About Us

1810

The Trustees of Donations to the Protestant Episcopal Church (TOD) is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to receive and manage property in support of “a Bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church” and of Episcopal institutions within the Commonwealth.

1810

1854

The TOD agrees to hold in trust the deeds to church buildings, rectories and parish houses within the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Parishes remain responsible for property upkeep.

1854

1916

The Bishop and Trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Massachusetts (B&T) is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to receive and manage property in support of an “extension of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Massachusetts.”

1916

1923

The number of trust funds managed by the TOD and the B&T for the benefit of diocesan parishes and institutions grows to 100.

1923

1939

The Diocesan Investment Trust (DIT) is established by the B&T to provide diocesan parishes and institutions, including the TOD, with a long term investment vehicle for their endowment and trust assets.

1939

1940

The DIT begins operations as a balanced fund with a principal preservation oriented combination of stocks, bonds and cash. Its investments are selected by a subcommittee of the B&T which includes members of the TOD.

1940

1941

The number of DIT participants exceeds 100, the number of trust funds stands at 195 and the value of the DIT’s assets exceeds $5 million.

1941

1953

The number of trust funds grows to 250.

1953

1962-1964

The TOD and B&T divest themselves of church real estate. Parishes regain the deeds to their properties.

1962-1964

1965

In recognition of their parallel functions, especially in the wake of their real estate divestitures, the TOD and the B&T agree to merge. The surviving corporation adopts the TOD’s name and retains the 1810 charter.

1965

1966

The number of DIT participants grows to 144, the number of trust funds managed by the TOD exceeds 350 and the value of DIT assets approaches $30 million.

1966

1967

The TOD ends its twenty-eight-year-old practice of selecting the DIT’s investments. While retaining responsibility for investment policy, the trustees delegate the task of selecting securities to an outside investment manager.

1967

1972

The TOD increases the number of investment options available to DIT participants from one fund (a balanced fund) to three funds: a balanced fund, a bond fund and a stock fund.

1972

1973

The TOD establishes a Social Responsibility in Investments (SRI) standing committee charged with keeping the DIT’s investments “mainly if not wholly concentrated on companies whose social policies and products are acceptable to most, if not all, members of the Episcopal Church.”

1973

1977

Waning interest in the DIT’s thirty-eight-year-old balanced fund leads to its closure and participants consolidate their holdings in the bond and stock funds.

1977

1985

The TOD joins with other members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) to establish a dialogue with companies doing business in Apartheid South Africa.

1985

1986

A South Africa Free Fund is created and remains available to DIT participants until the collapse of apartheid in 1993.

1986

1994

The TOD eliminates tobacco companies from the DIT’s holdings.

1994

1999

The number of DIT participants stands at 150, the number of trust funds grows to 391 and the value of the DIT’s assets exceeds $120 million.

1999

2009

On the eve of its bicentennial year, the TOD employed seven investment companies to manage assets held in approximately 800 separate accounts with a combined market value of roughly $160 million, the number of DIT participants has risen to 153 and the number of trust funds stands at 395.

2009

2015

The TOD launched a Fossil Free Fuel Fund, offering participants a passively managed investment vehicle. The fund screens out companies deriving more than 5% of their revenues from fossil fuel production and allocates 5% of its assets to companies that produce alternative energy, green building, energy efficiency, and pollution prevention technologies.

2016

The TOD currently employs eight investment companies to manage assets held in approximately 800 separate accounts with a combined market value of roughly $220 million, the number of DIT participants has risen to 158 and the number of trust funds stands at 397. jkahsd fjklh askldfhj kljashdf kljhasd fjklhs adkjfh kljsadh fjklh asdfjklh klasjdhf kljashd fkljhas kdlfhj kjlasdhf kjlhasd fjklhasd kfhl

2016

2021

Responding to the financial challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trustees of Donation authorized a one time additional 1% distribution from trust funds, to aid worshipping communities to responding and recovering from the pandemic.