Equality Funds offers investors a “new kind of socially responsible investing”: investing in LGBT-friendly businesses

Equality Funds, a nationally certified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) business enterprise, has announced the launch of Equality One, an investment fund for those who wish to invest in LGBT-friendly businesses. They also announced the criteria used to determine which businesses qualify as LGBT-friendly, offered statistics demonstrating that investments in LGBT-friendly businesses historically have produced higher returns. Additionally, they expressed their commitment to work with businesses that are not currently meeting these standards to help them become LGBT-friendly.

Marc Delphine, CEO & Founder of Equality Funds is a financial advisor serving his community for the past 14 years. He was inspired to launch an investment vehicle that would enable investors to support the LGBT community by investing in a fund that only invests in LGBT-friendly companies. He found that using assessments like the Human Rights Campaign’s “Buying for Equality Guide,” an annual publication that determines whether or not a company is LGBT-friendly, could be used to provide supporters of the community guidance for investment opportunities.

Delphine said, “Our research has clearly indicated that those companies which have been considered LGBT-friendly, over the past 10 years, have historically outperformed the market overall.”

Equality Funds’ investment portfolio is managed by James Cornehlsen, CFA of Dunn Warren Investment Advisors and screened by criteria that include a number of factors like policies and procedures banning workplace discrimination, same-sex partner benefits and community outreach.

“We want to offer our clients the opportunity to invest in something that not only could produce a higher rate of return but also one that aligns with their values of diversity, fairness and equality,” added Jill Nelson, Chief Talent & Diversity Officer. “Whether or not you are a member of the community, our focus on companies which value their people is one that has a recipe for success – a new kind of socially responsible investing.”

ABOUT EQUALITY FUNDS:
Equality Funds was formed in Portland, Oregon in 2011 as an investment company initially launching Separately Managed Accounts (SMA) to focus on a unique market niche within the domain of socially responsible investments (SRI). Equality Funds Inc. is an LGBT Certified Business Entity. NGLCC – (National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) is the exclusive, third-party certification body that verifies that eligible businesses are majority-owned by LGBT individuals, and subsequently grants LGBT Business Enterprise® (LGBTBE®) designation to such businesses.

For more information, contact: Marc Delphine; marc@equalityfunds.com; www.equalityfunds.com 503.516.8793

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