Can Griffin serve Indiana churches?
Yes. Indiana churches work directly with Griffin’s national lending team. A local Griffin office or Indiana representative is not required.
Nationwide financing for Indiana congregations
Church Loans and Church Financing in Indiana
Direct Answer — Griffin Church Loans serves churches throughout Indiana through its national lending team. Griffin evaluates financing needs involving property purchases, refinancing, construction, renovation, expansion, and major facility improvements.
Griffin structures almost all church financing without personal guarantees, subject to underwriting.
Build a financing decision around stewardship, repayment capacity, property realities, and board readiness—not pressure or assumptions.
Griffin Church Loans is a national church lender serving churches across the United States. Indiana financing inquiries are handled directly by Griffin’s national lending team. This page does not represent an Indiana office, branch, or local representative.
Indiana statewide service · National team
A clearer path from ministry need to financing readiness.
Property. Project scope. Financial capacity. Governance. One coordinated decision framework.
PurchaseProperty acquisition
RefinanceExisting church debt
BuildConstruction and expansion
ImproveRenovation and repairs
Specialized national church lendingExperience applied directly to Indiana inquiries
Since 1999Church-financing specialization
2,000+Church loans closed
$2B+Church-loan volume completed
Essential answers
What Should an Indiana Church Know Before Beginning a Financing Discussion?
A concise starting point for pastors, trustees, treasurers, church boards, and finance committees.
What needs can be evaluated?
Property purchases, refinancing, new construction, expansion, renovation, major improvements, and appropriate debt restructuring.
What should the board prepare?
Financial statements, giving history, budgets, existing debt, reserves, property information, project costs, governance information, and approval requirements.
Are personal guarantees required?
Griffin structures almost all church financing without personal guarantees, subject to underwriting.
Original Griffin research
What Are Churches Considering in 2026?
Griffin’s Church Finance Survey collected anonymous responses from 113 U.S. churches in late 2025. The findings are directional and should not be interpreted as statistically representative of every U.S. church or as underwriting data.
113U.S. churches surveyed
NationalU.S. respondent base
AnonymousSurvey method
Late 2025Research timing
Financing decisions are moving from “if” to “when”
A meaningful share of surveyed churches plan to pursue or are actively considering financing in 2026. The decision is increasingly focused on timing, readiness, affordability, and the conditions under which the church should proceed.
Three financing purposes surface most consistently
Refinancing existing debt, construction or expansion, and property acquisition remain central among churches open to financing.
Trust and specialized understanding matter
Trust, transparency, and responsiveness rank above speed or technology. Experience working specifically with churches also ranks highly.
Confidence is slowing decisions
The main factor slowing many church financial decisions is not cost alone. Church leaders are seeking clarity and confidence that they are making the right decision.
Property-level decision making
How Can Church Financing Decisions Differ Across Indiana?
Property availability, comparable sales, parking constraints, redevelopment costs, construction requirements, and change-of-use considerations can vary materially among Indianapolis-area, suburban, smaller-community, and rural properties. Each financing request should therefore be evaluated using property-specific evidence rather than broad assumptions.
Indianapolis and larger markets
Boards should examine the specific site, property condition, comparable sales, parking, redevelopment needs, and change-of-use requirements.
- Property suitability
- Comparable-sale support
- Redevelopment cost
Suburban growth markets
Facility pressure may involve worship capacity, classrooms, parking, youth space, or multipurpose functions. The project still must work under conservative income assumptions.
- Growth versus affordability
- Site capacity
- Phasing options
Small-community and rural properties
Appraisal support, property condition, alternative uses, and long-term marketability should be evaluated carefully when comparable transactions are limited or the property is highly specialized.
- Property-specific valuation
- Deferred maintenance
- Future marketability
Financing uses
What Church Financing Does Griffin Evaluate for Indiana Churches?
Each financing need has a different objective, evidence set, preparation risk, and board-level question.
Purchasing a Church Property
Typical objectiveMove from leased space, relocate, acquire land, purchase an existing church, or adapt another building.
