Our investments
Our investments ensure that we can keep working to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK for decades to come.
Money from our investments finance all our charitable work - our grants and social investments as well as our own actions and support.
Our investment policy is intended to provide long-term stability and liquidity to finance our work while maintaining the real value of the endowment, which was £1.325 billion at the end of 2024.
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How we invest
We aim to align our investments with our charitable objectives, whilst maintaining a consistent real value for the endowment over the longer term.
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Sustainable investing
We use a range of sustainable investment approaches with different financial and impact goals to support our work.
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A thematic approach to impact investing
With the launch of Esmée Fairbairn Foundation’s first deep dive into thematic impact investing, our Head of Social and Impact Investment, Jonny Page outlines our thematic approach to impact investing.
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Sustainable food and agriculture: Investment deep dive
We're excited to share our first deep dive into thematic impact investing, which focuses on sustainable food and agriculture.
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Investment summary
A summary of how our investments performed in 2024.
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Our commitment and strategy to be net zero
We have made a commitment that our investment portfolio will be net zero in terms of carbon emissions by 2040 at the latest.
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Climate Change
Read about our commitment to addressing the causes and impacts of climate change.
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United Nations' Principles of Responsible Investment
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is a signatory to the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment.
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You might be interested in
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15 July 2026Social and affordable housing: Investment deep dive
An investment deep dive on social and affordable housing in the UK. It collates existing research to provide an overview of the key challenges facing the sector and presents both the impact and the investment opportunity for asset allocators. It also offers guidance on community-centred approaches, to ensure people and places thrive.
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Big Nature Impact Fund: Investing in nature’s recovery
Led by Finance Earth, the Big Nature Impact Fund is the UK’s first blended nature-as-infrastructure fund. As they announce the first close, reaching a £64.6m, Sarah Hedley, Social Investment Manager at Esmée, reflects on why high-integrity funds like this are important and how it sits within Esmée’s work to improve Our Natural World.
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Business action on nature in the UK and guide to nature finance
We're pleased to share a new report by Will McDonald for Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, which explores how business in the UK is taking action on nature and the drivers behind it. You can also find a practical guide to the different types of nature finance and watch our webinar where we explore the findings.
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Consultant to undertake due diligence on Big Nature Impact Fund: Invitation to tender
We are seeking an external consultant (or organisation) to carry out independent due diligence on the Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF), a new £90m fund being launched by Finance Earth to support nature recovery projects in England.
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