Why We Joined the Principles for Responsible Investment

The Skoll Foundation recently became a proud signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. The PRI are a set of six voluntary and aspirational principles that offer a menu of possible actions to incorporate environmental, social, and governance factors into investment decisions.

• We will incorporate environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.
• We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.
• We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.
• We will promote acceptance and implementation of the principles within the investment industry.
• We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the principles.
• We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing principles.

Having followed the principles in intent and practice over the last decade, we decided it was appropriate—indeed our responsibility—to formally join the more than 1,750 signatories, from over 50 countries, representing approximately US$70 trillion in invested capital.

Participation gives us greater opportunity to collaborate with these leading asset owners, and to benefit from PRI research and best practices. We believe it is noteworthy that among the many large investors committed to the PRI, we join only two other U.S. private foundations, the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund, are willing to assert that they invest their capital in a manner consistent with the fundamental tenets of responsible investing. We will look for ways to influence other philanthropic foundations to reflect and ultimately act on committing their capital for good.