community, as well as a home for its outreach efforts around local and national social justice issues. Aging and inaccessible facilities, however, impeded their core mission of being a welcoming congregation committed to social action.
Thanks to our investors, the Cornerstone Fund helped finance the church's renovation of the sanctuary to include a ramp to the stage/altar space and flexible, accessible seating.
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St. Paul's United Church of Christ - Chicago, Illinois
One of the five oldest churches in Chicago, St. Paul's aged building lacked the infrastructure that would make it fully accessible and welcoming to everyone in the congregation and the community at large. In 2020, the congregation embarked on its "Creating Accessibility for All' plan, which included installing a five-stop elevator will make the facility usable for people of all abilities, as well as redesigning and constructing a new and accessible courtyard space where numerous church and community events take place.
Thanks to our investors, the Cornerstone Fund helped finance the church's major renovations, and the congregation unveiled the changes in the fall of 2025.
Thank you, investors!
We’re grateful for the role you play in helping churches create more welcoming and accessible spaces where all people can participate fully.
Redress and Reconciliation at The Pūʻā Foundation
Written by David Pate, Cornerstone Fund Loan Portfolio Assistant.
Reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel and is a value close to the United Church of Christ’s heart. It was from this that the UCC started the Redress and Reconciliation Initiative—an apology for the UCC’s ancestral denomination’s complicity in the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Government. In the early 19th century, Congregational Churches who would later go on to help form the UCC, sent missionaries to Hawaii to plant churches and spread literacy.
While the overthrow was not formally planned or executed by these missionaries, they helped set the stage for it by introducing western legal systems, private land ownership, and aligning their cultural and political alignment with US interests.
Nearly a century and a half after the overthrow, the dwindling native populations continue to see their culture and land washed away. Today, private landownership deeply restricts native access to the resources that once sustained their ancestors.
In a direct response to this and the other consequences of the ancestral compliance with the overthrow, the UCC made a formal statement of apology for its complicity in 1993—but did not stop at words. In 1996, The Pūʻā Foundation was created out of the UCC’s Apology, Redress, &and Reconciliation Initiative.
The Pūʻā Foundation addresses the root causes of social issues and helps promote cultural preservation and resilience. Their work includes reconnecting families with traditional Hawaiian produce, medicinal plants and agricultural practices, as well as programs aimed at increasing economic self-sufficiency for Native Hawaiian women and families, preserving Native Hawaiian culture through educational programs, community workshops, and cultural events. The Pūʻā Foundation is a strong advocate addressing systemic inequalities and promoting policies that benefit Native Hawaiians and other marginalized groups.
When, in 2024, The Pūʻā Foundation reached out to the Cornerstone Fund for help to acquire and improve property for agricultural activities related to its stewardship of the Punahoa Heritage Forest, it was not only a privilege but a duty to step in and answer the call. Lending $500,000.00, the Cornerstone Fund has helped The Pūʻā Foundation expand its impact and reach allowing it to continue to allow Hawaiians to learn about their heritage and experience culturally rejuvenating gatherings.
The UCC and Cornerstone Fund understand that reconciliation is not a one-time obligation, but an ongoing commitment to support a community’s advancement. We are proud of our partnership with The Pūʻā Foundation and their commitment to justice. The Cornerstone Fund looks forward to the completed project and seeing the amazing impact to come from it.
Cornerstone Fund Announces New Chief Relationship Officer Rev. Kimberly Wood
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 5, 2026
CONTACT:
Heather Moyer, Cornerstone Fund
443-418-4653; hmoyer@cornerstonefund.org
Cornerstone Fund Announces New Chief Relationship Officer Rev. Kimberly Wood
The Cornerstone Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Kimberly Wood as its Chief Relationship Officer and Vice President, effective July 1, 2026. In this role, Rev. Wood will report directly to Maria Coyne, President & CEO, Cornerstone Fund, and will become an integral part of the executive leadership team.
With a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to Cornerstone Fund's mission, Rev. Wood will be primarily responsible for nurturing and growing relationships with internal and external collaborators of the Cornerstone Fund. She will also be responsible for oversight of the Fund’s Marketing & Communications function as well as Development activities.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Rev. Wood stated, "This role sits at the intersection of everything I value: transformational partnership, faithful stewardship, community investment, and relational leadership. I am eager to support the organization’s work of building a more just, sustainable, and thriving future for all.”
Cornerstone Fund President & CEO, Maria Coyne has shared, “We are honored to have Rev. Wood joining our team. Kim brings amazing skills plus strong existing relationships. She has demonstrated both the creative thinking and caring that is characteristic of, and will be additive to, our leadership team and organization.”
