Impact Investing
OUR GOAL: 100% MISSION-ALIGNED ENDOWMENT
The Graustein Memorial Fund is committed to managing our entire endowment – not just our grantmaking funds – with an impact lens.
We believe achieving financial objectives should never drive us to invest in strategies that conflict with our mission.And we actively seek ways to serve community through our investments and expertise.
To generate positive impact alongside financial returns, our impact lens seeks investments supporting community in five areas:
- Equity in Education – Fostering learning environments with high expectations for every student from birth through adulthood, along with the opportunities and resources needed to help reach those goals.
- Economic, Social, and Racial Equity – Working against structural barriers oppressing people of color and those living in poverty; promoting greater awareness of disparities; and encouraging healing in society through dialogue, action, policies, and practices that advance racial and economic justice.
- Community Vitality – Promoting sustainable job creation and inclusive economic activity and development to low- and middle-income communities.
- Environmental Sustainability – Mitigating climate risk, supporting enduring infrastructure, and maintaining or enhancing natural habitats and agricultural lands.
- Improving Lives in Connecticut – Supporting and inspiring the children of our communities to live in full agency and to their full potential.
ALL INVESTING IS IMPACT INVESTING
We look to every asset class for ways to promote equitable systems change.
- Public Investments – Through shareholder engagement, we aim to encourage these institutional powerhouses to incorporate positive social and environmental practices.
- Private Investments – Through venture capital and private equity, we aim to support entrepreneurs in developing solutions that impact low-income and diverse communities.
- Local Investments – Through Mission Related Investments, we invest within our state to foster community vitality in Connecticut.
BEYOND CAPITAL: BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
In addition to allocating capital to impactful investments, we seek to collaborate with other investors and community representatives – leveraging our capacity to co-create an equitable environment.
- Advocacy – Advocating for diverse and emerging fund managers, local community organizations and entrepreneurs.
- Community Organizing – Partnering with other investors and organizations to bring about practices that foster an equitable and sustainable environment and society.
- Knowledge Exchange – Sharing our knowledge and expertise with other investors. Participating in conferences and meeting other foundations with similar impact investing and/or mission-aligned endowment aspirations.