Board members, chief executives and senior investment and programme staff of some 25 foundations and other organisations from across Europe came together to share their experiences, and explore needs and opportunities for joint learning and practical cooperation around issues related to responsible and impact investing. Co-hosted by Fondazione Cariplo, Mistra Foundation and Stichting Fonds 1818, the event was held on 30 August at the EFC in Brussels. The workshop was co-organised by the EFC and onValues.
Entitled '360 Degrees for Mission: Aligning Mission and Investments', participants explored specific aspects such as the unique role of board members in encouraging or discouraging these kinds of investments; and how SRI and particularly impact investing (in which social returns are more important than financial ones) can have an effect on the operations and spirit of the organisation itself. Other points brought up related to avoiding looking at investments in isolation from the rest of the foundation’s operations; accessing the right expertise to navigate the many investment options available; creating the infrastructure needed to make it easier for smaller organisations to get involved; and issues around creating common standards for socially responsible investing.
The group also looked at concrete ways to take this kind of investing forward in foundations, including educating foundation staff and boards about the possibilities of this type of investing; looking at legal issues at national level that might be impeding further development in this area; looking at how to apply basic socially responsible standards to complex financial instruments such as hedge funds; and exploring whether or not common standards for SRI and impact investing should be created.
Speakers and panellists included:
- Ivo Knoepfel, onValues
- David Imbert, onValues
- Boudewijn de Blij, Fonds 1818
- Ise Bosch, Founder, Dreilinden
- Francesco Lorenzetti, Fondazione Cariplo
- Lars-Erik Liljelund, Mistra
- Danielle Walker-Palmour, Friends Provident Foundation
- Pieter Oostlander, Shærpa / Noaber Foundation
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