The Future Generations Panel on stage at the Endowments Investing Challenge event. Left to right - Viktoria, Lok-Yi, May, Jayden, Muhammed, Seth-Jesse and Izzy wo is peaking onto the microphone.

Triodos Investment Management declared winner of the Endowments Investing Challenge 

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Triodos Investment Management declared winner of the Endowments Investing Challenge

Six UK charitable investors today announced Triodos Investment Management as the winner of the live vote at the Endowments Investing Challenge, a pioneering initiative seeking a bold investment portfolio to generate positive impact for future generations.

 

The Challenge invited investment service providers to propose innovative investment approaches for a mandate of up to £50 million. 60 applications were received from ISPs managing over £11 trillion, and five were shortlisted. Yesterday, the shortlisted organisations presented their portfolios, sparking challenging questions and rigorous scrutiny from the audience of young people, charities, and other mission-led investors.  

“By applying a child-lens investing framework, Triodos truly prioritises positive impact on future generations alongside financial returns.”
James Anthony
Social Investment Portfolio Manager, Friends Provident Foundation
“Winning the Endowments Investing Challenge for our Future Generations strategy is an incredibly proud moment for all of us at Triodos Investment Management. This award reaffirms our commitment to putting the well-being of future generations at the core of every investment decision. A heartfelt thank you to the organisers and to everyone who supported us with their vote. Together, we’re proving that finance can—and must—be a force for long-term, positive change for generations to come."
Hadewych Kuiper
Managing Director Investments, Triodos Investment Management

A pivotal point for participatory investment

For the first time, a Future Generations Panel of seven young adults from across the UK played a central role in the whole process. After deliberating on the five presentations, the panel made their recommendation to the audience – to vote for Triodos. 

“It was powerful to see the Future Generations Panel recommendation supported in the People's Choice vote. It was a moment of real influence for young people over investment decisions that will shape their future.”
James Anthony
Social Investment Portfolio Manager, Friends Provident Foundation
“We established baseline criteria when we began this work that reflect our views of the world and the future. We want an investment service provider that doesn't contribute harm. But more than that, we wanted an approach that positively contributes to future generations. Triodos were transparent and showed clarity in their strategies. They handled challenging questions well, giving us further confidence in the team.”
Izzy
Future Generations Panel
“To create real change in the investment sector, we need to bring more voices to the table. The Endowments Investing Challenge brought together a range of different partners and investors with a panel of remarkable young people.
Andrew Gnaneswaran
Chief Investment Officer, the Vivensa Foundation

“Together we’ve shown the power of collective action, transparency, and participation,” Andrew Gnaneswaran added. “This process can be replicated by others on different scales to support all investors to use their capital to address the issues that society faces rather than exacerbating the problems.” 

Market response to a bold vision

"We need more from our investments and through the Endowments Investing Challenge, we’ve demanded more. The presentations demonstrated that we’re getting nearer to our vision of balanced impact, financial return, ability to scale, and overall governance. We hope that this shifts the market, so all investors have more choice. Ultimately, we hope that the generations to come will benefit because there are investment funds that prioritise their needs.”
Segun Olowookere
Executive Director of Finance and Strategy, The Children’s Society (and Chair of Trustees at The Blagrave Trust)

Next steps

With a combined investment mandate of up to £50 million available, Gallagher will now complete due diligence on Triodos Investment Management. The partners’ trustees and investment committees will then make their final investment decision. 

Photo credit: Steve Bainbridge

Note about the shortlist

The shortlisted organisations were: EdenTree Investment Management, Foresight, Octopus Capital, Tribe Impact Capital, and Triodos Investment Management. Friends Provident Foundation has a small minority ownership stake (1.54%) in Tribe Impact Capital. For this reason, Friends Provident Foundation staff and Trustees were excluded from all discussions, assessments, and decisions about the inclusion of Tribe Impact Capital in the shortlist and did not take part in the vote at the event.