“Socially Responsible Investment” is now possible at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and ISAAC is the first to request transfer our Endowment Fund to this investment option!

This means that our money will now be invested in ways that are much more in line with our faith values of equity and community.   Hallelujah!

Here’s an example.  This is one of the ways our Endowment Fund will now be invested:

The FTSE4Good US Select Index is a socially responsible investment (SRI) index of US stocks that excludes companies with certain business activities such as weapons, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, nuclear power, and adult entertainment. Additionally, in order to be included companies must meet a series of stringent environmental and social criteria in areas including environmental management, labor rights, human rights, health and safety, and diversity.

Susan Springgate, Vice President for Finance and Administration at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) has worked with Greenleaf Trust for over a year to create this new option.  She told us, “I hope our socially responsible investment option is going to grow. Using investible assets to influence how companies support equity is another way to further our mission.”

In the photo you can see our joyful meeting at KZCF to decide about transferring our Endowment Fund. ISAAC President Elder Doug King, Executive Director Dr. Charlae Davis, Treasurer Andrew Chaponda, and VP for Communications Tobi Hanna-Davies, are pictured with Kalamazoo Community Foundation Vice President for Finance and Administration Susan Springgate, Donor Relations Officer Julie Loncharte and Development Officer Raven Britt.

Huge thanks to KZCF for creating this new socially responsible investment option!

And huge thanks to all of our many ISAAC donors who have already contributed to our ISAAC Endowment Fund.  We are getting very close to reaching our goal of $50,000–when ISAAC will begin to receive annual interest income!

You can help with a donation of any size, or a charitable distribution (tax free) if you have a retirement account.  Please make your check to Kalamazoo Community Foundation and put “ISAAC Endowment Fund” in the memo space.  Send it or give it to the ISAAC office, or mail it directly to:

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

402 E Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Our commitment to Socially Responsible Investment is a new, additional way that we are working on our mission–cultivating the Beloved Community.  Thank you for all you do to help!

– Tobi Hanna-Davies, VP for Communications