Investment, a major lever for the transition: discover our 2020 Impact Investing Report

Developing an impact investment policy, committing to socially responsible investment, orienting one’s portfolio towards the low-carbon transition… are the challenges we have been working on for the past 6 years in order to accelerate the transformation towards a more ecological, inclusive and fulfilling society. As the climate crisis worsens, and new business models need to be encouraged, we are committed to enriching our philanthropic mission of patronage with an ambitious investment policy, in line with our values and objectives. A commitment to be discovered in our 2nd investment report through testimonies and concrete examples but also during the webinar that we organized on Thursday, December 2 with the French Coalition of Climate Foundations.

In this 2nd impact investment report, we invite you to look back with us on a year of actions in France and Spain. We hope that you will find sources of reflection and why not, inspiration so that investment becomes a path of action in the service of impact that is increasingly shared in our sector.

Investment and sponsorship at the service of the transition

In a context of unprecedented crisis, the year 2020 will have reinforced the relevance of our choices in terms of sponsorship and investment, which we are committed to making consistent in the deployment of our philanthropic mission in the service of an ecological and inclusive transformation.

Since 2015, we have chosen to align our portfolio with our convictions and our vision while taking profitability into account.

Our commitments to the environment

In perfect coordination with the Foundation’s Financial Committee, our Impact Investment Committee has been strongly mobilized on the study of opportunities related to the Foundation’s two axes (Sustainable Food, Citizen Art), but also with the new challenge of an ecological transition to fight against climate change and its effects.

In addition to the investments made in sustainable food, our entire financial portfolio complies with the exclusion criteria set out in its investment charter, in particular through our DivestInvest commitment.

This movement, which began 10 years ago on American university campuses, is now a global network of more than 58,000 individuals and 1,485 companies who are choosing not (or no longer) to invest in fossil fuels in favor of investments in climate solutions, thus combining a total of $39,200 billion in assets.

Gaspard Verdier, Chairman of Simandef, our advice on impact investing, was able to discuss this report with Sarah Butler-Sloss, founder of the Ashden Trust in the UK, who has taken up the torch of this movement in Europe.

We are therefore committed to climate solutions through an ambitious impact investment policy: decarbonised energy, energy efficiency, soil regeneration, circular economy, etc. “Although no regulations apply to the Foundation, we are strengthening our extra-financial reporting in order to measure the environmental impact of the portfolio,” says Rafael Reytier, Consultant, Amadeis, Financial Committee Board of the Foundation. “And we are developing a dialogue with service providers to promote the Foundation’s position beyond the charter on environmental issues.”

Closer to innovation

This new report marks the milestones achieved to further refine our impact investment strategy as closely as possible with the players in the transition, in France as well as in Spain, which has seen the creation of a dedicated sourcing committee.

During this year marked by an unprecedented crisis, we have also been keen to support the actors of the social and solidarity economy through France Active and our FDNC-Sustainable Food Systems Fund created with Quadia, dedicated to bold companies in the agri-food value chain, whose actions and testimonies you will find in this document.

Finally, among the highlights of this year 2020, a promising project that is particularly close to our hearts: the creation of a collaborative place dedicated to patronage and the Social and Solidarity Economy, Casa Carasso (provisional name) in Madrid. “This space does not seek to reproduce an existing model but to invent new alternatives that meet the challenges of our society through art, food and philanthropy,” explains Isabelle Le Galo Flores, Deputy Delegate for Spain. ” This house will be open to organisations that develop activities with a social/environmental impact. We want this space to be shared, where we can grow together and move towards systemic transformation. A place conducive to unusual connections, an environment that encourages a change of scale. »

The building to be rehabilitated was acquired in the Delicias district. This 12 million euro project has been totally eco-designed and will soon house gardens, an auditorium, co-working and office spaces, workshops, and residencies for artists and researchers.

A webinar to exchange

How can your investments contribute to the fight against climate change? What are the proposed solutions? How can you make your investment converge with your sponsorship policy? We wanted to continue the discussion during a webinar organised on Thursday 2 December with the French Coalition of Climate Foundations.