The think-tank, New Economics Foundation (nef) is compiling an inventory of investment opportunities in the UK and EU for charitable foundations to connect investment of their endowment to their charitable mission. The research will focus on the opportunities that may exist (or that could be created) for investment in companies, activities and products that can be directly connected to foundations' charitable purposes or mission - and are likely also to provide both a financial return at or very near to 'mainstream' investment returns alongside an acceptable level of risk.
The inventory will evaluate these investment products and classify them according to a framework that will take into account factors such as social and financial return, risk, liquidity, and fit with categories of charitable mission. The research will consider possible solutions to the challenges to such investment that continue to exist. Regulatory restrictions, practical issues of risk and liquidity, the lack of a market place, trustee attitudes, and resistance from financial advisers have all been identified as potential barriers to such investment by foundations.
The report will be launched in September 2007. To contribute to the inventory, please contact Jessica Brown Jessica.Brown@neweconomics.org.
