Investing in Society

Kingsley Aikins is one of the world's most successful philanthropy executives and he believes in investing rather than giving to charitable causes, writes associate editor Michael Pascoe. On video, Aikins talks about how to ensure your philanthropic investments make a difference.

By Michael Pascoe ·
14 Nov 2005

Michael Pascoe interviews the NAB's John Stewart

Man does not live by bread alone '¦ or equities, fixed interest and property. There’s a growing trend among the world’s most successful investors to invest in their society as well.

It’s part of answering the question of what to do with the money once you’ve made it, both before and after you have to leave it behind.

Kingsley Aikins, as well as being president and CEO of The Ireland Funds operating in 11 countries, lectures within the business that seeks out and develops philanthropy ' and it’s one of the world’s great growth industries.

According to Aikins, philanthropy is set to explode thanks to a combination of the pattern of wealth creation and demographics.

Boston-based Aitkins is in Australia this week to meet with some of the leading figures in what's known as 'social entrepreneurship'. Among the well-known investors he will be exchanging notes with are Ian Darling of the noted private equity investors Caledonia, along with representatives from the Myer Family Foundation and stockbrokers Goldman Sachs JB Were.

Interviewing the former Irish trade representative in Sydney is not our usual Eureka Report fare, but it does touch an increasingly important issue for investors when they’re not chasing an extra 25 basis points return.

Given the affection of Aikin and Eureka Report for Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy, if it’s good enough for Buffett to be planning his $US50 billion philanthropic foundation, we thought you might like to know more. Besides, as you can see on the video, Kingsley Aikins tells every story well.