A lender may evaluatePurchase price, appraisal, property condition, intended use, equity, giving history, obligations, reserves, and payment capacity.
Common preparation issueThe board evaluates the asking price without calculating renovation, professional, code, moving, and transition costs.
Board question: What is the complete cost of making this property legally, physically, and financially usable for ministry?
Refinancing an Existing Loan
Typical objectiveAddress maturity or balloon risk, improve stability, restructure debt, or finance property improvements.
A lender may evaluateBalance, payment history, maturity, rate structure, prepayment terms, property value, income, and operating results.
Common preparation issueComparing only the proposed rate rather than the total cost, term, risk, and flexibility.
Board question: Will refinancing improve the church’s long-term position after all costs and structural trade-offs?
New Church Construction
Typical objectiveBuild a sanctuary, education wing, family-life center, administrative facility, outreach space, or campus.
A lender may evaluateLand, current property value, plans, estimated cost, contractor, budget, contingency, financial capacity, and completed value.
Common preparation issueCommitting heavily to plans before establishing a responsible financing range.
Board question: Have we established conservative financing capacity before design determines project size?
Indiana project noteIndiana building-plan and design-release procedures may apply depending on the property, project, work, intended occupancy, and governing jurisdiction. Churches should obtain current guidance from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, applicable local authorities, and qualified project professionals. Griffin does not provide legal, zoning, construction, or regulatory advice.
Facility Expansion
Typical objectiveAdd worship, classroom, office, parking, fellowship, childcare, or community-service capacity.
A lender may evaluateExisting value, site capacity, scope, plans, budget, current debt, attendance and giving patterns, and operating impact.
Common preparation issueTreating projected growth as guaranteed.
Board question: Could the church support the payment if attendance or giving grows more slowly than expected?
Renovation and Improvements
Typical objectiveAddress roofs, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, accessibility, security, interiors, kitchens, classrooms, or parking.
A lender may evaluateUrgency, useful life, contractor estimates, phasing, condition, reserves, existing debt, collateral, and repayment capacity.
Common preparation issueCombining essential repairs and optional improvements without prioritization.
Board question: Which improvements protect safety, ministry continuity, function, or value—and which can be phased?
Appropriate Debt Restructuring
Typical objectiveSimplify obligations, address maturity risk, stabilize payments, or create a more manageable structure.
A lender may evaluateEach obligation, history, collateral, value, cash flow, purpose, and whether the new structure improves sustainability.
Common preparation issueUsing new debt to postpone an unresolved operating deficit.
Board question: Does restructuring correct the underlying problem—or only move it into the future?
Board preparation
What Should an Indiana Church Board Prepare?
This is a practical preparation guide—not a guaranteed underwriting checklist. Exact requirements depend on the church, property, project, and financing structure.
Financial information
- ✓Year-to-date and historical financial statements
- ✓Current operating budget
- ✓Contribution and giving history
- ✓Restricted and unrestricted funds
- ✓Cash reserves and existing debt
- ✓Unusual income or expense explanations
Church and governance
- ✓Legal name and organizational documents
- ✓Leadership and board structure
- ✓Trustees and authorized signers
- ✓Denominational approvals, if applicable
- ✓Membership and attendance trends
- ✓Leadership-transition context, if material
Property and project
- ✓Property and ownership information
- ✓Purchase agreement or mortgage statement
- ✓Tax and exemption information
- ✓Available appraisal, survey, title, or inspections
- ✓Project scope, estimates, and contingency
- ✓Equity source and expected schedule
The board should be prepared to explain:
- Why the project is needed now.
- How the project supports ministry.
- How the payment fits the operating budget.
- What happens if giving softens.
- Which costs remain uncertain.
- What flexibility remains after closing.
- How leadership and final authorization will be handled.
Indiana-specific guidance
What Indiana Property and Project Issues Should a Church Consider?
These issues can materially affect feasibility, total project cost, appraisal, timing, and board stewardship.
