Photo: Chippewa
The Mortenson Family, in its corporate, philanthropic, and personal activities, has demonstrated a genuine and ardent commitment to a set of values that guides its conduct. The Foundation aspires to reflect these values in everything it does, including its investment programs. The set of values below is intended to serve as an aspirational guide for the investment of the Mortenson Family Foundation assets.
Investment assets have the potential to produce substantial positive environmental and social impact. At a minimum, investment assets should not be used to perpetuate unjust or unsustainable actions. Investment assets can and should be used to foster equity and inclusion, promote sustainability, and accelerate businesses and organizations that seek to develop solutions to environmental and social issues.
We believe in an equitable distribution of wealth and opportunity. We believe in a world where every child and adult in every country has the opportunity to pursue their dreams and provide for their families and communities while doing so.
Every person has the responsibility to care for their family, their community, and their world. We believe people of wealth and influence have a greater responsibility to ensure that the world is structured in a manner that is just and equitable.
We have the responsibility to behave in an honest and forthright manner in everything we do, and we expect the same from the organizations with which we associate.
We have the responsibility to leave the world a better place than we found it–more socially and economically equitable, more economically prosperous, and more environmentally sustainable.
We believe in the equal dignity and value of every human being. Every person, regardless of their racial, religious, social, or economic standing or sexual identity, is deserving of respect, compassion, and opportunity.
As stewards of our investment assets, the Foundation has the responsibility to balance environmental, social, and financial considerations. While our commitment to our values is unwavering, we understand that we live in a world that is both complex and imperfect, and that balancing social and financial considerations is an imperfect art. In other words, there will be times when we may have to reluctantly accept investment strategies that are not as socially conscious as we would like. We will do so with an eye toward making those strategies more sustainable and responsible. In the end, we will always strive to invest in a manner that reflects our values.
Photo: Chippewa
