Virtual Learning Opportunity: Aligning Portfolio With Purpose, Featuring The Russell Family Foundation

Maximizing positive impact through pioneering innovative strategies has always been a primary objective of the work of The Russell Family Foundation (TRFF). In 2004, TRFF took an exploratory leap into impact investing and launched a pilot mission-aligned investment effort, which was followed by a series of additional investments. After testing various approaches, the organization created its Mission Related Investment Committee bringing together program staff and investment advisors to coordinate efforts and strengthen decision-making. In 2014, TRFF then created a “tug of war” exercise to analyze the best investment strategies for financial gain compared to best strategies with a return on mission. This resulted in a menu of investment approaches to maximize social and environmental impact alongside a financial return and was the catalyst to going from 7% mission-aligned investments to nearly 75% in the short span of four years. In their latest report, The Impact Investing Journey: Aligning Portfolio with Purpose, TRFF outlines key learnings from our comprehensive journey in impact investing.

 

In this 45-minute Virtual Learning Opportunity for MIE members, the third in our Virtual Learning Opportunity series, Richard Woo, CEO and Kathleen Simpson, CFO of TRFF will share key learnings on what to do and what not to do when foundations align portfolio with purpose. The Virtual Learning Opportunity will demonstrate why impact investing is a worthy endeavor for family foundations and provide strategies and tools to commit to impact investing and build stronger in-house capabilities.

 

Members, log in to view the webinar recording. If you have any questions, or challenges logging in, please contact [email protected].