These Funds Aim to Double Your Impact
Kiplinger's Personal Finance|March 2022
A growing number of funds donate directly to causes you might care about. Are they good investments?
ELLEN KENNEDY
These Funds Aim to Double Your Impact

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A FLURRY OF new investing products that link sustainably themed funds with donations to nonprofit groups, from the NAACP to the National Wildlife Federation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. But before you invest in a mutual or exchange-traded fund tied to your favorite charity, make sure that it fits within your portfolio, meets your investment goals and truly delivers a benefit to the nonprofit group with which it partners.

When comparing these funds with competitors, “consider the fund donation to be the cherry on top, not the main driver of the decision,” says Jon Hale, global head of sustainability for investment research firm Morningstar. “Don’t be seduced into a fund that doesn’t further your financial goals,” he says.

And look beyond a fund’s donation to measure impact. Start by taking a hard look at its management company. Does it actively partner with the nonprofit group it benefits to bring about change? Is it voting shareholder proxies and filing shareholder resolutions to further the nonprofit’s cause? “ESG investing alone doesn’t create concrete, real-world impact,” says Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century Capital Management. “You need to pick funds that do shareholder advocacy.”

The concept of working hand-in-glove with nonprofits isn’t completely novel. Consider GREEN CENTURY BALANCED FUND (SYMBOL GCBLX), a member of the Kiplinger ESG 20, the list of our favorite stocks and funds with a focus on environmental, social and governance issues. Fund sponsor Green Century is owned by several nonprofit groups around the U.S., and its profits from fees support their environmental and public health goals.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2022 من Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2022 من Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE مشاهدة الكل
A SOLID YEAR FOR THE KIPLINGER 25
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

A SOLID YEAR FOR THE KIPLINGER 25

All but one of our favorite actively managed, no-load mutual funds gained ground as markets recovered.

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 2024
YOUR VACATION HOME COULD PROVIDE TAX-FREE INCOME
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

YOUR VACATION HOME COULD PROVIDE TAX-FREE INCOME

If you plan to rent out your vacation home, it's important to understand how your proceeds will be taxed.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 2024
IT'S NOT YOUR IMAGINATION: YOUR CEREAL BOX IS SHRINKING
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

IT'S NOT YOUR IMAGINATION: YOUR CEREAL BOX IS SHRINKING

To avoid raising prices, some manufacturers are reducing the size of common grocery items. Here’s how to fight back.

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2024
SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT BEING LAID OFF? IT DEPENDS ON YOUR INDUSTRY
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT BEING LAID OFF? IT DEPENDS ON YOUR INDUSTRY

Downsizing has hit certain sectors. But cutbacks may be slowing, and some companies are expanding.

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2024
How identity thieves are exploiting your trust
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

How identity thieves are exploiting your trust

Con artists themselves are disguising as well-known brands to steal your money and personal information.

time-read
3 mins  |
February 2024
CUT THE COST OF YOUR WIRELESS BILL
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

CUT THE COST OF YOUR WIRELESS BILL

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon dominate the market, but smaller outfits offer similar network coverage at lower prices.

time-read
10 mins  |
February 2024
MAKING HOME ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

MAKING HOME ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE

Households in need can get energy-efficiency upgrades, help with utility bills and more from this nonprofit.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
A HEAD START FOR SAVERS
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

A HEAD START FOR SAVERS

The Saver's Credit is designed to help low- and middleincome taxpayers contribute to a retirement account.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
Say I Love You With a Money Date
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Say I Love You With a Money Date

To nurture a lasting bond with your partner, meet regularly to talk about money.

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024
Plan for Your Own Elder Care
Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Plan for Your Own Elder Care

AFTER I wrote a series of columns in 2022 about elder care planning for family members, I received a number of responses like this one: “What about married couples who have no children or whose family members don’t live nearby?” wrote one reader. “Or a single individual with no close relatives? How should these people plan for their own elder care?”

time-read
2 mins  |
February 2024