Faith-based investors: The time to lead is now – a stirring call to action from Dave Zellner
FaithInvest launches a new masterclass aimed at equipping industry professionals to engage better with faith-based investors
The power of shareholder engagement: Our FCI Forum on Thursday March 6
What do faith groups want from their asset managers – a short survey
New dates announced for Faithful Finance training for faith groups
Highlights from our FCI research posts
Faith-based investors: The time to lead is now
In times of uncertainty, leadership often emerges from unexpected places, writes FaithInvest Executive Chair Dave Zellner.
Today, as we witness mounting pressure against sustainable and responsible investing practices in the United States (pressure that will likely intensify under the new government), faith-based investors stand at a pivotal crossroads. This moment calls us to step forward with both courage and conviction, precisely when our leadership is needed most.
A critical moment
The landscape of responsible investing is under siege.
Dave Zellner
An organised campaign is actively working to discourage investors from considering environmental, social, and governance risks in their investment decisions. In the United States, ERISA-regulated plans, university endowments, and public pension funds find themselves particularly vulnerable to these headwinds.
But where others see challenge, we see opportunity.
The unique position of faith investors
Faith-based organisations collectively hold hundreds of billions of dollars in assets. More importantly, faith groups share fundamental values that transcend denominational boundaries: caring for the poor, pursuing justice, showing mercy, and practicing responsible stewardship of our world. These aren't just principles you preach – they're values you can powerfully demonstrate through your investment decisions.
Unlike many institutional investors constrained by external pressures, faith-based organisations maintain the independence to align their investments with their values. You can show that it's possible to achieve competitive returns while honouring your deepest beliefs and addressing crucial systemic risks.
Engaging faith-based asset owners more effectively
Interactive seminars for investment industry professionals
Are you an investment industry professional working with, or hoping to grow your work with, faith-based asset owners? This May FaithInvest launches a new programme of two-hour interactive seminars designed to equip service providers and industry professionals with the tools and insights needed to engage effectively with the rapidly expanding faith-based investment market. The first two seminars are scheduled for:
Tuesday May 6: 10.00 New York / 15.00 London / 16.00 Paris
Tuesday May 13: 13.00 New York / 18.00 London / 19.00 Paris
The cost of each two-hour seminar is £500 per person – but to celebrate the launch of the new programme, FaithInvest has an early bird offer of £350 for bookings made by Friday April 11. Click below to find out more and to register your interest (no financial commitment required at this stage).
Thursday 6 March | 10.00 EST | 15.00 GMT | 16.00 CET | 17.00 EAT
We've got a fantastic Faith-Consistent Investing (FCI) Forum coming up on Thursday March 6, exploring how faith-based investors can drive positive change through shareholder engagement.
Our speakers include Tim Smith, one of ICCR’s founding staff members and a leader in the field of responsible investing and corporate responsibility for over five decades. He is joined by Emily DeMasi, who is Lead, North America and Director of Engagement at EOS, Federated Hermes Limited, one of the world’s largest, specialist stewardship teams.
Join us for this quarterly, short (45-minute), focused and solutions-oriented meeting.
What do faith-based investors want from their asset managers? Please tell us in this short survey
FaithInvest is conducting a survey among faith-based investors to gather insights on their needs and expectations from asset managers, focusing on investment priorities, challenges, and preferred strategies. No confidential information is requested.
The findings from this short survey (only eight questions!) will help shape our trainings, ensuring they are tailored to the needs of faith-driven investors. Please take five minutes to fill in the survey – we are grateful for any feedback you can give us.
Feedback from previous courses has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants reporting feeling empowered and confident about aligning their investments and faith values.
The course covers the foundational principles of faith-consistent investing and how to engage with financial intermediaries with clarity and confidence.
What participants say
'The whole area is not as daunting as I had imagined it to be, hence my shift in confidence'
'The confidence it has given me to feel more able to get involved in discussions with our investment advisors'
Every week, the FaithInvest team posts on issues around values-driven, faith-consistent investing on our FCI Research Posts page. In case you missed them, here is a selection of recent posts.
