Catholic Lending Program
Initiated in 1977, Catholic Order of Foresters (COF) began a proprietary lending program directed toward Roman Catholic schools and institutions. Since the beginning of this Roman Catholic mission-based initiative, COF has originated over $205,000,000 in loans with Catholic institutions, allowing for the construction and continuation of multiple parishes, parochial and college prep schools, and Catholic colleges and universities.
Catholic Order of Foresters’ loan program offers competitive loan rates, flexible terms and maturity structures, and low origination costs. COF takes pride in the relationships built through this program and remains committed to the participating institutions in the program throughout the life of the loan and beyond. Below are a few testimonials from institutions who have participated in the Catholic Lending Program.
For more information about this program, contact Vice President Investments Michael Deering.
“Our mission at Divine Mercy University is to bring faith and the wisdom of the Church regarding the human person into the field of mental health. Since partnering with Catholic Order of Foresters, we have more than doubled our enrollment, acquired and renovated our permanent campus, and begun two new programs. Catholic Order of Foresters’ support has been invaluable in making that happen. They uniquely blend the provision of financial resources with professionalism and a desire to serve the Church’s mission in critical areas. Many institutions talk about their commitment to clients, but Catholic Order of Foresters truly lives that out. We see and treat each other as members of the one Body of Christ.”
— Fr. Charles Sikorsky, LC, JD, JCL, President, Divine Mercy University
“As the leader of Seton Academy, a small Catholic school in New Hampshire, I can genuinely say that partnering with Catholic Order of Foresters (COF) has been a transformative journey for our community. Faced with the urgent need for additional space to expand our PreK-8th grade offerings and to introduce a Nursery School and high school programs, I reached out to Catholic Order of Foresters, not knowing that this was a step guided by divine providence.
From the very first response to my inquiry, I was impressed by the transparency and warmth of our relationship. My experiences with personal and commercial funding initiatives had never come close to the pleasant, efficient, and understanding approach of COF. They swiftly assisted us in acquiring a new facility and implementing our new programs within just a few short weeks, leading to an astounding 70% growth in enrollment!
Securing funding is often the most daunting aspect of expanding operations, yet Catholic Order of Foresters made the process not only straightforward but genuinely enjoyable. I felt supported and understood throughout and gained not just a partner but new friends and colleagues.
At Seton Academy, we are deeply committed to our Catholic faith, providing a Montessori Nursery School and a Classical K-12 education rooted in Christ-centered virtues. Our faith is Catholic, our faculty is Catholic, and our curriculum is Catholic. Having a mission-aligned financial partner like Catholic Order of Foresters is an invaluable blessing, and I cannot imagine our future without their support. I eagerly anticipate our continued collaboration on all our future initiatives!”
— Michael Pelletier, Seton Foundation President, Seton Academy Head of School
“The Catholic Order of Foresters has been an important partner in the growth of the Diocese of Tucson in general and in the development of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish, Oro Valley, Arizona. Our parish is located in a rapidly expanding family oriented community on the northwest end of the City of Tucson. St. Mark has over 2,500 active members and is growing monthly. Fifteen years ago when our parish decided to build a dedicated sanctuary for worship, Catholic Order of Foresters was the trusted partner that provided both the construction loan and mortgage. Our parish was able to pay off the mortgage in seven years and then began immediately to plan a new parish hall and classrooms for our religious education program that was straining our inadequate parish classroom facilities.
Starting this September, St. Mark, in partnership with Catholic Order of Foresters, will be undertaking a significant construction project. Construction on our 24,000 square foot hall and classroom facility will commence in September 2025. This expansion will help foster the growth of our rapidly growing parish family and enhance our capacity to serve families within our local community. Thank you, Catholic Order of Foresters.”
— Fr. John Arnold, Pastor of St. Mark Catholic Church
“Few occasions in the world of finance does one have the chance to work with a funding enterprise that is professionally sharp, creative, frank, and true to its mission. With over 10 years of direct dealings with Catholic Order of Foresters — ranging from catalytic community-based organization financings to multimillion-dollar, sophisticated structures — we can unequivocally state that the COF team lives these attributes while always minding their members’ interest. VeraCruz feels very fortunate to be part of the Catholic Order of Foresters collaborating partner ecosystem that is based on high accountability and developed into transactions and relationships supporting all involved.”
— Carlos R. de Quesada, Managing Member and Founder, VeraCruz Advisory, LLC