Newground Social Investment

What Newground Social Investment does

Newground Social Investment, SPC is a Seattle-based Registered Investment Advisor founded in 1994 that operates exclusively in the responsible and sustainable investing niche. The firm is a fee-only, legal fiduciary serving progressive individual investors (typically with $1M or more in investable assets) and institutional clients including family foundations, donor-advised funds, faith-based institutions, and nonprofit organizations. It delivers services nationwide from its headquarters at 111 Queen Anne Ave N, Suite 500 in Seattle. The firm became the first Social Purpose Corporation (SPC) in the United States in 2012, codifying commitments to environmental sustainability, the community, workers, and society into its corporate charter, and is SEC-registered as an RIA.

The company's offerings center on four interconnected investment pillars: (1) ESG values-aligned portfolio management that screens for sustainable companies and avoids issuers with material ESG risk; (2) community investment channeling capital to underserved populations through vehicles such as Calvert Impact Capital's Community Impact Notes, held in client portfolios for 28+ years; (3) shareholder engagement, including filing shareholder proposals and direct corporate advocacy at major issuers such as Goldman Sachs, Tesla, Amazon, and Chevron; and (4) legislative lobbying and policy work to advance responsible investment regulation. These investment services are paired with comprehensive financial, tax, and estate planning, life planning, and strategic philanthropy advisory services. The technology stack is partnership-driven rather than proprietary: Charles Schwab Institutional provides custody and brokerage, while the Yich platform powers the secure client portal, dashboard, and document vault.

Commercially, Newground runs a consultative, sales-led distribution model in which engagements begin with an introductory consultation and continue with quarterly reporting and ongoing advice. Revenue is generated through subscription-style advisory fees on portfolio management and planning services; pricing tiers are not publicly disclosed. The firm has historically operated with 1–10 employees, generating broadly diversified HNW and institutional revenue without disclosed concentration figures. Growth has historically been funded entirely through retained advisory fees — no external funding rounds are recorded — consistent with its private, independent, mission-driven ownership structure.

Name

Newground Social Investment

Legal name

Newground Social Investment, SPC

Website

https://newground.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Newground Social Investment is a Seattle-based Registered Investment Advisor founded in 1994, the nation's first Social Purpose Corporation, providing fee-only ESG-focused wealth management, shareholder engagement, community investment, and comprehensive financial planning to progressive individuals and institutional clients nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/ESG Equity (Active) (FSAAAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Managed Platforms & Wrap Programs for Private Clients (Model Portfolios, UMA/SMAs) (FSAAABAM), Transition / Engagement & Stewardship Funds (FSANAJAO), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable wealth management
• ESG investment advisory
• Responsible investing services
• Shareholder engagement advisory
• Financial planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Management & Financial Planning Fees: Newground operates as a fee-only fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor, charging fees for comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services. They are legally bound to serve clients' best interests, distinguishing them from commission-driven brokers. Revenue is generated through advisory fees for investment management, financial planning, and ongoing portfolio oversight.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Newground is a fee-only fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor that delivers comprehensive, sustainable, values-aligned wealth management grounded in tax planning, financial planning, and philanthropic integration. Its core practice is organized around four pillars: ESG values-aligned portfolio management, community investment (capital to underserved communities via CDFIs and Calvert Impact Capital), shareholder engagement (filing proposals and direct corporate advocacy), and legislative lobbying on responsible investment policy. Services are complemented by life/financial/tax planning, estate planning, insurance evaluation, life planning, and strategic philanthropy advisory, packaged as a subscription-style annual engagement.

Product overview

Newground Social Investment is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) offering comprehensive, sustainable, values-aligned wealth management services. The firm's core offering centers on four interconnected service pillars: (1) ESG Portfolio Management, which seeks sustainable and responsible investments while avoiding problematic companies; (2) Shareholder Engagement, including filing shareholder proposals and direct corporate advocacy; (3) Community Investment, providing capital to underserved communities through CDFIs; and (4) Legislative Lobbying and Policy Work to advance responsible investment regulations. These investment services are complemented by Financial Planning Services (including tax, estate, retirement, and insurance planning), Life Planning, and Strategic Philanthropy advisory services. Newground also offers specialized Corporate Engagement Services including shareholder proposal filing and corporate governance advocacy. The firm serves both individual clients (typically with $1M+ in investable assets) and institutional clients including family foundations, donor advised funds, faith-based institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESG Values-Aligned Portfolio Management Values-aligned investment management that seeks out companies with sustainable environmental, social, and governance practices while avoiding companies whose problematic actions create material portfolio risk; for progressive individual and institutional clients.
• Shareholder Engagement Active share-ownership services using shareholder rights to call on companies to embrace sustainability, transparency, fairness, and inclusion; files shareholder proposals and engages directly with corporate management.
• Community Investment Investment services providing capital and banking services to people and communities routinely underserved or excluded, delivered via investments in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Calvert Impact Capital Community Impact Notes.
• Legislative Lobbying and Policy Work Policy advocacy at state and national levels to improve rules and regulations governing corporate behavior, making them more fair, equitable, and accessible, supporting the broader responsible investment community.
• Financial Planning Services Comprehensive financial planning covering retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, insurance evaluation, cash flow management, education planning, and major life transitions such as business sales, divorce, and intergenerational wealth transfers.
• Life Planning Holistic life planning services addressing non-financial aspects of client well-being, including life transitions, relationship dynamics, and personal fulfillment alongside financial objectives.
• Strategic Philanthropy Philanthropic planning services including Donor Advised Fund (DAF) strategy, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), trust guidance, and strategic approaches to maximize charitable impact while optimizing tax efficiency.
• Corporate Engagement Services (Shareholder Proposal Filing and Corporate Governance Advocacy) Professional shareholder proposal filing and corporate governance advocacy services for institutional investors, including drafting and submission under SEC Rule 14a-8, direct engagement with major corporations (Goldman Sachs, Tesla, Amazon, Chevron), organizing high-profile advocates, and coordinating ESG-themed shareholder campaigns.

