UK'S ONLY CHARITY INVESTMENT PLATFORM HITS £205.4M IN ASSETS
28 August 2019
The only charity-specific investment platform in the UK has reached £205.4m* in assets under administration, at the same time as launching a new digital hub for charities which are looking to grow their investment knowledge.
The innovative CAF Investment Account – offered by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) in partnership with Winterflood Business Services (WBS) – offers the largest collection of charity-specific funds of any platform, with 1,200 funds and equities.
The funds available include ethical options and Common Investment Funds (CIFs) at just the click of a button.
It is the UK’s only secure, digital trading platform designed specifically with charities in mind and – importantly for charities that invest their funds – the CAF platform has dual authorisation for trading built in.
The CAF Investment Account is a key element of the new Charity Investment Hub that creates a single destination for charities who invest.
The Hub is comprised of three separate pillars: Learn, Try and Grow. Charities can learn the basics in the investment knowledge centre, dip their toes in the water by trying the free Investment Explorer tool, essentially a “try before you buy” simulator, and grow their investments with products specifically developed for charities by investment professionals.
Last year, a report by Charity Financials Spotlight revealed that the top 5,000 UK charities (in terms of new assets, income or expenditure) hold £16.7bn in deposits.
Charities often need to invest and manage their funds smartly for the long term and the CAF platform and investment solutions can help them do that easily and cost effectively.
Bridgit Richards, Director of Product and Marketing at CAF, said providing charities that invest their funds with a tool to see and trade their portfolios online, and offering this ability in a cost effective way, is key to what CAF is offering:
“We are so pleased to be able to support charities by making this range of charity-specific funds accessible like this and to be able to do so in a way that is secure, low cost and extensive – including ethical and ESG options.
“This is just one piece of a suite of technology innovations that we have planned for charities in the UK over the next 18 months.”
*As at 21 August 2019
Notes to editors
ABOUT CAF
CAF exists to make giving go further, so that more lives and communities around the world can be transformed.
CAF is a charity and a champion for better giving, and for over 90 years has helped donors, companies, charities and social organisations make a bigger impact. Through CAF Bank, it offers simple and straightforward day-to-day banking, designed exclusively for charities.
When launched, the CAF Investment Account won the 2017 Innovation in Fund Services Award at the prestigious Investment Week Fund Services Awards. The value of investments may fall as well as rise. You may not get back the full amount that you originally invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. There is no guarantee about the level of capital gains or income that will be generated.
This financial promotion has been approved and issued by CAF Financial Solutions Limited. CAF Financial Solutions Limited (CFSL) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 189450).
We are CAF and we make giving count.
www.cafonline.org/investments
Contact:
Press office direct line (24 hours): 03000 123 286
Press office email: media@cafonline.org
George Young, gyoung@cafonline.org
Office: 03000 123 715 / Mobile: 07969 296 646
Caroline Mallan, cmallan@cafonline.org
Office: 03000 123 442 / Mobile: 07921 315 344
ABOUT WINTERFLOOD BUSINESS SERVICES (WBS)
Winterflood Business Services (WBS) was launched in 2010 to improve the investment and execution journey for its clients. It utilises cutting-edge, in-house technology to offer dealing, settlement and custody of stocks and funds to the wealth management industry.
A multiple award-winning innovator in aggregation and automation, it creates greater access to the market and reduces fixed costs for its clients. Alongside continually striving to remove friction from the client journey through innovative products, such as fractional shares, it ensures the safeguarding of client assets.
WBS is proud to work in partnership with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to deliver best-in-class dealing, settlement and custody, improved market access and innovative solutions to CAF clients.
Winterflood Business Services is a registered trading name of Winterflood Securities Limited, registered in England No. 02242204, Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA register number 141455).