The Foundation has served Michigan congregations since its inception in 1926. We provide value-aligned, socially responsible investment funds that allow investors to choose a specific asset allocation mix of equities and fixed income or a balanced fund. We partner with highly respected investment advisors and world-renowned fund managers to offer investors exceptional, value-aligned investment opportunities. We actively participate in shareholder engagement and proxy voting which adheres to a principle-centered approach and sustainable investing.

The Foundation offers professional investment management as part of our comprehensive stewardship ministry. We pool funds entrusted to us by congregations and related ministries. We retain professional fund managers at a fee structure that only the very largest churches could obtain individually. We believe that it is critical for congregations to make a witness through their investments. We recognize our stewardship responsibility to ensure that Foundation funds are invested consistent with the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church. Accordingly, we require all our fund managers to screen investments using a rigorous process that considers products, environmental impact, community relationship, and corporate citizenship.

Extensive diversification is achieved through the use of five separate equity managers, each with a dedicated style of investing.

The Foundation is a not-for-profit ministry. As such, we do not serve stockholders, but our constituents. We do not need to maintain branch offices nor do we employ a sales force. We keep our costs low and pass through the savings to our clients. We come alongside local church leaders and congregations to help further your ministry. Beyond investment counsel, we offer a wide variety of complimentary services to churches, including financial stewardship consultation, planned giving programs, and estate and financial planning workshops. All these services are provided without charge to our constituent churches.

The Foundation pools church funds in the UMF Collective Investment Funds of Michigan LLC to create a critical mass to be invested. We have negotiated an all-inclusive fee structure of 1% (100 basis points) charged annually for clients with investment accounts totaling less than $1M. For clients with investment accounts in excess of $1M, but less than $3M, we offer a 0.2% (20 basis points) rebate. For clients with accounts totaling $3M or more we increase the rebate to 0.3% (30 basis points). These fees include ALL costs for management, custody, and transactions. An additional administrative fee of $50 is assessed per account annually.

The majority of our investment accounts are endowment funds that share the stated goal of long-term growth as well as current income. Accordingly, we recommend a significant portion of assets be invested in common stocks along with a portion in fixed income assets. The UMF Collective Investment Fund of Michigan LLC offers complete asset allocation discretion for each investor. Investors may select any percentage combination between the Stock Fund, Bond Fund, and Money Market Investment Account. We are frequently asked to keep the church’s account “balanced,” in which case we maintain the assets in the Balanced Fund, currently a blend of 60% Stock Fund and 40% Bond Fund. The Foundation has several resources that can assist a committee in determining asset allocations. Check our publications and stewardship resources for more information. In addition, we offer individual consultations. Please contact us for more information.

No, we serve churches and ministry organizations which share common bonds, convictions, or heritage with the Wesleyan movement.  In fact, the Foundation historically has served a broader market than exclusively United Methodist.

Foundation accounts are demand accounts and valued weekly. Requests for funds are processed weekly (account closing may take a few extra days.) We maintain liquid reserves to provide for flexible access to your funds.

We have retained Rockefeller Financial LLC to serve as a discretionary investment advisor. Their fiduciary role is to manage the entire portfolio in accordance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. BlackRock provides the actual security selection and executes the necessary trades to accomplish the stated goals of the Stock Fund through five diversified equity strategies. In addition, BlackRock actively manages the fixed income positions for half of the Bond Fund. The fixed income assets for the other half of the Bond Fund are selected by Rockefeller. Both BlackRock and Rockefeller monitor the practices of the several fund managers to ascertain their compliance with their disciplines. Axiom Wealth Partners serve as representatives of Rockefeller, provide linkage between BlackRock, Rockefeller Financial LLC, and the Foundation, and communicate directly with Foundation senior management and the Board Investment Committee.

Statements are available monthly.

The Foundation offers a money market fund that provides an institutional rate of return, often superior to similar money market funds. We do not charge a mark-up fee for The Money Market Fund. We only pass through the costs incurred.

The bond fund is composed equally of two distinct portfolio strategies that combine to offer a dynamic and diversified approach:

Fundamental Core Fixed Income

• seeks total return derived from coupon interest and capital appreciation
• consists primarily of investment grade corporate bonds
• may also invest in U.S. government securities, asset-backed and mortgage-backed bonds
• managed actively with a preference for the shortest maturity and highest quality rating while striving to maximize total return
• expected to have a duration of two to five years

Core Plus Fixed Income

• allocates assets to investment grade corporate bonds, government securities, preferred securities, and taxable municipal issues
• may also take minimal positions in real estate investment trusts (REITS) and high yield bonds
• a laddered portfolio with tactical investments at different points in the yield curve
• currently, overweight in securities with a maturity of under seven years

The Stock Fund is comprised of five best-in-class equity strategies. Each strategy is managed by a top-rated, highly experienced asset management team. Together, they create a value-aligned, diversified global portfolio.

International Equity Strategy 

Seeks long-term capital appreciation.  They invest primarily in equity securities of large capitalization companies domiciled in developed countries and markets outside of the United States. 

Large-Capitalization Core Strategy 

Seeks long-term capital appreciation. They invest primarily in equity securities of large-capitalization companies domiciled in the United States.

Large-Capitalization Growth Strategy 

Seeks long-term capital appreciation. They invest primarily in growth-oriented equity securities of large capitalization companies domiciled in the United States.

Large-Capitalization Value Strategy 

Seeks long-term capital appreciation and current income. They invest primarily in dividend-paying securities of large-capitalization companies domiciled in the United States.

Mid-Capitalization Value Strategy 

Seeks capital appreciation and, secondarily, income. They typically invest at least 80% of their assets in equity securities of medium-capitalization companies. They focus on the securities of companies with long term growth potential, a high probability of becoming more profitable, or a current stock value likely to rise.