Catholic organisations
Investing with Catholic Values
Helping Catholic charities, dioceses, and institutions invest ethically and effectively.
At Epworth Investment Management, we provide specialist Catholic investment management for dioceses, religious orders, schools, and charities. We understand the importance of ensuring your funds reflect Catholic values and the Church’s social teaching, so that every investment decision supports life, human dignity, and the common good.
Our experience in Catholic ethical investment solutions helps Catholic organisations steward their resources faithfully and responsibly, combining strong financial management with a commitment to Catholic principles. Whether you are a diocese, a Catholic charity, or an educational institution, we offer trusted, values-driven investment strategies that respect and uphold your Catholic mission.
Hear from our clients to understand what Epworth can offer you.
Why Epworth?
Alignment with Catholic Social Teaching
Our investment process is guided by values consistent with the principles set out in Mensuram Bonam, ensuring a thoughtful and faith-driven approach to stewarding your assets.
Mission-Focused Investment
We work with Catholic charities, dioceses, and religious orders to ensure their investments support – and never undermine – the causes they serve.
Ethical Integrity and Accountability
Our portfolios apply rigorous screening and active oversight to exclude sectors such as armaments, fossil fuels, gambling, and human rights violations.
Trusted, Personal Service
We take time to understand your organisation’s goals, offering transparent, tailored investment solutions backed by decades of experience with faith-based clients.
“From the Christian Faith based perspective, I think it is the best there is.”
— Mother Nikola, St. Mildred's Abbey, Minster
Investment Options
The WS Epworth Multi Asset Fund is an all-in-one investment fund solution for charities, seeking to deliver an attractive level of income and long-term capital growth.
The Fund is designed for charities of all sizes and invests both directly and indirectly in a balanced portfolio of ethically screened equities, bonds, property, cash, and alternative assets.
Our Discretionary Service for Charities (DSC) provides an investment management service whereby portfolios are constructed to meet the specific objectives and risk tolerance of each charitable organisation.
We work in collaboration and partnership with trustees to actively manage the organisation’s investments on their behalf.
The Epworth Cash Plus Fund is designed to help charities manage their liquid assets efficiently. It offers same-day access to deposits* while aiming to deliver a competitive interest rate (currently 4.07% A.E.R.).
Charities’ funds are pooled and invested through diversified, high-quality financial instruments across multiple banking counterparties. Epworth actively manages these investments based on the outlook for interest rates and counterparty suitability.
Ethical Approach
Our investment approach reflects key principles of Catholic Social Teaching – respect for human dignity, care for creation, and the pursuit of the common good. We actively exclude sectors such as armaments, fossil fuels, gambling, and companies that fail on human rights or labour standards.
Speak to us today
Feel ready to explore what Epworth can offer your Catholic organisation? Click the button opposite to book an introductory call with our Head of Business Development, Simon Woolnough. Alternatively, click the button next to it to request a brochure of one or more of our products.
Simon Woolnough
Head of Business Development
s.woolnough@epworthim.com
07584 142 438
020 7496 3639
FAQs for Catholic Organisations
How do Epworth’s ethical screens align with Catholic Social Teaching?
Epworth stewards investments in line with Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and applies seven Christian ethical pillars across all portfolios. The approach emphasises human dignity, care for creation and the common good.
Do you exclude industries specifically opposed by the Catholic Church (e.g., armaments)?
Yes. We publish revenue-based thresholds and apply exclusions accordingly:
- 0% (zero-tolerance): controversial weapons; fossil-fuel extraction/refining (thermal coal; oil & gas; tar sands; Arctic drilling); tobacco manufacture; production of pornographic content; predatory/high-interest lending; animal testing for cosmetics/household products (exception only where required by law for pharmaceuticals); fur & exotic skins.
- 5%: strategic & combat weapons; civilian firearms & ammunition; tobacco-related products (retail/packaging/machinery); distribution of pornographic content; recreational cannabis; gambling; fossil-fuel power companies expanding coal or lacking a credible net-zero plan; breast milk substitutes where WHO Code/ATNI standards aren’t met; for-profit incarceration.
- 10%: alcohol (manufacture & wholesale; retail only permitted as a minor part of a broader non-alcohol business); regulated non-cosmetic animal testing with a commitment to the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement).
Can Epworth provide faith-aligned investment options suitable for diocesan reserves?
Yes. We offer ethical funds accessible from £1,000, and for larger reserves our Discretionary Service can design bespoke portfolios aligned with CST while respecting the published thresholds and exclusions.
What assurance do we have that Epworth is not supporting causes contrary to Catholic doctrine?
We combine published 0%/5%/10% thresholds with conduct-based exclusions (e.g., serious breaches of UNGC/UNGPs/ILO, severe environmental harm, climate misalignment) and also exclude sovereign bonds from oppressive regimes. These safeguards ensure portfolios remain aligned with Catholic values in practice.
Are there opportunities to combine investment with charitable giving?
Yes. Through our Multi-Asset Fund, 50% of the management fee** is donated directly to Christian Aid’s In Their Lifetime programme, enabling Catholic organisations to combine responsible investment with tangible charitable impact.
*We reserve the right to require 7 days’ notice of withdrawals in exceptional circumstances but typically provide same day access. Full details and terms, including the Scheme Particulars, can be found at www.epworthim.com.
**No Fee sharing on Income “A” share class