With development of Russian financial system and its involvement in international infrastructure of capital flow, new sources and forms of attraction of foreign investments to Russian development projects have been gradually but inevitable emerging (even despite periodic financial cataclysms and embargo). One of such forms is establishment of income trusts in oversea jurisdictions. Essentially investment trust, which, in most cases, is referred to as the Investment Fund is a tool allowing to unite communities of investors, performing a passive role, to accumulate investments with the purpose of collective investment in projects (the company), selected in accordance with specific criteria. The article highlights the main reasons of attraction and use of this instrument in domestic projects (in the presence of a similar Russian product - mutual funds) and makes focuses on the advantages of establishment of funds in offshore areas. The author analyzes the characteristics of various categories of foreign funds, depending on the method of circulation of shares of a fund, structure and amount of assets, specifics of participants. Special attention is focused on equity funds and real estate trusts (REIT), as these tools become actively involved in Russian investment and construction (development) projects.