Responsible Investing
Stroke Foundation will not invest in any organisation that jeopardises its financial or legal integrity or adversely impacts its reputation. Nor will it align with any company or brand that conflicts with its values or which the Foundation Clinical Council assesses is a part contributor to the risk of stroke.
The Foundation’s ‘Understand and Prevent Stroke’ identifies eight major modifiable risk factors: high blood pressure, smoking, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, poor diet and inactivity, excessive alcohol, and atrial fibrillation.
Investments that directly or indirectly support these risk factors are avoided.
From this, the following general responsible investing principles are applied:
- investments that enhance health and life are supported;
- investments that diminish health and life are avoided;
- investments that promote human welfare and the general good are preferred;
- investments that directly or indirectly jeopardise health or cause human suffering are limited; and
- investments that directly or indirectly contribute to or support the causes of stroke are avoided.
Consequently, investments in the following industries or activities are prohibited:
- Tobacco
- Pharmaceutical related to stroke treatment and diagnostics
- Alcohol production
- Fast food Industries
- Armaments or means of mass destruction
- Uranium
- Fast food
Furthermore, investments in medical devices, medical imaging, or other health activities related to stroke treatment and diagnostics are prohibited due to potential conflicts of interest.
Investments are also excluded where company practices are unacceptable in areas such as human rights, occupational health and safety, environmental management, and wherever companies support oppressive regimes, as these may, by association, adversely affect the reputation of the Foundation.