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Loans for Faith-Based Communities

Bridging Faith and Finances

Self-Help has been making loans to faith-based communities for more than 35 years. As a nonprofit ourselves, we are proud to work with communities that share our commitment to making the world a better place. 

Our faith lending program includes construction and real estate loans especially designed for faith communities. We also offer refinancing options to help you restructure existing loans to save money.

If your church, synagogue, mosque or temple is expanding, we can help. 

Program Details

  • Loans available for faith-based communities of any denomination
  • Loans available in North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Florida, the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Milwaukee metropolitan area
  • Loan size from $15,000 to $10 Million in North Carolina and the Chicago Metro area; Projects outside of North Carolina and the Chicago Metro Area have a $500,000 Loan size minimum.
  • Loans for:
    • Property purchase/acquisition
    • Construction
    • Refinancing
    • Renovations or repairs
    • Expansion

Getting Started

Ready to talk about a possible project? We're here to work with you. Here's a quick overview of the information we'll ask about during the application process:

  • Your organization's history, leadership, financial background and membership.
  • For construction projects: details about the building, the scope and cost of the project, and the team that will do the work.
  • For purchase of a building: information about the building, its value and the terms of purchase.
  • For loan refinance: information on the terms and status of the existing loan.

 

Church in Chicago

Many of our loans are to churches and other faith-based communities in the greater Chicago area. Greater Institutional AME Church (pictured above) is one example of our many successful banking relationships.

 

 

Sikh Association building in Fresno

In California, we partnered with the Sikh Association of Fresno on the refinance of a loan used to construct their Gurdwara (temple), with future plans to build out a new Langar (community kitchen).

More Examples of Our Loans in Action

holy apostolic church

Holy Apostolic Church is a church in Apple Valley, CA with a primarily African-American population. A loan from Self-Help helped the church refinance its mortgage and continue to own the building.

 

Communion Pointe building

Maranatha Fellowship Church in High Point, NC used a Self-Help loan to acquire "Communion Pointe." The former Bible college campus now serves as the church's home.

Loans for Faith-Based Communities: Application Forms

For construction and/or expansion: Application + questionnaire

For acquisition and/or refinancing: Application + questionnaire