Aligning Mission and Money

Joseph Atkinson wrote this about money in 1941, a year before he established a private charitable foundation.

“Great wealth is not earned. It is amassed, accumulated, collected, gathered, taken. There are many words to describe the process but earned is not one of them. The wealthiest among us do not operate alone in the world. What they enjoy has been brought to their door by the labour of a vast number of people.”

As an institutional investor, the Atkinson Foundation’s portfolio has a dual purpose. It’s an expression of our values and a source of funds for programs and projects aligned to our mission and strategic priority. We press for action toward environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, including equitable employment practices. We’re proud members of the Shareholder Association for Research and Education  (SHARE) and  active participants in the responsible investment movement.

For Atkinson, the alignment of mission and money is a transformational process that is never fully realized. It changes the economic system through responsible investments and interventions to build institutions, educate and train stakeholders, collaborate across interests and sectors, and engage the people who have experienced the most negative effects of capitalism.

We take a total portfolio approach to investing — from asset selection and manager oversight to shareholder engagement and support for movement building initiatives. We’re participants in Investors for Racial Equity, the Reconciliation and Responsible Investing Institute, and the Labour Rights Investor Network.

Take a closer look at our  Investment Policy Framework for more information.

These two initiatives stand out for the impact they’re having on the field of responsible investment.