Introduction: One Mission, Many Needs
Churches, religious orders, and larger charities often face complex investment needs—balancing capital growth with income generation, ethical standards with regulatory oversight, and local autonomy with central governance.
That’s where Epworth’s Discretionary Charity Service (DSC) comes in.
Built exclusively for UK registered charities, DSC offers a tailored, fully-managed investment solution—rooted in your mission, aligned with your ethical values, and adaptable to your organisational structure.
Whether you're managing circuit funds, diocesan endowments, a religious order's long-term reserves, or a complex portfolio of restricted gifts, DSC helps you invest with clarity, control, and Christian conviction.
What Is the Epworth Discretionary Charity Service?
DSC is a bespoke investment management service that combines:
- Strategic asset allocation
- Faith-based ethical screening
- Active investment management
- Sub-accounting for individual funds
- Dedicated reporting and governance support
It is ideal for charities with £1 million or more in assets and multiple internal accounts (e.g. trusts, endowments, designated funds, or separately managed parishes and projects).
Who Uses DSC?
The service is designed for:
- Church circuits and districts
- Dioceses and denominational trustees
- Religious orders and congregations
- Independent schools and bursars
- Large faith-based charities managing multiple income streams or reserves
Key Features and Benefits
1. Sub-Accounts for Clarity and Control
DSC allows you to maintain individual sub-accounts within one ethically managed portfolio.
You can:
- Track performance by fund, parish, or purpose
- Maintain visibility over restricted and unrestricted funds
- Provide bespoke reporting to trustees or beneficiaries
This avoids the administrative burden of managing multiple separate portfolios while maintaining full accountability.
2. Ethical Integrity Built In
Every investment made through DSC adheres to Epworth’s Christian ethical investment policy, which includes:
- Exclusions for fossil fuels, tobacco, weapons, gambling, adult entertainment, and payday lending
- Positive alignment with companies advancing health, education, environmental stewardship, and human rights
- Active shareholder engagement and voting on issues such as climate change, executive pay, and labour rights
Explore our ethical investment policy
3. Tailored Asset Allocation
DSC portfolios are built with your specific needs in mind, including:
- Income generation vs. capital growth
- Liquidity requirements
- Time horizons
- Risk appetite
We work with you to design an allocation that fits your mission, governance, and financial goals.
4. Dedicated Relationship Management
You’ll be supported by a named investment specialist who understands:
- Charity law and regulation
- Faith-based investment priorities
- Trustee governance and reporting
- The operational reality of complex charities
Our team is available to present to your board, support investment policy development, and provide ongoing guidance.
5. Transparent and Trustee-Friendly Reporting
We provide:
- Quarterly performance and ethical impact reports
- Custom account statements for each sub-account
- Portfolio valuation and audit-ready summaries
- Stewardship updates and engagement outcomes
Why Charities Choose DSC
- Ethical certainty — rooted in Christian values, not generic ESG
- Operational flexibility — easily manage multiple internal funds
- Governance support — designed for compliance and transparency
- Customisation — tailored to your charity’s structure and needs
- Exclusivity — available only to UK registered charities
Common Use Cases
- A Methodist circuit managing proceeds from a property sale across several churches
- A Catholic religious order managing long-term care funding alongside mission work
- A URC trust needing ethical investment with designated income accounts
- An independent Christian school with separate reserves and bursary funds
- A large Christian charity streamlining multiple legacy gifts and income streams
Conclusion: Tailored, Ethical, Trusted
Epworth’s Discretionary Charity Service is designed for charities that need more than a fund—they need a flexible, values-aligned partnership that delivers clarity, accountability, and performance.
Interested in exploring how DSC could work for your organisation? Let’s have a conversation.
Contact our team or learn more about our discretionary services here