# CAF launches investment research and simulation tool for charities - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/12/11/caf-launches-investment-research-simulation-tool-charities/ - Published: 2018-12-11T08:00:06+00:00 - Author: Melanie May **The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has launched an investment research and simulation tool built specifically for charities.** The [Investment Explorer](https://www.cafonline.org/charities/investments/investment-explorer) is free, and allows users to ‘try before they buy’ by building virtual portfolios from a selection of the funds available through the [CAF](https://www.cafonline.org/) Investment Account. Charities can research, plan and test their investment choices without exposing any of their money. The platform allows for the creation of multiple portfolios to cover different scenarios and potential needs, and the ability to monitor investments at any time. It has been designed specifically with charities in mind, to provide a simple, safe and secure way for them to learn about investing and to create in- depth fund comparison reports for their trustees.   ## Advertisement  There are around 500 funds to choose. Options include those from CAF’s own fund range, M&G Investments, Edentree Investments and Rathbones. Once charities progress from Investment Explorer to the CAF Investment Account, there are over 1,200 funds available with more to be added to the platform in due course.   Bridgit Richards, Director of Product & Marketing at CAF said: > “This is another building block in our growing suite of digital services for charities. > We have designed Investment Explorer to be an intuitive and cost-free option for > charities that are eager to learn more about investments, but didn’t previously > have the resources to do so. > “There are funds covering all major investment classes– > including equities and bonds listed on the London Stock Exchange and international > markets – as well as charity specific funds such as Common Investment Funds (CIFs).“ > We are confident that charities of all sizes will benefit from using Investment > Explorer. It’s a positive first step in helping them to dip their toes into the > investment space, empowering charities to take greater control of their finances > and to build for the future.” * **[One more week to ask Government to improve access to subsidised capital through SITR](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/07/11/one-more-week-to-ask-government-to-improve-access-to-subsidised-capital-through-sitr/)**( 11 July 2019) * **[Six locations chosen for £33 million programme to boost social economy and tackle inequality](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/01/30/six-locations-chosen-for-33m-programme-to-boost-social-economy-tackle-inequality/)**( 30 January 2020) * **[‘Bruising’ year for charity investments, survey finds](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/10/13/bruising-year-charity-investments-surey-finds/)**( 13 October 2020)