The Principles are scalable and relevant to all types of impact investors and sizes of investment portfolios, asset types, sectors, and geographies. The Principles may be adopted at the corporate, line of business, fund, or investment vehicle level. Asset managers with a diverse set of investment products may decide to adopt the Principles for only specific funds or vehicles that they consider impact investments and need not adopt the Principles for the entirety of their assets. As well, asset owners that invest in bonds, funds, and other investment vehicles may apply the Principles to their own investment processes. The Principles do not have to be followed by the investee company, fund, or asset.
The way in which the Principles are applied will vary by type of investor. Asset owners and their advisors may use the Principles to screen impact investment opportunities. Asset managers may use the Principles to assure investors that impact funds are managed in a robust fashion..