What We Fund
Our mission is to help protect the world from climate change, keep global temperatures to 1.5 degrees and restore our relationship with the natural world.
We want to make this difference by using our grants and investments to safeguard our forests, repair damaged soils, connect people with nature, support universal access to clean energy and help make financial investments better benefit nature and our society.
Landmark Judgment on Trustee Investment Duties
Butler-Sloss vs Charity Commission
The Butler-Sloss v Charity Commission judgment provides much needed clarity on the law on trustee investment duties.
Butler-Sloss was brought by trustees of the Aurora and Mark Leonard Trusts (another Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust) because they wanted to adopt new investment policies which align investments with the Paris Agreement. It was unclear whether they could adopt such policies under the previous legal context; particularly where adopting such policies could result in significant financial detriment to the charities.
The High Court has blessed the Trusts’ decision to adopt the investment policy and provided definitive guidance on the nature and scope of investment duties for all charity trustees. You can find out what this means for trustees here.
Our Programme Areas
Since the Trust was founded, tackling climate change has and continues to be the Trust’s primary focus. Trustees chose these distinct and inter-connected programmes as they are key in the fight against climate change and transitioning us towards a fair and just low-carbon society.
The Climate Change Collaboration
The Climate Change Collaboration is an initiative comprised of the Aurora Trust and two other Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, the Mark Leonard Trust and JJ Charitable Trust. It supports efforts which helps stabilise global temperatures to 1.5 degrees, restore our natural world, and support a regenerative economy.