Quantifiable outcome

• ESG strategies manage more than $8.4 trillion in the United States alone (2022 US|SIF Trends report)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US|SIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewground is affiliated with US|SIF, the leading voice advancing sustainable, responsible, and impact investing. US|SIF represents the fastest-growing area of investing globally.
• Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICCR is a coalition of faith-based institutions practicing responsible investment. Newground participates in shareholder advocacy initiatives through ICCR.
• Sustainable Investments Institute (Si2)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSi2 provides research and analysis on sustainable and responsible investing issues, supporting Newground's shareholder engagement activities.
• Fi360minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFi360 provides investment fiduciary training and resources. Newground is affiliated with Fi360 for investment fiduciary best practices.
• As You Sow FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs You Sow Foundation works on shareholder advocacy and corporate accountability. Newground collaborated with As You Sow on Tesla shareholder proposal. Nearly 150 organizations supported over the years.
• NW Center for Responsible Investment (NWCRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional coalition advancing responsible investment in the Pacific Northwest. Newground actively participates in shareholder advocacy efforts.
• Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment (TriCRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of institutional investors practicing responsible investment. Newground participates in collaborative shareholder engagement through TriCRI.
• Calvert Impact CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalvert Impact Capital provides Community Impact Notes (CINs) that Newground has incorporated into client portfolios for 28+ years. CINs fund communities and people globally who are underserved from access to capital.
• Charles Schwab & CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationNewground clients access accounts through Schwab's custodial platform. Client statements, reports, and documents are managed through Schwab's system.
• Focus Partners (Advanced Planning Team)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing advanced planning services. Jeffrey Levine, CPA/PFS, CFP®, AIF®, CWS®, BFA, ChFC, RICP serves as Chief Planning Officer for the Advanced Planning Team.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trillium Asset Management: Boston-based ESG-focused RIA with a long history of sustainable investing, shareholder engagement, and serving values-aligned institutional and individual clients. Directly comparable as a pure-play ESG advisor with strong advocacy focus.
• Boston Common Asset Management: Independent ESG-focused investment firm providing sustainable portfolios for foundations, endowments, and individuals. Comparable as a boutique RIA specializing in values-aligned investing with shareholder engagement.
• NorthStar Asset Management: Boston-based, women-led sustainable investment firm focused on ESG and shareholder advocacy for foundations, endowments, and progressive individual investors. Closely aligned mission and client base with Newground.
• Green Century Capital Management: Fossil-fuel free mutual fund manager with shareholder advocacy programs for environmentally conscious investors. Directly comparable as an ESG specialist RIA offering advocacy-driven portfolios.
• Domini Impact Investments: Pioneer in socially responsible mutual funds offering ESG portfolios to individual and institutional investors. Comparable as a long-standing ESG specialist with values-aligned investment philosophy and shareholder advocacy programs.
• Saturna Capital: Independent investment firm offering sustainable and conventional mutual funds plus wealth management. Comparable as a fee-only RIA serving values-aligned investors with an emphasis on long-term, responsible investing.

Emerging players

• As You Sow Foundation: Nonprofit shareholder advocacy organization that collaborates with investors like Newground on corporate engagement and ESG proposal filing. Comparable as a partner in the advocacy ecosystem Newground operates within.
• Calvert Impact Capital: Community investment institution providing impact notes to mission-aligned investors. Newground has incorporated Calvert's Community Impact Notes into client portfolios for 28+ years, making it a key product partner and ecosystem peer.
• Aspiration: Values-aligned financial platform offering sustainable investing, banking, and climate products to retail and HNW clients. Adjacent ESG-focused competitor with broader consumer reach but overlapping mission-driven positioning.
• Ethic: Technology-driven ESG wealth platform serving financial advisors and HNW clients with personalized sustainable portfolios. Comparable as an ESG-focused RIA but using a tech-enabled model rather than Newground's traditional boutique approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/newgroundsri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/vimeo.com/newground
• Facebookfacebook.com/newground
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newground
• Instagraminstagram.com/newground

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Newground Social Investment