Invest with the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota

At the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota, investing is about more than performance. It is about caring for the resources entrusted to us so they can serve the Church today and remain strong for generations to come. We help Catholic organizations and individuals steward their assets with faith, prudence, and a long-term perspective, so financial decisions support both mission and ministry.

Our approach brings together Catholic values, disciplined risk management, and professional expertise, allowing resources to grow responsibly while staying rooted in what matters most.

What You'll Find on this Page

• Our Investment Philosophy
• Catholic Responsible Investing Approach
• Investment Pool Options
• How Investing Works with Us
• Get Started Today

A Partner You Can Trust

Every parish, school, and Catholic organization carries a deep responsibility to steward resources wisely. We understand these decisions are rarely just financial. They are about trust, accountability, and honoring the intentions of those who give in support of the Church.

When you invest with the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota, you partner with people who share that responsibility. Our team pairs over 30 years of commitment to the vitality of Southern Minnesota with institutional-level investment expertise tailored specifically to Catholic organizations. Grounded in disciplined processes and transparent communication, we walk alongside you to support your financial goals.

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Our Investment Philosophy

Our investment philosophy reflects both financial discipline and Catholic values. Our portfolios are designed with intention, care, and a long-term perspective, focused on protecting assets while supporting sustainable growth.

 

	Catholic Responsible Investing		Thoughtful, Tailored Investing		Time Horizon and Diversification
	Our portfolios are grounded by USCCB Catholic Responsible Investing guidelines consistent with Catholic teaching. This approach balances moral responsibility with competitive, risk-adjusted returns.		We tailor asset allocation strategies to meet the collective needs of parishes, schools, donors, and Catholic organizations. Portfolios are structured to: Manage overall investment risk   Improve diversification   Support long-term financial sustainability   Align with near- and long-term goals		We work with you to identify an approach that fits your comfort level and responsibilities. The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota offers options designed for both near-term liquidity and long-term growth. Diversification across asset classes helps manage risk while maintaining alignment with Catholic Responsible Investing principles.

 

Catholic Responsible Investing

Faith guides how we invest. All investments at the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota follow the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Responsible Investing guidelines. This ensures portfolios reflect Church teachings while supporting sustainable financial growth.

Our approach integrates faith and finance by:

• Avoiding investments that conflict with Catholic moral principles
   
• Supporting companies with responsible practices
   
• Balancing financial performance with mission alignment
   

We believe it is possible, and necessary, to steward resources in a way that reflects both conviction and care.

More Detail on our Catholic Value Investing Approach

Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) has been around for many decades, and while interpretations vary widely, Catholic institutions typically rely on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines as their primary moral framework. However, please know that not every broker who seems to follow Catholic investing guidelines does completely.

At the Catholic Foundation, we use a proactive approach that screens for both USCCB‑aligned SRI criteria and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics to ensure our portfolio reflects Catholic teaching while also incorporating broader measures of corporate responsibility and long‑term sustainability.

This stands in contrast to a reactive approach, where an investor simply removes an investment after noticing a conflict. Because potential conflicts with USCCB guidelines can appear across all major asset classes — equities, fixed income, and alternatives — a reactive method is not sufficient. Corporate practices evolve, business lines shift, and new affiliations emerge. A faithful Catholic investment strategy must therefore be dynamic, disciplined, and attentive to change.

The Catholic Foundation’s investment process is intentionally structured, top‑down, and continuously monitored. Our Foundation staff, financial advisors and the Board review the portfolio regularly, and formally review our investment policy at least annually, to ensure ongoing alignment with Catholic values and responsible stewardship of the gifts entrusted to us.

 

The above chart illustrates our prioritization of Catholic values in our investment strategies compared with an unscreened investment portfolio.

Investment Pool Options

Our pooled investment structure reflects the strength of community. By bringing resources together, Catholic organizations and donors are able to benefit from shared expertise, diversified portfolios, and professionally managed investments aligned with Catholic values.

Pooling assets also creates greater efficiency and helps reduce costs. This allows every participant to benefit from scale while keeping the focus where it belongs: supporting mission, ministry, and long-term stability.

The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota offers three professionally managed investment pools designed to match different time horizons and risk profiles.

 

Fixed Income Pool - NEW Fall 2026       Short-Term Pool       Long-Term Pool   Coming by fall 2026, this pool serves as an alternative to money markets or CDs   This pool was established in 2019   Designed in 1999, this is our most utilized pool, holding 90+% of our funds             Strategy:  Preservation of capital, protecting funds from inflation 100% Fixed Income   Preservation of capital and income generation; secondary objective of capital appreciation 70% Fixed Income / 30% Equities   Growth of capital, with an increased risk profile. Designed for long-term and permanently endowed funds. 70% Equities / 30% Fixed Income             Target Returns:  CPI+ (Consumer Price Index)   CPI + 2%   CPI + 5%             Historical Returns*:  Newly formed pool   1-year average: 6.92% 3-year average: 8.15% 5-year average: 4.81%   1-year average: 17.61% 3-year average: 15.36% 5-year average: 8.35%       *All return averages listed are inclusive of financial advisory & management fees. Does not include the Foundation's 0.6-0.75% administration fee.   *All return averages are as of June 30, 2026. Inquire with the Foundation for the latest numbers.

Investment Oversight

Our approach reflects best practices used by leading Catholic community foundations. Strong oversight is central to responsible stewardship. The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota operates with a robust investment policy defined by our Board. And provides ongoing structured governance to ensure accountability, transparency, and mission alignment, including:

• Regular performance monitoring
   
• Clear, easy-to-understand reporting
   
• Ongoing review of strategy and compliance

 

How It Works

Investing with the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota is designed to be clear and straightforward:

 

1. We Listen. Define your investment goals and select your investment time horizon. 
    
2. You Transfer. One signature with templated contracts. No re-doing paperwork with a new priest. Simple ACH or check transfer.
    
3. You Earn. The Foundation manages the portfolio with care and discipline following Catholic values. Monthly statements provide transparency.
    
4. We Distribute. No fees to distribute funds. Receive your distribution within 3-7 business days depending upon the distribution amount.

 

Are you an individual looking to invest through the Foundation for the benefit of your Catholic non-profit? Consider our Donor Advised Funds to access the same Catholic Value Based investment pools and investment return benefits. Learn more here.

Get Started Earning Now

Download the onboarding survey here and return it to the Foundation to open your account.

 

Prefer to talk first? 

If you are exploring how to steward resources faithfully and responsibly, we welcome the conversation. Partner with the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota to invest with confidence, purpose, and care for our shared mission.

Contact the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota

Phone: 507-218-4098

Email: info@catholicfsmn.org

Or complete the form below to begin a conversation.