FORT WAYNE, Ind.—With an emphasis on strengthening the alignment between its long-term financial strategy and Catholic mission, the University of Saint Francis recently transitioned to socially responsible investing.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides Socially Responsible Investing Guidelines, which guide Saint Francis in aligning its investment strategy to the teachings of the Catholic Church across five categories: protecting human life, promoting human dignity, enhancing the common good, pursuing economic justice and saving our global common home.
Saint Francis Executive Vice President Craig Teetsel emphasized the importance of the university’s investment priorities.
“At Saint Francis, responsible stewardship is both a financial responsibility and an expression of our Catholic mission,” Teetsel said. “As we continue to strengthen the university’s long-term financial foundation, it is important that our investment strategy reflects the values that have guided our institution for generations. By incorporating socially responsible investing principles into our portfolio, we are prudently managing the resources entrusted to us while remaining mindful of human dignity, the common good and the ethical considerations that are central to Catholic social teaching.”
The move came in full collaboration with the Saint Francis Board of Trustees.
“By following the USCCB guidelines, we can be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us while also investing in ways that align with our Catholic mission and values,” said Saint Francis Board of Trustees member Sr. M. Karol Ann Hoefer, OSF, who serves as provincial treasurer of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration—the university’s sponsor. “The Church has such a rich tradition of Catholic social teaching, which we are now participating in with our investment strategy. This enables us to live out our mission even in our financial decisions.”
Saint Francis has a long-standing partnership with 1834, a division of Old National Bank (1834)—a wealth advisory firm that provides a comprehensive, disciplined approach to managing the financial assets of organizations such as Saint Francis. Saint Francis works closely with its 1834 advisors to forge the optimal socially responsible investing strategy.
“We’re honored to work with Saint Francis to construct an investment portfolio designed to pursue its financial and values-based goals, while upholding the highest fiduciary standards,” said Ben Dye, CFA, Senior Institutional Portfolio Manager at 1834. “Through ongoing monitoring, we ensure the endowment remains consistent with the university’s faith-based investing mission.”
“We’re proud to take this step in a way that strengthens the university’s financial future while remaining faithful to the Catholic mission and the values that define who we are,” Teetsel said.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership; Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 17 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 2,100 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.