Private investors will be able to donate to charity as they invest in funds via a non advised charitable investment service. INVESTaid will allow private investors who don't use a financial adviser to invest in funds on the Cofunds platform, which is usually only available to investment advisers. Cofunds, like a number of fund platforms, offers discounts on fund charges. Investors will then be able to choose whether to keep the commission rebates or donate some or all of them to a charity. INVESTaid will also give 20 per cent of the trail commission to the investor's chosen charity.
Investors using the service will have a choice of over 1000 funds, but if you do not want to put together your own portfolio of funds INVESTaid also offers ready made risk rated portfolios. You can also hold the funds within an individual savings account (Isa).
The charities that benefit from INVESTaid must be its affiliates. At present, only nine charities (see table below) are affiliates but if the charity you want to donate to is not on the list, INVESTaid will contact the charity you want to arrange this.
INVESTaid affiliate charities
| Charity | Description |
Arms around the Child | Providing treatment, love and support to children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. |
Bright Ideas Trust | Bright Ideas Trust provides an innovative package of business support services to 16-30 year olds in London who are looking to start their own business. |
Farplace Animal Resue | Animal welfare and rescue of animals, including many animals others turn away. Environmental protection, habitat creation and development. |
Hertfordshire Community Foundation | Hertfordshire Community Foundation exists to tackle deprivation in Hertfordshire and beyond. |
Kia Ora! Health Living for people with special needs. | Kia Ora is a child and family focused disability charity working to promote and improve the health of people with special needs and learning difficulties. |
One Degree | One Degree empowers GCSE students from disadvantaged backgrounds by mentoring them to develop their self-belief and transform their academic performance. |
Sense International | Sense International provides specialist education, training and support to deaf and blind people, their families, and carers in developing countries. |
Westminster Drug Project | Westminster Drug Project reaches out to drug and alcohol users, and communities. |
WPF Therapy | WPF Therapy is a charity supporting people's psychological well-being, providing a choice of talking therapies for individuals and groups, working with organisations and training over a thousand people a year. |
Source: INVESTaid
