Socially Responsible Funds are one way to invest for your future while helping the environment. The funds screen the companies they invest in. This helps an investor avoid supporting companies who use environmentally damaging practices.

Each socially responsible fund invests differently. This is because they each have different criteria and definitions of socially responsibility. You need to study each fund to see if it meets your definition of socially responsible.

One way to do this is to visit socialfunds.com and study their lists of socially responsible funds. You also need to take into account the fees and charges to investing in these funds. The three funds below were chosen from the list of social funds at socialfunds.com. This is just a sample of the funds in which you can invest.

Domini Social Equity Fund (DSEFX)

This fund is offered by Domini Social Investments. The fund has an expense ratio of 1.25% and is a no-load fund. It invests in large cap stocks, mostly from the United States. It seeks to invest only with companies who have shown a positive standing in human rights and the environment. It does not invest in companies that do animal testing. It avoids alcohol, tobacco and gambling companies as well as nuclear power companies.

Green Century Equity (GCEQX)

This fund is offered by Green Century Funds. The fund has an expense ratio of 1.25% and is a no-load fund. It invests in 400 companies from the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index. This index is a sustainability index. This means it is a compilation of companies like the S&P 500 Index, but these companies are considered socially responsible and sustainable. The Green Century Equity Fund screens for positive environmental and human rights issues with its companies. It avoids alcohol, tobacco and gambling companies.

Pax World Growth (PXWGX)

This fund is offered by Pax World Funds. The fund has an expense ratio of 1.29% and is a no-load fund. One nice feature of this fund is its low minimum investment of $250. It invests in large-cap growth companies. It invests in companies that conduct business in a positive way with the environment and human rights. It avoids companies that produce weapons, alcohol, tobacco and nuclear power.

Socialfunds.com lists many more funds from which to choose. This is a good website to start with if you are interested in investing in socially responsible funds. The three funds listed in this article are not a recommendation. They were chosen randomly from the list with the only main criteria being that they be no-load and lower cost funds. With a little research, you can find a fund that meets with your socially responsible values.

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