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New Toolkit Will Enable Charity Trustees To Invest Responsibly

EIRIS News release

11 May, 2005

A new guide, Investing Responsibly: A Practical Guide for Charity Trustees has been published to assist the increasing number of trustees who are adopting or updating responsible investment strategies on behalf of their organisations.

The new toolkit has been launched jointly by the EIRIS Foundation, (parent body of Ethical Investment Research Services), NCVO (the National Council for Voluntary Organisations) and UKSIF (UK Social Investment Forum) following collaboration co-ordinated by Adam Ognall, of the EIRIS / UKSIF charity project.

The toolkit provides practical advice and presents case studies of charities that have put their principles into their investment practices.

Stuart Etherington, NCVO Chief Executive said, “This toolkit will prove indispensable to trustees embarking on a Responsible Investment strategy. Through Investing Responsibly trustees can ensure that on every level their organisations are contributing to the building of a fairer society.”

Alastair Hanton, EIRIS’ Chair said, “EIRIS has been working with charities in this area for more than 20 years. This toolkit will help trustees to ensure that their charities’ investments reflect their values.”

UKSIF Vice chair Clare Brook added, “This toolkit should provide charities with the impetus and the means to bring their investments into line with their values.”

The toolkit is available free of charge from Adam Ognall, the EIRIS / UKSIF Charity Project Co-ordinator, telephone 020 7674 2355, email adam.ognall@eiris.org or visit www.eiris.org

Press contacts:     
Adam Ognall, EIRIS / UKSIF,
+44 (0)20 7840 5716
adam.ognall@eiris.org

 Scott McAusland, EIRIS,
+44 (0)20 7840 5703
scott.mcausland@eiris.org

Note to editors

1. The term Responsible Investment incorporates ethical and socially responsible investment (SRI). Responsible Investment is about aligning a charity’s investments with its objects/values. It is based on achieving the greatest impact from investments by both pursuing maximum financial return and using investments for non-financial gain.
2. The EIRIS/UKSIF Charity Project was created in 2004 to promote awareness of Responsible Investment within the charity sector and to provide assistance to charities who are considering adopting a Responsible Investment approach. The Charity Project is a joint project between EIRIS and UKSIF. The project is fully-funded in the first year by the EIRIS Foundation in furtherance of its charitable objects. An UKSIF-led advisory group meets quarterly to provide strategic direction to the project.
3. The Charity Project has worked with the Sustainable Funding Project of NCVO to produce this toolkit.
4. The EIRIS Foundation is a charity set up in 1983. Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS) Ltd, a subsidiary company of the Foundation, provides the independent research into corporate social, environmental and ethical performance that is needed by investors to make informed and responsible investment decisions as well as by charities wishing to screen their donors or suppliers. www.eiris.org
5. The UK Social Investment Forum (UKSIF) is the UK's membership network for socially responsible investment (SRI). UKSIF's primary purpose is to promote and encourage the development and positive impact of SRI amongst UK based investors. UKSIF believes that all material social, environmental and ethical (SEE) issues should be integrated into standard investment practice and that individual investors should be able to reflect their values in their investments. The Forum was launched in 1991 to bring together the different strands of SRI nationally and to act as a focus and a voice for the industry. www.uksif.org
6. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  NCVO has a growing membership of over 3,700 voluntary organisations, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer bureaux, and development agencies working at a local level. www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
7. NCVO’s Sustainable Funding Project (SFP) is a first-stop shop encouraging and enabling voluntary and community organisations to explore and exploit a full range of funding options to develop a sustainable funding mix. The project was founded in 2000 in partnership with Centrica plc and is now supported by Centrica plc, the Big Lottery Fund and Charity Bank. SFP also work in close partnership with Futurebuilders England.  For more information contact press@ncvo-vol.org.uk

 Public Information and Media Officer
Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS) Ltd
80 - 84 Bondway
London SW8 1SF
tel:  44 (0) 20 7840 5703 (direct)
       44 (0) 20 7840 5700 (switchboard)
fax: 44 (0) 20 7735 5323
web: www.eiris.org

EIRIS provides the independent research into corporate social, environmental and other ethical performance that investors need to make informed and responsible investment decisions. Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS) Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the EIRIS Foundation, registered charity number 2460330.