Hope Equity Offers Opportunity for Your Funds to be Invested in a Green Portfolio

In our changing world, we must continue to be socially conscious about what products we buy, what businesses we support and how our money is invested. It is up to non-profit organizations to address these changes as well as the desires of its donors. At Hope Equity, our financial portfolio is invested in socially conscious or green organizations – "clean to green." Yet, we are aware that some donors may want all of their charitable donations to be invested in strictly green companies.

Hope Equity does not invest in corporations that are primarily involved with gambling, alcohol, armaments and tobacco. In addition, our Investment Governance and Guidelines states that we "shall encourage investments to be placed in corporations who give regard to their responsibility for community, environment, employees, and diversity."

However, when you invest with Hope Equity, you can choose to have your funds invested in our “green portfolio”.

We believe that investing in a green portfolio is a natural extension of our values and belief that, as part of our fiduciary responsibility to our donors and as good stewards of the planet and our fellow man, it is incumbent upon us to take a holistic approach to our work. From our investments in the market to the most minor of internal decisions, we take seriously the ripple effect of how our decisions can potentially affect lives and the environment as part of the whole.

What do we mean this is an endowment gift?

A gift to Hope Equity is a gift to an endowment, meaning it will provide not just once, but for generations. Endowment gifts are not spent immediately, but instead are invested. Each year, 5.5% of your gift’s value is made available to Heifer; for example, a fund with $10,000 would yield $550 for Heifer the first year. The balance remains invested, continuing to grow, meaning similar disbursements are available in subsequent years, as well.

If you have further questions about how endowments, i.e. Hope Equity works, please consult the About Us section of our website or email us at

info@hopeequity.org

Now here's the part our lawyers make us include:

I/We understand that if the Board of Trustees of Heifer International Foundation shall at any time determine that the uses of the Endowment are no longer appropriate and in accord with my/our desires and the objectives and principles of Heifer International Foundation, then Heifer International Foundation may, in the exercise of discretion, direct the application of the same in whole or in part to meet other appropriate projects as close as possible to the original intent and within the general charitable purposes of Heifer International Foundation.

It is also understood and agreed that the principal of the Endowment shall remain intact and shall not be subject to invasion or distribution. Further additions to the Endowment can be made at any time and shall be subject to the conditions and understandings set forth above.