Dear Susie ~ We've got a wonderful new resource to share with you. Plus news of what we've been up to.
We've updated and greatly expanded our FromFaith Values to Investment guide
How can faiths become more active in impact investing? Our latest FCI Forum
FaithInvest co-hosted an event in Australia live-streamed to 37,000 people globally
Which countries have the biggest central bank reserves? Can you rank the top six?
Check out some of our recent FCI research posts
We've updated – and greatly expanded – our From Faith Values to Investment guide on faith-consistent investing
We are delighted to share our shiny new, updated and greatly exanded From Faith Values to Investment publication, which aims to support faith-based organisations in developing faith-consistent investing (FCI) policies and programmes. At 40 pages, the new publication is double the size of the original version, which was published in 2021.
The new guide covers key practicalities such as:
How to discern and document faith values;
How to integrate them into investment policies and guidelines;
Best practice governance structures; and
Essential tips for communication about, and reporting on, your FCI programme.
It also includes four case studies from a variety of faith traditions to provide real world examples of leading FCI programmes and how they have applied their beliefs, teachings and values to their investment practices.
A very actionable roadmap
FaithInvest Executive Chair Dave Zellner says the guide provides 'a very actionable roadmap' to help faiths more closely align their values and investment policies: 'It is an invaluable resource for individuals responsible for managing faith-based assets, from trustees and senior management to finance and investment staff.'
How can faiths become more active in impact investing?
We had a wonderful Quarterly FCI Forum last month discussing how faith-based institutions can become more active in impact investing. Led by FaithInvest Executive Chair Dave Zellner, we discussed the journeys taken by three faith organisations (Methodist, Catholic, and Episcopal), into this essential area of 'intentional investing' that sits within the broader umbrella of faith-consistent investing.
All the panelists addressed one of the fundamental challenges of FCI – the perceived tension between doing well financially and doing good through their organisation's investments – and all were able to describe successes in bringing their faith values to bear in the selection of market rate impact investments.
The panelists also discussed the initial catalysts for their organisations to move to impact; some of the obstacles they had to overcome; and the advice they sought. If you missed the forum, you can read more about it and also watch the recording (see links right).
Our speakers
– Sylvia Poniecki, Director, Impact Investments, Wespath Benefits and Investments – Theresa Robinson, Executive Director, Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities – Christopher Rowe, Managing Director, Investments, The Church Pension Fund
The next FCI Forum will discuss evangelical approaches to faith-consistent investing. Register
FaithInvest has been travelling to Hong Kong & Australia
FaithInvest co-hosted an extraordinary gathering in Australia – which was also live-streamed to 37,000 people around the world.
FaithInvest Founding President Martin Palmer spoke at the All Life Under Heaven event, which brought together around 80 people in person, including representatives of Baha'ism, Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, First Nations peoples and Hinduism, to discuss how they can use their assets, influence and investments to protect people and planet.
The event was co-hosted by the Australian Taoist Association, WWF International’s Beliefs and Values Programme and the Universities of Sydney and Hong Kong. Martin is a senior advisor to the recently formed World Federation of Daoists, and FaithInvest is supporting them to develop guidance for Daoist investors.
Master Yan, Australian Taoist Organisation, and Martin Palmer, FaithInvest Founding President
'Let us take seriously the business of religion': Martin Palmer
Martin also took part in another event, this time in Hong Kong: an unusual and fascinating international forum on the future of community development in the Global South.
The event brought together scholars, think tank experts and representatives from civil society, businesses and faiths groups across Asia, as well as from the US and the UK. Martin spoke about the role of faiths in development.
Which countries have the biggest central bank reserves?
Our eye was caught by the latest graphic by Visual Capitalist which looks at the top 50 countries by central bank reserves.
The top 10 countries collectively hold $9.4 trillion in currency and gold reserves – over 60% of the global total. Central bank reserves can be considered a country’s financial shield, helping stabilise currencies and navigate financial crises.
The top six countries with the biggest reserves are (in alphabetical order): China, India, Japan, Russia, Switzerland
and the United States. Can you rank them in order, from the biggest down?
Every week, the FaithInvest team posts on issues around faith-consistent investing on our FCI Research Posts page. In case you missed them, here is a selection of recent posts.
We offer faith-based organisations a free and confidential Investment Policy & Guidelines assessment service to see how well their values are reflected in their IP&Gs. Check it out!
FaithInvest, c/o Stone King LLP, Boundary House, 91-93 Charterhouse Street, London, England EC1M 6HR, United Kingdom, +44 (0)1749 870057
