"We do not exist for ourselves alone, and it is only when we are fully convinced of this fact that we begin to love ourselves properly and thus also love others." Thomas Merton's words carry greater meaning for many this time of year. The 20th century Trappist monk, Franciscan philosopher and social activist expressed them in one of his most notable works, "No Man Is An Island." Merton's spirituality was forged while he was a professor at St. Bonaventure University during The Great Depression. There, he spent time with mentors Thomas Plassman and Father Irenaeus Herscher, O.F.M.. What are Merton's words, or the word "love" doing on a venture capital fund's website? Brown and White Ventures was formed as an expression of support for the university where Merton taught. To appeal to its most likely investors (alumni) the fund seeks investments that apply Franciscan values to its choices. Portfolio companies—their founders and teams, their products and services—must seek to do well by doing well for others. Why would a new venture capital fund establish such a threshold? It appears to be one that could limit the fund's ability to do its most important job: make its limited partners as much money as possible? The fund finds it be be a benefit, driven by the passion of those involved who wish to contribute to the world, beyond their bottom line. Brown and White Ventures found this in KAV's designs on saving lives, through its helmet design. There is also its commitment to being the only cycling helmet maker in the U.S., a design that creates domestic jobs. GreenIRR and Paradigm Emissions Technologies share the mission of reducing carbon emissions, through accurate measurement and reporting and systematic reduction of the environmental hazard. In miRecule, we watch with great anticipation as its teams develop RNA therapy innovations that may help anyone receive more powerfully-directed treatment for significant disease. Hello Package deepens security, reliability, safety and efficiency in the service it provides to the package delivery and property development sectors. Finta's leveraging of AI and startup financing expands opportunity for any entrepreneur, creating ripples well beyond its Saas. To improve citizens' experience with the legal system, and make stronger legal counsel available for all, Counsel Stack built a citator to most effectively find accurate notations of legal precedent that attorneys and law firms may deliver to the courts. Our society's social safety net is unified through wellconnected. It allows nonprofits, public agencies and funders to best serve people most in need. And in each founder and CEO of the fund's portfolio, Brown and White Ventures sees in their actions, and hears in their words, Merton's outlook, and the values many of our limited partners manifested through their experience in the Enchanted Mountains. Being well-intentioned in venture capital investment could be considered admirable, or, something less. Brown and White Ventures believes in this ethos as much as the fund's co-founders do. It matches their acknowledgment of the fund's commitment to deliver at least ten percent of its net profits to St. Bonaventure University as a charitable contribution.