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New York, NY, July 24, 2003

September 23, 2005      

 

AMY DOMINI IS HONORED BY INTERFAITH CENTER ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments Cited for “Leadership and Vision in Socially Responsible Investing”

 

New York, NY – Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments, was honored by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) at its 19th Annual Fall Event yesterday. The organization noted her selection as one of Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people, and cited her “leadership and vision in socially responsible investing,” her “commitment to ICCR and its mission,” and her “generosity of spirit.”

 

“As a former board member and a long-time colleague of ICCR, I am especially pleased to receive this honor,” Ms. Domini said. “ICCR is a leader in its efforts to bring shareholders’ voices to corporate boardrooms on behalf of a range of social and environmental issues. Though this honor is important to me, the greater honor is the opportunity we have had to join with ICCR to work for sustainability, human dignity, and justice for workers around the world.”

 

About Amy Domini

Ms. Domini’s involvement in social investing began in 1980 when she was working as a stockbroker. One of her clients, an avid birdwatcher, was uncomfortable investing in a paper company that used a highly toxic defoliant that endangered birds. Other investors wanted to avoid the stocks of tobacco companies and defense contractors.

 

Ms. Domini soon became a passionate proponent of socially responsible investing. In 1990, she and her colleagues introduced the Domini 400 Social Index, an index of 400 primarily large-cap U.S. corporations selected according to a wide range of social and environmental criteria. Over time, the index provided a track record that demonstrated that it is possible to achieve competitive returns while incorporating social and environmental standards into the investment process. In 1991, Ms. Domini founded Domini Social Investments.

 

Ms. Domini serves on the board of the Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church in America. She is a past board member of the National Association of Community Development Loan Funds, an organization whose members work to create funds for grassroots economic development loans, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, whose membership serves as the major sponsors of shareholder actions on social and environmental issues. She is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting.

 

About the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility

For over 30 years the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) has been a leader of the corporate social responsibility movement. ICCR’s membership is an association of 275 faith-based institutional investors, including national denominations, religious communities, pension funds, endowments, hospital corporations, economic development funds, and publishing companies. ICCR and its members press companies to be socially and environmentally responsible. Each year ICCR members and associates sponsor over 100 shareholder resolutions on major social and environmental issues. The combined portfolio value of ICCR’s member organizations is estimated to be $110 billion.

Domini Social Investments LLC is an associate member of ICCR.

 

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. Investment return, principal value, and yield will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original cost. You may lose money. DSIL Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor. 09/05

 

 

 

 

September 20, 2005      

 

DOMINI HIRES NEW SRI PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Socially Responsible Investment Firm Welcomes Jeff MacDonagh

 

New York, NYDomini Social Investments, a leading manager of mutual funds for socially responsible investors, has named Jeffrey T.S. MacDonagh, CFA, its new SRI Portfolio Manager. He joins the in-house team that applies social and environmental standards to the company’s new Domini European Social Equity Fund.

 

“I am pleased to be joining Domini as a member of the research team,” said Mr. MacDonagh. “The Domini European Social Equity Fund offers an exciting opportunity for Domini and U.S. investors to invest in an economic region where corporations are embracing the challenge of sustainable growth.”

 

Before joining Domini, Mr. MacDonagh was an assistant portfolio manager at Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors, where his responsibilities included portfolio management, screening for social investments, proxy voting, and community development investing. Previously he was a social investment researcher at KLD Research & Analytics, Inc. He is a member of the Social Investment Research Analyst Network and of the Steering Committee of the Social Investment Forum’s Community Investments Program.

 

Mr. MacDonagh holds a B.S. in mathematics, physics, and philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an M.S. in technology policy and an M.S. in environmental planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting.

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. Investment return, principal value, and yield will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original cost. You may lose money.

 

Investing internationally involves special risks, such as currency fluctuations, social and economic instability, differing securities regulations and accounting standards, limited public information, possible changes in taxation, and periods of illiquidity. DSIL Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor. 09/05

 

 

 

 

September 13, 2005

 

DOMINI LAUNCHES NEW EUROPEAN STOCK FUND
Domini European Social Equity Fund Seeks Long-Term Wealth Creation

 

New York, NYDomini Social Investments, a leading manager of mutual funds for socially responsible investors, has launched the Domini European Social Equity Fund, a new mutual fund for U.S. social investors devoted entirely to the stocks of European companies.

