Builders Vision—an impact investment platform founded by Walton Family Foundation board member Lukas Walton and his wife, Samantha—has announced that its philanthropic arm, Builders Initiative Foundation, has transitioned 90 percent of its reported $1 billion endowment into mission-related investments.

The foundation invests in and collaborates with nonprofits, businesses, and other changemakers working toward solutions to societal and environmental challenges, including programs focused on sustainable agricultural practices and access to healthy food, mitigating the climate crisis and address environmental inequities in vulnerable communities, embracing stewardship of ocean and coastal ecosystems, and pursuing equity and justice, increasing economic and health security, and expanding access to the arts. The diversified portfolio—structured to meet and exceed a 5 percent return—includes investments in funds and companies supporting impact-minded shareholder engagement, thematically aligned stock selection, and community-based bonds.

According to Builders Vision—citing a Council on Foundations survey from 2020—19 percent of private foundations, including the Ford, MacArthur, McKnight, and Nathan Cummings foundations, seek to align their investments ranking high on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria and 20 percent screen out investments that are inconsistent with their mission.

“If we are going to make lasting change happen, we need our mission to show up in everything we do—especially in how we commit our resources,” said Lukas Walton. “Our hope is to unlock and scale long-term positive change across markets by showing that purpose and profits are not mutually exclusive.”

“We know this is only one part of the solutions that are needed to ensure economic and environmental security for the long term,” said Builders Initiative chief investment officer Noelle Laing. “We will continue to find inspiration and collaborate with our partners who are joining us in this journey.”

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