Align Investments with Impact and Sustainability

Study 2: Blue Skies Foundation

The Blue Skies Foundation, born from the sale of a family business decades ago, has a clear mission: to support education and promote values like equity and independence. With a $25 million portfolio managed by two investment managers, the foundation is successfully fulfilling its financial goals. But, has yet to actively integrate environmental sustainability or social equity into its investment strategy. While the board recognizes the need to modernize its investment approach and embrace ESG considerations, the foundation has not yet moved forward with this transition. Outdated reporting systems further complicate their ability to track the impact of their investments, emphasizing the need to for align investments with impact and sustainability for long-term success.

Asset	Value ($)	Type of Asset
Investment Account #1	12,500,000	Financial Securities
Investment Account #2	12,500,000	Financial Securities
Foundation Cash Reserve	500,000	Liquid Assets for Operation

As new generations take on more significant roles within the foundation, there’s growing pressure to align the portfolio with the family’s values. Younger family members want to incorporate environmental and social factors into the decision-making process, but they lack the data and reporting systems to evaluate the impact of their investments from an ESG perspective. This is where Markdale Financial Management can step in to help. We specialize in impact investing and can assist the Blue Skies Foundation in developing a clear investment policy that integrates ESG factors into the portfolio. This not only ensures that their investments align with their mission but also provides a framework to measure and track these goals. 

How We Can Help

Our consolidated reporting service can give the foundation a detailed view of how its investments perform from both a financial and impact perspective. By using advanced data visualization tools, we can generate impact reports that track the foundation’s carbon footprint, water consumption, and contributions to gender and cultural diversity. This level of transparency will help the board make informed decisions while ensuring that their investments reflect the foundation’s commitment to promoting sustainability and equity​.

Here are two different examples of how we can provide comprehensive impact reports.

We also provide family governance support, facilitating discussions that incorporate diverse perspectives and ensure that the foundation remains aligned with both its mission and the values of its members. By modernizing their investment policy and reporting systems, Blue Skies Foundation can achieve long-term sustainability and maintain their positive impact on education.