 

The Domini European Social Equity Fund will commence operations on October 3, 2005. Investors may participate in a subscription period that began on September 1. Investor class shares and A shares are available.

 

“We believe that there are attractive investment opportunities in Europe — for mutual fund investors generally, and social investors in particular,” said Amy Domini, Domini’s founder and CEO.

 

“European companies are driving the economic integration of the region. Europe has a trade surplus and relatively high rates of household income and savings. In addition, European stocks are relatively low-priced.”

 

“Investing in Europe gives social investors the opportunity to invest in public transportation, which is an important part of the region’s economy,” according to Steven D. Lydenberg, Domini’s Chief Investment Officer. “Europe is committed to the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, so we’re seeing significant growth in alternative energy. Almost three-quarters of new windpower capacity installed in the world last year was in Europe. Three-quarters of the world’s vaccines also come from European companies.”

 

The Domini European Social Equity Fund will be managed by a team that combines the strengths of Domini Social Investments and Wellington Management Company, LLP. Domini is responsible for the application of social and environmental standards to the Fund’s portfolio, while Wellington Management is responsible for the application of financial criteria.

 

The goal of the Fund is to invest in stocks of European companies that meet a comprehensive set of social, environmental, and financial standards. The Fund focuses on the concept of long-term societal wealth creation as a primary theme driving its assessment of corporations.The Fund will use a quantitative model based on value and momentum, which considers factors such as earnings quality and capital efficiency. The Fund seeks to control tracking error against the European stock market by considering portfolio characteristics such as sector representation, country, and market capitalization.

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting.

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. Investment return, principal value, and yield will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original cost. You may lose money.

 

Investing internationally involves special risks, such as currency fluctuations, social and economic instability, differing securities regulations and accounting standards, limited public information, possible changes in taxation, and periods of illiquidity. DSIL Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor. 09/05

 

 

 

 

July 13, 2005

 

Public Reporting Working Group Welcomes Gap’s 2004 Social Responsibility Report

 

 

The Public Reporting Working Group (PRWG) welcomes Gap Inc.’s second social responsibility report, issued today. The report focuses primarily on the company’s efforts to address working conditions in its global supply chain.  The PRWG said, “We believe that Gap has made substantial progress in focusing on the connections between its core business, systemic global concerns and workers’ lives.”

 

The PRWG—a group of socially responsible Gap shareholders-- provided input and guidance to the Gap as it prepared its report.  The PRWG includes Domini Social Investments, the Calvert Group, the As you Sow Foundation, CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.

 

The PRWG’s statement appears in the Gap’s report (p. 52):

 

“Corporations like Gap stand in a critical place in the world.  Global supply chains take companies into nearly every corner of the developing world, placing them in the position of buyer, mediator, and labor rights consultant. Because Gap earns substantial revenues from its global supply chain, it bears important responsibility for workers who manufacture its products. They have an opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of individuals by their responsible actions.

 

We believe that Gap has made substantial progress in focusing on the connections between its core business, systemic global concerns, and workers’ lives.  We commend Gap for recognizing that brands and retailers contribute to poor working conditions through unreasonable expectations regarding speed of delivery and cost, inefficient purchasing practices, inconsistent labor standards and means of enforcement.    Simple changes in sleeve length or shirt color can drive unreasonable conditions on the factory floor as workers are pushed to meet changing demands. 

 

The information provided in this report – specific data points, plus frank discussion of the systemic issues driving recurring problems – can empower both investors and consumers to make more responsible choices. We must recognize that companies and consumers who view fashion as disposable, and investors narrowly focused on quarterly earnings, are also part of the problem.

 

This report touches on Gap’s response to the expiration of the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) – a significant shift in the global supply system that can have devastating consequences in some developing economies.  We encourage Gap to share more information about their approach, while continuing to work with others to mitigate the impact of this shift. 

 

As Gap’s new compliance database becomes operative, we expect future reports to provide additional specific and aggregate data to assess factory performance while relating the data to the systemic issues. We would like to see a future report highlight the state of the U.S. garment industry. We encourage Gap to broaden the scope of its reporting to address the full range of issues covered by the Global Reporting Initiative. We look forward to comparable reports from other companies.

 

We hope that this report will deepen dialogue among corporations, consumers and investors – all of us who are players in this global system – about the impact of our decisions on the lives of those who do not have the luxury to invest, or to change their wardrobe every season. This is the broader dialogue that socially responsible investing seeks to foster.”

 

The full report is available online at www.gapinc.com.

 

Contact information:

Adam Kanzer, Esq., Domini Social Investments LLC  (212-217-1100)

Alya Z. Kayal, Esq., Calvert Group Ltd. (301-951-4864)

Conrad MacKerron, As You Sow Foundation  (415-391-3212, ext. 31)

Ruth Rosenbaum, TC, PhD., CREA: Center for Reflection, Education and Action (860-527-0455)

David M. Schilling, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (212-870-2928)

 

 

The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money. As of June 30, 2005, Gap, Inc. represented 0.26% of the Domini Social Equity Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s portfolio is subject to change.

 

You should consider the Domini Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. View or order a copy of the Funds' current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. DSIL Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor. DSILD and the entities named above are not affiliated. 7/05

 

 

 

 

July 11, 2005

 

GUIDELINES TO CURB CONTROVERSIES OVER “BIG BOX” STORE LOCATIONS ISSUED BY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS INVESTMENT SERVICES, DOMINI SOCIAL INVESTMENTS

 

Conflicts on Environment, Legal, Cultural and Other Grounds Seen as Growing Risk to Reputation and Shareholder Value; Guidelines Backed By Investors Representing $33 Billion.

 

 

New York, NY – In the wake of dozens of often bitter community-level controversies across the United States and Mexico focused on the sites selected for “mega stores,” Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. (CBIS) and Domini Social Investments (Domini) today issued a set of nine guidelines for major retailers to use in making decisions about store site locations, land procurement and leasing.  In addition to CBIS and Domini, 20 institutional investors and mutual fund families representing $33 billion in assets under management support the guidelines.

 

The guidelines recommended today by CBIS/Domini urge major retailers to embrace environmental stewardship; public disclosure of siting policies; advance consultation with affected communities; respect for Indigenous cultures; protection of cultural heritage; and adherence to “smart growth” practices.  While companies are encouraged to adapt the guidelines to suit their unique business models, the report strongly recommends that all retailers should have a clearly formulated, well-monitored and effective policy for assessing and mitigating social and environmental risks associated with store siting.  The report also contains dozens of examples of past controversies, some positive cases, and many suggestions and resources that companies may use to minimize future conflicts.

 

Julie Tanner, Corporate Advocacy Coordinator for CBIS, said, “Store siting is such a central component of a retailer’s business that companies should have guidelines to avoid controversies that can endanger shareholder value.  These conflicts can damage a company’s reputation and impact consumer confidence; they may also lead to financial liabilities from unforeseen events and increase legislative and legal risks.  As retailers expand throughout the U.S. and abroad, we believe they must take proactive steps to engage with communities and ensure that their cultural and environmental heritage remains intact.”

 

Adam Kanzer, General Counsel and Director of Shareholder Advocacy at Domini, said, "Big-box retailers have encountered resistance to their growth by not thoroughly evaluating these issues. Companies have damaged their relations with communities by contributing to urban sprawl, siting stores on land sacred to Indigenous peoples, and circumventing the open market by acquiring land through eminent domain proceedings.  We believe these problems can be avoided. We offer these guidelines to companies seeking to find common ground with communities."

 

The report includes examples of how retailers have handled store siting issues, including the following:

 

Community Relations: To restrict large-scale retail development, Dunkirk, Maryland, imposed a limit on the size of stores. In what some residents believed was an attempt to bypass the cap, this year Wal-Mart proposed building two stores in Dunkirk, side-by-side. While each store would meet the size limit imposed by the law, together the two buildings would exceed it by 30 percent.

 

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: In October 2004, a Wal-Mart in Hawaii opened amid protests from Indigenous Hawaiians seeking prompt reburial of the remains of 44 of their ancestors that had been unearthed during the store’s construction. The company had encountered other controversies related to Indigenous peoples’ heritage in Tennessee and New York.

 

Eminent Domain: In recent years, a number of private property owners have filed lawsuits or mounted protests in opposition to plans by towns and cities to seize land for sale to large retailers, including Costco, Home Depot, Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond. In one such instance in New Rochelle, New York, in 2001, residents defeated city plans to condemn a small suburban neighborhood to make way for an IKEA store. This issue is likely to continue to affect retailers, despite the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of using eminent domain for economic development.  Communities may still be opposed to the practice, and the Court was clear that states may still enact laws limiting its use.

