Social Investment Forum News

Spring 2006

Strategic New Direction Underway as Social Investment Forum Marks 25th Year!

As the Forum enters its 25th year, we are pleased to report that our new strategic plan is moving forward with the successful launch of a major Capital Campaign. This fundraising initiative will help establish the revenue base and structure needed to advance SRI in the decades ahead. We have an ambitious vision for the Forum and the industry, including development of an institutional investor program and new research initiatives, and look forward to working in partnership with all of our members to achieve our common goals.

We are very pleased to report that the Forum Board already has commitments of over $250,000 toward our goal of $400,000 to take the Forum and SRI industry to the next level of development! We met our 2005 year-end fundraising goal and are right on track for 2006. Initial generous funding has come directly from our Board and the following members:

Benefactors—$40,000 and up

Calvert Funds

Platinum Sponsors—$25,000–$39,000

Christian Brothers Investment Services
First Affirmative financial Network
Pax World Funds

Gold Sponsors—$20,000–$24,000

First Affirmative Financial Network Representatives
Institutional Shareholder Services

Silver Sponsors—$15,000–$19,000

MMA Praxis
Trillium Asset Management Corporation
Walden Asset Management

Bronze Sponsors—$10,000–$14,000

Access Capital Strategies
Domini Social Investments
First Affirmative Financial Network Representatives
KLD Research & Analytics, Inc.

Supporter—$5,000–$9,000

Citizens Funds
First Nations Development Institute
Oneida Tribe of Indians of WI Trust Department
Progressive Investment Management
Self-Help
ShoreBank

Friend—$2,000–$4,000

Calvert Social Investment Foundation
Boston Common Asset Management
Piper Jaffray & Co., Philanthropic and Social Investment Consulting
Progressive Asset Management
Underdog Ventures

Gifts—Up to $1,999

Center for Responsible Investment
Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies
Co-op America
Green Century Funds
Rockefeller & Co.
Winslow Management Company

The Capital Campaign will soon be opened to the full membership for support and will include an update on our plans and progress. Your support will lay the foundation for the hire of a CEO for the Forum and the development of an industry-wide messaging campaign for SRI. Thank you for your attention to this upcoming communication on how you can participate in the Capital Campaign!

The Capital Campaign is part of a three-pronged initiative to build the base of financial support the Forum needs: 1) outreach to the board and membership, 2) outreach to foundations, and 3) outreach by the CEO we plan to hire, who will be responsible for mobilizing significant new resources. The fundraising campaign is in an excellent position and will continue to grow with your support!

Forum Begins Search for CEO

As noted, the Forum is also moving forward with the search for a CEO. We have retained a search firm, Egmont Associates based in Boston, to work with us to identify a qualified and diverse pool of applicants. A job description is available and has been posted to our Forum electronic discussion groups and will be posted to our Web site at www.socialinvest.org. Key components of the position announcement include the following:

Success in the first year will be defined by

Fundraising for the growth of the organization and implementation of the new programs identified in the strategic plan.
Establishing credibility, visibility and responsiveness amongst the membership, media and industry.
Developing a more comprehensive strategy and transition plan to guide the organization toward its strategic vision.
Growth in membership.
Development and management of harmonious and successful relationships with strategic partners.

Long-term Responsibilities

Coordinate staff, volunteer and partner activities to effectively advance the mission and to execute the strategy and operating plans.
Serve as the chief fundraiser, coordinating staff, board and other volunteer leadership.
Lead membership recruitment and implement growth, outreach and retention strategies for current and prospective membership segments.
Act as a key spokesperson, representing the industry and the Forum to the media, industry groups, policy makers and other key constituencies.
Recruit and manage staff, retaining ultimate responsibility for staff effectiveness.
Work with the Forum's Board of Directors to provide strategic input and to shape policy and communicate significant operational decisions.
Oversee administrative functions, including financial management and compliance to the by-laws and applicable laws.

Key Qualifications and Experience

Ten or more year's senior business, nonprofit and/or association management leadership experience required.
Demonstrated success in building an organization in one or more areas of financial services, community economic development, association leadership and/or industry advocacy or other related fields.
Demonstrated success as a senior level fundraiser.
Previous experience indicating the ability to transition The Forum from a board-led membership organization to a dynamic, focused, effective, high performing and mission-driven trade association.
Ability to create credibility with a wide range of institutional investors, the broader financial community, community development organizations, and social investment practitioners.
Collaborative leadership style.
Excellent communication skills.
Media and advocacy experience (press, public speaking, government relations).
Bachelor's degree required, with preference for an advanced degree.

To apply for the CEO position, please send a cover letter, resume, and salary history to Susan Egmont, Principal, Egmont Associates, FAX: 857-449-0001.

The Forum is very pleased to continue our secretariat relationship with Co-op America for membership, program, and administrative services during this transition, and looks forward to the new CEO working closely with Co-op America staff.

Special thanks to the full Search Committee: Reggie Stanley, Calvert (chair); Frank Coleman, Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc.; Greg Garvan, Money with a Mission/First Affirmative Financial Network; Elizabeth Glenshaw, Calvert Foundation; Tom Kuh, KLD Research & Analytics; Amy Muska-O’Brien, TIAA-CREF; Jean Pogge, ShoreBank; Cheryl Smith, Trillium Asset Management Corporation.

Forum Approves 2006 Organizational Plans

At the beginning of the year, the Forum Ltd. and Forum Foundation Boards approved their budgets and operating plan for 2006. In terms of the budgets, the Social Investment Forum Ltd. projects revenues of $612,100 and expenses of $606,743 with an ending fund balance of $105,242. The education-centered Social Investment Forum Foundation projects revenues of $169,293 and expenses of $281,300 with an ending fund balance of $77,938. The Foundation will seek additional program grants in 2006 yet cannot budget them at this early stage.

