Sanctuary Opportunity Funds is a private equity firm specializing in Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments in the low country of South Carolina. We offer accredited investors, family offices and other institutions a new tax-advantaged investment strategy that will further diversify one’s investment portfolio out of traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds, and into real world assets like real estate and fine art, combined with the additional return boost due to the tax savings of the Opportunity Zones program. Unlike many larger fund companies, we are local, readily accessible to our investors and welcome investor input on potential projects. We are looking for partners, not just investors to help navigate this newly created investment landscape.
Our team is comprised of the best investment professionals, focused on real estate developments and growth equity investments. We have also established an independent local Investment Committee as a resource to make sure our investment decisions have been thoroughly vetted and align with the best interest of the communities. This combination will ensure that the 90% or more of all of our Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund Investments that go back into our communities across Charleston are done in a meaningful way, while potentially generating substantial returns for investors.
Our Values
Investor Centric Approach
We believe thru our core that the investor comes first. By putting the interest of our clients first and foremost, everything else falls into place. We take our fiduciary responsibility seriously and will work with each investor to make sure the investments we place in the portfolio are aligned with our common goals of achieving financial freedom and long term financial stability.
Absolute Transparency and Accessibility
We offer absolute transparency and guidance thru the entire investment process. The most successful long term relationships are built on trust, honesty and communication. Complete access to our team of investment professionals is paramount.
Community
This is our opportunity to make a difference in the communities we hold dear and at the same time, utilize the tax code to create generational wealth for our families. Partner with us and make this vision a reality.
Going Green
“Going green” means to pursue knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations. Our projects are committed to doing our part in helping the environment.
Meet Our Team
General Partner
Sanctuary Investment Group LLC
Sanctuary Investment Group LLC, was born out of The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, where Congress established the Opportunity Zone program designed to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities through significant tax benefits to investors. It was founded on the belief that investors deserve a safe, simplified, managed approach to real estate investment giving them the confidence and ability to diversify their investment portfolio away from the traditional stock market. When you partner with Sanctuary, we are aligning ourselves with you by investing our capital side by side. We are committed to working diligently to deliver your investment returns while safeguarding your capital in a way that is unique and new. By partnering with us, you will be utilizing our industry and tax law knowledge to make educated and empowered investment decisions.
Executive Team
John J Coppola
Chief Executive Officer
A 25 year veteran in the investment management arena, John’s mission has been safeguarding investors precious assets while working with them to ensure that the investments of the firm align with their long term financial goals. He is founder of Client First Advisors LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor dealing with high net individuals, family office and pension plans. Before founding Sanctuary Opportunity Investment Group LLC, he has managed investors assets while being a registered investment advisor, a senior portfolio manager for a privately held Investment company and as Vice President at Merrill Lynch. John graduated from the University of Michigan.
Ron J. Weinberger
Executive Vice President
Ron J. Weinberger has spent the past 10 years focusing on residential and commercial real estate in Charleston, South Carolina, as President of Riley Ellis Construction. He has developed multiple ground up and redevelopment consrtuction projects in the Charleston city limits. Ron handles the acquisition, development oversight and management of the funds real estate portfolio. He was previous General Partner of Benchmark Real estate Group, focused on multi-family buildings in New York City. He was also as a member on the NYMEX for over 15 years. Ron graduated from Syracuse University.
Michael Robinson
Independant, Non-Executive Director
Michael A. Robinson serves as an Executive Vice President of Operations & Supply Chain at TT Electronics Plc. He is an experienced Executive Vice President Of Operations with a demonstrated history of working in the Aerospace , electrical and electronic manufacturing industry. He is skilled in Operations Management, Strategic Sourcing, Continuous Improvement, and Kaizen. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations at TE Connectivity Ltd.( Formerly Tyco Electronics), a 14 billion dollar manufacturing company. He joined TE Connectivity from a 27-year career at United Technologies Corporation (UTC)United Technologies. where he served as Vice President of Operations, Residential and Light Commercial International business at Carrier Corporation and senior management positions at Pratt Whitney.
Andrew Costine
Independant, Non- Executive Director
Andrew Costine is CFO of Binsky Mechanical. Binsky Mechanical is a leader in providing mechanical contracting services across many industries and disciplines. Binsky is uniquely situated to serve the high concentration of technically-sophisticated industrial and commercial clients. As CFO, Andrew plays an integral part in all construction related projects from start to finish to ensure all financial targets are met. Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb are just a few of the many pharmaceutical companies who have experienced Binky’s high standards; AT&T, CNBC, Bloomberg, JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and McGraw-Hill represent a current list of end users in the technology sector utilizing Binsky for their mission-critical systems. Andrew is a Member of New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Keith Coppola
Chief Investment Officer: Blue Chip Fine Art Fund
Keith Coppola is Founder of Coppola Fine Art and CCMC, strategic advisers and consultants on blue chip fine art collections from renowned artists like Basquiat, Picasso, Warhol, De Kooning and more. He is himself a Fine art collector, and Author of Channeling Picasso Series. His earlier background included Consultanting on Sports book Operations, exchange wagering, crypto algorithmic trading, tokenization , hedge fund management, Thoroughbred Racing analysis and bloodstock specialist. Prior credentials include USA consultant and lead affiliate of Betfair’s Nj exchange Tvg, Pointsbet, automated trading platform executition design Leader for Actuarials exchange , Arbitrage software developer Frommer Capital Next Gen financial, pairs trading strategies and execution team leadet and Exchange Traded Derivatives specialist . Philosopher at heart.
Ronald Johnson
Vice President of Sales
Ron Johnson has utilized 25 years of investment experience in business sales, including alternative investments, fund raising, financial planning, risk management, new client development, wealth management solutions, banking experience, capital raising, brokerage, and as a CTA. Some of his accomplisments include arranging the M&A deal for Wilbur Ross to buy Bank United, Miami, managing $500 million dollar portfolio as a CTA in foreign exchange, and the introduction of a Principal Protected Note program to Family offices thru SSARIS Div. of State Street Bank. Ron is a PGA golf professional and graduate of Rutgers University.