 

Smart Growth: In late 2005, Home Depot will open a store on the site of a former concrete plant in Placerville, California.  The company has restored the bed of a creek that flowed through the property, landscaped its banks with native plants, provided walkways and bridges for pedestrian access, and designed the store’s façade to blend in with the California foothill community. The company was praised for revitalizing an existing business district and for not building on the outskirts of town.

 

Disclosure of policy and siting plans: Target includes a short section on “Sustainable Real Estate Development & Design” in its 2004 Social Responsibility Report. It notes that the company conducts environmental due diligence when acquiring property, that it seeks to site stores when possible on environmentally restored properties, and that it intends to consult with communities and local planning commissions early in the project stage.

 

The nine guidelines are supported by the following organizations, institutional investors and mutual fund families representing $33 billion in assets under management: Boston Common Asset Management · Calvert Group · Catholic Healthcare West · Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois · Evangelical Lutheran Church in America · General Board of Pension and Health Benefits United Methodist Church · Program Directors for Energy & Environment and Contract Supplier and Human Rights Working Groups of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility · Maryknoll Sisters · NorthStar Asset Management, Inc. · Progressive Investment Management · Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Social Justice Office · Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia · Office of Peace and Justice  Sisters of St. Joseph, Nazareth, Michigan · Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia · Pax World Funds · Sierra Club Mutual Funds · The Ethical Funds Company · The Oneida Trust Committee of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin · Trillium Asset Management · Walden Asset Management.

 

View the CBIS/Domini full report, Outside the Box: Guidelines for Retail Store Siting (in PDF format). The report was written by Julie Tanner, of CBIS, and Kimberly Gladman, of Domini.

 

ABOUT CBIS AND DOMINI

 

Christian Brothers Investment Services manages nearly $4 billion, combining faith and finance in the responsible stewardship of Catholic financial assets.  CBIS' combination of premier institutional asset managers, diversified product offerings, and careful risk-control strategies constitutes a unique investment approach for Catholic institutions and their fiduciaries. CBIS strives to integrate faith-based values into the investment process through a disciplined approach to socially responsible investing that includes principled purchasing (stock screens), active ownership strategies (proxy voting, dialogues, and shareholder resolutions) and community investment.  The firm contributes a portion of all profits to support the Church's educational and social ministry.  Visit CBIS on the Web at www.cbisonline.com.

 

Domini Social Investments LLC manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society through their investment decisions. Visit www.domini.com to learn more.

 

 

You should consider the Domini Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of the Funds' current prospectus for complete information on these and other topics, by calling 1-800-762-6814 or online at www.domini.com. Please read it carefully before investing or sending money. Domini Social Investments LLC, DSIL Investment Services and Christian Brothers Investment Services are not affiliated. DSIL Investment Services LLC, Distributor.

 

 

 

 

May 2, 2005

 

DOMINI LAUNCHES LOAD-SHARE CLONE OF DOMINI SOCIAL EQUITY FUND
New Share Class Targets Commission-Based Brokers


 

New York, NYDomini Social Investments LLC, a leading manager of mutual funds geared toward socially responsible investors, has launched a load product that clones its flagship Domini Social Equity Fund.

 

“The Domini Social Equity Fund has a 14-year track record and is based on the benchmark index for socially conscious investors,” said Steven Lydenberg, Domini’s Chief Investment Officer.

 

The Domini Social Equity Portfolio Class A is a clone of the Domini Social Equity Fund created for use by commission-based brokers.

 

“By introducing load shares, we hope to reach out to a whole new realm of investors who prefer to make their investment decisions with professional assistance,” said Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments.

 

Marketing of the new Class A shares will be headed up by Kenneth R. Nostro, Domini’s Director of Broker-Dealer Distribution. Before joining Domini, Mr. Nostro was vice president at Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC.

 

“Until now there has been no Domini product that meets the needs of commission-based brokers,” said Mr. Nostro. “Our new Class A shares can easily be as popular among commission-based brokers as the Domini Social Equity Fund is among fee-based advisors and do-it-yourselfers.” Morningstar calls the Domini Social Equity Fund “a fine core holding for socially conscious investors.”*

 

The Domini Social Equity Portfolio Class A will charge a tiered front-end load that starts at 4.75%, to compensate brokers for the guidance they offer to clients. No-load shares of the Domini Social Equity Fund will remain available for fee-based advisors and investors who buy shares directly from Domini.

