Global Returns Project announces second platform integration with Platform One and new partnerships

Date: 14 Aug 2024

Karen Jones

The GRP announces partnership with a UK investment platform, Platform One, as well as new partnerships with wealth planning firm First Wealth and private equity firm Zetland Capital.

GRP announced an industry-first integration into the platform Fundment in October 2023. Platform One represents the second UK platform committing to helping advisers offer philanthropy through its platform as a result of GRP. Over the coming months, Platform One will develop a tool whereby advisers can, with client consent, make withdrawals from client accounts directly to GRP’s portfolio of climate and nature charities – all via platform software.

Using a proprietary methodology, GRP’s Trustees work with a team of leading environmental scientists to select a diverse portfolio of high-impact climate mitigation charities. GRP re-assesses charities every six-months and replaces organisations if it identifies charities performing even more strongly. GRP directs 100% of donations to a donor’s selected charities, with no deductions. All donors receive exclusive impact reports, every six months.

The partnerships with First Wealth and Zetland Capital demonstrate an increasing demand for GRP within financial planning and investment management. First Wealth will offer GRP’s portfolio as a philanthropic option for clients and will also make regular donations as a corporate. Zetland Capital – GRP’s first private equity partnership – will donate regularly as a part of the firm’s sustainability initiatives and strategy.

Alexander Cowan-Sanluis, CEO at Platform One, commented: “At Platform One, we call ourselves ‘the intuitive investment platform’. We want financial advisers to get more done, quicker. That commitment to simplicity, speed and innovation led us to the Global Returns Project.

“We have many firms asking how to set up philanthropic trusts for clients. Their clients are thinking about estate planning – how to pass money on to charity and children. Enabling charitable giving through our platform addresses this demand and offers a simple option. We’re delighted to be the second UK platform planning to offer direct philanthropic giving, thanks to this new partnership.”

Jack Chellman, Chief Project Officer at Global Returns Project commented: “GRP’s advocacy for philanthropic options on platform software has become our most influential strategy to-date for changing the financial system to prioritise climate and nature philanthropy. We are thrilled by the leadership shown by our second investment platform partner, Platform One. We hope the rest of the platform industry will follow suit shortly in making philanthropy easy for advisers.”

Anthony Villis, Managing Director at First Wealth: ‘’We are excited to be working with the Global Returns Project. In financial planning, we see high client demand for both sustainability and philanthropic advice. GRP allows us to meet both those demands and take climate action at the corporate level too. We look forward to our partnership growing over time, and how we can be a part of creating positive impact for climate mitigation, especially through our corporate giving alongside client donations.’’

Lynn Akashi, Founding Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Zetland Capital: “GRP’s selection of best-in-class climate charities deliver positive impact for the planet beyond the capacity of carbon offsetting alone. As a Fund Manager ourselves, we appreciate that GRP takes a ‘fund management’ approach to philanthropy and meticulously selects diverse and high-impact climate charities following thorough due diligence.”

This announcement is the latest in a series of GRP partnerships with various financial institutions and trade bodies, including Attivo, Paradigm Norton, Fundment, Titan Asset Management, TT International, Path Financial and Clarus Wealth. 

To-date, the Global Returns Project has raised more than £900,000 for its selected climate and nature charities.

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