# New governance principles launched to guide charities’ investment decisions

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/01/17/new-governance-principles-launched-to-guide-charities-investment-decisions/
- Published: 2025-01-17T10:15:20+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The set of principles launched yesterday (16 January) to help charity leaders 
and trustees when making decisions about their investments.**

Hosted on a dedicated website, the [Charity Investment Governance Principles](https://www.cigp.org.uk/),
also known as the CIGPs, have been developed to reflect the outcomes of the [Butler-Sloss case](https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2022/974.html)
concerning charity investments and charitable purposes, and complement the Charity
Commission’s [CC14 guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-and-investment-matters-a-guide-for-trustees-cc14)
and [Charity Governance Code](https://www.charitygovernancecode.org/en).

There are seven principles: purpose of investments; leadership; integrity; decision-
making, risk and control; effectiveness; equity, diversity and inclusion; and openness
and accountability.

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They are the culmination of a year-long project led by freelance consultant Gail
Cunningham and a steering group comprised of [CFG](https://cfg.org.uk/home), NCVO,
WCVA, the Association of Charitable Foundations, the secretariat of the Charities
Responsible Investment Network, and sector experts.

Representatives from the Charity Commission acted as independent observers, and 
the project has been made possible by several grantmakers.
Caron Bradshaw OBE, CEO
of CFG, commented:

> “This is an entirely new resource developed both for and by the charity sector.
> With these new principles, charity trustees will feel more confident when making
> decisions about their organisation’s investments.”

Richard Sagar, CFG’s Head of Policy, said:

> “The CIGP project has been an important focus for CFG and other steering group
> members in the past year. The successful launch of the CIGPs and website demonstrates
> what our sector can achieve when we collaborate and consult widely with a clear
> purpose.
>  
> “Our desire to support excellence in financial leadership and decision-making 
> doesn’t stop here, however. We invite feedback from charity users about how we
> can improve and evolve the principles and website for the future.”

 * **[Not enough charities investing responsibly](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/05/13/not-enough-charities-investing-responsibly/)**(
   13 May 2003)
 * **[Ethex raises over £50 million for charities since launch](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/01/13/ethex-raises-50-million-charities-since-launch/)**(
   13 January 2017)
 * **[18 more funds available on CAF Investment Account](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/02/08/18-funds-available-caf-investment-account/)**(
   8 February 2017)
