Celebrating 40 years

Born in the vibrant era of MTV, amidst the iconic sounds of shimmering synths and powerful rhythms, the COIF Charities Deposit Fund stands tall as the longest running cash fund specifically for charities.  

We imagine our fund managers of that time navigating the financial landscape with cutting-edge MS-DOS systems, perhaps with Phil Collins’ hits or the sophisticated grooves of Dire Straits’ ‘Money for Nothing’ playing in the background – though we'll never know for sure, it is a testament to the innovative spirit that birthed this enduring fund. What we do know is that the original purpose behind the creation of the COIF Charities Deposit Fund still holds true today.

At its launch, the fund’s first declared daily yield was 13.80%, and while returns like that are synonymous with the ’80s, the COIF Charities Deposit Fund returns have reflected the UK’s interest rate environment ever since.

What remains unequivocally true is the steadfast purpose that fuelled the creation of the COIF Charities Deposit Fund. At its heart, this cash fund aims to be a sanctuary for capital, meticulously designed with the objective to safeguard the precious resources entrusted to it while ensuring effortless access whenever needed. By thoughtfully investing in short-term, low-risk instruments such as money market deposits, the fund prioritises the security of the initial investment while providing a competitive return on that investment.

The COIF Charities Deposit Fund benefits from the dedicated expertise of CCLA's professional fund managers, who actively steer its investments with the aim of maximising returns while diligently maintaining a low-risk profile. This proactive management makes the fund an ideal alternative to bank accounts for charitable organisations.

The prescient wisdom of the trustees, a year before the fund’s auspicious launch, resonates profoundly today: ‘a Charities Deposit Fund would be a useful and viable addition to the COIF’s existing service to charities and the fund seems worth forming.’  How remarkably accurate their foresight proved to be!

Now entrusted with over £2 billion, the COIF Charities Deposit Fund stands as a shining example of how a low-cost fund can  deliver a return that enhances the income charities can earn on their vital cash reserves. This is not just a fund; it's a legacy of unwavering support for the invaluable work of charities.