Richard Curtis's green investing campaign shuts down after collapse in donations

Telegraph

27-02-2025

A green investing campaign group co-founded by film director Richard Curtis is to close after a slump in donations.
Make My Money Matter, which aimed to pressure banks and pension funds to stop funding fossil fuels, said it will be closing next month after five years in operation.
It was launched by the Love Actually director in 2020 and had received public support from celebrities and campaigners including Stephen Fry, Chris Packham, and Caroline Lucas.
'As a non-profit, we've relied on philanthropic donations that have declined in recent years and it is not possible for us to continue our work,' the group said.
In an email to its supporters, Make My Money Matter added that it will stop campaigning on March 7 and fully close by the end of next month. The email said: 'We have relied on philanthropic donations that have declined in recent years, and it has not been possible to continue.'
It comes amid a major backlash against environmental, social and governance (ESG) focused investing which has intensified since Donald Trump entered office in January.
A downturn in profits from the renewables industry and sharp increases in returns from the world's largest oil and gas companies has made the situation for ESG funds worse.
Make My Money Matter had called on investors to pull all money out of any companies that financed new fossil fuel projects.
Mr Curtis is known for launching high-profile campaigns including Comic Relief and Make Poverty History, as well as for directing influential British films including Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral.
He said: 'It's been a roller-coaster ride – getting funding for campaigning is always hard – but the basic argument has always been the same: money makes the world go round – but it also has the potential to destroy it.'
The British film maker launched Make My Money Matter alongside Jo Corlett, a former advisor to David Cameron in Downing Street.
Tony Burdon, a former civil servant and Oxfam aid worker, acted as the pressure group's chief executive.
When it first launched in June 2020, the campaign group said it was 'calling for the trillions invested through our pensions to help build a better world.'
It subsequently led campaigns against leading British banks including Barclays, NatWest and HSBC while encouraging investors to put their money into accounts with lenders including Nationwide, Metro Bank and the Co-operative Bank.
Make My Money Matter also published reports in partnerships with pensions giants including Phoenix Group and Scottish Widows.
A spokesman for the pressure group said: 'The global economic situation is having an impact on funding for many non-profits.' The spokesman said the campaign group does not comment on its donors.