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, NY – Domini 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, NY – Domini 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, NY – Domini 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, NY – Domini 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, NY – Domini 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