Investing in women good for business

Posted on 05 Dec 2024

By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia

Australia’s first philanthropic investment fund run by women and for women has been launched.

Guided by female portfolio managers, Future Generation Women has been established with the aim of advancing economic equality and opportunity for Australian women and their children.

The fund is the brainchild of Geoff Wilson, founder of the innovative socially conscious investment fund Future Generation, described as the first listed investment company in Australia that delivers both investment and social returns.

Fund managers don’t charge management or performance fees, instead allocating 1% of the company's $1 billion asset base to charities and not-for-profits nominated by shareholders.

The funding model has raised more than $87 million for not-for-profits since it was launched 10 years ago.

Future Generation Women is the third philanthropic investment fund launched by the company, with Future Generation already delivering grants to organisations focused on the mental health of young Australians and children and youth at risk.

Future Generation Women was kickstarted with an initial $100 million donation from the Minderoo Foundation.

“It is estimated that more than 65% of wealth, or $3.2 trillion, is set to transfer to women by 2034. A new era of investing is upon us.”

Future Generation founder Geoff Wilson.

Wilson said that by launching Australia’s first philanthropic women’s investment fund, Future Generation was utilising a model which has proven that investors can do well while doing good.

“The waiving of all fees by our fund managers and service providers ensures that investors’ capital is put to work – both in growing wealth for our investors and in advancing the cause of gender equity," he said.

Wilson said there was an intergenerational wealth transfer underway in Australia that would put more power in the hands of women than ever before.

“It is estimated that more than 65% of wealth, or $3.2 trillion, is set to transfer to women by 2034. A new era of investing is upon us.”

Future Generation social impact director Emily Fuller said not only would the new fund invest capital in not-for-profits with the potential to improve women's lives, the fact that key investment decisions will also be made by women was a game-changer.

"All the capital in the fund will be managed by women portfolio managers and those women will progressively bring a gender lens to the investment decisions."

Hear more from Emily Fuller on the thinking behind Future Generation Women on the Community Advocate podcast.

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