Responsible Investing

Increasing the impact of your giving

100% responsible investing

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.


Our approach to responsible investing

When you open a Fund with us, your donations are responsibly invested, meaning your money can both grow and do good while you take the time to find the right opportunities for granting.

Our responsible investing approach has many benefits, including: (1) contributing to a stronger, fairer and more sustainable world; (2) providing both financial and social/environmental return on investment; and (3) achieving greater strategic alignment across investments and grants.

With the support of our investment advisors Koda Capital, 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 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 and ESG objectives in accordance with our Investment Policy and Responsible Investment and Impact Policy.

Watch: Introduction to responsible investing


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.

NOTE: ACCESS TO OPTIONS 2 AND 3 ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN MAIN FUND

Option 1 Long Term

for funds that will 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 that will 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

for collective giving + flow-through funds

100% cash

Investment objective: to ensure the preservation of the capital given immediate requirement for grantmaking of collective giving funds.


Impact Investments

As part of our responsible approach, we actively contribute to positive outcomes through impact investments aligned with our Impact Areas.

Inequality First Nations Environment

Side by Side Social Impact Bond

A partnership between Berry Street Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Side by Side SIB funds educational programs to improve the engagement and learning outcomes of young students.

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Conscious Social Housing Fund 1

A partnership between Conscious Investment Management, HousingFirst and the Victorian Government, the Conscious Social Housing Fund provides social and affordable housing to Victorians in need.

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Conscious Social Housing Fund 2

Building on the success of the first Conscious Social Housing (CSH) Fund, CSH Fund 2 invests in social, affordable and specialised housing in partnership with the community housing sector and government agencies.

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Infradebt Ethical Fund

Aligning with our focus on safeguarding the environment, Infradebt funds new solar and wind energy infrastructure. 

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Palisade Impact Fund

The Palisade Impact Fund invests in next generation infrastructure for zero emissions, zero waste and zero inequality.

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For Purpose Investment Partners

For Purpose Investment Partners supports specialist disability accommodation, social housing, mental health, aged care and Vocational Education and Training.

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Quarterly Investment Updates

We share updates on investment performance in newsletters to our giving community every few months. If you are a fundholder and are unable to locate the latest update, please contact us for a copy.

Contact us

Got a question about responsible investing? Contact our team.

Contact Us
Level 6, 126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Australian Communities Foundation is a proudly inclusive organisation and an ally of LGBTQIA+ communities and the movement toward equality.