Our specialist charity investment managers are dedicated to helping you help others.
Charities have entrusted their investments with us for over 100 years, and our dedicated approach has seen Rathbones become one of the leading investment managers for charities and not-for-profit organisations in the UK.
With a team of investment managers working exclusively for charities, we are responsible for £8.8 billion* in funds under management for around 3,000 charities. Our portfolios range in value from £10,000 to more than £100 million.
At Rathbones, your dedicated investment manager is accountable for every aspect of your charity’s portfolio, tailoring it to align with your goals and principles. And with a team, many of whom are trustees in their own right, they’ll manage it for sustained, long-term growth.
From navigating the complexities of charitable investing to offering timely advice on changes in legislation and regulation, we’ll be there to ensure you can focus on providing a stable future for those who benefit from your work.
Together, we can help you achieve your charitable goals. Please contact Mark O'Connor@rathbones.com to find out more and start a conversation.
* As at March 2025
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
Charity Investment Management
CHARITY MULTI-ASSET FUNDS
Support for your trustees and management team
Charity Publications
Responsible Investment
Our dedicated team has extensive experience in building responsible investment strategies that align with an organisation’s mission. We understand the importance of helping charities balance their ethical and financial goals. As a company with a long-standing commitment to business ethics, we believe that investment decisions can be a powerful force for good.
Responsible investment is at the core of our approach, guided by four core principles: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration, voting with purpose, engagement with consequences and transparency.
We are also a signatory to the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment.
FTSE Russell (the trading name of FTSE International Limited and Frank Russell Company) confirms that Rathbones Group Plc has been independently assessed according to the FTSE4Good criteria, and has satisfied the requirements to become a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series. Created by the global index provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The FTSE4Good indices are used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products.
Get In Touch
Charity Events
Each year, we provide complimentary training designed to help charity trustees feel confident in their role. We also produce white papers to give thought leadership on key investment strategy issues.
We also look forward to meeting you at the various events we host on behalf of the community throughout the year.
Our courses are CPD accredited and attendance can be recorded as one hour towards annual CPD requirements.
Charity Expert Series
Webinar: Building financial resilience in uncertain times
Webinar: The Changing Face of Legacy Giving
Trustee training
Trustee training - Birmingham
Trustee training - London
Trustee training - Edinburgh
Trustee training - Bristol
Trustee training - Winchester
OUR TEAM
James Ayre
Head of Investments, Charities
James Ayre
Head of Investments, Charities
London
James joined Rathbones in 2023 as Head of Investments, Charities, following his previous role as Co-Head of Investments at CCLA Investment Management, where he was responsible for the management of their multi-asset and global equity funds.
James has a BA in History from Leicester University, is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI (FCSI) and holds a Certificate in Business Accounting.
James joined Rathbones in 2023 as Head of Investments, Charities, following his previous role as Co-Head of Investments at CCLA Investment Management, where he was responsible for the management of their multi-asset and global equity funds.
James has a BA in History from Leicester University, is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI (FCSI) and holds a Certificate in Business Accounting.
Gemma Gooch
Head of Charities Distribution
Gemma Gooch
Head of Charities Distribution
London
Gemma joined Rathbones as Head of Charities Distribution in February 2025.
She was previously Co-Head of Global Social Impact at BlackRock and Co-President of The BlackRock Foundation where she led on strategic philanthropic partnerships in financial security and sustainability. Gemma was formerly Head of BlackRock’s dedicated Charities & Endowments Team, a leading institutional non-profit investment manager. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2016, she was a Partner at NewSmith Asset Management responsible for marketing and business development. She started her career as an Analyst at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.
Gemma holds an MA degree in Geography from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. She has been a Trustee of The Girls’ Network Charity, a school Community Governor and volunteers as a Funding Panellist with The Fore and Mentor with the King’s Trust.
Gemma joined Rathbones as Head of Charities Distribution in February 2025.
She was previously Co-Head of Global Social Impact at BlackRock and Co-President of The BlackRock Foundation where she led on strategic philanthropic partnerships in financial security and sustainability. Gemma was formerly Head of BlackRock’s dedicated Charities & Endowments Team, a leading institutional non-profit investment manager. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2016, she was a Partner at NewSmith Asset Management responsible for marketing and business development. She started her career as an Analyst at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.
Gemma holds an MA degree in Geography from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. She has been a Trustee of The Girls’ Network Charity, a school Community Governor and volunteers as a Funding Panellist with The Fore and Mentor with the King’s Trust.
Natalie Yapp
Business Development Director, Charities
Natalie Yapp
Business Development Director, Charities
London
Natalie joined Rathbones in 2020 as head of business development, charities, following her previous role as business development manager at Brewin Dolphin. Natalie has also worked at Heartwood Investment Management and specialises in charities, trust and other not-for-profit organisations.
Natalie is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI). She holds a master's degree in Drama and Movement Therapy and achieved the Investment Management Certificate in 2016. She also holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Natalie is also an ambassador for Girls are Investors and a Girl Guiding leader.
Natalie joined Rathbones in 2020 as head of business development, charities, following her previous role as business development manager at Brewin Dolphin. Natalie has also worked at Heartwood Investment Management and specialises in charities, trust and other not-for-profit organisations.
Natalie is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI). She holds a master's degree in Drama and Movement Therapy and achieved the Investment Management Certificate in 2016. She also holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Natalie is also an ambassador for Girls are Investors and a Girl Guiding leader.
Insights
Quarterly Investment Update Q3 2025: After much sound and fury, stock markets are at record highs
Major equity indices hit bear market territory on twists and turns in US tariff policy, before responding to news of a partial climbdown. Meanwhile, the oil price rose and fell and the dollar weakened.
12 mins
The Earth Convention Live — Land and Soil, 9 September
Greenbank and Rathbones are delighted to partner with 5x15 for The Earth Convention 2025, a three-part series offering insights into the urgent issues facing our changing world. The third session ‘Land and Soil’ will explore what can we learn from the distant past about the possible future for our land and soil.
1 min
Weekly Digest: Escalating tension, limited reaction
We're mindful of geopolitical tensions. That includes the latest escalation of hostilities in the Middle East and the ticking tariff timebomb. But we see reasons to avoid over-reaction. That puts us broadly in the middle, in our appetite for risk.
9 mins
Managing risk and identifying opportunity
Stay informed with our latest 10-minute investment update video, exploring the impact of recent geopolitical tensions, oil market dynamics, and global economic trends on your portfolio.
1 min
