A U.K. based investment advisory group. They write:
Investing in an ethical and socially responsible way
is now acknowledged as a sound medium to long term strategy. Whilst there
will be those who are happy to make easy money at the expense of others,
the rapidly increasing trend for individuals, charities and companies is
to seek profit responsibly via ethical investment.
After all, who would disagree with investing in companies
which have good employment records, manufacture products which people want
to buy at a fair price, and on which a good profit is made? It is important
to remember that much of socially responsible investment concerns the positive
sides of business life such as respect for the community (local and global)
and for the environment. In these troubled times, an enlightened attitude
to our responsibilities to future generations is imperative in business,
if a company is going to survive.
Ethical Investors Group has been set up to provide a specialist financial advice service to all those who care about their world and its preservation, and wish to extend this philosophy to other areas of their lives. We provide truly INDEPENDENT financial advice to individuals, groups, charities and companies who share this concern for the future of our society and the environment. We believe that we are the only financial advisers displaying an open and true commitment to ethical investment, and this is expressed by the fact that we are not prepared to advise on anything other than socially or environmentally screened investments, and through our unique profit distribution system (see back page).
The corporate citizenship criteria include a company's record with regard to its philanthropic activities and its community relations in general. The employee relations criteria include a company's record with regard to labor matters, workplace safety, equal employment opportunity, employee benefit programs, and meaningful participation in company profits either through stock purchase or profit sharing plans. The environmental performance criteria include a company's record with regard to fines or penalties, waste disposal, toxic emissions, efforts in waste reduction and emissions reduction, recycling, and environmentally beneficial fuels, products and services. The product related criteria include a company's record with regard to product safety, marketing practices, and commitment to quality.
To obtain a prospectus write them at this address:
Click here to go to their web site:----------> Dreyfus Third Century Fund
Established in 1970, it is the first mutual fund to have adopted broad "socially responsible" standards for its investments. The Pax World Fund was created to serve investors who desire a professionally-managed, diversified portfolio that pursues return with moderated risk in a way that has a positive social impact.
The Pax World Fund invests in companies and debt obligations that are engaged in "life-supportive" goods and services such as health care, housing, food, education, pollution control, utilities, and leisure-time. The Fund does not invest in companies involved in the production of weapons, tobacco, liquor, gambling or nuclear power among others.
Companies that fit the above criteria are then examined as to how they conduct business from financial, environmental and social standards. Only those that meet the Fund's high standards in all categories are chosen for inclusion in the Fund. While no company is perfect, they invest in those that are relatively more attractive as defined by their screens.
Socially responsible investing integrates personal and social values with investment decisions. This approach is a recognition of the fact that providing capital to companies tacitly endorses their activities. While you have limited control over the use of your tax dollars, you are in total control of your investment dollars and what you wish to support with them.
The screening of investments, both inclusive and exclusive, as well as shareholder monitoring allows socially responsible investors to influence business practices in a positive fashion. Towards this goal the Pax World Fund brings substantial experience and enhancement of individuals' efficacy. As the first Fund to use broad social criteria, it pioneered the concept of a mutual fund with a conscience.
The Pax World Fund's performance has proved that rigorous financial and social standards need not be in conflict with one another. In fact many of the criteria that the Fund employs (i.e. environmental responsibility, a well cared for work force) are seen by many economists as enhancing the long-term potential of companies that practice them.
Individuals can and do have a positive impact through their support of companies that share their values. Socially responsible investment vehicles are in fact one of the fastest-growing segments of the mutual fund industry over the past ten years.
For more information and a prospectus click here to go to their web site:---> Pax World Fund
The majority of the world's people earn their living as family farmers, artisans and tradespeople. These small scale producers -- or microentrepreneurs -- have not had access to the tools and resources necessary to build their modest businesses and raise their standard of living.
By providing small loans and business training, microenterprise development programs transform the lives of impoverished people and their communities. These programs champion entrepreneurship and job creation, giving people the tools necessary to improve their own economic well-being -- a hand-up; not a hand out.
The DEVCAP Shared Return Fund is at the forefront of Globally Responsible Investing. Globally responsible investors seek to earn solid investment returns while creating new opportunities in the developing world through economic empowerment.
The DEVCAP Shared Return Fund is the first socially-screened mutual fund that allows you to share your investment returns with the world's microentrepreneurs.
Each year, you have the opportunity to contribute one-half or more of your return as a tax deductible donation to the microenterprise development programs of DEVCAP's consortium members. These programs reach hundreds of thousands of microentrepreneurs in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
When you invest in the DEVCAP Shared Return Fund, your assets are placed in a leading socially responsible portfolio based on the widely respected Domini Social indexSM. The Index consists of the stocks of approximately 400 U.S. companies chosen for their corporate and social responsibility as well as their financial performance.
The DEVCAP Shared Return Fund has a $1,000 initial minimum investment and does not charge a sales load.
The Domini Social Index includes companies with positive records in: safe and useful products corporate citizenship employee relations the environment
The Index excludes companies involved in the sale of military weapons, the manufacture of tobacco products or alcoholic beverages, gambling operations, and nuclear power plants.
Performance has demonstrated that investors do not sacrifice competitive returns by choosing a socially responsible portfolio.
For more information and a prospectus click here to go to their web site:---> DEVCAP
Their investment strategy is to avoid what they consider dirty, dying industries like heavy equipment, oil and chemicals, weapons, nuclear utilities, alcohol and tobacco, and instead seek opportunities in the clean industries of the future such as communications, consumer products, high technology, finance, healthcare and food products.
For more information and a prospectus click here to go to their web site:---> Citizens Trust
While Calvert Group maintains a full and diverse family of funds, they are recognized primarily for their focus on two distinct investment approaches: socially responsible investing, where they look to identify companies that offer the potential for financial rewards and enhance the quality of life, and tax-free fund management, for investors looking to earn higher levels of tax-free income.
A growing number of individuals are choosing to invest in businesses that demonstrate not only financial soundness, but also a concern for quality of life. This double-bottom line approach to investing is an important way for individuals to contribute to the care of the environment, maintain standards for product safety and bring about equality in the workplace. More on socially responsible investing.
As the nation's leading sponsor of responsibly managed funds, Calvert gives investors the choices they need to meet their financial goals while supporting the vision they have for a better world.
Their mission: To be a premier asset management company recognized for both their quality investment programs and for their commitment to improving quality of life in society.
For more information and a prospectus click here to go to their web site:---> Calvert Group
The Fund does not invest in tobacco, gambling, banking or brewery stocks. Fund does not invest in companies that pollute the environment. They believe that over the longer term a carefully managed ethical portfolio should perform as well as any other well selected portfolio. You can start investing with an initial amount of as little as $100. You can send additional amounts for credit to your account whenever you like. Purchasers of the Fund's shares pay no "sales load"; that is, the full amount of the purchase price goes toward the purchase of shares of the Fund.
For more information and a prospectus click
here to go to their web site:---> Hudson