More for Mission

Threshold Group gathers a Community of private family investors and others interested in Mission-Related Investing

Lisa Hagerman, Friday, April 17th, 2009

Threshold Group, a multi-family office headquartered in Gig Harbor, WA, has created a virtual “C-MRI” (Community for Mission-Related Investing) to provide a friendly forum to exchange ideas on mission investing trends in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere.   Leadership Committee member, The Russell Family Foundation, in Gig Harbor, WA as well as the Massena Foundation, of Seattle are among the call participants.

Recent speakers included Carsten Henningsen, of Portfolio 21, a leader in socially responsible investments based in Portland, Oregon.   In their talks with foundations, Henningsen said they tend to hear that their products relating to sustaining local economies fall within the broad category of “Community Investing”.   Portfolio 21 offers a global equity mutual fund, ,  a separate account portfolio, and a private income fund focusing on their local region in the Pacific Northwest.   Their office is located in the Ecotrust Natural Capital Center in Portland, Oregon—a building that serves as the hub for many environmental organizations and activities.  A related firm, Upstream 21, acquires small, locally owned private companies whose products are designed to benefit and sustain their employees, their communities, and the environment (Upstream 21).

 Lisa Hagerman of the More for Mission Campaign gave an overview of the Campaign with example strategies and investments from Leadership Committee members KL Felicitas Foundation, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. See the presentation here.

 Sarah Cleveland of Watson Wyatt spoke on the emerging work in the field of responsible investment consultants.    The Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment held a convening in early April that gathered a group of consultants advising institutional clients on responsible investing.   This new network is an important development to show the mission investing community that both mainstream consultants and boutique firms are advising on mission investing strategies and investment opportunities.

del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Comments

Name :
E-mail :	We need your email address for verification, but it won't be published.
URL :
Comment :
Comment verification: Click here if you can't see the image Please enter the text you see inside the graphic to post your comment: