At Mercy Health, we believe we have a responsibility to manage our investment portfolio in a manner that is consistent with our Mission and Values. We strive to ensure our ministry's long-term financial success while remaining true to Catholic social teaching and our commitment to the poor and under-served. To achieve our goals, we apply social screens to our investments, and we engage in shareholder activism and proxy voting.
Social Screens
Mercy Health seeks reasonable financial returns within acceptable risk tolerances and seeks to support organizations whose business practices, goals and products are consistent with the charitable and religious philosophy of the women's religious communities that serve as our co-sponsors.
Our investment managers are encouraged to seek companies that actively promote social and environmental well-being. Mercy Health does not directly invest in companies that derive a significant portion of their revenues from practices or services that are contrary to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
Shareholder Activism and Proxy Voting
We recognize the importance of exercising our shareholder rights to raise issues of social and ethical concern with those companies in which we hold stock. Therefore, from time to time, Mercy Health may elect to file a shareholder resolution or to collaborate with other shareholders in the filing of a proxy resolution.
To further the teachings of the Church and better the world in which we live, Mercy Health has made impact investments, which integrate the pursuit of ESG initiatives with financial returns. Some of Mercy Health’s impact investments have curbed climate change and created jobs in low-income neighborhoods.