Our Nonprofit Real Estate Approach

Religious leaders are burdened with stewarding the resources that have been entrusted to their care. Frequently, however, they are overwhelmed by the intricacies that are part of any real estate transaction.

Their experience is marked by misdirection, confusion, and frustration—swept along, often, by biased commercial advice, and not ministry priority.

With a deep understanding of this reality that has been cultivated over decades of experience, Anno Domini Advisors (A.D. Advisors) provides real estate brokerage services that protect congregations’ heritage, ministry, and mission.

Overall, we have completed transactions totaling over $1.5 billion that span 32 states as well as two Canadian provinces.

Our Chicago-based firm, which has a network of colleagues across the United States and Canada, is led by founder and president Brian Dolehide. Brian has worked for over 35 years in the real estate field, including 20-plus years of specializing in religious properties. He previously served as a senior real estate manager for a Chicago-based congregation with over 2,600 buildings and ministries.

That blend of experience and expertise has produced in him a zeal for serving ministries. Brian is dedicated to giving the holistic, nuanced soul-to-soul help that clients urgently need.

The linchpin to A.D. Advisors’ successful approach is its six Elder teams and 80 affiliate commercial and residential offices that cover a wide range of regions and specialties. Each A.D. Advisors team is composed of an Elder with over 20 years of congregational / ministry experience, or 20 years of real estate leadership.

Those Elder Teams specialize in a wide array of areas, including churches and parsonages, higher education, seniors / affordable housing, healthcare, cemeteries, and vacant land. For example, the A.D. Advisors affordable housing Elder Team is the U.S. leader in that category, with over $1.1 billion in affordable housing transactions in 2019 and 2020 combined.

A.D. Advisors is a trusted, arm’s-length adviser that does not have the conflict of interest that is so prevalent in this realm of real estate, where even good intentions by devoted worshipers can so easily go awry.

Along the way, our refined approach includes a thorough evaluation and understanding of ministry needs and objectives. That sets the foundation for delivering qualified buyers, not “maybe closers”—a key distinction considering the lengthy sales cycles that are typical for transactions of this scope. In the process, we solve ministry needs at a crucial juncture so that the congregation’s mission not only survives but thrives.

From start to finish, our overriding focus is helping our clients attain the best possible resolution—in short, the highest possible sale price. But our services extend well beyond a transactional relationship; A.D. Advisors takes great care, and great pride, in helping our clients preserve and propel their ministry, mission and heritage.