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting.

 

Additional information on Domini Social Investments is available on the firm’s website, www.domini.com.

 

*Source: Morningstar: “Morningstar’s Take,” Analyst Report dated February 16, 2005.

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of each Fund’s current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com.  Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money. Please note that whether a fund is load or no-load, certain fees and expenses apply to a continued investment, and are described in each Fund's prospectus.

 

Please consult the Domini Social Equity Portfolio’s current prospectus for more information on sales charges and breakpoints. DSIL Investment Services, Distributor. 5/05

 

 

 

 

April 11, 2005

 

AMY DOMINI HONORED BY TIME MAGAZINE
Founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments Named One of 100 Most Influential People of 2005

 

New York, NY – Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments, has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world in the current issue of Time magazine. Listed in the Time 100 for 2005, Ms. Domini is honored for her work as a pioneer in socially responsible investing. 

 

Amy Domini has been called an “All-Star” of the mutual fund industry (Barron’s), “the first lady of social investing” (Philadelphia Inquirer), and a “capitalist with a heart” (Morningstar). She was named to the Time 100 “Next Wave” list in 2000, when Time honored her as an innovator of finance and called her “a capitalist tool from a different mold.”* She is the author of books including Socially Responsible Investing: Making a Difference and Making Money, The Challenges of Wealth, and Ethical Investing.

 

The 2005 Time 100 list includes Meg Whitman, Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, the Dalai Lama, Oprah Winfrey, Viktor Yushchenko, and Jon Stewart. 

 

“I am grateful to be honored by Time magazine, and for the opportunity to spread the message of social investing to the large audience that Time reaches,” Ms. Domini said. “I consider this an honor for all of us in the social investing community who have dedicated ourselves to the simple idea that we can build a better future through our investments and that it is possible to make a difference and make money at the same time.”

 

The Domini 400 Social Index was created by Amy Domini and colleagues to determine whether social investing could perform as well as conventional investing. Morningstar calls the Domini Social Equity Fund, whose portfolio is based on this index, “a fine core holding for socially conscious investors.”**

 

About Amy Domini

Ms. Domini’s involvement in social investing began in 1980 when she was working as a stockbroker. One of her clients, an avid birdwatcher, was uncomfortable investing in a paper company that used a highly toxic defoliant that endangered birds. Other investors wanted to avoid the stocks of tobacco companies and defense contractors.

 

Ms. Domini soon became a passionate proponent of socially responsible investing. In 1990, she and her colleagues introduced the Domini 400 Social Index, an index of 400 primarily large-cap U.S. corporations selected according to a wide range of social and environmental criteria. Ms. Domini then founded the Domini Social Equity Fund and later launched Domini Social Investments. Over time, the Domini 400 Social Index provided a track record that demonstrated that it is possible to achieve competitive returns while incorporating social and environmental standards into the investment process.

 

Ms. Domini serves on the board of the Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church in America. She is a past board member of the National Association of Community Development Loan Funds, an organization whose members work to create funds for grassroots economic development loans, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, the major sponsor of shareholder actions. She is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting. In addition to the Domini Social Equity Fund, the company also offers the intermediate-term Domini Social Bond Fund (NASDQ: DSBFX) and an FDIC-insured money market account (in partnership with ShoreBank), both of which focus on community economic development.

 

Additional information on Domini Social Investments is available on the firm’s website, www.domini.com. Domini’s Proxy Voting Guidelines & Procedures booklet is also available free of charge by calling 1-800-762-6814.

 

 

*Sources: Barry Henderson and Sandra Ward, “All-Stars: A Look at the Fund World’s Heaviest Hitters,” Barron’s, January 10, 2000; Miriam Hill, “A Career Invested in Conscience,” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 28, 2000; Emily Hall, “WomenInvesting: Amy Domini: Capitalist with a Heart,” Morningstar.com, August 6, 2000; “Time 100: The Next Wave,” Time, February 21, 2003.

