History
Despite the high cost of health care and the decline in membership in religious communities, NRRO grants have significantly improved the capacity of religious communities to fund retirement. Of 244 continually participating institutes, only six could project more than 80 percent retirement funding in 1985; currently 90 institutes project this level of funding. The number of institutes projecting less than 20 percent funding in 1985 has decreased from 116 to 20.
- In 1987, the cost of living for women and men religious was $9,948 and $10,908 respectively.
- The average cost of independent living for religious today is $27,213.
- Since 1988, the Retirement Fund for Religious has receivednearly $589 million in donations.
- The cost of living in 2008 for more than 35,000 women and men religious who are 70 or
older exceeded $1 billion.
Timeline
| 1972 |
U.S. legislators permit religious to enroll in Social Security. |
| 1981 |
Task Force on Religious Retirement surveys retirement financial crisis of religious institutes nationally.
National Association of Treasurers of Religious Institutes arises out of efforts of treasurers to discuss important financial concerns. |
| 1985 |
First religious retirement needs survey conducted by Arthur Andersen. |
| 1986 |
Wall Street Journal article and Arthur Andersen Report raise public awareness about retirement needs
Tri-Conference Retirement Office formed by CMSM, LCWR, and NCCB. |
| 1987 |
Lilly Endowment funds data collection and retirement planning services to all religious institutes |
| 1988 |
First Retirement Fund for Religious annual national appeal |
| 1994 |
Collaborative Viability Project begins training consultants to work as teams to assist religious institutes to assess viability and vitality. |
| 1995 |
Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) joins Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Conference of Major Superiors of Men and National Conference of Catholic Bishops in sponsorship of (renamed) National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO).
NCCB extends annual RFR appeal through 2007. |
| 2001 |
Cost of nursing home care in U.S. reported to have doubled since 1985. |
| 2002 |
Collaborative Viability Project explores new methods and tools for institutes' use in self-evaluation. |
| 2003 |
NRRO sponsors first of its kind meeting of representatives of Inter-Congregational Retirement projects in St. Louis. Participants include representatives of 12 projects. |
| 2004 |
Mercer Human Resources Consulting conducts actuarial study and assessment of need. Projects $8 billion unfunded liabilities by 2023.
NRRO publishes and distributes Planning for Retirement and Mission: A Best Practices Study, conducted by the Center of Applied Research in the Apostolate (chief researcher: Sister Mary Bendyna, RSM), and undertaken at the request of the Commission on Religious Life and Ministry.
NRRO sets up Internet ListServ for persons involved in ministry to elder religious. |
| 2005 |
NRRO begins e-mail publication Engaging Aging |
| 2006 |
U.S. bishops extend annual RFR appeal. |
| 2008 |
Total annual cost of support for elder religious in the United States exceeds $1 billion for the first time (based on an average cost of care of $35,000 per person for women and men religious age 70 and over) |
| 2009 |
NRRO adjusts distribution formula for Direct Care Assistance to calculate more objectively a religious institute’s assets available for retirement needs
NRRO replaces the Special Assistance and Supplemental Grants with a pilot project of Planning and Implementation Assistance designed to provide more intensive consultation services for significantly under-funded religious institutes
Supplemental Identified Need Grants are renamed as Management and Continuing Education Assistance |