NAB Foundation Launches $50 Million Impact Fund with Focus on Housing and Climate
With $25 million already committed, the new Impact Investment Fund aims to deliver both social outcomes and risk-adjusted financial returns, starting with affordable housing.
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The NAB Foundation has unveiled a new $50 million Impact Investment Fund (IIF), which targets social and environmental outcomes alongside financial performance. Affordable housing is among its top priorities.
Launched at the Asia Pacific Impact Investment Summit in Sydney on Wednesday, the fund has already allocated $25 million of its capital, with $10 million deployed and a further $25 million expected by October 2026.
Speaking at the launch, NAB Group Executive and JBWere Chair Cathryn Carver said the fund reflected NAB’s broader ambition to create long-term value for both communities and investors.
“Directing capital to aligned impact investments opens up new ways for the Foundation to create positive and lasting change,” said Carver. “The NAB Foundation is already supporting crucial community initiatives through up to $6 million in grants annually, and this fund adds another layer of strategic impact.”
The fund will be managed by JBWere, NAB’s wealth management arm, and will focus on investments aligned with three key pillars: Indigenous economic advancement, social and affordable housing, and climate transition. The initiative is part of the Foundation’s broader $170 million corpus and marks a deliberate shift into outcomes-driven capital deployment.
JBWere CEO Michael Saadie said the firm is seeing a significant uptick in clients seeking performance with purpose.
“Impact investing is a growing area of focus for those looking to invest effectively for performance and purpose,” said Saadie. “We’re proud to partner with the NAB Foundation, alongside hundreds of other purpose-driven clients.”
To oversee the fund’s governance, a specialist Investment Committee has been formed, chaired by Ben Smith, Head of Impact Investing at the Paul Ramsay Foundation. Smith said the committee is especially encouraged by NAB’s appetite to invest across the risk-return spectrum to unlock high-impact opportunities.
“The Committee is excited by the potential of the Fund, especially with NAB Foundation’s willingness to invest across the risk/return spectrum to generate high impact return,” he said.
The committee will work closely with JBWere to identify and vet investment opportunities, provide due diligence, and ensure accountability in impact measurement — a crucial step as Australia’s impact investing market matures.
The move comes as investors increasingly look to align portfolios with environmental and social outcomes, especially in sectors like housing, where demand far exceeds supply. NAB’s entry into this space via the Foundation is being seen as both a strategic capital allocation and a signal of institutional leadership.
With this fund, NAB joins a growing list of financial institutions leveraging balance sheets and philanthropic capital to accelerate solutions to some of the country’s most urgent challenges — from housing affordability to climate resilience.
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For self-employed Australians, navigating the mortgage market can be complex—especially when income documentation doesn’t fit the standard mould. In this guide, Stephen Andrianakos, Director of Red Door Financial Group, outlines eight flexible loan structures designed to support business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs.
1. Full-Doc Loan
A full-doc loan is the most straightforward and competitive option for self-employed borrowers with up-to-date tax returns and financials. Lenders assess two years of tax returns, assessment notices, and business financials. This type of loan offers high borrowing capacity, access to features like offset accounts and redraw facilities, and fixed and variable rate choices.
2. Low-Doc Loan
Low-doc loans are designed for borrowers who can’t provide the usual financial documentation, such as those in start-up mode or recently expanded businesses. Instead of full tax returns, lenders accept alternatives like profit and loss statements or accountant’s declarations. While rates may be slightly higher, these loans make finance accessible where banks might otherwise decline.
3. Standard Variable Rate Loan
A standard variable loan moves with the market and offers flexibility in repayments, extra contributions, and redraw options. It’s ideal for borrowers who want to manage repayments actively or pay off their loans faster when income permits. With access to over 40 lenders, brokers can help match borrowers with a variable product suited to their financial strategy.
4. Fixed Rate Loan
A fixed-rate loan offers repayment certainty over a set term—typically one to five years. It’s popular with borrowers seeking predictability, especially in volatile rate environments. While fixed loans offer fewer flexible features, their stability can be valuable for budgeting and cash flow planning.
5. Split Loan
A split loan combines fixed and variable portions, giving borrowers the security of a fixed rate on part of the loan and the flexibility of a variable rate on the other. This structure benefits self-employed clients with irregular income, allowing them to lock in part of their repayment while keeping some funds accessible.
6. Construction Loan
Construction loans release funds in stages aligned with the building process, from the initial slab to completion. These loans suit clients building a new home or undertaking major renovations. Most lenders offer interest-only repayments during construction, switching to principal-and-interest after the build. Managing timelines and approvals is key to a smooth experience.
7. Interest-Only Loan
Interest-only loans allow borrowers to pay just the interest portion of the loan for a set period, preserving cash flow. This structure is often used during growth phases in business or for investment purposes. After the interest-only period, the loan typically converts to principal-and-interest repayments.
8. Offset Home Loan
An offset home loan links your savings account to your mortgage, reducing the interest charged on the loan. For self-employed borrowers with fluctuating income, it’s a valuable tool for managing cash flow while still reducing interest and accelerating loan repayment. The funds remain accessible, offering both flexibility and efficiency.
Red Door Financial Group is a Melbourne-based brokerage firm that offers personalised financial solutions for residential, commercial, and business lending.
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