 

**Source: Morningstar: “Morningstar’s Take,” Analyst Report dated February 16, 2005.

 

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of the Funds’ current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money. The Domini 400 Social Index and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index are unmanaged indexes of common stocks. You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

Some of the Domini Social Bond Fund’s community development investments may be unrated and carry greater credit risks than its other investments. The Domini Social Bond Fund currently holds a large percentage of its portfolio in mortgage-backed securities. During periods of falling interest rates these securities may prepay the principal due, which may lower the Fund’s return by causing it to reinvest at lower interest rates. KLD is the owner of the Domini 400 Social IndexSM ("the Index"). KLD determines the composition of the Index but is not the manager of the Domini Social Index Portfolio, the Domini Social Equity Fund, or the Domini Institutional Social Equity Fund.  

 

DSIL Investment Services, Distributor (DSILD). DSILD and ShoreBank are not affiliated. 04/05

 

 

 

April 8, 2005

 

AMY DOMINI HONORED BY NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION
Founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments Wins Award for Support of Community Investing

 

New York, NY – Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments, received the National Award for Neighborhood Leadership yesterday for her work on behalf of community investing. The award is presented each year by the National Neighborhood Coalition. 

 

Previous winners of the National Award for Neighborhood Leadership are Bill Gates Sr., Chuck Collins of United for a Fair Economy, Ray Suarez of PBS and NPR, and former Cabinet secretary Henry Cisneros.

 

Under Amy Domini’s leadership, Domini Social Investments has created financial products that have helped break down the barriers preventing mainstream investors from directing capital to underserved communities. The Domini Social Bond Fund invests in bonds and other securities that help residents of underserved urban and rural communities to start their own businesses and buy their own homes. The Domini Money Market Account places investors’ funds with ShoreBank, the nation’s first bank to commit itself to rebuilding distressed communities.

 

Both products help low-income individuals and institutions finance first-time home purchases, create daycare centers, and start up and expand family businesses. In addition, they support institutions that provide valuable training and empowerment to those who have not previously dealt with mainstream financial institutions.

 

“It is a great honor to be recognized by the National Neighborhood Coalition,” Ms. Domini said. “Community investing is an essential element of investing with one’s values, and the Coalition’s efforts have helped raise public awareness of how much can be done on a local level.”

 

About Amy Domini

Ms. Domini’s involvement in social investing began in 1980 when she was working as a stockbroker. One of her clients, an avid birdwatcher, was uncomfortable investing in a paper company that used a highly toxic defoliant that endangered birds. Other investors wanted to avoid the stocks of tobacco companies and defense contractors.

 

Ms. Domini soon became a passionate proponent of socially responsible investing. In 1990, she and her colleagues introduced the Domini 400 Social Index, an index of 400 primarily large-cap U.S. corporations selected according to a wide range of social and environmental criteria. Over time, the index provided a track record that demonstrated that it is possible to achieve competitive returns while incorporating social and environmental standards into the investment process. Ms. Domini then founded the Domini Social Equity Fund and later launched Domini Social Investments.

 

Ms. Domini serves on the board of the Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church in America. She is a past board member of the National Association of Community Development Loan Funds, an organization whose members work to create funds for grassroots economic development loans, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, the major sponsor of shareholder actions. She is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting. In addition to the Domini Social Equity Fund, the company also offers the intermediate-term Domini Social Bond Fund (NASDQ: DSBFX) and an FDIC-insured money market account (in partnership with ShoreBank), both of which focus on community economic development.

 

Additional information on Domini Social Investments is available on the firm’s website, www.domini.com. Domini’s Proxy Voting Guidelines & Procedures booklet is also available free of charge by calling 1-800-762-6814.

 

About the National Neighborhood Coalition

The National Neighborhood Coalition (NNC) provides common ground for the nation’s leading advocates for lower-income neighborhoods. It is where national and local leaders come together to generate the resources, public policies, and solution-oriented strategies that strengthen and sustain neighborhoods. NNC’s broad network of more than one million members affords groups a voice in Washington, D.C.; opens doors to partnerships among nonprofits and commercial entities; and keeps low-income problems and solutions on the agenda for key policymakers. For over 25 years, NNC has stimulated collaboration and innovation.

 

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of the Funds’ current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money. The Domini 400 Social Index is an unmanaged index of common stocks. You cannot invest directly in an index. KLD is the owner of the Domini 400 Social IndexSM ("the Index"). KLD determines the composition of the Index but is not the manager of the Domini Social Index Portfolio, the Domini Social Equity Fund, or the Domini Institutional Social Equity Fund.  

