At Australian Communities Foundation, we put our values at the centre of everything we do, including how we invest pooled philanthropic assets. That’s why 100 per cent of our investment portfolio is responsibly invested.
This approach has many benefits, including:
- Contributing to a stronger, fairer and more sustainable world
- Providing both financial and social/environmental return on investment
- Achieving greater strategic alignment across investments and grants.
Our investment advisor is Koda Capital – Australia’s largest independent wealth management firm. With Koda’s assistance, we actively seek out investments with a strong financial return and a positive social or environmental impact. As the first Australian philanthropic foundation to become a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, we’re proud to augment the impact of your giving by ensuring your philanthropic assets are 100 per cent responsibly invested. We also actively contribute to positive outcomes through impact investments aligned with our Impact Areas.
Quarterly investment updates #
As part of our commitment to responsible investing and reporting on impact, we share quarterly updates on investment performance with our giving community. View updates here.
Portfolio options #
We offer three investment options to meet your giving goals. All three options consider environmental, social and governance factors across each of the underlying investments.
Option 1: Long Term — for funds to be granted out over a longer horizon
(40% fixed interest and cash / 60% Australian and global equities)
Investment objective: to provide a risk-adjusted return over time that allows for funds to meet granting requirements and modest capital growth of the fund.
Option 2: Short Term — for funds to be granted out over a shorter horizon
(85% fixed interest and cash / 15% Australian and global equities)
Investment objective: to prioritise capital preservation and an income return to allow for granting of the capital and income over a shorter time horizon.
Option 3: Cash Flow-Through — for collective giving funds
(100% cash)
Investment objective: to ensure the preservation of the capital given immediate requirement for grantmaking of collective giving funds.
Changing your Fund’s portfolio option #
Fund Advisors can switch their Fund’s portfolio option once a year. Contact us to discuss.
Investment governance #
We recognise that the stewardship of our community’s philanthropic assets is a significant responsibility. Our philanthropic assets are overseen by an Investment Committee to ensure that the portfolio meets financial objectives and environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives in accordance with our Investment Policy and Responsible Investment and Impact Policy. See current Investment Committee members here.