Catholic Order of Foresters

What Catholic Order of Foresters does

Catholic Order of Foresters is a Catholic fraternal benefit society founded in 1883 in Chicago and now headquartered in Naperville, Illinois. The society provides life insurance and fixed annuity products to Catholic families and individuals in 46 states and the District of Columbia, complementing its insurance portfolio with mission-aligned programs such as the Catholic Lending Program (which has originated over $205 million in loans to parishes, schools, and Catholic institutions since 1977), the Fraternal Legacy Rider (which donates 5% of policy face amount, up to $250,000, to Catholic charities on death), scholarships, prescription savings via ScriptSave, and fraternal outreach programs including Feeding God's Children, Adopt a Seminarian, and Spirituality Tap-In.

The technology footprint is built around the proprietary e-App digital life insurance application used by all licensed agents, a member-facing Financial Wellness Portal with interactive budgeting and retirement calculators, and standard web infrastructure including Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and Siteimprove. Core products include whole life (Genesis Life, Basic Value Life, Modified Whole Life), term life (Flexible Premium Life with Annual Renewable Term and level term options), universal life (Secure4Life single premium, Value4Life), and fixed annuities (ADVANTAGE Flex, ADVANTAGE Plus).

The society operates as a private, member-owned not-for-profit under Illinois state regulation as a fraternal benefit society. Revenue is generated primarily from recurring life insurance premiums, annuity deposits, and net investment income ($54M in 2025), with total 2025 revenue of approximately $112.1M supported by $4.985B of insurance in force. Distribution is exclusively through licensed insurance agents and the Agent Locator tool; there is no direct-to-consumer online sales channel. Member acquisition is supported by Catholic-community programs and a media partnership with Relevant Radio. Catholic Order of Foresters carries an A- financial strength rating from KBRA and a B++ rating from AM Best, both effective November 2025.

Name

Catholic Order of Foresters

Legal name

Catholic Order of Foresters

Website

https://catholicforester.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Catholic Order of Foresters is a 140-year-old Catholic fraternal benefit society headquartered in Naperville, Illinois that provides whole life, term life, universal life, and fixed annuity products to roughly 83,000 Catholic members across 46 states plus DC. Distribution is exclusively through licensed agents using the society's e-App digital application, augmented by a Catholic Lending Program and fraternal outreach programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fraternal Life Insurance

NAICS

Direct Life Insurance Carriers (524113), Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411), Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers (52412)

SIC

Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro primary industry

Participating (Dividend) Whole Life Insurance (FSAIABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whole Life Insurance (FSAIABAA), Variable Universal Life (VUL) Insurance (FSAIABAD), Non-Participating Whole Life Insurance (FSAIABAJ), Annuity & Insurance-Based Retirement Solutions Advisory (FSAEABAH)

Keywords

• Fraternal life insurance
• Fixed annuity products
• Whole life insurance
• Term life insurance
• Universal life insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Life Insurance Premiums: Catholic Order of Foresters generates revenue primarily through term life, whole life, and universal life insurance premiums. Products include Genesis Life, Basic Value Life (whole life), Flexible Premium Life (term life), and Secure4Life/Value4Life (universal life).
2. Annuity Products: Fixed annuity products including ADVANTAGE Flex (flexible contributions) and ADVANTAGE Plus (single premium). Annuities accumulate funds on a tax-deferred basis and provide income during retirement.
3. Payment Processing: Payment processing through partnership with Simply Easier Payments for credit/debit card and e-check payments. Credit/debit card payments incur a fee while e-check payments are free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Catholic Order of Foresters sells life insurance and fixed annuity products to Catholic individuals and families through licensed agents nationwide. Its insurance portfolio includes whole life (Genesis Life, Basic Value Life), term life (Flexible Premium Life), universal life (Secure4Life, Value4Life), and fixed deferred annuities (ADVANTAGE Flex, ADVANTAGE Plus), complemented by fraternal benefits, scholarships, and the Catholic Lending Program for institutions.

Product overview

Catholic Order of Foresters is a Catholic fraternal benefit society offering a comprehensive portfolio of life insurance and annuity products designed to protect families while supporting Catholic values. The core product portfolio includes Whole Life insurance (Genesis Life and Basic Value Life), Term Life insurance (Flexible Premium Life), and Universal Life insurance (Secure4Life and Value4Life), along with fixed annuity products (ADVANTAGE Flex and ADVANTAGE Plus). These insurance and annuity products are complemented by the Fraternal Legacy Rider, which provides additional death benefit to Catholic charities at no cost. The organization also offers member benefits including scholarships (Fraternal Scholarship, Educational Award, TAP, REAP), prescription savings through ScriptSave WellRx, the Financial Wellness Portal, and fraternal outreach programs like Feeding God's Children and the Matching Funds Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Genesis Life: Whole life insurance product offering flexible premium options, cash value accumulation, and policy dividends.
• Basic Value Life
• Flexible Premium Life
• Secure4Life
• Value4Life
• ADVANTAGE Flex
• ADVANTAGE Plus
• Fraternal Legacy Rider

