Investments

Kingdom-Minded Financial Solutions

Why Invest With the Foundation?

In partnership with Wespath Institutional Investments, we help you manage and grow invested funds through socially responsible and sustainable investing. We allow you to focus on your own good work while reaching your financial objectives.

The Foundation manages and grows over $236 million in kingdom-focused investments and certificates entrusted to our care on behalf of Georgia-based Methodist churches, nonprofits, districts, and conferences.

investments

Wespath Partnership

The Foundation works with Wespath Institutional Investments to deliver advanced faith-based financial solutions that elevate the mission and ministry of the church. This partnership enables the Foundation to offer access to a respected team of Wespath advisors who manage one of the largest reporting faith-based pension funds in the world.

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A Word From Wespath Institutional Investments

“Wespath Institutional Investments is a subsidiary of Wespath Benefits and Investments, a general agency of The United Methodist Church. In operation since 1908, Wespath and its subsidiaries maintain one of the largest reporting faith-based pension funds in the world and manage $25 billion in assets as of November 29, 2023. We provide the Foundation and its clients a variety of services, including direct access to our investment and client services teams, personalized reporting, and a direct partnership in growth. We believe that one of our strongest “value adds” is our scale and network. For example, almost all of our funds are diversified multi-asset-manager vehicles. With the benefit of Wespath’s scale, we are able to partner with world-class asset managers at competitive fee structures. In turn, the Foundation and its clients get direct access to high-quality managers they may not otherwise have been able to. We view the Foundation’s clients like Sandy Springs UMC, the Foundation of Wesley Woods, and Pittman Park UMC as if they are our own, including through making our team available for presentations and meetings.”

– Karen Manczko, Wespath Institutional Investments Director, Institutional Relationships

Investment Funds & Performance

U.S. Equity Fund

The U.S. Equity Fund seeks to earn long-term capital appreciation from a broadly diversified portfolio of primarily equities of companies domiciled in the U.S.

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International Equity Fund

The International Equity Fund seeks to earn long-term capital appreciation primarily from a broadly diversified portfolio of primarily equities of non-U.S. domiciled companies.

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Multiple Asset Fund

The Multiple Asset Fund seeks to maximize long-term investment returns, including income and capital appreciation, while reducing short-term risk by investing in a broad mix of investments.

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Fixed Income Fund

The Fixed Income Fund seeks to earn current income by investing in a broadly diversified portfolio of fixed-income instruments.

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Inflation Protection Fund

The Inflation Protection Fund seeks to provide investors with current income and protect principal from loss of purchasing power due to inflation

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Our investment team would love to discuss your unique needs.

Russell H. Jones, MBA, Senior Vice President · CFO · Treasurer
Russell H. Jones, MBA

Senior Vice President/CFO/Treasurer

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Carol Johnston, Associate Vice President and Controller
Carol Johnston

Associate Vice President and Controller

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Online Statements

The Foundation allows churches and nonprofits to view their investment account statements online. Statements will continue to be mailed quarterly. To sign up to view your account online, please contact Carol Johnston, Foundation associate vice president and controller by selecting the sign up button below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Investments (11)

Yes. The Georgia United Methodist Foundation manages and grows $236 million in investments and certificates on behalf of Georgia-based Methodist churches, nonprofits, districts, and conferences. The Foundation, in partnership with Wespath Institutional Investments, delivers advanced faith-based financial solutions that elevate the mission and ministry of the church. This partnership enables the Foundation to offer Georgia United Methodists access to a respected team of Wespath advisors who manage one of the largest reporting faith-based pension funds in the world. Wespath and its subsidiaries manage over $24 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022 (including $5 billion for more than 100 institutional clients). The Foundation and Wespath relationship enable Georgia United Methodists to be good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to them by God while living out a strong Christian witness through socially responsible investment practices.

The Foundation’s value proposition is rooted in our purpose and mission, which is not replicated by any other financial institution available to Methodists in Georgia. The Foundation’s purpose is to partner with Georgia-based Methodist congregations and organizations in direct support of the ministries and mission of the church. In this way, the Foundation is a true ministry partner.

Yes. Three members of the Foundation’s staff are dedicated to providing services for our investment clients. In addition, the Foundation partners with Wespath Institutional Investments, which manages the I Series of funds and provides institutional investment services through shared and tenured Wespath investment team members. The Wespath team exhibits considerable expertise, and their leadership team brings the strength of capability and service to our clients. Importantly, Wespath Institutional Investments is a not-for-profit subsidiary of Wespath Benefits and Investments, a general agency of The United Methodist Church. In operation since 1908, Wespath manages one of the largest reporting faith-based pension funds in the world.

Yes. The Foundation establishes an IMA for each account.

BNY Mellon is responsible for safeguarding and administering Wespath Institutional Investments’ assets. BNY Mellon strikes a daily net asset value (NAV) for the funds and provides final fund-level returns on a monthly basis. In addition, Wespath has obtained GIPS (Global Investment Performance Standards) compliance and verification since January 1, 2016, and Wespath completed a SOC1 audit starting in 2021.

The Foundation’s staff and Board of Trustees monitor diligence (i.e., regulatory, compliance, staffing changes, operations, business continuity, cybersecurity, etc.) related to Wespath Institutional Investments on an ongoing basis. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees, through the Investment Committee, monitors the relationship with Wespath Institutional Investments through direct engagement. Members of the Foundation’s Investment Committee include individuals with investment expertise.

The definition of investment risk is unique to each client. Wespath Institutional Investments and the Foundation work closely with clients to understand and define any portfolio risks based on their goals and objectives. This includes managing the client’s spending policy, determining liquidity needs, and considering potential risk-related covenants. For each portfolio (managed account), a tracking error risk budget is determined from which the investment team decides how to allocate the risk budget to high potential strategies and passively manage market sectors with low return potential. There are both “qualitative” risks (e.g., macro, manager-specific, ESG, etc.) and “quantitative” (measurable) risks (tracking error). This approach is taken into account for both the Multiple Asset Fund strategy, and the Foundation’s Standard Investment Model strategy.

The Foundation and Wespath Institutional Investments charge a competitive and reasonable fee. Importantly, the Foundation and Wespath Institutional Investments do NOT have any hidden fees, and no additional fees are ever assessed. Fees assessed elevate and advance the ministries of the church through the Foundation and Wespath Institutional Investments in various ways, including through the Foundation’s educational and other resources.

Yes. The Foundation’s clients can access statements and fund performance information online by clicking here.

Yes. The Foundation offers a comprehensive performance report for each account. Additionally, members of the Foundation’s staff and members of the Wespath Institutional Investments team are available to meet with clients directly.

Yes. The Foundation offers complete accounting services for all Institutional Investment accounts, including individual fund accounting.

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