Loyola University Chicago
Endowment Value: $1.072 billion (2021)
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit Catholic University located in Chicago, Illinois. Its endowment is overseen by Loyola’s Investment Office.
In 2007, the Trustees of Loyola’s Office of Finance established the Shareholder Advocacy Committee (SAC) allowing students, faculty, and staff to engage with companies concerning their practices and policies, work with similar initiatives to advance sustainability goals, advise the University on shareholder voting, and research and provide information to the university regarding ESG investment.
Following years of conversation regarding divestment, the Loyola University Chicago Senate voted in 2015 to recommend full divestment of direct ownership of fossil fuels within eighteen months and divestment from commingled funds that include fossil fuels within five years. Ultimately, the board of trustees decided to develop a more comprehensive approach to negatively screen investments.
In 2016, Loyola University Chicago amended its investment policy to include Responsible and Sustainable Investing Principles. Their policy recognizes the need for them to align their investment practices with their mission and their Jesuit and Catholic traditions. Additionally, the policy states that investment decisions will be made with the consideration of “incorporating environmental, social and governance factors as core components of decision-making and risk management, impact and solutions-based investments, engagement, proxy voting, and evaluation of the economic merits of current and potential investments taking into account governance practices, environmental or social impact, and regulatory and reputational risks.”
Loyola University Chicago is a participant or member of the following Initiatives & Commitments:
- IEN Member (2016)
- AASHE STARS: Yes, Gold
- ACUPCC: Yes, Carbon Neutral by 2025
- Billion Dollar Green Challenge: No
- CDP: No
- Committee on Investor Responsibility: No
- Divestment Goal: Yes
- INCR: No
- Montreal Carbon Pledge: No
- Sustainable Investment Fund: No
- Sustainable Investment Policy: Yes
- Principles for Responsible Investment: No
Other Sustainable Investing Practices: