The donation component can be implemented either at the fund or at the individual share class level. The aggregated volume of these funds and share classes amounts to €8.3 billion, making this a relatively small market segment. There are also various ways to integrate a donation component into funds. The pilot study distinguishes between volume, fee, interest and/or dividend income, and performance models. The most common models are those in which an amount – calculated as a share of the fund volume or the management fee – is allocated to social and ecological purposes.

To date, at least €27.9 million from these funds have flowed to organizations and projects operating in areas such as education, child development, or climate and environmental protection. Smaller actors and projects often receive these funds, though in some cases large and well-known charitable organizations also benefit.

In addition to aggregated data on the 36 funds with a donation component, the pilot study provides information on how this aspect is accounted for on fund portals and in European labels for sustainable financial products. The study also draws on insights from interviews with 16 experts and provides an overview of relevant studies and publications. Moreover, it contains profiles of funds with a donation component.

The pilot study was made possible through sponsorship support. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Candriam, GLS Investment Management GmbH, Green Growth Futura GmbH, and Security Kapitalanlage AG.

Downloads 

• English Summary of the Pilot Study: Funds with a Donation Component – Survey and analysis of funds that allocate part of their income to social and ecological causes
• Pilot Study: Funds with a Donation Component – Survey and analysis of funds that allocate part of their income to social and ecological causes (available in German only: Pilotstudie: Fonds mit Spendenkomponente. Erhebung und Analyse von Fonds, die mit Teilen ihrer Einnahmen sozial-ökologische Zwecke fördern)
• Appendix to the Pilot Study: Profiles of Funds with a Donation Component (available in German only: ANHANG zur Pilotstudie: Profile von Fonds mit Spendenkomponente)