Products and services

• Genesis Life Whole life insurance policy with flexible premium options including 10-pay, 15-pay, 20-pay or custom duration, featuring guaranteed cash value accumulation, policy dividends, and the Fraternal Legacy Rider available at no additional cost. Designed for Catholic individuals and families seeking permanent coverage with living benefits.
• Basic Value Life Whole life insurance policy designed for final expense coverage or lower amount of coverage, providing stability with a participating policy eligible for annual dividends. Targeted at Catholic families seeking smaller, affordable permanent coverage.
• Flexible Premium Life Term life insurance solution with flexible premium and adjustable features for low-cost death benefit protection. Offers various term durations including Annual Renewable Term, 10-, 15-, 20-, 30-year terms, and Return of Premium options.
• Secure4Life Single premium universal life policy requiring one premium payment, building guaranteed cash value that increases annually and providing death benefit protection for lifetime coverage.
• Value4Life Universal life policy designed to optimize cash value growth with competitive interest rates and flexible premium options adjustable to fit lifestyle needs.
• ADVANTAGE Flex Flexible premium deferred fixed annuity allowing regular contributions on a periodic or non-periodic basis, earning a competitive rate with an option to receive guaranteed regular income in retirement.
• ADVANTAGE Plus Single premium deferred fixed annuity offering the highest rate among Catholic Order of Foresters annuity products, ideal for those who have received a lump sum and want guaranteed steady income during retirement on a tax-deferred basis.
• Catholic Lending Program Proprietary lending program initiated in 1977 directed toward Roman Catholic schools and institutions, originating over $205 million in construction and continuation loans for parishes, schools, and Catholic colleges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members can save over $1.5 million through ScriptSave prescription discount program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Simply Easier PaymentsminorOthers · 1 January 2026Payment processing partner handling online single payments through secure login for credit/debit cards and e-checks. Credit/debit card payments incur a fee; e-check payments are free.
• KBRA (Kroll Bond Rating Agency)minorOthers · 1 November 2025Rating agency providing A- financial strength rating for Catholic Order of Foresters effective November 2025.
• AM BestminorOthers · 1 November 2025Rating agency providing B++ financial strength rating for Catholic Order of Foresters effective November 2025.
• VeraCruz Advisory, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Financial advisory firm with over 10 years of dealings with Catholic Order of Foresters on community-based organization financings and multimillion-dollar structures.
• ScriptSave (Medical Security Card Company, LLC)minorOthers · 1 January 2025Prescription discount program administered by Medical Security Card Company, LLC, Tucson, AZ. Offers savings on prescriptions with over $1.5 million saved by members to date.
• Relevant RadiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2023Media partnership enabling tax-free donations to Relevant Radio through the Fraternal Legacy Rider. COF agents promote Relevant Radio and COF products through radio outreach.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Knights of Columbus: The largest Catholic fraternal benefit society in the world, offering life insurance, annuities, and disability income to Catholic families. Directly comparable as a faith-based fraternal insurer with similar product mix, member-funded structure, and Catholic values-aligned investment philosophy.
• Modern Woodmen of America: Fraternal benefit society offering life insurance, annuities, and fraternal benefits to members nationwide. Comparable as a fraternal benefit society operating with similar membership-driven distribution, life insurance/annuity product portfolio, and community outreach programs.
• Thrivent Financial: Fraternal benefit society serving Christians with life insurance, annuities, and wealth management, with explicit faith-based investment screening. Comparable as a faith-aligned fraternal insurer with values-based investing, life and annuity products, and member benefit programs.
• WoodmenLife: Fraternal benefit society providing life insurance and retirement products to members with community-focused programs. Comparable as a fraternal insurer with similar agent-based distribution model, life and annuity offerings, and member/community benefit structure.
• Royal Neighbors of America: Fraternal benefit society issuing life insurance and annuity products primarily to women. Comparable as a fraternal life insurance and annuity issuer with member benefits, scholarships, and community programs analogous to COF's fraternal model.
• Foresters Financial: Fraternal benefit society offering life insurance, annuities, and member benefits with a focus on family well-being. Comparable as a fraternal life/annuity insurer with similar fraternal membership model and member benefit programs.
• Catholic Financial Life: Catholic fraternal benefit society offering life insurance and annuities to Catholic members. Direct competitor with nearly identical value proposition — Catholic faith alignment, fraternal structure, and life insurance/annuity product set.

Broad incumbents

• Mutual of Omaha: Large mutual insurer offering life insurance, annuities, and Medicare supplement products nationwide. Comparable as a mutual life/annuity carrier competing in the same product categories but with broader secular positioning and far greater scale.
• New York Life: Large mutual life insurer offering whole life, term life, universal life, and annuities through a career-agent network. Comparable in product set and agent distribution model, though secular and far larger scale than COF.
• Northwestern Mutual: Large mutual financial services company offering life insurance, disability income, and annuities through a captive financial advisor network. Comparable in life insurance and annuity products and advisor-driven distribution, but secular and at substantially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cofoutreach

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Catholic Order of Foresters