The WMU Foundation offers cost-effective, biblically-responsible investment management services to WMU organizations, churches, missions organizations, and other Christian groups. Client money will be handled in the same biblically-responsible investment strategy that we follow for our own endowments.
What does it mean when we say biblically-responsible investment management?
We believe how we invest and manage money matters to God. Therefore, the WMU Foundation avoids investments that exploit human vulnerability. Your investment will not support companies with a significant interest in adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or abortion as a means of birth control.
You may choose from several investment options to meet your organization’s objectives, and we provide detailed and personalized reporting. The WMU Foundation Investment Committee and our professional trust management partner carefully monitor our investment funds, allowing you to focus on your organization’s long-term goals.
We currently partner with over 25 client organizations to assist them with their investment objectives. The management fee we earn from this service is put back into the mission efforts of WMU and the WMU Foundation. By partnering with us through biblically-responsible investment management, you are also supporting the valuable missions work of WMU, so your money counts more than just once. Your investment matters.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Types of organizations that can use the WMU Foundation investment management services include:
Any state, regional, or local WMU organization
Baptist churches, church ministries, Baptist state or regional groups or conventions, Baptist educational or missionary organizations
Any nonprofit, charity, or ministry that partners with Woman’s Missionary Union or the WMU Foundation
The WMU Foundation offers cost-effective investment management to all clients for a tiered management fee starting at 1% of your account’s total value. There are no additional fees for additional sub-accounts, online access, reports or customer service. See our tiered fee schedule below for more details.
These fees cover:
Investment management
Investment performance reporting
Account and sub-account reporting
Transfers to and from accounts
Distributions (checks) from accounts
Secure online access to your account information
Statements are produced monthly and annually. There is no additional charge based on the number of sub-accounts, distributions by check or for transfers of assets to or from the accounts.
All fees are assessed in arrears on a monthly basis, based on the market value of the funds on the last day of the month.
TIERED FEE SCHEDULE
Market Value | Annual Fee
$0 – $2,500,000 | 1.0%
$2,500,001 – $10,000,000 | 0.8%
$10,000,001+ | 0.7%
Our trust management partner is Synovus Trust Company. They manage all of our investments as specified in our Investment Policy Statement. You can interact with Synovus quarterly via conference calls where you can ask any questions you may have. We offer a variety of allocation models to meet your specific needs. The WMU Foundation Investment Committee monitors the performance of these models and makes adjustments as market conditions indicate. The Foundation hosts a quarterly conference call for our clients to hear directly from Synovus regarding current market conditions and outlook. If you would like to have a meeting with Synovus and the WMU Foundation to ask questions specific to your investments, we are happy to arrange and host that meeting as well.
To the extent possible, the WMU Foundation does not invest in companies with a significant interest in adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or abortion as a means of birth control.
The WMU Foundation offers a variety of asset allocation models to meet your investment needs. To the extent possible, the WMU Foundation does not invest in companies with a significant interest in adult entertainment, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, or abortion as a means of birth control. Contact us for more information.
FIXED INCOME FUND
Objective: Current income and preservation of capital with some capital appreciation for intermediate-term investments.
Target Allocation: 100% Fixed Income and Cash Equivalent Securities
CONSERVATIVE INCOME FUND
Objective: Current income with some long-term capital appreciation for long-term investments.
Target Allocation: 70% Fixed Income and 30% Equity Securities
MODERATE INCOME FUND
Objective: Current income with some long-term capital appreciation for long-term investments.
Target Allocation: 60% Fixed Income and 40% Equity Securities
BALANCED FUND
Objective: Current income and long-term capital appreciation for long-term investments.
Target Allocation: 50% Fixed Income and 50% Equity Securities
GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
Objective: Long-term capital appreciation and current income for long-term investments.
Target Allocation: 40% Fixed Income and 60% Equity Securities
GROWTH FUND
Objective: Long-term capital appreciation with some current income for long-term investments.
Target Allocation: 30% Fixed Income and 70% Equity Securities
EQUITY FUND
Objective: Long-term capital appreciation for long-term investments.
Target Allocation: 100% Equity Securities
Yes, you can have separate account statements and reports for each sub-account that you designate. These can be invested in different asset allocation models as needed.
You should select an allocation model based on your income needs, the life span of the fund you’re investing, and your tolerance for risk. We are available to consult with you on this selection and will provide as much information as we can, but the final decision is up to you.
Yes, you can add funds to existing accounts or create new accounts at any time.
Yes. We report this money as “Assets Held for Others.” You retain total control and “ownership” of the money. You are free to make withdrawals at any time, and you can close your account with us by giving a 30-day notice. Please understand that it may be harmful to invest in the market for short periods of time due to the potential for short-term fluctuation.
The fee structure was very transparent and very competitive. The other thing that was very important to us was having someone manage our money who understood our mission and moral priorities and would respect that stance. After hearing the Foundation’s approach and the way fees are turned around and put back into missions, it was a no brainer. Our experience has been so positive.
