For almost 200 years, the Sisters of Mercy have been dedicated to addressing society’s most pressing needs. Inspired by the visionary leadership of Catherine McAuley in the 1800s, the Sisters established themselves as advocates for social justice. This commitment motivated the strategic investment of the Sisters’ retirement funds in alignment with their Critical Concerns: the earth, immigration, nonviolence, racism, and women.
Today, that legacy is carried forward by Mercy Investment Services (Mercy), the socially responsible investment program for the Sisters of Mercy. As an investor in Community Vision for nearly 15 years through Mercy Partnership Fund, its community investing program, Mercy shares a deep commitment to transformative social justice.
Mercy’s investment with Community Vision began in 2010. Sister Corinne Florek, the Director of the Mercy Partnership Fund at the time, was familiar with the local impact of Community Vision in underserved California communities. With a strong presence of Sisters in Northern California especially, investing with Community Vision seemed like a natural fit.
“The Sisters of Mercy were among the early impact investors,” said Sarah Smith, Director of the Mercy Partnership Fund, one of Mercy’s several impact-focused funds. “Over forty years ago, they were the ones making low-interest loans to emerging community development corporations and supporting local service organizations.”
Our partnership has deepened over the years as the Sisters have witnessed the transformative impact of their investment through Community Vision’s commitment to addressing economic and racial inequities. Initiatives like the Bay Area Racial Equity Fund—which was created out of response to the COVID-19 pandemic and provided 0% financing to BIPOC-led nonprofits tackling urgent, pandemic-driven challenges—stand out to Mercy as an example.
Amanda LePoire, Director of Communications at Mercy, highlighted the synergy between the two organizations. “Community Vision pivots to meet community needs, resonating with how the Sisters have historically lived out their mission. They would see a need and immediately consider how to address it.”
Looking ahead, Mercy remains excited about the ongoing partnership. For those considering impact investing, Smith shared, “It’s been a no-brainer for us for decades. There are so many opportunities today, from making deposits in community development credit unions to investing with organizations like Community Vision. The impact of these investments is enormous. We encourage others to follow the lead of the Good Sisters who put their values into action.”
