Client Testimonials

The Diocese of El Camino Real

The Rev. Canon Brian Nordwick, administrator of the Diocese of El Camino Real, opened a custom account for his Diocese in 2005, including several of its parishes. In addition to the standard reports and services, ECF has provided quarterly sub-accounting for each congregation in the diocesan investment fund.  ECF has also conducted several academies and workshops for the diocese, covering planned giving, endowment management, and capital campaigns.

“The diocese was searching for a new manager of its endowment fund awhile back. But we weren’t finding good people,” says Canon Nordwick. “That’s when we decided to take a look at ECF.”

The bottom line? ECF’s endowment management services team was attentive to the needs of the Diocese. “We like the fact that it’s State Street who’s investing our money. They’ve got a respectable track record and they’re socially responsible, too. We were very comfortable making the transition to ECF,” Brian continues.

The Diocese of El Camino Real receives monthly statements, quarterly reports, updates and summaries, as well as regularly scheduled telephone conferences with the endowment fund’s trustees. Better still, the congregations receive their own reports each quarter that break out their portion of the endowment fund. “The Diocese used to have to break those out themselves. Now, ECF sends the reports directly. That kind of specialized service has been a selling point for other congregatinos to join the fund,” he says.

Besides the personal attention his office receives from the ECF team, Brian says he’s most pleased with the performance of the SSgA investments.

Christ & Grace Church, Petersburg, VA

Cleve Wright is chairman of the endowment committee for Christ & Grace Church in Petersburg, Virginia. During the past five years, ECF has managed two accounts for the Richmond-area parish, as well as helped with rejuvenating its legacy society. Both accounts at Christ & Grace Church are in the ECF Pooled Funds. “When we placed our endowment fund and operating monies with ECF, we’d been with another firm for years,” says Wright. “We felt comfortable about what ECF is doing. They’re a reliable source for investing our endowment. The ECF staff is constantly giving me information and answering my questions.”