Today's Investors Care a Lot
About Environmental and Social Issues
Results from our new national poll
How much do people care whether the companies they invest in do right by the environment, our communities, and their workers? What issues are most important to those wanting to make an impact with their investing? And who is most likely to become an impact investor?
Our recent nationwide poll of American investors — conducted in partnership with Kiplinger’s Personal Finance — reveals investors’ knowledge and attitudes about ESG investing. In our survey, ESG investing was defined as being synonymous with sustainable, impact, values, or socially responsible investing.
Growing Momentum for Sustainable Investing
1 in 3 dollars of all assets under management
are invested in sustainable funds.
1
$
$
$
Investors are increasingly motivated to support companies that address their concerns about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. They prefer to invest in mutual funds over other ways of investing. And they would welcome the opportunity to invest in ESG-focused funds through their workplace retirement plans.
These are just some of the findings in our new national poll, which we sponsored in partnership with Kiplinger. Together we surveyed more than 1,000 investors ages 25 and up to learn about their views on sustainable investing, what issues they care most about, and how they prefer to invest.
What's Behind the Growth?
Keep scrolling to reveal the survey responses and discover how yours might compare.
The secret to making an impact is small. When thousands of investors come together with a care that is mutual, the power of small is the greatness of all.”
“
Domini CEO Carole Laible
Discover how Domini uses its position as an investor to work for positive change in our 2021 Impact Report.
Who Wants to Make an Impact?
Interest in ESG is high overall
See Why Inclusive Corporate Leadership Is an Asset.
Better Board Diversity
Domini is taking specific action to improve board diversity among the companies it invests in.
More than 4 out of 10 investors have previously invested based on ESG issues.
Nearly 8 in 10 investors will add sustainable investments to their portfolio in the next two years.
Millennials
Gen Xers
Baby Boomers
M
X
B
Previous ESG investors by generation
M
X
B
65%
20%
Likelihood of adding ESG
investments by generation
M
X
B
91%
80%
68%
42%
What Motivates People to Invest Sustainably?
ESG optimism by generation
M
X
B
75%
58%
47%
Many investors believe that impact-focused investing can make a difference in the way companies manage their businesses.
All three ESG principles seem equally important to investors.
Environmental
practices
Social
issues
Governance
policies
72%
70%
75%
Watch a free webinar on Help Sustainable Become Attainable.
Zero Waste
@ Home
Change one thing—the way you shop, eat, recycle, or travel—and you could be well on your way to preserving everything.
Generational differences
• Millennials and Gen Xers value encouraging clean energy to mitigate climate change and making a positive impact on underserved communities.
• Baby boomers value avoiding
depletion of natural resources.
But when asked to pick a goal they care most about, more than one-third cited the environment. And another one-third selected improving peoples' lives and investing in their community.
Make a positive impact
on the environment
Build a better future for all
Invest in my
local community
Avoid investing in certain industries
Create more
workplace diversity
Advance social justice
35%
24%
15%
12%
8%
6%
How Are People Investing Sustainably?
When it comes to ESG-focused investing, most people say mutual funds are the way to go. And a significant number of employees say they would really like it if their workplace retirement plan included ESG-focused investing options.
Nearly half would choose mutual funds over other types of investments.
Three-fourths say they would invest in an ESG fund through their retirement plan (if their workplace offers one).
Preference for mutual funds
by generation
M
X
B
42%
46%
58%
Desire to invest sustainably through a workplace retirement plan by generation
M
X
B
88%
79%
62%
More than half say offering sustainable options in a retirement plan would have a positive impact on them when evaluating an employment offer.
Impact on employment offers by generation
M
X
B
72%
58%
34%
Learn more about Domini's
Impact Investment Standards.
Measurable Standards Make an Impact
Applying a single set of standards across all investment products helps lead to positive change.
What's In Store for ESG?
As more investors discover impact investing, they are learning that sustainable investments can be a part of a balanced portfolio that reflects their values.
A number of research studies from Morningstar² and others show that funds with strong ESG criteria don’t necessarily sacrifice returns to achieve their goals.
For example, a recent study conducted by the Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing looked at the returns of 10,723 funds from 2004 to 2018. Its findings: Sustainable funds earned returns similar to comparable traditional funds, but with reduced downside risk, especially during times of high
market volatility.³
Interestingly, investors would prefer to make their sustainable investment directly, rather than with the help of an adviser.
As for the future, well, many investors think impact investing will only become more important to them over time. Domini is here
to help them make a difference.
¹ US Trends Report, The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, November 2020.
² Moving Beyond Exclusion: Sustainable Investing and Performance, Morningstar, 2016.
³ Sustainable Reality, Morgan Stanley Institute for Sustainable Investing, 2019.
Request a free information kit today.
Building a Better Future,
One Investor at a Time.
If you’re looking for ways to use your money to create positive change, Domini manages five mutual funds that integrate ecological sustainability and universal human dignity. Its in-depth, in-house research continuously evaluates each company’s environmental and social performance and brings thousands of investors together seeking prosperity for people, planet, and profit.
Methodology: The Kiplinger-Domini national public opinion poll surveyed 1,029 respondents, age 25 and older, with a minimum of $10,000 in investable assets (excluding retirement accounts) and a minimum of $75,000 in household income before taxes in 2021. It was conducted August 4 to August 10, 2021. A survey quota was implemented around familiarity with the term “ESG investing” to ensure that about half of the respondents were familiar with the term prior to taking the survey. Responses for some questions may not add up to 100 due to rounding or may exceed 100 if respondents could select more than one response.
© 2021 Domini Impact Investments LLC. All rights reserved.
The Domini Funds are not bank deposits, are not insured, and are subject to certain risks. The market value of Fund investments will fluctuate and you may lose money. The Domini Impact Equity Fund is subject to certain risks including impact investing, portfolio management, information, market, recent events, and mid- to large-cap companies risks. The Domini International Opportunities Fund is subject to certain risks including foreign investing, geographic focus, country, currency, impact investing, and portfolio management risks. The Domini Sustainable Solutions Fund is subject to certain risks including sustainable investing, portfolio management, information, market, recent events, mid- to large-cap companies and small-cap companies risks. The Domini Impact International Equity Fund is subject to certain risks including foreign investing, emerging markets, geographic focus, country, currency, impact investing, and portfolio management risks. 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. These risks may be heightened in connection with investments in emerging market countries. The Domini Impact Bond Fund is subject to certain risks including impact investing, portfolio management, style, information, market, recent events, interest rate and credit risks.
The Adviser’s evaluation of environmental and social factors in its investment selections and the timing of the Subadviser’s implementation of the Adviser’s investment selections will affect the Fund’s exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, regions, and countries and may impact the relative financial performance of the Fund depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor. The value of your investment may decrease if the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s judgment about Fund investments does not produce the desired results. There is a risk that information used by the Adviser to evaluate environmental and social factors, may not be readily available or complete, which could negatively impact the Adviser’s ability to evaluate such factors and Fund performance.
The Domini Funds are only offered for sale in the United States. DSIL Investment Services LLC, Distributor, Member FINRA. Domini Impact Investments LLC is the Funds' Adviser. The Funds are subadvised by unaffiliated entities. 11/21
Before investing, consider each Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Contact us for a prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully.
Number of investors who say ...
4 in 10
Interest in impact investing
will continue to grow
ESG will push more corporations
to adopt ESG principles
6 in 10
ESG-focused investing is a fad that will fade in time
Only 11%
Millennials
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
M
X
B
HOME
Millennials
Baby Boomers
Gen Xers
M
X
B
Request a free information kit today.
Request a free information kit today.