The Investment Committee has continued to direct its efforts toward the effects of business practice and policy in areas of agriculture, the environment, energy resources, military production and armament sales, economic conversion, government and peoples in developing nations, and discrimination and stereotyping of minorities. Its members have engaged in dialogues with company managers, filed shareholder resolutions, attended annual share
owner meetings, supported boycotts and lawsuits, cooperated with other concerned investors and conducted educational activities to inform members of the congregation.In addition, Loretto has invested in 33 alternative investments, specifically housing loans, credit unions, rehabilitation of neighborhoods, land trusts, community development funds, and minority-owned banks. These investments are also in collaboration with others who work for systemic change toward a more just society. The risk factor in these alternative investments is sometimes greater than in corporate investments and the rate of return is lower than corporate rates. It is the practice of the Investment Committee to assure that the principal - the money loaned - is secure.
The Investment Committee utilizes the legal and research services of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of nearly 275 Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish institutional investors, including denominations, religious communities, agencies, pension funds, dioceses, and health care corporations.
For more information, email:
bboesen@loretto.org
kim@kleinandroth.com