FOR PEOPLE
AND PLANET
RESOURCES
Download key resources on faiths and investments here, including those published by ARC, FaithInvest's parent organisation, as well as selected publications by other organisations and our Annual Reports.
FAITHINVEST PUBLICATIONS
This paper discusses how the alignment of financial investments with religious values can produce competitive returns while promoting positive FCI outcomes. Draws on the perspectives of investment professionals at FaithInvest with extensive experience in FCI and asset management.
Case Study: The English Sangha Trust, 2023
FaithInvest has been working with the UK-based English Sangha Trust to develop faith-aligned investment policies and guidelines. This case study outlines the process and how EST reached the highest possible score on our proprietary faith-investing analytical framework.
Values to Investment,
2021
All faiths document what they value in terms of social principles and environmental beliefs, but not all have integrated those values into their investing. Our Investment Solutions team has produced a guide to help them do so: From Faith Values to Investment.
What interest is there among NGOs in using non-grant financing mechanisms, known as grant alternatives, alongside grants to fund development? This discussion paper, written in collaboration with Christian Aid, outlines our research into this subject which was also the topic of our conference in May 2023.
FCI and Smaller
Organisations
This paper explores the challenges faced by smaller faith groups that arise when the limited resources of small plans are stretched to meet the significant requirements for creating unique, customised investment programmes that reflect a faith’s values.
Sustainable Banking,
2021
For socially responsible investors, your banking partner matters. How can you find a bank that shares your values? And what are the trade-offs, if any? FaithInvest investigates the issue in its State of Sustainable Banking Report – now expanded and revised.
Case Study: Society of the Holy Child Jesus, March 2024
To create an Investment Policy & Guidelines statement (IP&G) more in line with its values, members of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus's European Province chose FaithInvest to help guide them on their journey of greater faith-consistent investing. This case study describes the results of this effort.
Bold Plans conference
report, 2022
'Excellent', 'riveting', 'inspiring' were some of the words used to describe our Bold Plans and Faith-consistent Investing conference which brought over 100 people together in October 2022. Find out why, plus key takeaways, in our Bold Plans report.
Faith Long-term Plans
2021
The Faith Plans are long-term commitments by faiths to use their investments, land, buildings, purchasing power and influence to drive action on issues including climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development.
Faith-based Investment Governance, February 2024
Written with investment consultant NEPC, Faith-based Investment Governance explores the topic of investment governance, with a review of the typical structure, attributes, and characteristics of investment governance and focuses on unique aspects of governance for faith organisations.
Good Intentions study
UPDATED 2023
Our Good Intentions study (subtitled 'What faiths say about how they invest, and how they can do more') is a deep dive into publicly available faith investment policies and guidelines, and assesses the extent to which investments and values are aligned. First published in 2022, this is our 2023 update. Spoiler: They can do better.
Impact Investing Roadmap,
2022
Our Impact Investing Roadmap introduces three topics of relevance to faith-based investors: understanding alignment versus Impact, private markets for impact investing, and tradeoffs between impact and investment outcomes.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS ON FAITH-CONSISTENT INVESTING
Working with your Investment Managers, 2024
The Church Investors Group has published Working with your investment managers to support church investors in working with their investment managers to ensure their investments reflect their organisation’s ethical values.
Oxford Faith-Aligned
Impact Finance Report, 2022
Phase One report from the Oxford Faith-Aligned Impact Finance Project, aiming to improve understanding of the state of impact investment in faith-aligned investment. This phase involved initial research for this multi-year programme.
The Church Commissioners' Report, 2023
The Church Commissioners in England has published its 2023 Stewardship Report, outlining key steps taken to deliver its responsible investment strategy focused on ‘Respect for People and Respect for the Planet’.
Guide to Jewish Investing,
2021
This first guide to Jewish impact investing by Jewish Funders Network member Michael Lustig provides an overview of impact investing and defines what makes Jewish impact investing unique. Full of practical advice useful for all faith groups.
Sustainable Investments, Church of Sweden, 2023
Since 2011 the Church of Sweden has produced a report on work regarding sustainable investments and work with sustainability within asset management on the national level. This report outlines the results of its activities in 2023.
From Faith to Faith Consistent Investing, 2010
Subtitled Religious Institutions and their Investment Practices, this 2010 study by 3iG, the International Interfaith Investment Group, was the first to assess whether or not faith institutions' beliefs are reflected in their investments.
Mensuram Bonam,
Pontifical Academy,
2022
The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (an advisory body of scholars) has published a major paper on faith-aligned investing, Mensuram Bonam, subtitled Faith-Based Measures for Catholic Investors: A Starting Point and Call to Action.
Church investments,
Operation Noah,
2022
Operation Noah's report, Church Investment in Climate Solutions: Financing a Liveable Future, outlines how faith institutions can take action on the climate crisis by increasing investments in climate solutions, such as renewable energy.
ARC PUBLICATIONS
Long before faith-consistent investing was being talked about as a movement, our founder organisation, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), paved the way for thinking about religious groups and their financial assets. Much of this grew out of its work with faiths on the environment.
Zug Guidelines
ARC 2017
The Zug Guidelines, published in October 2017, was the first publication to outline the investment priorities, alongside the ethical rationale behind their investment decisions, for 30 traditions from eight of the world's major faiths.
Creating Your Plan,
ARC 2009
This guidebook to creating a faith long-term plan on the environment was created by ARC ahead of the launch of 32 faith commitments from around the world at the 2009 Windsor Celebration. It outlines the seven key areas for action as well as key questions to consider.
Faith in Finance
ARC 2016
This ground-breaking 84-page paper, published in 2016 by our founder, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), was commissioned by OECD and UNDP to explore the role of faiths as investors in the future, particularly regarding the SDGs.
Faith in Food,
ARC 2014
Faith in Food is a collaboration between farmers, food lovers and people of faith, looking at the relationship between food and six key faith groups. Eating is a moral act. Our choices of what, how and when we eat have a huge impact upon the Earth.
Faith in the Future
ARC 2015
This publication outlines the Bristol Commitments made by 24 faith groups around the world in response the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals. It was part of the only consultation of the faiths by the UN about the SDGs.
A Capital Solution,
ARC 2000
Subtitled Faith, Finance and Concern for a Living Planet, A Capital Solution was published by ARC and WWF in 2000, supported by the World Bank, looked at assets and land owned by the faiths, and was the first to discuss the need for faith-consistent investment policies.
Many Heavens in Action, ARC 2013
In 2012, Christian, Muslim and Hindu faith groups in sub-Saharan Africa launched action plans on the environment. Many Heavens One Earth in Action, tells the stories of their plans – from tree planting to sustainable agriculture and more.
African Faith
Commitments, 2012
Following the 2009 publication of faith long-term plans, nearly 30 more Plans were announced by African faith groups in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2012. The Many Heavens One Earth Our Continent guide outlines 24 of the commitments by those groups.
SUPPORT US
By donating to FaithInvest, your gift helps us develop the free-to-access tools, programmes and resources needed to support faith groups as across as wide a range of geographies and capacities as possible. We are very grateful for any support you can give us.
Sincere thanks from everyone at FaithInvest!