The Nessling Foundation’s wealth consists of the legacy left by Maj and Tor Nessling for Finnish environmental research. By 2024, 52 years after its establishment, we have distributed over 100 million euros in funding for scientific research and other projects. The Foundation’s governing board is responsible for outlining the Foundation’s asset management. At the bottom of the page, you can find our strategy for responsible investment.
Since 1972, the legacy left by Maj and Tor Nessling has supported Finnish environmental protection and research.
The distributable wealth of the Nessling Foundation consists of the returns on its assets, which must be used to fulfil the Foundation’s purpose. The majority of the Foundation’s assets are invested in securities, meaning that the research grants distributed by the Foundation are, in principle, dependent on the success of the companies it owns.
The Nessling Foundation aims for long-term returns in its investment activities, as the Foundation has been established for an indefinite period. The foundation’s investment activities are based on generating sufficient returns from its assets to enable the foundation to fulfill its purpose in the most impactful way possible, while ensuring the preservation of its capital. Naturally, all foundation’s operations should be sustainable, with a particular emphasis on ecological sustainability.
In addition to financial returns, investment activities may also seek to achieve impact.
As part of its work, the foundation’s board develops and outlines the responsible investment strategy, sets the objectives for responsible investment activities, and monitors the implementation of these activities in line with the objectives using a robust set of metrics and reporting.
In line with its commitment to sustainable development (2016), the foundation is dedicated to assessing and continuously improving the sustainability of its investments in collaboration with its asset managers. Continuous improvement is essential, as expertise in responsibility and sustainability, as well as the opportunities for more responsible investment practices, are rapidly evolving.
Asset managers are required to conduct high-quality and comprehensive evaluations of the sustainability of investments using the best available methods and metrics, and to provide essential and reliable reporting related to responsibility.
You can read the Foundation’s Strategy for Responsible Investment here.
