Domini Impact Investments believes that impact investors care about investment returns and also about how those returns are made, understanding impact investing as a belief in a better world. Sometimes called ethical investing or socially responsible investing, impact investing brings communities of caring investors together to align their money with their values, helping create positive change while seeking competitive financial returns. US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment defines sustainable, responsible, and impact investing (SRI) as “an investment discipline that considers environmental, social and corporate governance criteria and seeks to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact, practiced across all asset classes including stocks, bonds, and cash.” Impact investing has been a tradition at Domini for over 30 years, with interest in the industry never stronger. Domini’s recent survey confirmed that almost eight in ten investors intend to invest their money in a way that will help create a more sustainable world in the next two years. A growing number of investors understand that if we are to live on a green planet and allow every human to thrive, they must play an active role. Domini believes all investing should be “investing for good,” whether through retirement plans, education plans, or traditional brokerage accounts.
Why it matters: Domini Impact Investments has demonstrated for over 30 years that investors can align their money with their values and seek competitive financial returns while creating positive change, proving that considering ESG criteria and generating long-term returns are complementary rather than competing goals. By bringing communities of caring investors together and making impact investing accessible across all asset classes and account types—retirement plans, education plans, traditional brokerages—Domini shows that creating a more sustainable world requires making “investing for good” the norm rather than a niche option. The organization’s survey finding that almost eight in ten investors intend to invest for sustainability in the next two years reflects growing understanding that if we are to live on a green planet and allow every human to thrive, investors must play an active role rather than remaining passive owners of companies whose practices they may oppose.
