Author: Jeremy Taylor
This podcast is the second in a new series that explores the role of impact-focused investment programs in the strategies of Catholic institutions. In this podcast, Frank Persico of Partners in Mission joins Paul Schott Stevens, CIS trustee & former CEO of the ICI, for a dynamic conversation in which they will discuss the proper respective roles of management and boards, consider organizational best practices, examine how successful boards organize themselves in effective committee structures, define the types of governing committees, and align themselves with Catholic social teaching.
Few institutions are as distinctive in their history and objectives as the Custody of the of Holy Land. For over 800 years, the Franciscan Friars of the Custody have been entrusted by the Holy See with preservation of the great shrines of the Latin church in the Middle East, serving both pilgrims to the Holy Land and local Christian communities. Their mission, as various Popes have emphasized, is to ensure that the places of Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension remain centers of spirituality that hand on the evangelical message and nurture the piety of the faithful. This webinar features Father David Grenier, OFM, and Father David Wathen, OFM, joining in a dialogue with Paul Schott Stevens, Trustee, Catholic Investment Services, to explore the work of the Custody today and the unique challenges it faces in the Middle East.
00:00 – Webinar opens, attendees join
00:05 – Zela Astarjian, CIS Managing Director, welcome and introductions
05:15 – Opening prayer of St. Francis
06:15 – Paul Schott Stevens, opening remarks, History of the Order of Friars Minor and the custody of the holy land
12:00 – Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) Mission Overview
18:30 – Description of the pilgrimage experience
23:00 – Vision and creation of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C.
30:00 – What is the Holy Land Review publication
31:00 – Can you describe your calling to serve the church and becoming a Franciscan Friar
38:00 – How has COVID affected the Custody, current challenges
41:00 – What would St. Francis think of the work of the Custody
42:30 – Work of the Garden Guild & Apiarists
48:00 – Q: Is it safe today to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land?
52:00 – Q: Can you describe how Franciscan Friars support local small business
54:00 – Thank you and closing
This webinar is the second in a new series that explores the role of impact-focused investment programs in the strategies of Catholic institutions. In this webinar, Frank Persico of Partners in Mission joins Paul Schott Stevens, CIS trustee & former CEO of the ICI, for a dynamic conversation in which they will discuss the proper respective roles of management and boards, consider organizational best practices, examine how successful boards organize themselves in effective committee structures, define the types of governing committees, and align themselves with Catholic social teaching.
00:00 – Webinar opens, attendees join
00:05 – Tom Lanctot, CIS CEO, welcome and introductions
03:50 – Opening prayer
05:30 – Paul Schott Stevens, opening remarks: Importance of organizational governance
06:50 – Conceptual principles for boards and leadership: oversight vs. management
07:50 – Mission, Mission, Mission – What drives the bus…
08:30 – Board composition, Executive vs. Non-Executive Board members
09:30 – Vision, Vision, Vision – Who drives the bus…
10:50 – How do you organize to be effective as a Board
14:10 – How many committees/ board members are needed for an organization?
17:20 – What is a board charter?
18:40 – Defining essential committees: nominating and governance, finance and audit, development
20:40 – Recruiting board members: gifts & talents (Wit, Wisdom and Wealth)
23:20 – Committee chair, characteristics needed for success
25:50 – How to engage committee members and minimize meeting read-outs
30:10 – The value of having executive sessions
30:50 – Term limits and succession planning for committees
34:10 – How to conduct self-evaluation and board evaluation
37:20 – Q: Who is the management counterpart to the nominating & governance committee?
38:50 – Q: How to avoid conflicts of interest in board settings?
44:40 – Q: 5 recommendations: 1. Board development 2. Handbook (bylaws & charters) 3. Orientation program 4. Adherence to bylaws 5. performance assessment of the board/members
47:00 – Q: What is the function of general counsel in board settings?
49:40 – Q: How should committees help an organization that is short-staffed?
52:00 – Q: Any recommendations for a reconstituted board?
