10.04.2006 - 01:36pm ET

(CSRwire) Bridgeport, CT and San Francisco, CA- AltruShare Securities, the first institutional brokerage firm specializing in community investment, announced today that it has donated majority ownership in the for-profit entity to Tides Foundation and Underdog Foundation. Launched in March 2006, AltruShare specializes in community investment while offering comprehensive and competitive brokerage services including best execution, superior service and value to institutional investors.

Led by a management team with more than 40 years of domestic and international experience in institutional brokerage and portfolio trading, AltruShare's agency-only model offers superior brokerage services free of traditional conflict of interests. Through its "Community Investment Enterprise" business model, AltruShare combines traditional brokerage services with social responsibility without incurring any costs to its clients. The firm sponsors cutting edge independent research on community investment, including portfolio audits, industry reports, community research; it also offers market analysis and intelligence, block trading, algorithmic trading and direct market access.

AltruShare selected Tides Foundation and Underdog Foundation after conducting a national search of potential nonprofit partners identified as a community foundation. The foundations have a combined 40 years experience in community-based investment, which will help AltruShare determine the best ways to reinvest its profits - from the AltruShare Opportunity Funds - in communities where it conducts business. AltruShare will focus its social responsibility initiatives on revitalizing underserved communities through youth development, education, and economic opportunity. It has already conducted a "needs analysis" in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Although AltruShare will work closely with its nonprofit owners, AltruShare is a for-profit venture that will support research and community investment through its own profits. It does not accept donations and its nonprofit owners will not have a say in the management of the brokerage business.

"AltruShare competes on best execution, service and value, and uses the latest technology, but what makes us different is that we represent a new partnership between Wall Street and Main Street because AltruShare was created to reinvest in the communities we serve. We offer superior quality and execution and at the same time reinvest in underserved communities without any cost to the investor,"said Peter Drasher, co-founder and managing partner, AltruShare.

"Tides and Underdog bring a terrific track record of national expertise, 40 years of experience in community-based investment and philanthropy, and a commitment to innovation. Our goal is to develop a sustainable source of support for economically disadvantaged communities. We feel that given the same service and cost, clients will choose a brokerage firm whose profits are reinvested in the community," said Dawn Edwards, co-founder and president, AltruShare.

Changes in government and the philanthropic sector have been driving the need for innovative approaches to solving the needs of underserved communities.

"We look forward to serving as AltruShare's philanthropic partner as the firm grows and develops its innovative Community Investment Enterprise model, which will - through the AltruShare Opportunity Fund at Tides - support youth, education and economic development in diverse and underserved communities around the country," said Drummond Pike, CEO, Tides Foundation.

The Underdog Foundation will be managing a national community investment program for Altrushare to help communities which are often ignored or forgotten - communities who are considered the underdog.

"From day one, Peter was clear that he didn't want giving something back to communities to be the last thing he did in his company; he wanted it to be the first thing. At the Underdog Foundation, we've been lucky to work with people using their companies or investments to innovate and to make the biggest possible difference with their philanthropy. It's amazing that Peter found a business model that allows institutional investors a way to get best execution and still know that their trading business is giving back to those communities with the greatest needs," said David Berge, president, Underdog Foundation.

About Tides Foundation

Since 1976, Tides Foundation has partnered with donors and institutions by offering donor advised funds, philanthropic advice and management services for progressive social change philanthropy. Tides is committed to strengthening community-based nonprofit organizations and the progressive movement through national and global philanthropy - creating a positive impact on people's lives in ways that honor and promote human rights, economic justice and a healthy, sustainable environment. For more information, visit www.tidesfoundation.org.
About Underdog Foundation

The Underdog Foundation works to meet community and environmental needs that cannot be met through simple investments. The Underdog Foundation, which does not accept unsolicited applications, supports non-profit organizations doing important work in our communities through grant making, community investment, technical assistance, and strategic nonprofit/for-profit partnerships. They have special expertise in applying an array of innovative community investment models to provide effective capital to communities and organizations that have compelling needs but may have been excluded from access to capital. For more information, visit www.underdogventures.com.

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