Exchanging calculators for spades
Making regular monetary donations to worthy causes forms an integral part of many corporate social responsibility programmes. But there is nothing like getting directly involved in upliftment projects that make a difference in peoples lives.
Rowan Williams-Short (pictured right), manager of the Nedgroup Investments Balanced Fund, says taking part in the Habitat for Humanity ‘corporate blitz build’ in the Mfuleni township outside Cape Town was a profound experience of how people working together as a team, can make a huge difference in one family’s lives.
“I will never forget the expression on the face of Mrs Thembisa Labithi when she took ownership of her brand new house in Illovo Street, Mfuleni,” says Williams-Short.
He says it is deeply satisfying to be involved in projects like these. “It is far removed from what I do on a daily basis, sitting in an air-conditioned office behind my computer, evaluating shares and bonds on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and other exchanges, but it made me realise that we can make a real difference in improving the living standards of fellow citizens, even if it is only the life of one family in a poor community.”
Nic Andrew, Head of Nedgroup Investments, says Habitat for Humanity is one of the four major national charities that receive quarterly donations from the Nedgroup Investments Balanced Fund – one of the company’s 21 unit trust funds. Nedgroup Investments has adopted an unique business model, called Best of breed, a strategy that follows a robust approach whereby an experienced team research, identify and then partner with independent specialist fund managers to manage their range of local and international investment solutions. The other three charities benefiting from quarterly donations are the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Rehabilitation of Offenders (NICRO), Rape Crisis and Childline.
Andrew says the Nedgroup Investments Balanced Fund seeks to provide a sustainable income stream through the donation of a portion of the fee income - not the investors’ investment return or capital appreciation - to community organisations. It must be emphasised that the fund manager and not the investor makes these donations. The money donated to these organisations comes from two sources. Nedgroup Investments donates 60% of the initial fee earned on investor money flowing into the fund to the four beneficiary organisations. In addition, together with the manager of the fund, Nedgroup Investments donates 30% of the annual investment management fee.
“This enables us to provide the best of both worlds, fulfilling the mandate to investors, while contributing to community upliftment without any compromises or conflicts. For the year to date R703 168 was donated to these welfare organisations,” concludes Andrew.
