Accountability

Catholic Foundation of Western North Dakota

Distinctive Catholic – Compliant Investing

Following Christ’s command to love our neighbor as ourselves, we stand in solidarity with the least among us by practicing Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) as outlined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  The Catholic Foundation of Western North Dakota (CFWND) does not invest in companies or funds that are exploitive in nature, derive income from the destruction of human life, or hold values in conflict with those of the Catholic Church. 

All investments with the CFWND are made in accordance with the USCCB’s SRI Guidelines.  The USCCB approved an updated version of the guidelines in November 2021.  The Conference had issued its first investing guidelines in 1991 and updated them in 2003.   

The bishops detail several business activities that make a company unfit for investment, including but are not limited to, abortion, euthanasia, human embryonic stem cell research, pornography, and others.  The list focuses on moral issues.  The complete guidelines are available at www.USCCB.org. 

The CFWND’s Board of Directors and particularly its Investment Committee, is responsible for overseeing investment management.  The CFWND’s investment consultant helps the Board and Investment Committee determine the investment policy, asset allocation strategies, and appropriate investment fund managers.