Socially-Responsible Investing: Wealth for You, Worth for Others

Many mutual funds will allow you invest your money in socially responsible businesses. Your money can grow (ideally) and do good at the same time. Here are some resources for socially-responsible investing (SRI):

* Pax World offers funds in socially- and environmentally-responsible ethical companies and offers a low $250 minimum investment.

* Shore Bank invests your CDs, money markets, and IRAs in business that work in development and help create economic equity.

* RSF Community Investment Fund IRAs support socially-constructive projects in education, health, and sustainable development.

* Green Century Funds offers environmentally-responsible mutual funds.

* Calvert Funds offers a wide range of socially-responsible investment vehicles, including the largest group of SRI mutual funds in the nation.

* Domini Funds all prioritize socially responsible investing.

Please note that this is not an endorsement of any particular investment, nor are specific returns guaranteed on these or any other investment unless insured by the FDIC.

Choose wisely. Choose with you head and your heart, and let your money work for you and for others. Would you like some help with your socially-responsible investing (SRI) plan? Won't it be nice to see your money grow while it makes a positive difference in our world? Here are some resources to help you get started in ethical and socially-responsible investing:

* Socialinvest.org is "a national nonprofit membership organization promoting the concept, practice and growth of socially responsible investing."

* Socialfunds.com is "features over 10,000 pages of information on SRI mutual funds, community investments, corporate research, shareowner actions, and daily social investment news."

* The Christian Science Monitor hosts a monthly video and podcast discussion on ethical investing.

* GreenMoney Journal "encourages and promotes the awareness of socially & environmentally responsible business, investing and consumer resources in publications & online. Our goal is to educate and empower individuals and businesses to make informed financial decisions through aligning their personal, corporate and financial principles."

* SRIstudies.org is a "resource for investment professionals, academics, and other people interested in the quantitative aspects of socially responsible investing." They also have an SRI blog .

Carefully consider the companies you in which you are investing. Include the investments you manage personally and your pension and retirement investments. Make sure your money not only works for you but also works for others.

What businesses will your money support? Ideally, those that are good corporate citizens. Some folks think that running a profitable business is incompatible with running a socially-responsible business. NoSweat, Starbucks, Ben and Jerry's, and many more corporations prove that that is not true.

Nowadays there are numerous resources available to those who want to run a socially-responsible and profitable business. Here are just a few:

* Net Impact "is a network of more than 12,000 new-generation leaders committed to using the power of business to improve the world." They host a conference for business students and others each November.

* Business for Social Responsibility is a nonprofit "global organization that helps member companies achieve success in ways that respect ethical values, people, communities and the environment. BSR provides information, tools, training and advisory services to make corporate social responsibility an integral part of business operations and strategies".

* Business Ethics is "the magazine for corporate responsibility." Their website has a wonderful list of resources for those interested in "progressive business and investing."

How do you treat your employees? How much does your enterprise pollute the environment? Are your business practices economically just? Consider all the ways you can make your organization more socially responsible. It's just good business.

"No smoke, no mirrors, no tricks: just right down the middle of the field. That's John Deere." -Robert W. Lane , chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, makers of farm equipment.