Responsible investment

More and more focus is placed on charities and how they invest; for example the Charity Commission for England and Wales is undertaking a consultation looking at possible hurdles to charities adopting a responsible investment approach.

At the same time under legislation being introduced in the next few months (EU Action Plan on Sustainable Finance – which still applies even in a post Brexit Northern Ireland) that require all investors to select their ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)  preferences. For trustees with fiduciary responsibility, understanding what ESG factors are and how responsible investment works will be an important factor in their investment decision making.

For many charity investors historically the decision has been taken to avoid sectors which they feel do not align with their principles. For many that still feels the right thing to do. However the argument that investors are able to effect more change by remaining invested in companies and engaging with them on environmental, social and governance matters has gained more traction.  

If you would like to know more about investing your charity funds responsibly then please come along to a special breakfast seminar on Responsible Investment on the 26 March  which is being facilitated by Gemma Woodward, Director of Responsible Investment, Quilter Cheviot. 

If you would like to know more about this topic before registering, please see the following recent article by Gemma https://www.quiltercheviot.com/uk/charities/big-oil-and-climate-change-engage-or-divest/