Reichstein Foundation partners with Australian Impact Investments and Australian Ethical
The Reichstein Foundation is pleased to announce a new investment partnership with Australian Impact Investments (Aii) and Australian Ethical, marking an important next step in aligning our endowment with our mission. Aii will provide investment advisory services for our portfolio, with our assets invested in the Australian Ethical Balanced Income Fund, in which we are a founding investor.
Our investment approach recognises that all capital has impact and commits the Foundation to working towards a portfolio that is 100% aligned with our vision and values. We believe that our responsibilities extend beyond our grant-making and that our investments can also be a powerful tool for advancing our mission.
Our search for advisors capable of delivering our required rate of return while better aligning our investments with our values began with the Endowments for Impact Challenge (EFIC), Australia’s first collaborative open tender competition to find the nation’s best mission-aligned, responsible and impact investment advisors. EFIC helped us identify a strong field of potential partners and in 2025 we invited all six finalists to tender for financial services.
Drawing on EFIC’s assessment framework, our Investment Committee evaluated candidates on their experience in managing responsible and mission-aligned portfolios, their ability to provide suitable responsible and impact investment opportunities, and their capacity to deliver on our return expectations, amongst other criteria. After extensive deliberations, the Investment Committee awarded the tender to a joint proposal from Australian Impact Investments (as EFIC winners) and Australian Ethical, with our endowment to be invested in the Australian Ethical Balanced Income Fund.
This new Fund has been developed to meet the evolving needs of foundations, not-for-profits and other values-driven wholesale investors seeking a diversified portfolio that integrates competitive financial returns with responsible investment practices, including a 10% allocation to impact assets.
A distinctive feature of the Fund is its Purpose Circle, which will bring fund holders together to engage directly with fund managers. By creating a peer network for mission-aligned investors, the Circle’s intention is to provide a practical platform for shared learning, collective influence, and deeper dialogue between the charitable and financial sectors.
Jill Reichstein, Chair of the Reichstein Foundation and the Foundation’s Investment Committee, said: “This appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Reichstein Foundation as we refine our investment approach and grow our impact. Our commitment to responsible stewardship remains central, and we believe this partnership will help us better advance our mission.”
We extend our thanks to the firms that responded to our tender for their excellent applications and deep engagement, and to our Investment Committee for their stewardship of this process.