Prior to joining Cornerstone Fund, Rev. Wood served as the Conference Minister for the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ. Her experience also includes serving as the acting Associate Conference Minister for the Illinois Conference, as a local church pastor at several congregations in Illinois, and as a social worker. Rev. Wood has extensive board service including the United Church of Christ Board, PATHWAYS Theological Education, Inc., Back Bay Mission Board, and Uplands Village Board of Directors.
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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.
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.
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.
Cornerstone Fund Disaster Care Program Helps Florida Church Rebuild After Hurricane Helene
On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene came ashore as a Category 4 storm in the Big Bend area of Florida. A year later, the congregation of Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church in Pass-A-Grille, Florida is remembering the disaster and its effects on the whole area.
"Our church is on a barrier island—one side is the Gulf of Mexico and the other side is Tampa Bay," said the Rev. Dr. Angela Wells-Bean, senior pastor of the church. "The island is maybe two miles long and very narrow. We're very vulnerable.
"Helene's storm surge flooded our whole campus with almost three feet of water."
The church's sanctuary, narthex, commons, offices, nursery, thrift store, and first floor education wing were devastated. The sanctuary's damage also prohibited any services.
"Where were we going to worship? Our pews had been floating in three feet of water," said Rev. Wells-Bean. Thankfully they were able to hold services at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in nearby St. Petersburg.
The community pulled together quickly for the recovery and rebuilding. Thanks to a United Church of Christ Ministry Capacity Rebuilding Grant, PAGCBC was able to restore its thrift store.
On top of that, a Disaster Care Program loan from the Cornerstone Fund continues to assist in the rebuilding and disaster mitigation projects. The congregation's weekly worship services returned to the repaired sanctuary in late January of this year. The rest of the building’s repairs continue – from drywall replacement to new electrical wiring and more.
"It's been amazing to work with the Cornerstone Fund," said Rev. Wells-Bean. "We're grateful for how supportive and understanding you are."
The Cornerstone Fund's Disaster Care Investment and Recovery Program launched in late 2024 in response to the increasing number of natural disasters each year. Cornerstone Fund leadership collaborated with the United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries and the United Church of Christ Insurance Board in planning the program, which provides loans at a lower interest rate than would otherwise be available to churches that have experienced destruction.
The Southern California – Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ saw the critical need for this program and made the first generous investment. The conference leaders know that these low-rate loans are made possible because the individuals and institutions that invest in Disaster Care willingly accept lower investment rates.
To recover after disasters, these loans help United Church of Christ congregations undertake projects such as:
- Repairing or replacing roofs
- Repairing or rebuilding worship and fellowship spaces
- Installing facilities to support incoming recovery volunteers
- Improving facilities to mitigate future disaster impacts
Pass-A-Grille Community Beach Church's Disaster Care loan also requires disaster mitigation projects, so the church purchased door barriers to prevent water intrusion in the future.
As the rebuilding continues for the church and the surrounding community, the congregation will hold a First Anniversary Service of Healing and Remembrance on September 28 with Church of the Isles UCC, which was also damaged by Hurricane Helene.
"That service is on the beach to recognize that this is why we're all here," said Rev. Wells-Bean. "The beach is the magnet that pulls us all here, but it is also the source of our destruction. How to do we wrestle with that – how do we name our gratitude of the ocean, but at the same time, acknowledge that it's also incredibly powerful and destructive?"
Learn more about the Disaster Care Investment and Loan Program
Cornerstone Fund and Trinity Church New York Announce Ground-Breaking Partnership Offering Millions for Church and Faith-Based Projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 8, 2025
CONTACT:
Heather Moyer, Cornerstone Fund
443-418-4653; hmoyer@cornerstonefund.org
Cornerstone Fund and Trinity Church New York Announce Ground-Breaking Partnership Offering Millions for Church and Faith-Based Projects
This week the Cornerstone Fund and Trinity Church New York announced a partnership that will create more than $23 million in low-cost financing for churches and other faith-based organizations throughout the United States creating change in their communities.
Named Good Soil Fund, based on the Biblical Parable of the Sower, this partnership provides a $2.3 million investment from Trinity Church that the Cornerstone Fund will use, along with other sources of capital, to multiply the investment ten-fold, creating more than $23 million in impacts via churches and other faith-based organizations.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matt 13:23)
“The Cornerstone Fund is thrilled to partner with such a missionally aligned organization as Trinity Church New York on this very important work of utilizing church property to create sustainable community impact,” said Maria Coyne, President and CEO of the Cornerstone Fund.