Our 2006 programs include the exciting highlights below

A. Capital Campaign
• Conduct a major Capital Campaign with the goal of raising $400,000 by 2006! Solicit support from members, industry colleagues, and foundations.

B. CEO Search and Hire
• Hire a CEO to develop the next level of SIF’s programs and benefits, expand the membership, and increase revenues.

•Communicate candidate selection and transition plans to the membership.

•Introduce the CEO at SRI in the Rockies, October 28-31, 2006!

C. SRI Impact & Message
• Identify next steps for the SRI messaging campaign as we continue to raise funds for the next phase of work.

D. Community Investing
• Increase community investments by at least another $250 million from Forum members though our 1% in Community Campaign.

• Clarify and expand the Program’s definition of community investing to bring more investors and investment products into our work.

• Further develop the Community Investing Center

• Build national visibility and increased community investment by:

· Creating an annual award to recognize significant product and service innovations in the community investment field

· Conducting media events to highlight the growth of community investing as funding permits.

· Involving a broader range of investor audiences (religious, foundations, endowments, etc), Forum members, and the community development field in using our resources

E. Advocacy & Public Policy Program

• Support Forum policy leadership on corporate governance, regulatory issues and mutual fund industry practices.

• Further develop and implement strategies addressing:

· Mutual Fund Disclosure and Reform
· Environmental and Social Disclosures in Financial Statements
· Address Efforts to Reverse the Gains of SRI/CSR.

• In response to member interest, work with financial advisors and planners within the Forum on a quarterly action letter they can use with their clients.

E. Media Program
• Continue to issue quarterly media announcement on the impact and performance of SRI, maintaining our average of 300-400 media hits per quarter.

• Identify if there are any industry issues on the horizon that will give us an opportunity to formulate a media response and increased visibility for social investing.

• Keep the defensive SWAT Team media strategy in place to prevent or respond to negative stories.

• Seek opportunities to develop op-eds for breaking news stories where our work or that of our members ties into broadly reported stories.

F. SRI in the Rockies Conference
• Conduct the 2006 conference at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO with a stellar line-up of speakers and cutting-edge issues! Save the date: October 28-31.

G. International Working Group
• Organize two meetings, in Washington, DC, and at SRI in the Rockies, on the latest international SRI developments.

• Continue to foster work on research, shareholder advocacy, public policy, and international community investing.

• Assess the future direction, size and goals of the group as it enters its 10th year!

H. Social Investment Research Analyst Network (SIRAN)
• Conduct the second in-person meeting of SIRAN in concert with the March 2006 IWG meeting in Washington, DC.

• Develop the S&P Benchmarking project to benchmark GRI reporting by companies in the U.S. S&P100 index.

• Conduct company meetings on CSR issues.

• Organize at least six brown bag lunches on CSR issues.

• Consider opportunities for media engagement.

As you can see we have a more-than-full year ahead and look forward to member participation and leadership to help ensure the success of these important SRI programs!

Consider Running for the Forum Board

Each fall at the Annual Members’ Meeting at the SRI in the Rockies Conference the membership elects Board members for seats beginning January 1st of the new year. We will soon open the Board nomination process and strongly invite members to nominate members whom they believe can best serve the Forum’s interests and goals. Board terms are for three years; the Board meets three times per year in person in addition to regular conference calls.

A nomination mailing will soon be sent detailing the nomination and election process and timeline. We seek a diverse slate of candidates representative of the range of SRI industry sectors, skills, and perspectives. If you have any questions, please contact the Nominations Committee Chair, Deborah Momsen-Hudson, at 919-956-4487.

Thank you to the 2006 Nominations Committee: Deborah Momsen-Hudson (chair) Self-Help; David Berge, Underdog Ventures; Susan Babcock, Rockefeller & Co.; Alisa Gravitz, Co-op America.

Welcome Kate Rosow, SIF’s New Working Group & Media Coordinator

The Forum is very pleased to announce the recent hire of Kate Rosow who is now serving as the Forum’s Working Group & Media Coordinator. A number of our members have “met” Kate via conference call as she dived in to our year-end flurry of activity, working with our Advocacy & Public Policy Program, International Working Group, Social Investment Research Analyst Network and Media Program.

Kate has a degree in Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics and has been working as a translator and studying in China for more than two years. Her students have included members of the business community in China and she has developed an avid interest in socially responsible investing and corporate practices. Kate told us she “finds the work of the Social Investment Forum more important than ever in a globalized economy in which investors play an increasingly central role in promoting corporate policies that best serve employees, shareholders, customers, supply-chain workers, local communities, and the environment.”

Please join us in welcoming Kate who can be reached at 202-872-5347.

Position Available: Community Investing Program Manager

The 1% or More in Community Investing Campaign of the SIF Foundation and Co-op America is looking to hire a full-time program manager. Responsibilities include outreach to involve more constituencies in community investing, production of materials for print and Web use, coalition work, and working with financial professionals to overcome hurdles to community investing.
Visit the Co-op America site for more information »

Friendly Reminder: New Membership Dues in Effect

If you have a Social Investment Forum membership renewal invoice on your desk—now is the time to renew your membership! We have a new membership dues structure in effect to help us keep pace with the growing demands on our programs. This year members are also able to earmark up to 30% of your dues for specific programs, so be sure to identify the programs you most want to support in 2006!

If you have any questions about your dues level, please contact Fran Teplitz at 202-872-5308.