The Sewall Foundation applies its mission, values, and commitment to equity in every aspect of our operations – and that includes the way we invest our assets. We began our exploration of “Impact Investing” in 2009 and made our first investment in 2011. In 2022, Sewall recommitted itself to deploying our investment assets in support of our mission and values and set the following goals:

  • Transition 100% of our assets to values-alignment by 2028

  • Increase Impact Investments – investments that seek to advance the Foundation’s mission in Maine and that may have below market returns – to $18 million (approximately 10% of assets) by 2028

 
 

Approach

The Sewall Foundation’s approach to investing is guided by its mission and equity principles. Our impact investments seek to repair harm to populations in Maine from unjust policies and systems and help build a future in which we all thrive, while acknowledging that the historical source of the Foundation’s assets is rooted in fossil fuel extraction.  As a values-driven organization, we recognize that investment performance must not be the sole determining factor in setting spending levels. Therefore, the Foundation is committed to maintaining or increasing grantmaking during economic downturns, rather than reducing grantmaking to protect asset values.

We view the use of our assets as a spectrum that encompasses a variety of approaches and levels of alignment with our mission, values, and equity principles.

Impact Investment Highlights

Maine Grains – One of Sewall’s first impact investments was in Skowhegan-based Maine Grains which is creating jobs, improving land use, providing healthy food, and creating a model for thriving local economies by re-localizing grain production.

Our Katahdin – Along with grantee partners Four Directions Development Corporation and  CEI, and Bangor Savings Bank, Sewall provided a bridge loan to aid in the redevelopment of the former Great Northern Paper Mill site in Millinocket, One North.

Welcome Home Downeast – Sewall invested in this unique partnership between grantee partners Mano en Mano and Sunrise County Economic Council to provide affordable housing and a pathway to homeownership so that seasonal workers and their families can make the towns of Milbridge, Cherryfield, and Harrington their permanent home, addressing Washington County’s housing shortage and growing the region’s workforce.

Interested in an Investment?

If you or someone you know of are interested in partnering with the Sewall Foundation on a Maine-based investment opportunity, please contact Thomas Mitchell to start a conversation.

For organizations and projects that are aligned with our mission and values, the Sewall Foundation can provide flexible investments across a variety of types and terms. In general, we seek to make investments that are not readily available from other sources and that enable and enhance positive social impacts. We emphasize collaboration and frequently invest alongside partners, with each partner bringing their complementary strengths.

For more information on the Sewall Foundation’s investment policies and portfolio holdings, see our Transparency page.