DALLAS
As part of the celebration of GuideStone Funds’ 20th anniversary, the Southern Baptist ministry formally announced its Global Impact Fund. The new Fund, available to pastors in the Church Retirement Plan and for institutional and personal investors, provides the opportunity to own investments in organizations that seek to protect life, promote human dignity and enhance the efficiency and accessibility of life-sustaining resources.
“GuideStone Financial Resources is a 103-year-old Christian entity that was founded to support pastors and their widows,” GuideStone Chief Investment Officer David S. Spika said. “As a result, supporting the growth of God’s Kingdom is at the heart of everything we do. Every day, we’re focused on that mission of serving those who serve the Lord.
“The Global Impact Fund aligns with that objective. We want to make sure that our investments are actively promoting the growth of God’s Kingdom, that they’re actively promoting the sanctity of life and the spreading of the Gospel.”
Dating back decades, GuideStone has screened its investments, something it continued to do when GuideStone Funds were launched in August 2001. GuideStone does not invest in any company publicly recognized as being in the alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography or abortion industries, or any company whose products, services or activities are publicly recognized as being incompatible with the moral and ethical posture of GuideStone. About four years ago, GuideStone formalized its efforts into advocacy with companies, which has allowed the ministry to join the front lines of advocating against opioid misuse in the United States as well as globally, and advocate around issues including child labor.
“We have always affirmed our faith-based approach with the investments we’ve excluded in our other funds,” Spika said. “Through our new impact Fund and enhanced process, we are underscoring our commitment to that approach while proactively investing in securities and organizations committed to making a difference in the world.
“We believe impact investing is the next frontier for our organization. It allows us to take the next step through our product offerings to actively invest in organizations that do good across the globe while we promote the growth of God’s Kingdom.”
The Fund’s holdings, which range across a wide array of important sectors of the economy — including technology, health care and consumer businesses — showcase organizations and investments that are foundationally centered around philosophies of the sanctity of life and spreading the Gospel, human dignity and advancement, and the stewardship of God’s creation.
Investment examples within the Fund include a mortgage-backed security comprised of home mortgages for women with low-to-moderate incomes, a multinational organization that seeks to provide underprivileged communities abroad with greater access to technology, and a municipal bond backing a large community college district in which two-thirds of the student body comes from a low-income, food or housing insecure background. In addition, the Fund owns bonds that fund Christian schools and universities.
“We believe this new Fund offers one additional choice for our participants and investors who are looking for investments that align with their values,” GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins said. “As we seek to live out our vision to be lifelong partners with our participants in enhancing their financial security, we constantly are evaluating new products that meet the expectations of our participants. This new Fund gives investors an additional choice as they consider how best to steward the resources entrusted to them.”
For more information on the Fund, visit: https://www.guidestonefunds.com/About-Us/Impact-Investing
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Roy Hayhurst is the director of denominational and public relations at GuideStone.
Media Contact
Roy Hayhurst
Director of Denominational and Public Relations Services
GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention®
Roy.Hayhurst@GuideStone.org | (214) 720-2141
Mutual Fund investing involves risk, including the possible loss of money.
Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Funds invested in accordance with the faith-based investment restrictions of GuideStone Financial Resources may not be able to take advantage of certain investment opportunities due to these restrictions, which may adversely affect investment performance.
There can be no guarantee that any strategy (risk management or otherwise) will be successful. All investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss.
You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the GuideStone Funds before investing. A prospectus with this and other information about the Funds may be obtained by calling 1-844-GS-FUNDS (1-844-473-8637) or downloading one at GuideStoneFunds.com/Funds. It should be read carefully before investing.
Fund holdings are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.
Impact Investing: The Fund’s impact investing criteria could cause it to perform differently compared to funds that do not apply such criteria. Successful application of the Fund’s impact investing strategy will depend upon the Adviser’s and each sub-adviser’s skill in properly identifying and analyzing impact investing issues. Investments made may not generate the amount of positive impact that was intended when the investment was made.
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