When two longtime nonprofit and philanthropy professionals, Alex Saingchin and Steve Choi, set out to align their savings and investments with the values they have championed throughout their careers, they discovered it was no simple task. The challenge came down to both access and options — factors that have historically put nonprofits and their employees at a distinct disadvantage.

It took nearly 50 years after the 1935 Social Security Act for nonprofit employees to receive automatic coverage; in fact, nonprofits could not even offer 401(k) plans to their staff until 1986. Meanwhile, many recent tax incentives to help small businesses establish retirement plans do not extend to nonprofit organizations. Complicating matters further, retirement and investment vehicles that focus solely on maximizing financial returns, regardless of social or environmental impact, often contradict the mission and values at the heart of nonprofit work.

Alex Saingchin; Photo by Brooke Anderson

Stepping into this gap, Just Futures was founded by Saingchin and Choi to provide nonprofits — and their employees — opportunities to invest in ways that account for the impact on both society and the planet. As Just Futures CEO George Guerrero puts it, “We have a fundamental belief that everyone deserves to retire with dignity, and included in that is the ability to save in a manner that is consistent with how you see the world.”

Just Futures conducted a landscape study of 200+ nonprofits, identifying a large unmet need for affordable, values-aligned savings options for nonprofit employees. Their report, Reclaiming Retirement For All, found that 91% of millennial and Gen Z investors believe that having responsible investing (RI) options in their retirement plans would increase their loyalty to their employer. This reflects findings in Nuveen’s 2023 annual responsible investing survey, which reported that 69% of employees overall feel more positive about their workplace when RI options are available.

Approaching investments through a broad lens, Just Futures evaluates companies and funds using more than 75 metrics. Beyond the bottom line, they factor in how an organization affects communities, whether it employs extractive or regenerative practices, and how it is led and governed. As Guerrero explains, “You can invest thoughtfully and strategically with a specific objective in mind from an investment standpoint, while also being mindful of the outcomes that result.”

He offers the energy sector as an example: “It’s the most volatile of the economic sectors, and that volatility reflects the behavior of companies operating in that space, how they conduct themselves, and their impacts. When you consider the full value spectrum, it’s not simply about doing good — it’s about weighing long-term value through the lens of human impacts and recognizing how that is ultimately reflected in valuation.”

Photo by Brooke Anderson; Image Courtesy of Just Futures

Though Just Futures (founded in 2022, registered in 2023) is a relatively new enterprise, its leadership team brings decades of investment and impact experience. A public benefit corporation, Just Futures is also 30% owned by a “Movement Trust” managed by five social justice nonprofits: Center for Economic Democracy, National Black Food Justice Alliance, NDN Fund, The Chisholm Legacy Project, and Right to the City Alliance.

Today, Just Futures serves more than 70 clients and manages over $30 million in assets across three lines of business:

• 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans for employers
• Asset management for foundations and nonprofits
• Design and operation of impact funds

Photo by Brooke Anderson; Image Courtesy of Just Futures

While nonprofit employers form the core of Just Futures’ target market, the firm also works with for-profit companies. One of its greatest hurdles, according to CEO George Guerrero, is establishing a foothold in a competitive marketplace. Nonetheless, he remains optimistic: “We’re confident that our approach and our unique value proposition will be compelling to those who have a mission orientation.”

Photo by Brooke Anderson; Image Courtesy of Just Futures

Providing a broader range of “human return opportunities” in investment vehicles will, he believes, become increasingly essential—and mutually beneficial. “Investors will have more options when choosing where to place their hard-earned money,” he says. “Meanwhile, organizations and funds searching for new avenues of capital will have a fresh source to draw upon.”

Ultimately, Just Futures aims to offer a blueprint for how retirement planning and responsible investing can intertwine — empowering nonprofit employees, foundations, and mission-driven organizations to save for the future while upholding the values they champion every day.