In 2021, the Institute’s finance team continued building proper infrastructure to support responsible financial stewardship well into the future. In January, Veronica Calderon joined our Chicago team as Accounting & Operations Associate. Veronica has worked diligently to strengthen the Generalate’s finance and accounting functions, improving systems and integration. Our entire team worked with the General Treasurer to organize the Institute’s historical financial information from 2014 to the present. This exercise allowed us to identify strengths and weaknesses and provided the basis for a thorough evaluation of our current investment management structure.

In 2022, we will begin using a new investment management platform technology specializing in data aggregation, analytics and reporting. This will enhance our ability to holistically manage all Institute assets and associated risks, leverage real time reporting, and improve outcomes. Additionally, we will utilize QuickBooks Online to strengthen integration between Chicago and the Curia.  

In 2021, we continued the process of integrating our values with investments. We try to invest all the Institute’s financial assets in a responsible way. That means we don’t invest in so-called bad actors like tobacco companies, we favor investments in companies that maintain high social and environmental standards, and we use our role as shareholders to advocate for justice. In addition, we deploy a small percentage of total investments for high social impact. Unlike philanthropy, these “impact investments” seek positive social outcomes coupled with preservation of capital. Led by Kayoko Lyons and Petra Vujakovic, the impact investing practice has helped free 100 individuals from immigration detention in the US, increased the profits of East African farmers living on <$2/day by 33%, secured livable wage jobs for hundreds of women rescued from human trafficking in the Philippines, helped train and grow profits for rural coffee cooperatives in Nicaragua and Guatemala, and much more. 

In 2022, the impact investing team will extend its support of migrants and refugees around the world, explore opportunities to collaborate with Cabrini World communities, and continue to leverage our leadership role within the faith-based investment community to encourage others to invest for positive social and environmental impact.

Credits: Newbees and Beneficial Returns

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