Investment Strategy

INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Our investment strategy is to ensure a strong rate of return to fund the foundation’s grant-making programs over the long term, with a target-balanced asset portfolio skewed towards Australian shares with fully franked yields offering additional returns without risk. We invest responsibly in corporations who reflect our mission with preference given to members of ESG Research Australia and signatories to the United Nations PRI and we avoid those whose activities conflict.

Note:

  • Australian Equity Fund Managers: Maple-Brown Abbott, Warakirri Equities Trust, Warakirri Cash Trust, Australian Foundation Investment Company, BKI Investment Company, Russell Investments Australia Responsible Investments, Milton Corporation, Future Generation Investment Company, Third Link Growth Fund and Hyperion Australian Growth Companies Fund.
  • Social Impact investments: SEFA Loan, Social Ventures Australia – Aspire SIB Notes, Social Ventures Australia – Resolve SBB notes, Social Ventures Australia – Diversified Investment Fund, Giant Leap Fund, AbilityMade, Compass SIB, Patamar II, Cochlear Ltd, CSL Limited, ResMed Inc, CSIRO Fund, Murray-Darling Balanced Water Fund, Xceptional Testing, Loop+, Seer Data & Analytics, Melior Australian Impact Investment, Australian Unity Specialist Accommodation, Synergis Fund, Lady Torpedo Productions Loan, Universal Village International Loan, Centre for Participation Loan, GPS Rowing Club Loan, the Impact Fund and Jigsaw.
  • Global Equity Fund Managers: Hyperion Global Growth Companies Fund, Platinum International, Future Generation Global Fund

 

SOCIAL IMPACT INVESTMENTS

We are committed to driving positive social impact by giving to great organisations and by investing our corpus responsibly and growing our social impact investment portfolio.  We continue to aim for 10% invested in pure Social Impact Investments. Currently, the foundation has twenty-eight Social Impact Investments totalling $8.1M (6%).

Additionally, the Fund Managers Third Link, Future Generation Investment Company (FGX) and Future Generation Global Fund (FGG) have been selected due to their philanthropic and charitable nature. If these managers were included within our impact investments, the percentage share of impact investments would increase to 28% in the Asset Allocation June 2021 graph.

Due to our large investment in Future Generation’s FGG and FGX, The Snow Foundation was given the opportunity to nominate charities to donate our earned investment income this year. We selected the following partners which totalled $181,008 in donations: The Violet Initiative, UNSW – Uluru Statement from the Heart, AbilityMade (via Northcott Innovation), Tender Funerals, Canberra Police Community Youth Club, Beryl Women, HOME in Queanbeyan, The Reconnect Project, Liverpool Neighborhood Connection, Refugees Advice and Casework Service, Project Youth, Menzies School of Health Research, Sober in the Country, Imagine More, St Johns Care and The Run for Good .

 

NEW IMPACT INVESTMENTS IN 2020/21

  1. The Conscious Investment Management Impact $500k – This fund invests in a number of social impact projects in the areas of renewable energy, specialist disability accommodation, seniors housing, affordable housing and coaching services to the unemployed.
  2. Jigsaw $250k – Trains and transitions people with disability into award wage employment.
  3. Melior $300k (further investment) – Invests in AUS & NZ companies with core businesses creating net positive impact in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

EXISTING IMPACT INVESTMENTS FROM 2015-2020

  1. Australian Unity Disability Housing $1M – Disability accommodation.
  2. Melior $500k – Invests in companies creating net positive impact in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  3. Synergis Fund $500k – Disability accommodation.
  4. Seer Data Analytics $50k – data platform designed for the community sector that allows people to find, blend and share data to solve socials problems together in order to make better decisions, save money and improve lives.
  5. Loop + $235k – A technology company developing solutions for the care management of pressure injuries in wheelchair users with the mission to increase their independence and quality of life.
  6. Xceptional BOLD $100k – Provides tech services for businesses creating employment opportunities for 1092 people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
  7. Community Loans totalling $35K – Including Lady Torpedo Productions, Universal Village International, Centre for Participation and GPS Rowing Club.
  8. AbilityMade $350 – Creates custom made 3D printed ankle-foot orthoses for children.
  9. Patamar II $750k, partially drawn – An international fund improving the livelihoods of low-income communities, primarily investing in companies across agriculture, e-commerce, health care and financial.
  10. CSIRO $500k, partially drawn – Invests in technology and science ventures that have the potential to disrupt the status quo, generating large social and environmental impact for national benefit.
  11. CSL Limited $200k – A global specialty biotechnology company that researches, develops, manufactures, and markets products to treat and prevent human medical conditions.
  12. ResMed Inc $100k – A medical equipment company specialising in the treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders.
  13. Cochlear $200k – A medical device company that designs, manufactures, and supplies the Nucleus cochlear implant, the Hybrid electro-acoustic implant and the Baha bone conduction implant.
  14. Murray Darling Basin Balanced Water Fund $1M – Involved in environmental watering in wetlands of spiritual and cultural significance to First Nations People.
  15. SEFA Loan Fund $300k – Offers finance in affordable housing, Indigenous training and employment, and refugee services.
  16. Project Independence $100k undrawn – Provides a social housing model for people with a disability to acquire homeownership from their pension.
  17. Social Ventures Australia Fund $950k partially drawn – Invests in impact organisations and housing projects, focusing on education, employment, housing, First Australians, disability and health.
  18. Giant Leap Fund $250k partially drawn – Invests in companies whose mission is to create a more sustainable society.
  19. Compass SIB $300k – Delivers a housing-first solution and additional support to young people exiting out of home care.