Insights - Page 22 of 27 - Natural Investments

Investing with Intent – Spring 2026

This quarter’s issue of Investing with Intent examines how values-aligned investing is responding to today’s political, economic, and regulatory shifts—exploring affordable housing for Hawaiian Natives, shareholders filing lawsuits with major corporations in reaction to SEC no-action guidelines, and more. Follow the stories below in our lastest issue. Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae: A Village Without a Place No More by Kulu Maphalala Bringing the Wisdom of the Three Sisters into Financial Services by Diana Yáñez Why a Perpetual Purpose Trust Model Works for Sustainable Investing Firms by Carrie

Natural Investments April 8, 2026

2019 Social Impact Report

Download a full PDF copy of our 2019 Social Impact Report Intentional Growth, Deeper Commitment by Michael Kramer 2019 Overall SRI Impact 2019 Shareholder Advocacy Review 2019 Regenerative Investments Progress on Private Prison Divestment by Kirbie Crowe Divest, Then Reinvest by Scott Secrest Spotlight: First Nations Oweesta by James Frazier Spotlight: The Ujima Fund by

Natural Investments April 22, 2020

Intentional Growth, Deeper Commitment

Over the past 30 years, Natural Investments has grown slowly and organically over time by attracting advisors who are aligned with our mission. Even without specific growth targets, our firm has expanded, introducing more people, new ideas, and a wider range of business styles. As a collective of advisory practices, we share common investments, codes

Michael Kramer April 22, 2020

2019 SRI Impact

Natural Investments enjoyed significant growth since the last report, with sustainable, responsible, impact (SRI) managed assets increasing by 24% to $650M[1]. For the first time, we are using an impact data aggregation firm to delve deeper into our clients’ positive effects on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas of the economy. The additional information

Natural Investments April 22, 2020

2019 Shareholder Advocacy Review

Natural Investments is involved in a range of efforts with our industry colleagues that facilitate positive economic, social and environmental change, including shareholder engagement with companies and public policy advocacy. Natural Investments regularly engages in corporate and political advocacy to protect ecosystems, defend human rights, and advance racial and economic justice. In 2019, we participated

Natural Investments April 22, 2020

2019 Regenerative Investments

When available, a portion of client assets are directed to so-called “regenerative investments” in the private market. Natural Investments seeks funds and companies with an elevated business model that takes into account the public good. The authenticity of the model is usually backed by language in the corporate charter or third-party certifications verifying moral conduct

Natural Investments April 22, 2020

Progress on Private Prison Divestment

The private prison divestment movement has gathered great momentum since our June 2019 webinar, “Private Prison Divestment—Justice for Refugees and Migrants”. During that event, we provided an overview of the movement’s history and an update on current developments, mainly related to the family separation crisis at the US and Mexico border. In June, only two

Kirbie Crowe April 22, 2020

Divest, Then Reinvest

In January, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2019 was the second hottest year on record, following closely behind 2016. The planet’s five warmest years have all occurred since 2015, and nine of the ten warmest years have occurred since 2005. There is now overwhelming scientific consensus that CO2 emissions from fossil-fuels

Scott Secrest April 22, 2020

Spotlight: First Nations Oweesta

First Nations Oweesta (or Oweesta for short) was founded in 1999 to support economic development in Native American communities across the United States by addressing a lack of financial infrastructure and money. Oweesta, which means money or “item of exchange” in the Mohawk language, is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)—a federally certified class

Natural Investments April 22, 2020

Spotlight: The Ujima Fund

The Ujima Fund launched in Boston in 2017 as an outgrowth of years of organizing for racial and economic justice. Ujima, the first community-controlled loan fund in the US, has raised $1.7 million to date. Ujima is a Swahili word meaning “collective work and responsibility”. The membership of Ujima is comprised of more than 250

Kate Poole April 22, 2020

Spotlight: Ecotrust Forest Management

Scientists been clear that in order to prevent some of the runaway effects of climate change, it’s not enough to simply reduce our dependence on fossil-fuels: we also have to draw down and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Radically shifting the way we use and manage land is integral in tackling the climate crisis, and

Malaika Maphalala April 22, 2020