Confirm intended use before committing
A building that appears suitable may not yet be approved or code-compliant for assembly or religious use. Identify the authority having jurisdiction and verify zoning, occupancy, parking, accessibility, fire safety, and plan-review requirements.
Treat change of occupancy as a project risk
Converting retail, office, industrial, residential, school, or other property can add egress, fire protection, restroom, accessibility, mechanical, electrical, parking, and professional-plan costs.
Indiana Building Plan Review ↗Verify property-tax and exemption procedures
A church should not assume the seller’s tax status automatically continues. Confirm ownership, intended use, filings, deadlines, and county administration with qualified advisers.
Indiana DLGF Exemptions ↗Review floodplain information early
Floodplain status can influence approvals, site work, insurance, appraisal, financing, and marketability. Use state tools for initial screening, then obtain appropriate professional guidance.
Indiana Floodplain Information Portal ↗Budget for deferred maintenance
Review roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire and security systems, drainage, parking, accessibility, windows, kitchens, restrooms, and technology infrastructure.
Stress-test conservative scenarios
Test whether the proposed payment remains manageable if giving declines, construction costs rise, completion is delayed, repairs emerge, or operating expenses increase.
This page provides general educational information and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, zoning, construction, regulatory, or transaction-specific financial advice.
National-team process
How Does an Indiana Church Work With Griffin’s National Team?
Indiana churches communicate directly with Griffin’s national church-lending team.
1
Initial conversation
Explain the financing objective, current position, property or project, approximate need, and timing.
2
Readiness review
Identify the information needed and the documentation, project, or governance gaps that should be addressed.
3
Financing evaluation
Potential structures depend on financial strength, property, project, market, documentation, and underwriting.
4
Documentation and coordination
If a viable path is identified, proceed through the required underwriting, property, documentation, and closing work.
An initial conversation does not guarantee approval, loan amount, interest rate, terms, closing timeline, or a particular financing structure.
Specialized national experience
What National Church-Lending Experience Does Griffin Bring?
For an Indiana church, the relevant value is not a claimed local branch. It is access to a national team that understands church income, governance, property, construction, project planning, and long-term stewardship.
Since 1999Focused on church financing
2,000+Church loans closed
$2B+Church-loan volume completed
Founder guidance
What Should a Church Board Understand Before Speaking With a Lender?
John Berardino, Founder of Griffin Church Loans, explains why church boards should clarify the project, intended property use, financial capacity, available cash flow, and changing financial conditions before beginning a lending conversation.
Read the video transcript
Chapter 1 — Before your church talks to a lender. Hi, I'm John Berardino, President of Griffin Church Loans, and I'm here again to talk to you about church financing.
Chapter 2 — What church boards often overlook. One of the things we notice when we're reviewing and looking at church financial statements, which we've been doing for near 30 years now, is that oftentimes churches start a project but don't have a clear path of where they're going. They have an idea.
Chapter 3 — Clarify how the building will be used. An example might be that they want to build a fellowship hall, but they don't really know much more than "okay, I want a fellowship hall." Then they start to come up with ideas, and they go around and talk to the various members of the board and the congregants, and somebody says, "Oh, well, while we're doing that, let's have a playground," and "it'd be great to have a preschool," and "it'd be great to have this, that and the other." Before you know it, what started out as a simple fellowship hall has now turned into a $10 million complex of wishes and wants.
Chapter 4 — Understand what the church can afford. I think it's oftentimes better to understand first: what can the church afford to borrow? What is safe to borrow? What can we reach for that won't put us in danger, and what is absolutely, totally safe and we can feel comfortable doing even if giving turns down?
Chapter 5 — Plan for changes in giving and cash flow. What I recommend for churches to do is to first understand the church's free cash flow — the money available after paying your normal expenses as of today. Once you understand what money is available after your normal expenses, that gives you a reasonable budget of your absolute maximum. I'm not suggesting, and you should not assume, that you can assign all of that free cash flow toward a new project, because of course things change. Your budget may go down. Things can happen. You can go through a season of giving that drops. But at least that's a starting point.