56:10 – Thank you and closing
This podcast represents the second in a new series that explores the innovations of Catholic non-profits as they advance their missions around the world. In this podcast, Jennifer Poidatz and James Bond of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) join Paul Schott Stevens, CIS trustee & former CEO of the ICI, for a dynamic conversation about their work and how CRS has advanced its’ mission over 75 years while continuing to express Catholic Social Teaching in the organization’s identity.
This webinar represents the second in a new series that explores the innovations of Catholic non-profits as they advance their missions around the world. In this webinar, Jennifer Poidatz and James Bond of Catholic Relief Services join Paul Schott Stevens, CIS trustee & former CEO of the ICI, for a dynamic conversation about their work and how CRS has advanced its’ mission over 75 years while continuing to express Catholic Social Teaching in the organization’s identity.
00:00 – Webinar opens, attendees join
00:20 – Tom Lanctot, CIS CEO, welcome and introductions
03:10 – Opening prayer by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
04:00 – Paul Schott Stevens, moderator opening
04:35 – Welcome Jennifer Poidatz, background & why a career at Catholic Relief Services
06:00 – Welcome James Bond, background & why a career at Catholic Relief Services
07:00 – CRS organizational history and its’ evolution over 75 years
09:50 – CRS’ growth, resources and outreach
12:30 – How does CRS build and develop partnerships?
14:40 – What distinguishes CRS as a relief organization?
19:40 – How does CRS respond to a protracted crisis?
23:10 – How do you measure impact or success at CRS?
25:10 – Can you describe how the organization has changed during your time at CRS?
28:30 – Who are the people and societies you serve?
31:40 – Can you share how CRS expresses its’ Catholic identity?
40:00 – How can we support the work of CRS and advance its” mission?
42:00 – Q: Can you elaborate on CRS’ impact investing program and themes?
44:50 – Q: How has climate change affected your work?
47:20 – Q: How is CRS harnessing technology?
50:50 – Q: Are you aligning your programs to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
53:10 – Q: Can you describe how you work with volunteer groups?
54:20 – Q: How do you keep safe while working in challenging regions such as Afghanistan?
59:00 – Thank you and closing
This is our 4th podcast and the second episode of our Manager in Focus series, featuring our esteemed investment partners and their unique insights on investment strategy and the current capital market environment. This conversation features Jack Brennan, CIS co-founder & former CEO of Vanguard and Evelyn Chen, founder and portfolio manager of the Sino Vision Greater China Market-Neutral Fund. Jack and Evelyn discuss a wide-range of investment topics, including the nuances of investing in Taiwan, opportunities and challenges for the global supply chain, 5G and artificial intelligence, and how Sino Vision integrates ESG principles into their investment process.
This webinar is the second episode of our Manager in Focus series, featuring our esteemed investment partners and their unique insights on investment strategy and the current capital market environment. This conversation features Jack Brennan, CIS co-founder & former CEO of Vanguard and Evelyn Chen, founder and portfolio manager of the Sino Vision Greater China Market-Neutral Fund. Jack and Evelyn discuss a wide-range of investment topics, including the nuances of investing in Taiwan, opportunities and challenges for the global supply chain, 5G and artificial intelligence, and how Sino Vision integrates ESG principles into their investment process.
00:00 – Webinar opens, attendees join
00:08 – Zela Astarjian, CIS Managing Director, welcome and introductions
02:50 – Opening prayer
03:20 – Jack Brennan, moderator opening
04:20 – Welcome Eveyln Chen, background, why a career in financial markets
07:00 – What was it like to go to graduate school in the U.S.
09:00 – Why launch a hedge fund strategy?
10:30 – Sino Vision’s investment discipline
11:30 – Taiwan’s investment opportunity set
17:30 – Considerations for launching a market-neutral strategy
23:15 – How do you implement Catholic values and ESG factors
27:00 – How are Taiwanese companies approaching ESG reporting
30:10 – Taiwan / China relationship
33:50 – Supply chains, impact and investment opportunity
37:30 – portfolio themes and structure
41:40 – U.S. inflation and Taiwan considerations
44:30 – How do you get away, any hobbies?
