Calvert Investments
Encyclopedia
Calvert Investments, Inc., established in 1976, is an investment management company that is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland
and led by Barbara Krumsiek, the firm’s President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to providing traditional investment management services, Calvert is one of the largest sustainable and responsible investment (SRI)
companies in the United States. Calvert offers a range of equity, bond, cash, and asset allocation products, many of which feature integrated environmental, social, and corporate governance research.
In addition to Calvert’s investment products and services, Calvert is also known for its work with the following initiatives:
In 1995, Calvert sponsored a nonprofit social venture capital
organization called the Calvert Social Investment Foundation which works with individuals, financial advisors, and brokerage firms to raise investment capital for nonprofit organizations, microfinance
institutions, and social enterprises that help communities in all 50 states and over 100 countries. The Calvert Social Investment Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, legally distinct from Calvert Investments.
In 1998, Calvert pursued an advisory opinion from the U.S. Department of Labor in support of the inclusion of sustainable and responsible investment options in defined contribution plan
s. In a letter to Calvert, the Department of Labor stated that it believes sustainable and responsible investment options are not inconsistent with fiduciary standards.
In 2000, Calvert introduced The Calvert Social Index
, which is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of large, U.S.-based sustainable and responsible companies.
In 2004, Calvert, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, developed the first global voluntary code of conduct guiding business on how to empower, advance, and invest in women worldwide. The Calvert Women’s Principles bring together a variety of ways in which business can contribute to the advancement of women.
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
and led by Barbara Krumsiek, the firm’s President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to providing traditional investment management services, Calvert is one of the largest sustainable and responsible investment (SRI)
Socially responsible investing
Socially responsible investing , also known as sustainable, socially conscious, or ethical investing, describes an investment strategy which seeks to consider both financial return and social good....
companies in the United States. Calvert offers a range of equity, bond, cash, and asset allocation products, many of which feature integrated environmental, social, and corporate governance research.
In addition to Calvert’s investment products and services, Calvert is also known for its work with the following initiatives:
In 1995, Calvert sponsored a nonprofit social venture capital
Social Venture Capital
Social venture capital is a form of venture capital investing that provides capital to businesses deemed socially and environmentally responsible. These investments are intended to both provide attractive returns to investors and to provide market-based solutions to social and environmental issues...
organization called the Calvert Social Investment Foundation which works with individuals, financial advisors, and brokerage firms to raise investment capital for nonprofit organizations, microfinance
Microfinance
Microfinance is the provision of financial services to low-income clients or solidarity lending groups including consumers and the self-employed, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services....
institutions, and social enterprises that help communities in all 50 states and over 100 countries. The Calvert Social Investment Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, legally distinct from Calvert Investments.
In 1998, Calvert pursued an advisory opinion from the U.S. Department of Labor in support of the inclusion of sustainable and responsible investment options in defined contribution plan
Defined contribution plan
In economics, a defined contribution plan is a type of retirement plan in which the amount of the employer's annual contribution is specified. Individual accounts are set up for participants and benefits are based on the amounts credited to these accounts plus any investment earnings on the money...
s. In a letter to Calvert, the Department of Labor stated that it believes sustainable and responsible investment options are not inconsistent with fiduciary standards.
In 2000, Calvert introduced The Calvert Social Index
Calvert Social Index
The Calvert Social Index is a stock market index created by Calvert Investments as a benchmark of large companies that are considered socially responsible or ethical. It currently consists of 468 companies, weighted by market capitalization, selected from approximately 1,000 of the largest publicly...
, which is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of large, U.S.-based sustainable and responsible companies.
In 2004, Calvert, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, developed the first global voluntary code of conduct guiding business on how to empower, advance, and invest in women worldwide. The Calvert Women’s Principles bring together a variety of ways in which business can contribute to the advancement of women.