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Glen Macdonald
Glen Macdonald, Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley/Graystone Consulting
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Lindsey White
Lindsey White, Director of Programs at CREO
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Heidi Welsh
Heidi Welsh, Executive Director, Sustainable Investments Institute
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Anthony Rust
Anthony Rust, Impact Fund Manager, BEI Business Equity Fund, Chair of the Investment Committee, Warren Wilson College
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Jeff Mindlin
Jeff Mindlin, Vice President of Investments, ASU Enterprise Partners
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Maria Lettini
Maria Lettini, Chief Executive Officer of US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable Investment
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Carol Jeppesen
Carol Jeppesen, Head of US, UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
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Kelly Major Green
Kelly Major Green, CIMA®, Chicago office of Graystone Consulting, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
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Felicia Davis
Felicia Davis, Co-Founder & Coordinator, HBCU Green Fund
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Joe Biernat
Joe Biernat, Trustee, Gettysburg College
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Garrett P Ashley
Garrett P. Ashley, Vice Chancellor Emeritus for the California State University System
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IEN's Partners
We believe in the power of collaborative action in order to build the field of sustainable investing among endowed institutions. Learn more about the organizations with which IEN partners:
The SIILK Network (Sustainable & Impact Investing Learning & Knowledge) is a peer learning network of students, faculty, and staff that are involved in the management and development of student-managed investment funds, as well as the teaching and development of sustainable investing curriculum. SIILK participants connect to share best practices and resources to advance sustainable investing strategies in student-managed funds and curricula.IEN works closely with Second Nature on a range of activities, most notably in co-hosting the annual Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit. Second Nature is the coordinating body for the Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments - a network of over 500 colleges and universities committed to achieving climate neutrality in campus operations and implementing comprehensive climate action and/or climate resilience plans.IEN has joined forces with the HBCU Green Fund to launch an initiative aimed at improving endowment investment decision-making in higher education to better incorporate factors related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The central driving force of this initiative is a high-level Working Group of senior leaders from higher education, the investment industry, foundations, and nonprofit partners.The United Nations-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance is an international group of institutional investors delivering on a bold commitment to transition our investment portfolios to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. IEN is a Supporting Partner of the Alliance, supporting our Network in making Net Zero Portfolio commitments, and working with the Alliance to help investors implement such commitments.
Confluence Philanthropy’s mission is to transform the practice of investing by aligning capital with its community’s values of sustainability, equity, and justice. Confluence supports and catalyzes a membership network of private, public and community foundations; family offices; individual donors; and their values-aligned investment advisors.US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment is the leading voice advancing sustainable investing across all asset classes. Its mission is to rapidly shift investment practices toward sustainability, focusing on long-term investment and the generation of positive social and environmental impacts.The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is the global champion of impact investing, dedicated to increasing its scale and effectiveness around the world. By convening impact investors, the GIIN seeks to accelerate the industry's development through focused leadership and collective action.Toniic is a global community of asset owners seeking deeper positive net impact across the spectrum of capital. Its members consist of more than 400 high net worth individuals, family office, and foundation asset owners who are deepening their impact across the spectrum of capital and personal resources in more than 25 countries around the world.Social Venture Circle (SVC) is a membership network that equips entrepreneurs, impact investors, and capacity-builders with connections, money, and expertise in order to build businesses that drive the NEXT economy: one that is regenerative, equitable and prosperous for all.The ImPact's purpose is to improve the probability and pace of solving social and environmental problems by increasing the flow of capital to investments that generate measurable impact. It is a global membership community of families committed to aligning their assets with their values.Mission Investors Exchange is the leading impact investing network for foundations dedicated to deploying capital for social and environmental change. With over 200 members, it provides resources, inspiration, and connections to help its members increase the scale and impact of their impact investing practice.Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through powerful networks and advocacy, Ceres tackles the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and inequitable workplaces.1% for the Planet inspires people to support environmental organizations through annual membership and everyday actions. It advises on giving strategies, certifies donations and we amplifies the impact of its network.The PRI is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. It works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions.Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility pioneered the use of shareholder advocacy to press companies on environmental, social, and governance issues. Leveraging their equity ownership in some of the world’s largest and most powerful companies, ICCR members regularly engage management to identify and mitigate social and environmental risks resulting from corporate operations and policies.The Impact Capital Managers mission is to accelerate the performance of its members and promote the smart growth of the private capital impact investing marketplace. It does this through its membership association, which today includes 52 funds representing more than $11B in impact-focused capital, and through field-building initiatives and partnerships.ValuesAdvisor is a nonprofit that works in partnership with high net worth investor affinity groups to accelerate the flow of money to impact. Networks and affinity groups offer ValuesAdvisor as a member benefit, providing investors with easy access to trusted values-aligned professionals, put forward by peers. Together, we aim to build the field of impact investing, bring visibility to leading Advisors in the field, and meet the challenges of our times.As You Sow is the nation’s non-profit leader in shareholder advocacy. Founded in 1992, we harness shareholder power to create lasting change by protecting human rights, reducing toxic waste, and aligning investments with values. Our mission is to promote environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies.As You Sow, Broadridge, The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), and Confluence Philanthropy are partnering to offer this service -- which simplifies proxy voting and empowers endowments and other institutional investors to vote their proxies in line with their ESG mandates, using a time and cost efficient platform with optional customization. As You Vote is a rules-based ESG proxy voting system hosted on Broadridge’s ProxyEdge platform.The Diverse Asset Managers Initiative (DAMI) is an effort to increase the absolute number of, and assets under management by, diverse-owned asset management firms for institutional investors, with specific focus on public, corporate, faith and labor union pension funds as well as foundation and university endowments.
For a larger list of other organizations working in the field of sustainable investing and endowment management, visit the Organizations in Our Field page of our Resource Library.
IEN's Funders
We are tremendously grateful for the following funders -- past and present -- for providing grants to the Crane Institute of Sustainability in support of the Intentional Endowments Network and for their partnership in advancing our mission to help endowed institutions address climate risk and support a thriving, just, and sustainable society through mission-align investing.
Claudia and Peter Kinder Charitable Fund
Since 1925, the mission of the Denver Foundation has been to inspire people and mobilize resources to strengthen communities. It works with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to make a positive difference around education, economic opportunity, basic needs, and local leadership. catalyze market growth.
For over eight decades the Ford Foundation has pursued a mission to reduce poverty and injustice, strengthen democratic values, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.
The goal of the Generation Foundation is to mobilize key participants in the global economy to strengthen the business case for and accelerate the transition to sustainable capitalism.
For over twenty years the Litterman Foundation has generously supported initiatives in health, higher education, social and human services, food banks, conservation, and more.
Created in 1940, this family foundation is committed to advancing social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world.
The Sorenson Impact Foundation was created to advance the flow of capital into innovative, scalable solutions to the world’s most pressing needs.
The TPF is a donor collaborative aimed at supporting the growth of the impact investing field through strategic grantmaking.
Founded by Henry A. Wallace, the 33rd Vice President of the United States, the Fund is part of a growing movement to align investing with the promotion of human rights, democracy, public health, and sustainable planet.
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IEN focuses on addressing inequality and the climate crisis recognizing their systemic and existential threats to a thriving society.
Our interactive Roadmap for Intentionally Designed Endowments guides endowed institutions and their service providers to advance mission-aligned, sustainable investing.
We support endowed institutions to address these issues by mobilizing capital through:
Intentional Endowments
Sustainable Retirements
The Next Generation
IEN is committed to making justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) part of the culture and the strength of our organization and work.
Our programming goals include dismantling racism and supporting the careers and professional development of traditionally marginalized or underrepresented groups to help create a more equitable and just society, aligning with the mission of the organization. