Mission vs Margin: How Charities Are Rewriting the Investment Rulebook - Charities & Endowment Investment Focus
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Yesterday marked the return of the Charities & Endowment Investment Focus, now in its third iteration, held at the BFI on Stephen Street. Against the backdrop of a sunny London day, we welcomed trustees, CIOs, bursars and consultants from across the UK’s charitable and academic investment communities for a morning of discussion, insight and collaboration.
Following the continued growth and popularity of this event series, we are delighted to confirm that we will host a follow-up session on 18 November 2025.
Panel Session: Navigating Mission and Return
We opened with a powerful panel discussion chaired by Sandra Wolf, Editor at mallowstreet, featuring:
- Jaspal Sian, Investment Portfolio Manager, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Luke Webster, Bursar, Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford
- Matthew Gold, Head of Charity and Endowment Investment, Barnett Waddingham
This session explored how different organisations reconcile financial performance with their mission-driven objectives. There was a healthy range of viewpoints— from mission-first approaches rooted in impact frameworks such as the UN PRI, to more cash-flow driven strategies designed to support institutional sustainability.
ShareAction Masterclass: Engagement in Practice
Danielle Vrublevskis of ShareAction led a thought-provoking session on the role of asset owner engagement in responsible investment. She introduced the Charitable Responsible Investment Network (CRIN), spotlighting the power of collective voice—especially for smaller charities who may lack scale but not moral authority.
Masterclass Highlights
- Pluto Finance presented opportunities for charities to invest in UK residential real estate debt—offering both attractive returns and real-world impact in addressing the housing crisis. The session explored how institutional capital can unlock housing solutions while balancing credit risk and ESG objectives.
- Evenlode Investments focused on active risk management in today’s volatile market. Chris Elliott described their long-term investment philosophy, rooted in business quality, valuation discipline, and behavioural awareness. The session struck a chord with delegates looking for stability without sacrificing returns.
- Baillie Gifford closed the day with an energetic exploration of climate scenario planning. As the world faces technological disruption, policy shifts and climate volatility, the session