Chapter 6 — How Griffin helps establish a responsible budget. And of course, here at Griffin we can help you do that. We analyze church financial statements free of charge, and we'll help you figure out a budget that will really work for your church. Again, I'm John Berardino with Griffin, the church loan division.
Interactive board tool
How Ready Is Your Indiana Church for a Financing Discussion?
Score each area from 0 to 2. This educational framework does not determine qualification, replace underwriting, or guarantee that financing will be available.
1. Purpose and project clarity
The financing objective is specific; essential needs are separated from optional features.
2. Financial documentation
Current and historical statements, giving trends, debts, restricted funds, and reserves are organized.
3. Repayment resilience
The payment fits a conservative budget and the board has tested weaker giving or higher-cost scenarios.
4. Property and project due diligence
Zoning, intended use, condition, floodplain, project requirements, total cost, and contingency are understood.
5. Governance and authorization
Leadership is aligned and the board understands denominational, congregational, and final authorization requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Griffin Church Loans serve churches throughout Indiana?
Yes. Griffin is a national church lender serving churches across the United States. Indiana inquiries are handled directly by Griffin’s national church-lending team.
Does Griffin have an office or representative in Indiana?
This page does not represent an Indiana office, branch, or local representative. Churches in Indiana work directly with Griffin’s national church-lending team.
What types of Indiana church financing can Griffin evaluate?
Griffin can evaluate property purchases, refinancing, construction, facility expansion, renovation, major improvements, and appropriate debt restructuring.
What documents should our church prepare?
A church should generally organize recent financial statements, giving history, budgets, existing debt, reserves, property information, project costs, governance documents, and applicable board or denominational approvals. Exact requirements depend on the church, transaction, property, project, and underwriting program.
Are personal guarantees required?
Griffin structures almost all church financing without personal guarantees. Requirements remain subject to underwriting, the church’s financial capacity, the property, and the specific transaction.
Does Griffin charge upfront fees?
Griffin does not charge upfront fees.
Can a smaller or rural Indiana church contact Griffin?
Yes. A church does not need to be located in a major city to request a discussion. Feasibility depends on the church’s finances, property, financing objective, documentation, and available financing structures—not location alone.
Can Griffin finance a building that is not currently a church?
A non-church property may be considered, but intended use, zoning, occupancy, building requirements, conversion costs, appraisal, and project feasibility must be evaluated. The church should confirm applicable requirements with qualified professionals and the relevant Indiana and local authorities.
How is a church’s financial strength evaluated?
A lender may consider giving history, operating results, cash flow, existing debt, cash reserves, property value, project cost, leadership stability, governance, and the church’s ability to support the proposed payment. The relative importance of each factor depends on the transaction.
Should our church speak with a lender before hiring an architect?
A preliminary financing-capacity conversation can help the church establish a responsible project range before committing significant resources to plans and design. Architects, engineers, builders, and other project professionals remain essential, but the project should be informed by the church’s financial capacity.
How does our church begin?
Call Griffin Church Loans at 800-710-6762 or request an initial church-loan readiness conversation. Be prepared to explain the church’s objective, approximate financing need, current property position, project status, and financial readiness.
Start with clarity
Begin a responsible church-financing conversation
A major church-property decision should protect ministry continuity as well as support future growth. Griffin’s national church-lending team can help your board clarify the financing need, identify the information required for evaluation, recognize important property or project issues, and determine the most responsible next step.
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800-710-6762National church-lending team
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Confidential initial discussionNo guaranteed approval or terms
IN
Indiana churches served nationallyNo local office or branch implied
Sources and transparency
Research basis for the Indiana guidance
Indiana-specific guidance is based on current state resources. Griffin’s Church Finance Survey was conducted anonymously among 113 U.S. churches in late 2025. The findings are directional and should not be interpreted as statistically representative of every U.S. church. This page provides general educational information and is not legal, tax, accounting, construction, zoning, regulatory, or transaction-specific financial advice.