Mindful Money: Make your money a force for good!

Mindful Money: Make Your Money A Force For Good!

Project 2020-07-09 11:22:43 +1200

Money has impact. Our money can be used to create harm or to make a better world. We make that choice every time we put money into a KiwiSaver account or an investment fund.

Mindful Money shows people what’s in their funds - such as weapons, fossil fuels and companies that violate human rights. And we help people find a fund that fits their criteria and values.

Our website makes it quick, easy and free. Check it out at www.mindfulmoney.nz

We are raising $30,000 to fund a campaign that will get our message out. Every dollar you give will be matched by our generous Board of Trustees. 

We aim to grow a movement for change. Your support can make a huge difference in channelling funds towards climate action, social equity and sustainability. Let’s make money a force for good! 

How can we motivate people to invest ethically? 

We know that most people want to shift to an ethical fund, but few actually do so. It is all too easy to put it off until later. Our messaging provides the motivation:

Your money can cause harm. Mindful Money uses painstaking research to let people know what problem companies are in their funds. This information isn’t available anywhere else in New Zealand, or in fact, anywhere else in the world!  And we make this information available for FREE! 

You can choose better options. Our website fund finder helps people find an ethical fund that fits their values.

It's quick and easy to switch to an ethical fund.

Investing ethically is probably the most powerful action we can take to support sustainability. 

What needs to be done?

We are sowing the seeds of change. In our first year, New Zealanders shifted $10 million into ethical funds using our website. We also helped shift many millions more into ethical funds, influenced fund providers and helped change government policies. 

Now we are gearing up. We want to shift $50 million into ethical funds through our website. That’s a five-fold increase over the next year. The impact will be massive. Help us ignite New Zealand’s ethical investing movement.

Isn't investing ethically a no-brainer?

Yes! By shifting to an ethical fund, you can feel good, do good and earn good returns. 

- Investing ethically makes you feel good about your investments

- You do good for people and our environment (international research shows investing ethically has a more powerful impact than any other action you can take).

- And research shows that investing ethically earns good returns that are typically higher than conventional funds.

An example is investing in fossil fuels – companies that produce coal, oil and gas. Financial returns on these companies have plummeted in recent years. Mindful Money helps investors avoid fossil fuels and invest in clean funds. 

Nonetheless, last year $1.3 BILLION of KiwiSaver money was invested in fossil fuels. Many people who care deeply about climate change have fossil fuels in their KiwiSaver funds, but they don’t realise it. We make it easy for them to see where their money is invested, and to find a fossil free fund. 

A total of over $4.7 BILLION is invested in issues like weapons, gambling and animal testing.

What do we need funding for? 

Every crowdfunded dollar of the $30,000 target will be used to grow the ethical investment movement. Our surveys show that people who want to invest ethically are those who care about issues like climate change, a good environment and fairness. That’s most of us. 

- We will reach and engage more people through our weekly online seminar series, partnering with key media and telling stories through videos. 

- We will build more alliances with like-minded organisations like Oxfam, Forest & Bird and Sustainable Business Network. 

- We will create ‘Mindful Money workplaces’ in organisations that care about sustainability. 

- We will influence investment companies through annual surveys, high-profile events and research. 

Will we raise enough funding to make money a force for good? 

Yes, this $30,000 target will allow us to scale up. And you know what? YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL BE DOUBLED! Every dollar you contribute will be matched by Mindful Money's ultra-generous board of directors. Therefore, your impact will go much further. 

As a non-profit charity we are not into big budget marketing campaigns. Our social marketing approach enables us to build a movement for change with the resources we have. Every dollar of your contribution helps.

Over the longer term, we will create a movement of Kiwis who will shift their money to companies that do good.

More funds will be channelled into renewable energy, clean water, affordable housing and companies with high ethical standards. Companies that pollute and abuse human rights will be starved of funds and face pressure from investors to clean up their act. More money will work for good. 

Help us build that movement. 

Who are we? 

Mindful Money is a registered charity (part of Sustainable Initiatives Aotearoa CC#51919). We were founded by Barry Coates who has been a leader in finance and sustainability across business, NGOs and academia. He has now been joined by Karen Swainson and October Conway and a team of experienced and committed advisers, trustees, volunteers, donors and allies. We share a vision of empowering all New Zealanders to making the impact of their investment more positive. 

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