Catholic Order of Foresters

Bringing Catholic Values to Life

ABOUT:
We are a Catholic fraternal benefit society dedicated to helping members achieve financial security through life insurance while supporting the Catholic community through fraternal outreach.

OUR HISTORY:
Our commitment to caring began on May 24, 1883 at Holy Family Parish in Chicago, Illinois. At that time, impoverished immigrants streamed into the United States seeking a better life. When families lost their breadwinner, friends and neighbors typically collected money to assist survivors financially

Those collecting money eventually formed associations, generally based on religious or ethnic backgrounds. Often these societies became focal points for community life. Forty-two men saw a need in their community, so they decided to financially protect their families by each placing $1 on a wooden desk to be used to protect any family in need. This desk resides in the Memorabilia Room at the Home Office. COF grew from this foundation and, for more than a century, has aided individuals, families and communities in need.

The name "Catholic Order of Foresters" refers to us being called to care for our Catholic community. As a forester cares for the forests and animals, we must care for our brothers and sisters in need.

TODAY:
Each member holds an insurance certificate and eligibility for COF’s member benefits, just one of many things that sets us apart from other life insurance companies. By offering members fraternal benefits, including scholarships, we bring Catholic values to life.

We have more than 95,000 adult and youth members nationwide. As a fraternal benefit insurance society, we operate under a representative system and hold a National Convention every four years. (Learn more about this process here.) COF is licensed in 38 states and Washington, D.C. Our product portfolio includes Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life, and Annuities.

Members can be confident in the ease and security of doing business with COF. Our website allows members to view policy information in real time and pay bills securely online. All COF agents are trained in e-App, our digital life insurance application. Members and those interested in learning more about COF can communicate with us via phone, email, web form or text message, knowing we will be there when you need us most.

Our Home Office is located in Naperville, Illinois. The award-winning team here is comprised of more than 80 individuals. The team has earned a LOMA Excellence in Education Award, COF earned a 2017 Esteemed Partner Award from Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet, and Catholic Forester (COF’s bi-monthly magazine) received Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX) in 2017 and 2018.

INVESTING WITH CATHOLIC VALUES:
Catholic values are the foundation of our organization.

Our Catholic faith provides a foundation that contributes to the long-term strategy and successful track record of the management of Catholic Order of Foresters’ assets.

Catholic Order of Foresters’ Investment Policy Statement mandates the invested assets of the organization be managed in a manner that is consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. In order to uphold the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Investment Management Team follows guidelines and is restricted from investing in companies that:

- Participate in abortion
- Manufacture contraceptives
- Engage in cloning and embryonic stem-cell research
- Provide direct funding to Planned Parenthood
- Derive a majority of revenue from gaming or pornography

We generally avoid companies that publicly advocate non-Catholic initiatives.
We remain consistent with the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.
We provide financial solutions to Roman Catholic Institutions.

The Investment Management Team works diligently using available resources to ensure on a best efforts basis that members' funds are managed within the guidelines.

In addition to restricting certain investments, our Catholic faith guides our team to provide financing solutions to various Roman Catholic institutions. For more than 30 years, Catholic Order of Foresters (COF) has provided flexible financing terms for diocese, parishes, schools, and religious orders. In many cases, the Catholic institution has exhausted all other options, and the financing from our organization has allowed for the continuation of its mission while offering a suitable investment opportunity for our members. Many long-standing relationships have been built within the Catholic community through this lending initiative.

Our Catholic faith will continue to guide COF's leadership and team as we strive to fulfill our mission as a Catholic fraternal benefit society.