RainFrog's Philosophy

RainFrog is a participatory investment organization. Our environmental, social, and investment philosophies are constantly evolving to meet the demands and interests of our members. However, there are some things about which we all agree.

Environmentally Responsible Investment

For over 200 years, industrial and post-industrial societies have built their economies on environmentally unsustainable industries. Economic growth has been accompanied by environmental devastation. The land and seas are polluted, the planet's biodiversity has been irreparably damaged, and global warming threatens us with disasters we cannot yet begin to measure. How can we imagine that wealth is being created when our very existence is threatened?

RainFrog believes that our market economy can help solve the environmental crisis we face today. Through our investment, we are taking a leadership role to make that happen.

RainFrog does not invest in industries that contribute to environmental degradation. Our portfolio does not include petroleum, toxic chemicals, or unsustainably harvested resources. Instead, we invest in renewable energy, organic agriculture, and recycling. After all, shouldn't the companies we hold in our portfolio provide the products and services we want for ourselves and our children?

Socially Responsible Investment

Investment isn't just about earning money. Investment is about earning a better quality of life. The members of RainFrog believe we cannot live better as individuals unless we learn to live better as a global community.

Problems like poverty, discrimination, and illiteracy are not limited to their direct victims. The crime, environmental degradation, and lost productivity that result touch all of our lives. Every social injustice victimizes all of us, and each of us can improve our own life by helping others to improve theirs.

RainFrog does not invest in socially damaging industries such as weaponry and tobacco. We do not invest in companies that employ child labor, sweatshops, or discriminatory hiring and promotion practices. In fact, we take this a step further. RainFrog uses our capital to actively support social justice. By investing in companies like Wainwright Bank, First Community Bank of Vermont, and MuniMae we help to provide jobs and capital to the communities that need it most. Our investments earn a profit while making our communities better places to live.

Ethical Investment

Most investors intend to "buy low, sell high." While this should certainly be a goal, RainFrog does not believe it is sufficient as a strategy. RainFrog hopes to make money because the true value of our investments increases, not just because investor perceptions of value have changed. An investment should yield a return because it has intrinsic value, not because another investor made a mistake.

For this reason, RainFrog avoids speculation. We look for investments with real growth potential or attractive earnings yields. And, we invest for the long term, not the quick gain.

RainFrog also provides the means by which partners can choose the degree of risk involved in their investments. RainFrog has 2 kinds of investment portfolios: the higher risk RainFrog Growth Portfolio and lower risk RainFrog Income Portfolio. Check out the Portfolio section for more information.