Overview
Investors for Purpose (formerly Pensions for Purpose) is a UK-based organisation focused on advancing impact investing within the institutional investment community. Established in 2017, it works primarily with pension funds, asset managers and advisers. Its mission is to help accelerate the flow of capital into investments that generate measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns.
The organisation operates as a collaborative platform that connects investors and industry stakeholders interested in integrating impact into investment strategies. By providing research, education and community engagement, it seeks to strengthen understanding of impact investment approaches across the financial sector.
Mission and focus areas
Investors for Purpose aims to enable institutional investors to incorporate impact considerations into investment decision-making. Its work focuses on promoting the alignment of financial capital with environmental and social outcomes while maintaining fiduciary responsibility and long-term investment performance.
Key thematic areas guide the organisation’s activities, including impact integration, system and governance change, and place-based investment approaches. These themes shape its research agenda and industry engagement, supporting initiatives such as impact investing principles, stewardship practices and the integration of sustainability considerations into portfolio management.
Structure and governance
The organisation operates through a small leadership and research team led by a chief executive officer and supported by directors responsible for ecosystem development, community engagement and research. Governance includes a chair and senior leadership roles overseeing operational, research and communications functions.
Investors for Purpose also relies on a wider ecosystem of partners, collaborators and supporters from across the investment industry. These stakeholders contribute expertise and participate in collaborative initiatives designed to improve industry practice and knowledge sharing.
Programs and offerings
Investors for Purpose delivers a range of programs and resources designed to support practitioners. These include the Impact Lens research programme, which produces studies on topics such as impact performance, climate solutions and stewardship practices within institutional portfolios.
Additional offerings include training workshops, conferences, roundtables and a digital Knowledge Centre providing case studies and industry insights. Through its membership community of investment professionals, the organisation facilitates dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration aimed at expanding the role of impact investing in pension and institutional portfolios.
