New York Times: Americans want sustainable investing. Catholics agree.
A new report in The New York Times revealed that, based on new analysis, Americans’ interest in impact or sustainable investing may be much broader than previously thought. This news comes after Catholic Investment Service’s (CIS) own poll illuminated Catholics’ overwhelming support for values-based investing among the church’s institutions.
In his May 3 article – Investing for Social Impact Is Complicated. Here Are 4 Ways to Simplify It. – the Times’ financial columnist Paul Sullivan reported on Morningstar research indicating that almost three-quarters of Americans have a moderate to high interest in sustainable investing. This interest appears to be both deeper and broader than many in financial services industry had previously thought.
Our own poll, which we released a month earlier, revealed intense interest among Catholics for values-based investing practices among the church’s institutions, such as their local churches or dioceses. In the poll, 91 percent of Catholics reported that they wanted such investments made according to Catholic standards and values.
What’s more, the vast majority of our survey’s respondents believe that such an investment strategy can be executed without performance tradeoffs. Eighty-seven percent either strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement: “I believe Catholic organizations can invest their financial assets according to Catholic values and principles without sacrificing financial gains.”
The Morningstar and CIS findings, taken together, seem to demonstrate that investing based on principles, values or religious beliefs has become much more mainstream in recent years.
Our survey, which was conducted online in March and compiled by DKC Analytics, gathered the views of 500 adults (18 years or older) who self-identify as Catholic.
Read more about our poll among Catholics
Read more from the New York Times
About Catholic Investment Services
Catholic Investment Services (CIS) is a non-profit, SEC registered investment advisor that manages endowment and pension assets for Catholic organizations. It seeks to deliver strong investment returns aligned with Catholic principles so Catholic organizations can make a bigger impact in their communities. CIS was founded by some of the investment industry’s most respected leaders to address the investment challenges faced by Catholic organizations. Based in Boston, CIS’s assets under management represent over $600 million.