CAF launches ethical investment guide

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has launched a new guide detailing the range of socially responsible investment options available to charities. It outlines the risks involved and discusses how charities can exert power in the investment market.

Ron Green, Senior Manager, Charity Financial Services at CAF, said: "In the past, ethical investing has been a real dilemma for charities: should they sacrifice fund performance in order to ensure they are not investing in companies whose activities conflict with their mission and beliefs?

"But the situation today couldn't be more different. Indeed, figures from F&C show their strictly ethical Stewardship Income and Growth Funds have historically been less volatile than the FTSE All-Share Index." Ethical investments have grown from just under £1.2 billion in 1997 to more than £5 billion in the first quarter of this year.

Invest today for a better tomorrow: a guide to ethical investing for charities is available free of charge. To request a copy, visit www.cafonline.org/ethicalguide or call the CAF Investments Team on Tel: 08702 643 296.