46:30 – Do you know other Taiwan portfolio managers
47:30 – Thank you and closing
This podcast is the first in a new series that explores the role of impact-focused investment programs in the strategies of Catholic institutions. This premiere edition features Tim Connors, Founder of PivotNorth Capital, Mario Giannini, CEO of Hamilton Lane, and Bryan Pini, President and CIO of Mercy Investment Services. These leaders share their views on the evolving ESG landscape in private markets, while dispelling some performance myths regarding ESG or Impact investing.
This webinar is the first in a new series that explores the role of impact-focused investment programs in the strategies of Catholic institutions. This premiere edition features Tim Connors, Founder of PivotNorth Capital, Mario Giannini, CEO of Hamilton Lane, and Bryan Pini, President and CIO of Mercy Investment Services. These leaders share their views on the evolving ESG landscape in private markets, while dispelling some performance myths regarding ESG or Impact investing.
00:00 – Webinar opens, attendees join
00:10 – Tom Lanctot, CIS CEO, welcome and introductions
04:15 – Opening prayer
05:45 – What is ESG? How to approach, understand and navigate the terminology
12:45 – How do you evaluate ESG factors and measure impact?
15:15 – How to align mission through investment partnerships?
17:15 – Can Impact investing outperform?
26:15 – Practical advice to alignment for institutions on the call?
29:45 – Program Related Investments & the mechanics
31:30 – How to get started with Impact investing?
36:15 – Impact investment examples
39:45 – Q: Clean energy transition and considerations for investment
42:00 – Q: Concessionary vs market rate returns, How Mercy allocates
44:30 – Q: How to align Catholic Social Teaching in private market portfolios
47:40 – Q: Can the U.S. electrical infrastructure handle the Electric Vehicle and Green-power transition, capacity considerations
50:05 – Q: Crypto-currency & ESG considerations
53:15 – Q: How do you approach investments in water?
53:40 – Thank you and closing
The Art of Advancement
Creating a Culture of Philanthropy to Secure the Future of Your Catholic Institution
Introduction
We are pleased to present you with this guide – “The Art of Advancement” – which offers ideas for
securing the future of your Catholic institution through advanced financial and fundraising strategies.
Within this guide you will find clear, concise information about:
- Adopting stronger financial management practices
- Creating an effective advancement function
- Emphasizing revenue-generation activities that are designed to yield desired results
- Building an endowment to sustain your institution over the long term
Today’s Catholic institutions – whether they are schools, hospitals, dioceses, foundations or religious
orders – are increasingly placing a priority on advancement, a practice that steps beyond such
traditional activities such as development and fund-raising. When advancement is integrated into the
culture of an “institution” it can enhance not only its financial well-being but also its reputation,
engagement with the community and visibility for its mission and how it brings value to the world.
A comprehensive advancement effort is absolutely critical to the vitality – or sometimes even the
survival – of many Catholic institutions. Most organizations have managed to sustain their missions
for many years against a range of social, cultural and financial headwinds. But the coming decades
may be even more challenging economically due to changing demographics and donation practices
among Catholics across the country.
One telling illustration of this change is the experience of a Catholic high school that has seen a
major decline in financial support from its alumni. A historical analysis found that between 1950 and
1980, about 15% of alumni donated to the school; by contrast, between 1980 and 2020, only 5% of
alumni donated. While this is just one school’s analysis, it reinforces what Catholic institutions all
recognize: that now is the time for bold leadership and concerted action to build a strong
advancement program to sustain our missions.
CIS has created this resource to help you meet this challenge with practical solutions, in keeping with the spirit of the CIS Institute with its range of eBooks, videos and webcasts. In creating this eBook we
were fortunate to have collaborated with Partners in Mission, a group with extensive experience in helping Catholic educational institutions to create, develop and strengthen their advancement
programs. This eBook provides a general overview of advancement principles; a companion eBook offers more in-depth ideas for how to optimize essential advancement programs for success.
For a copy of the full version of The Art of Advancement, please email:
info@catholicinvest.org.