 

The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money. Some of the Domini Social Bond Fund’s community development investments may be unrated and carry greater credit risks than its other investments. The Domini Social Bond Fund currently holds a large percentage of its portfolio in mortgage-backed securities. During periods of falling interest rates these securities may prepay the principal due, which may lower the Fund’s return by causing it to reinvest at lower interest rates. DSIL Investment Services, Distributor (DSILD). DSILD and ShoreBank are not affiliated. 04/05

 

 

 

April 6, 2005

 

AMY DOMINI WINS NOTRE DAME’S HESBURGH AWARD FOR BUSINESS ETHICS
Founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments Honored as Social Investing Pioneer

 

New York, NY – Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments, was awarded Notre Dame University’s Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Business Ethics yesterday. The award was presented by Father Hesburgh, Notre Dame’s president emeritus.

 

“I am pleased and honored to be recognized by Notre Dame,” Ms. Domini said. “I have dedicated myself for over 20 years to helping overcome the barriers that prevent people from investing with their values. The Hesburgh Award is an important recognition of the prominence of social investing and its importance as an essential tool to bring about a better future.”

 

The Domini 400 Social Index was created by Amy Domini and colleagues to determine whether social investing could perform as well as conventional investing. Morningstar calls the Domini Social Equity Fund, whose portfolio is based on this index, “a fine core holding for socially conscious investors.”*

 

About Amy Domini

Ms. Domini’s involvement in social investing began in 1980 when she was working as a stockbroker. One of her clients, an avid birdwatcher, was uncomfortable investing in a paper company that used a highly toxic defoliant that endangered birds. Other investors wanted to avoid the stocks of tobacco companies and defense contractors.

 

Ms. Domini soon became a passionate proponent of socially responsible investing. In 1990, she and her colleagues introduced the Domini 400 Social Index, an index of 400 primarily large-cap U.S. corporations selected according to a wide range of social and environmental criteria. Over time, the index provided a track record that demonstrated that it is possible to achieve competitive returns while incorporating social and environmental standards into the investment process. Ms. Domini then founded the Domini Social Equity Fund and later launched Domini Social Investments.

 

Ms. Domini serves on the board of the Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church in America. She is a past board member of the National Association of Community Development Loan Funds, an organization whose members work to create funds for grassroots economic development loans, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, the major sponsor of shareholder actions. She is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.8 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting. In addition to the Domini Social Equity Fund, the company also offers the intermediate-term Domini Social Bond Fund (NASDQ: DSBFX) and an FDIC-insured money market account (in partnership with ShoreBank), both of which focus on community economic development.

 

Additional information on Domini Social Investments is available on the firm’s website, www.domini.com. Domini’s Proxy Voting Guidelines & Procedures booklet is also available free of charge by calling 1-800-762-6814.

 

*Source: Morningstar: “Morningstar’s Take”, Analyst Report dated February 16, 2005.

 

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of the Funds’ current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money.

 

The Domini 400 Social Index and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index are unmanaged indexes of common stocks. You cannot invest directly in an index. KLD is the owner of the Domini 400 Social IndexSM ("the Index"). KLD determines the composition of the Index but is not the manager of the Domini Social Index Portfolio, the Domini Social Equity Fund, or the Domini Institutional Social Equity Fund.  

 

Some of the Domini Social Bond Fund’s community development investments may be unrated and carry greater credit risks than its other investments. The Domini Social Bond Fund currently holds a large percentage of its portfolio in mortgage-backed securities. During periods of falling interest rates these securities may prepay the principal due, which may lower the Fund’s return by causing it to reinvest at lower interest rates. DSIL Investment Services, Distributor (DSILD). DSILD and ShoreBank are not affiliated. 04/05

 

 

 

March 1, 2005

 

DOMINI SELECTS NEW SUBMANAGER FOR BOND FUND
Socially Responsible Investment Firm Chooses Seix Advisors to Submanage Bond Fund That Helps Communities

 

 

New York, NYDomini Social Investments LLC, a leading manager of socially responsible mutual funds, has chosen Seix Advisors as submanager of its Domini Social Bond Fund (NASDQ: DSBFX).

