Founded by former personal investment research executive Michael Walsh in 1997, the Lifecraft Group is a leading research and publishing firm in serving our society's increased desire for a greater sense of corporate responsibility and giving back to the community.

Lifecraft today operates 3 business units employing a team of 9 people. The theme that drives Lifecraft's research and publications is 'making a difference' and this process is applied to listed public companies and charities. Lifecraft’s clients are those parties who are interested in ‘investing’ in such companies and charities. This theme sees the Lifecraft Group involved in the fields of philanthropy, sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Givewell was the group’s first initiative, developed in 1997 to play a key role in fostering a better culture of giving in Australia. It does this by conducting research on charities and generating ideas on better ways to give. Givewell operates on the basis that informed and committed giving will lead to a more accountable, efficient and effective charitable sector. Givewell’s 3 key strategies are to:
    • specialise in information about charities, foundations and community attitudes to giving;
    • ensure that professional advice on donations and bequests becomes a normal part of financial, tax and estate planning services;
    • help companies and grantmakers implement well constructed giving programs as part of their service to the community.
Givewell has a team dedicated to its operation.

Corporate Monitor was formed in 1999 to play a key role in developing sustainable, responsible/ethical investment (SRI) in Australia. Its research involves monitoring the corporate social responsibility (CSR) record of Australian companies and the performance of SRI funds. Corporate Monitor’s 4 key strategies are to:
    • specialise in providing non-financial information about major Australian companies;
    • review and recommend investment prospects and ethical integrity of Australian SRI funds;
    • enable professional advice on SRI to become an accepted part of financial planning services and asset consulting;
    • provide a range of tools to help investors incorporate their values and ethics into investment decisions.
Corporate Monitor operates on the basis that CSR and SRI make a contribution towards a fairer society, a more sustainable economy and a more natural environment.

Lifecraft bought the Ethical Investor publishing business in May 2003 to complement Corporate Monitor and to reach a wider audience. Editorially, this service strives for high quality coverage of ethical investment opportunities and developments, supported by copy on corporate social responsibility and the triple bottom line. It also covers corporate governance, the ethics of mainstream investment and information on socially responsible finance products.