To learn about impact investing as an option for philanthropists with few or no staff, Exponent Philanthropy spoke with Adam Seitchik and Bill Marvel of Arjuna Capital, Liz Michaels of Aperio Group, and Tim Coffin of Breckinridge Capital Advisors. What do they recommend for funders who are ready to consider impact investing? Exponent Philanthropy: Impact... Read More
The Needmor Fund believes that foundations express their values through more than just where they give their money. How they behave as organizations and use their assets also reflects those values. The fund first became aware of conflict between its mission and its investments in the 1980s. Here’s their story. As stockholders, we are the... Read More
An investment policy statement (IPS) should be the starting point and bedrock of an institution’s investment strategy. It constitutes a road map of how the institution plans to achieve and support its stated mission through its investment strategy. Including applicable IPS components Here is a list of common IPS components. Include only those items that... Read More
Some foundations (along with other institutional investors, such as pension plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments, and ultra-high-net-worth individual investors) are increasingly moving away from the traditional 60–40 asset allocation model, meaning 60% allocation to equities and 40% to fixed-income assets. Investors are moving away because, quite often in recent years, their return objectives have... Read More
Program related investments (PRIs) count toward a foundation’s distribution requirement as long as they meet the following criteria: They serve a charitable purpose—A PRI’s primary function must be to further the foundation’s charitable purpose. Income or appreciation of property is not a significant purpose—An investor solely interested in profit would not make an investment on... Read More
A forum for investors to shape the progression of national and global issues, socially responsible investing (SRI) traces as far back as the 1700s, when the Quaker Philadelphia Yearly Meeting prohibited members from buying or selling into the slave trade. John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, preached against engaging industries that harmed one’s neighbor. The... Read More