 

“Seix Advisors stood out for several reasons: its solid and consistent performance record, its low manager turnover, and its depth,” said Carole Laible, Chief Operating Officer of Domini Social Investments. “Seix also demonstrated a strong commitment to the Fund’s community development mission.” 

 

Seix Advisors was founded in 1992 by its CEO and CIO, Christina Seix. It has $23 billion in fixed-income assets. Seix Advisors currently manages 45 accounts subject to various social standards, totaling $5 billion. The company will begin submanaging the Domini Social Bond Fund on March 1, 2005.

 

About the Domini Social Bond Fund

Launched in June 2000, the Domini Social Bond Fund is an intermediate-term investment-grade bond fund that devotes up to 10% of its portfolio to direct investments in community economic development. In addition, the Fund invests in mortgage-backed securities issued by institutions like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae, which play a vital role in providing liquidity in the secondary mortgage market for affordable housing. It also invests in bonds issued by corporations that meet the Fund’s social and environmental standards, and in bonds issued by states and municipalities for a variety of revitalization efforts. As of December 31, 2004, the Fund had grown to more than $64 million in assets.

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.9 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund’s holdings are subject to comprehensive social and environmental criteria designed to measure corporate performance in areas including community involvement, the environment, diversity, employee relations and product safety and usefulness. The Fund seeks to exclude companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting.

 

Additional information on socially responsible investing, Domini Social Investments, and the Domini Social Bond Fund is available on the firm’s website, www.domini.com, or by calling 1-800-762-6814.

 

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of the Funds’ current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money. Some of the Domini Social Bond Fund’s community development investments may be unrated and carry greater credit risks than its other investments. The Domini Social Bond Fund currently holds a large percentage of its portfolio in mortgage-backed securities. During periods of falling interest rates these securities may prepay the principal due, which may lower the Fund’s return by causing it to reinvest at lower interest rates. DSIL Investment Services, Distributor (DSILD). 03/05

 

 

 

January 21, 2005

 

DOMINI HIRES NEW DIRECTOR OF BROKER-DEALER DISTRIBUTION
Socially Responsible Investment Firm Welcomes Ken Nostro

 

 

New York, NYDomini Social Investments, a leading manager of socially responsible mutual funds, has named Kenneth R. Nostro as Director of Broker-Dealer Distribution. He is responsible for client development in the broker-dealer and investment advisory channels.

 

Before joining Domini, Mr. Nostro was vice president at Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, where he was responsible for relationship management and client development for third-party distribution clients. He worked previously for Julius Baer Securities and for Warburg Pincus Asset Management, LLC (acquired by Credit Suisse in 1999).

 

 “I am pleased to join Domini in its commitment to social investing and look forward to servicing brokers and advisors.”

 

Mr. Nostro holds a B.S. in marketing and management from Siena College and an M.B.A. in finance from St. John’s University.

 

 

About Domini Social Investments

Domini Social Investments manages more than $1.9 billion in assets for individual and institutional mutual fund investors seeking to create positive change in society by integrating social and environmental criteria into their investment decisions. Its flagship fund, the Domini Social Equity Fund (NASDQ: DSEFX), is the first and largest index fund to use social, environmental, and corporate governance standards. The Fund seeks to include companies with positive records in community involvement, the environment, diversity, and employee relations, and excludes companies deriving significant revenues from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, nuclear power, and weapons contracting. In addition to the Domini Social Equity Fund, the company also offers the intermediate-term Domini Social Bond Fund (NASDQ: DSBFX) and an FDIC-insured money market account (in partnership with ShoreBank), both of which focus on community economic development.

 

Additional information on Domini Social Investments is available on the firm’s website, www.domini.com. Domini’s seventh annual Proxy Voting Guidelines & Shareholder Activism booklet is also available free of charge by calling 1-800-225-3863.

 

 

Each investor should consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Obtain a copy of the Funds’ current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics by calling 1-800-762-6814 or at www.domini.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

The Domini Funds are subject to market risks and are not insured. You may lose money. Some of the Domini Social Bond Fund’s community development investments may be unrated and carry greater credit risks than its other investments. The Domini Social Bond Fund currently holds a large percentage of its portfolio in mortgage-backed securities. During periods of falling interest rates these securities may prepay the principal due, which may lower the Fund’s return by causing it to reinvest at lower interest rates. DSIL Investment Services, Distributor (DSILD). DSILD and ShoreBank are not affiliated. 1/05