What a wonderful Faithful Finance training course we have just completed, with participants from as far afield as Ireland and Sri Lanka, and live translations for the Spanish and French speakers!
Our participants started the four-week online course with very different levels of experience and understanding of faith-consistent FCI but by the end, the overwhelming response was very positive and many of them spoke about how much their knowledge and confidence had increased.
We were particularly pleased to hear the comment from one participant who had looked up her organisation's investment policy and guidelines (IP&G), as we suggest participants do as part of course 'homework'. She wasn't too impressed: 'It was really flimsy. There wasn't much meat on it,' she said.
We were delighted to hear that comment. It's precisely that ability to assess an organisation's IP&Gs through a faith values lens that, among other skills, we hope our course equips and strengthens in our participants.
This was our third FCI training couse after we launched the programme in February this year. FaithInvest's Programme Manager Catherine Devitt takes a look back at what we've learned in the process.
Year-end reflection on Faithful Finance: An Introduction to Aligning Investments with Faith Values
As the year draws to a close, we at FaithInvest are delighted to reflect on the progress and impact of a new offering we developed and put forward this year: our online training programme, Faithful Finance: An Introduction to Aligning Investments with Faith Values.
In late 2023, with the support of the Porticus philanthropic foundation, we took a significant step to address the major needs of faith-based asset owners striving to align their financial assets with their faith values. These needs centre on:
Understanding what is faith-consistent investing;
Having the clarity and confidence to effectively engage with financial intermediaries; and
Knowing what actionable steps to take to achieve greater alignment between their investment portfolio and their faith.
Drawing on five years of close collaboration with faith-based asset owners across diverse traditions, as well as our expertise in faith-consistent investing, we developed this course to address these specific needs and provide practical, faith-aligned solutions.
And what a year it has been!
This year has been transformative! We have successfully conducted three rounds of the course, engaging nearly 100 participants from around the globe. Participants represented diverse regions, including Australia, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Rwanda, Kenya, Pakistan, and many more.
The feedback has been really positive! Participants of the Faithful Finance course reported feeling empowered and confident to align their investments with their faith values. Many appreciated the practical tools and time for reflection and sharing, which made the subject less daunting.
The interactive nature of the programme, coupled with encouragement to involve others in their organisations, was particularly impactful. Several highlighted a newfound confidence in engaging with investment advisors and expressed renewed determination to integrate faith values into their financial decisions for greater impact.
The lessons we have learnt:
The wide reach of our programme has highlighted the immense potential to cultivate a global movement of faith-consistent investors. It has also emphasised the need to provide our training in multiple languages by 2025 to ensure accessibility and inclusivity.
Making time for discussion, sharing, and reflection is vital for our participants. Additionally, incorporating practical case studies into the learning journey is essential to make faith-consistent investing tangible and actionable.
Faith organisations have diverse contexts and needs, with different faiths at varying stages of their faith-consistent investing journey. It is crucial to offer a learning experience that is flexible, accessible and inclusive, ensuring it responds effectively to unique circumstances and requirements.
Looking ahead to 2025
As we move into 2025, we are committed to expanding the course reach and impact to address the current and emerging challenges faced by faith-based investors, regardless of their faith tradition or portfolio size.
Our goal is to enhance our learning offerings by incorporating new case studies and research papers to ensure practical, real-world relevance. Additionally, we aim to strengthen the sense of community by continuing to foster a network of like-minded faith organisations dedicated to leveraging their financial resources for good.
By doing so, we strive to provide ongoing support for participants as they progress on their investment journeys. We also intend to introduce advanced modules tailored for faith-based investors who are further along in their faith-consistent investing journey.
Building on our community-driven approach, we will continue to facilitate networking and learning opportunities through our special interest groups, our participation in webinars and events, collaboration with our partners, and one-on-one accompaniment projects.
Gratitude
Finally, as we look forward to a new year, we remain inspired by the growing movement of faith-based investors using their finances to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our participants who trusted us to take them on the four-week learning journey, and to our partners who helped promote our training opportunity amongst their networks.
You can find out more about our FCI training programme and register your interest in being notified when the next course is scheduled in 2025 by clicking the buttons below.