This month the EIRIS Foundation is proud to celebrate its 40th Anniversary and its pioneering role in the field of responsible investment. 40 years ago, the Foundation was formed by a collection of individuals and organisations concerned with how and where their money was being invested. EIRIS Foundation, the charity, started EIRIS, the UK’s first independent research service for ethical investors. Both the Foundation and the company have been significantly involved in numerous responsible investment milestones, including the launch of the Friends Provident Stewardship Fund in 1984, the UK’s first ethical unit trust and the launch of the FTSE4Good Indices in 2001. EIRIS subsequently merged with Vigeo to become VE and then a part of Moody’s ESG Solutions, but the EIRIS Foundation continues to develop and grow as an entirely independent research, advice and advocacy charity, proudly pioneering the next steps in Sustainable Finance. Our vision is a financial system that works for people and planet.
Currently we are focused on a number of projects which fall broadly within the following 4 categories:
- Helping charities adopt and shape responsible investment
- Advancing the ‘S’ in ESG
- Scrutinising and strengthening the Sustainable Finance Landscape
- Addressing the Big Challenges
Throughout April we will be reflecting on our history and how we apply the lessons we have learnt and the expertise we have gained to achieve impact through our current projects and areas of focus.