Foundations and Endowments: Mission-Driven Investing

The Blue Summit Experience

Do you know what investments are in your non-profit portfolio? Are these investments working for or against your mission? Most endowments and foundations are established to help further a particular cause and therefore it makes perfect sense that your non-profit monies be aligned with your purpose. This can be accomplished by implementing Mission-Driven investing.

The Blue Summit Experience

First Meeting: Get to Know You

We want to get to know you! In this initial complimentary meeting we will:

  1. Present the concept of Mission-Driven Investing
  2. Discuss the organization's goals and values
  3. Clarify the objectives - what project(s) will these monies be supporting, for example?
  4. Determine if there is a basis for a working relationship
  5. Discuss our fees and services

Second Meeting: Gather Information

Now that we've decided to work together, we get to dive into the details! In order to develop your strategy for implementing mission-driven investing, we gather all pertinent data and discuss items such as:

  1. Current portfolio holdings
  2. Current Investment Policy Statement
  3. Current proxy-voting guidelines (if any)
  4. Survey feedback from major stakeholders
  5. Distribution history and policies
  6. Performance objectives and risk tolerances

Third Meeting: Present Recommendations

Now you get to see your Mission-Driven investment plan come together! We have integrated your goals with your current investment plan information and worked together with you and your investment committee to select investment options and proxy voting guidelines into an Investment Policy Statement. For most organizations, this process gives them the clarity and confidence to move forward with aligning their investments with their mission. Benefits of working with Blue Summit to implement a Mission-Driven investment strategy include:

  1. Attracting new donors
  2. Maximizing the organization's positive social and environmental impacts
  3. Improving community relations and outreach efforts
  4. Providing continuity where investment committee turnover is the norm
  5. Inspiring the world of philanthropy

Fourth Meeting: Implement the Plan

Now it's time to move forward! We will take the following steps:

  1. Allocate a portion of assets to the new SRI portfolio
  2. Begin voting proxies according to guidelines
  3. Assist with revising Foundation literature to integrate new portfolio options
  4. Conduct an informational presentation to educate donors and prospects on strategy
  5. Send out a description on Mission-Driven investment strategy to major donors and prospects, inviting them to a presentation
  6. Send out press releases on new mission-driven strategy

Annual Review: Monitor Plan

We are committed to helping you stay on track! As fiduciaries overseeing your foundation or endowment assets, we provide quarterly performance reporting on portfolio money managers. In addition, we review the organization's investment strategy on an annual basis to make certain we are adjusting to any changes that may need to be addressed. This service is especially helpful with investment committees by providing continuity where turnover is the norm.