“The Cornerstone Fund has long expertise in lending to churches and other faith-based organizations for projects that do everything from simply enhancing the spiritual home and allowing the church to better serve its community, to ‘creation care’ projects that assist in lowering the property's carbon footprint, to projects which provide food or shelter all by providing creative and often gap-filling borrowing solutions.”
Loans include lines of credit, bridge financing, pre-development and construction financing, and permanent financing for mission real estate development projects.
To qualify for Good Soil Fund financing, projects should involve a real estate development that generates social impact while building financial capacity to support ministry. Developments may include difficult to finance projects such as low-density housing, transitional housing for vulnerable populations such as refugees, immigrants, returning citizens, and LGBTQIA+ youth, and projects supporting community education, social services, health and economic development, among many others.
“This partnership creates a critical source of flexible capital to help churches advance their real estate projects from pre-development through construction and operation, ” said Rev. James Clark III, managing director of Mission Real Estate Development at Trinity Church New York.
Churches and other faith-based organizations interested in more information about these loans or finding out about investing in the Cornerstone Fund should contact info@cornerstonefund.org or 888-822-3863 or visit our website at cornerstonefund.org
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.
About Trinity Church
Trinity Church is an Episcopal parish in New York City founded in 1697. We work for justice, serve our neighbors, and bring people together to experience God’s love in community. Trinity’s outreach in the city includes 20 weekly worship services, food assistance seven days a week for people in need, support for asylum seekers, housing for the elderly and people living with disabilities, youth programs, and a wide array of free music and educational events throughout the year. The church also supports communities and ministries serving the world in Africa, Asia, and across the Americas.
Helping Those in Need After Disasters
As hurricane season ramps up, many of us worry about hurricane damage to our communities as well as how we can help others recover if they’re hit by a powerful storm.
Because an increasing number of natural disasters continues to devastate communities, the United Church of Christ Cornerstone Fund recognizes the importance of offering ways to support those rebuilding in the aftermath.
Investing with the Cornerstone Fund allows us to make loans to UCC churches and missionally aligned non-profits, including Disaster Care loans.
Through our Disaster Care Investment & Loan Program, introduced in the fall of 2024, the Cornerstone Fund supports post-disaster efforts by offering more favorable terms on loans to organizations affiliated with the UCC for projects specifically aimed at repairing or rebuilding facilities following the devastating effects of disasters.
“I chose to invest in the Cornerstone Disaster Care Fund which provides crucial funding for churches that have experienced a disaster,” said Katie Howe, the UCC Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery. “These loans are used for repairs, rebuilding work, or while waiting on insurance claims.
“While earning interest on my investment, I know that my money is being used faithfully by helping to make these low-interest loans available. As Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery with the National Ministry of the United Church of Christ, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that these loans can make on our churches when they need it most.”
To recover after disasters, UCC congregations undertake projects such as:
- Repairing or replacing roofs
- Repairing or rebuilding worship and fellowship spaces
- Installing facilities to support incoming recovery volunteers
- Improving facilities to mitigate future disaster impacts
Learn more: cornerstonefund.org/disaster-care
If you have questions, please call us at 888-UCC-FUND or email info@cornerstonefund.org
*This is not an offer to sell securities and is not a solicitation to buy securities. The offering is made solely by the Offering Circular. The Cornerstone Fund securities are unsecured debt securities subject to terms, conditions, and risks, which are described in the Offering Circular, including risk of possible loss of the amount invested. Payment is dependent on Cornerstone Fund’s financial condition at the time payment is due. Cornerstone Fund will offer and sell securities only in states where authorized. Not FDIC or SIPC insured. Not a bank deposit. Not guaranteed by the United Church of Christ. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Rates subject to change. View the Offering Circular at cornerstonefund.org/offering-circular/
Join the Cornerstone Fund at General Synod 35
The Cornerstone Fund is excited to take part in the United Church of Christ's General Synod 35! Here's where you can find us and learn more about us during the event:
- See the debut of our new documentary at our luncheon on Saturday, July 12, at 11:45am.
- Attend our workshop "Covenant of Mission and Money: How to Invest In and Build Community" on Sunday, July 13, at noon.
- Visit us at our table with the other UCC financial ministries in the exhibition hall all weekend. Meet our staff and leadership and learn more about us.
You can learn more about and register for these events on the General Synod website. See you July 11-15 in Kansas City, Missouri!