A new project has been launched to develop a set of principles for trustees to use when making decisions about their charity investments.

The Charity Investment Governance Principles project was launched in November 2023, explores best practice in decision-making around charity investments, and will draw on the experiences of charities across England and Wales. The principles will reflect the outcomes of the high-profile Butler-Sloss case of 2022 and will complement the Charity Commission’s recently updated CC14 guidance and the Charity Governance Code. The principles are expected to be published in summer 2024.

Led by a steering group of charity sector experts and umbrella bodies, the project aims to work with charities to develop a set of principles for trustees and leaders to use when making decisions when investing charity funds.

Charity trustees and leaders, and those organisations with an interest in investment governance, are invited to register their interest to engage with the project by completing this short form.

Charity Finance Group (CFG) will host the project and it will be led by Gail Cunningham. In addition to CFG, the project’s steering group also includes representatives from the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF); National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO); Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA); and the Secretariat of the Charities Responsible Investment Network (CRIN).

Joining the group as expert advisers are Luke Fletcher, partner at Bates Wells, Elizabeth Jones, partner at Farrer & Co and Kristina Kopic, Head of Charity and Voluntary Sector at the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW). The Social Justice Collective and The Social Investment Consultancy (TSIC) will provide support on equality, diversity and inclusion across the project. Representatives from the Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) will join as independent observers.

The project has attracted funding from six grantmaking organisations – Friends Provident Foundation; City Bridge Foundation; Access –The Foundation for Social Investment; Mark Leonard, Aurora and JJ Trusts; and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, including Barrow Cadbury Trust.