Editor’s note: We’re always happy to share green and ethical financial opportunities with you. We ask that you remember that we’re not financial advisors, though, so we are sharing… not recommending. Always do your own homework before making an investment.

Whether you just cashed in with a winning lotto number or just have a bit of extra cash lying around, investing can be easily overwhelming and intimidating. If you want to avoid financing companies that sell products such as weapons or oil, there are options which offer more control over the direction of your investments, with Shared Interest playing a vital role in Fair Trade through financial assistance.

In 1984, the first ethical investment funds were introduced in the UK. While concerns about poor performance of ethically-based investments still linger, there has been no correlation discovered between the two. In fact the "performance of ethical funds is just as reliant on good management techniques as that of conventional funds."

Shared Interest is a UK-based co-operative lending society of over 8,400 members which seeks to help finance and support Fair Trade projects. Shared Interest achieves this goal through two avenues: one focused on the developing world; the other on Fair Trade businesses in the developed world. Trade finance is given to producers against both individual orders and through long-term loans to help with business development and expansion. As Shared Interest is supportive of Fair Trade, they understand the limitations faced by producers, such as collateral and credit history, and take such into account when evaluating applicants. On the buyer side, capital is provided to both help new stores acquire initial inventory of Fair Trade items and to assist in bridging the gap between advance payments to producers and subsequent sales. The latter is especially important within the Fair Trade movement as it is the prepayment which allows a direct trade to be successfully established between the retailer and producer.

Shared Interest qualifies companies on individual basis, but typically asks that they be members of Fair Trade groups such as International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT), Fair Trade Federation, or Fair Trade Labelling Organizations (FLO), to ensure Fair Trade practices are being followed. To create an understanding with consumers about the need for Fair Trade, Shared Interest has created the Beekeeper game, which allows you to make the tough decisions faced by poor producers in a "choose your own adventure" setting, and to see where they take you. This drives the point that without Fair Trade and financing opportunities, the producers face choices of bad or worse, jailed in a cycle of poverty frequently exploited by traditional international trade systems. Consumer impact is also achieved through stories about producers and buyers and the success they’ve found with Shared Interest support.

With over $40 million in share capital, Shared Interest is able to support many avenues, making a significant impact upon individual lives and within the Fair Trade movement. While becoming a member is currently limited to residents of the UK, hopefully the success of such companies as Kiva will inspire expansion or others to fill the gap and offer investment opportunities in other developed countries.