Check out the posts in the thread called " Socially responsible mutual funds" which I just dug up from our archives. There are lots of ideas there! Good luck.

Firechyld has a good point. The socially responsible funds are a good way to go if you don't want to manage the investment yourself.

On the other hand you do have the right to divest from an established plan and put it into a self managed IRA or Keough type plan.

I have had people do this with the stock in our project, as have I.

Either way though be sure to read closely where they are actually investing the funds. Some of them are a bit dubious in terms of how green or responsible they are.

alex you are wise to be cautious about what companies deserve your investment dollars.

Not all companies are out to rape and pillage the global commons or screw people. Unfortunately many are, but some are legitimately trying to raise money by fulfilling demand in a positive way. A person would be hard pressed to find a company that fulfilled all of every consumer’s ethical standards. I would suggest that you decide exactly what your personal parameters of acceptable business practices are before you invest.

If you become enrolled in a mutual fund, it is not likely that each company will live up to your standard. However, you should be able to access your portfolio at any time. Also every publicly held corporation publishes its financial information (usually on-line, if not they will furnish you with the info when asked. Public info includes annual reports, interim reports, balance sheets, and income statements. This should give you tell you what they are up to. You should also gain access to that company's portfolio.

Beware though, mutual fund portfolios change rapidly, and it will take a lot to keep up with. You may be better off managing your own portfolio.

If that is the road you decide to take, you must remember that mutual funds are used to reduce risk through massive diversification. You are not likely to achieve this risk reduction on your own. This is particularly important to consider relative to the nature of companies you are likely to be attracted to. It is not yet a widely held belief that ethics are profitable, and investor confidence has a significant impact on financial growth.

When looking for an ideal company to invest in, I would start by looking at companies that you favor, companies that you like what they are doing, then research them. For instance, Ford has been touting their ambitions of becoming an industry leader by way of creating a more environmentally friendly product. You may want to check out their labor practices and overall ethical track record. I am in no way recommending Ford; it’s just an example.

Hi Alex,

I have some money in a fund called Domini. Here is their website www.domini.com/about-domini/index.htm

I like the fact that they do all sorts of environmental and social screening of their companies. As of yet, I haven't heard anything sketchy about them (and hopefully won't ever!) so they may be worth your checking out.

Good luck!

hello... not new to the tribe but hardly ever around... something made me check it out today though...

There is a foundation called the Rudolf Steiner Foundation (based in SF with support offices in NYC) that does exactly this: socially responsible investing... and they work with you as to where YOU want your money to support... I have no money to invest right now, as I am a broke graduate student, but I learned of RSF through a visit from one of their representatives to my college... and instantly knew that when I DID have some money to invest, I would be calling them...

Whether you are down with Steiner or not, I would suggest looking into RSF... the "anthroposophical" approach to anything really has as it's core a committment to the forwarding of humanity... something I can't be so sure of with, for instance, investing my money in Pfizer stock or something of the like.

best wishes
~e

www.socialinvest.org/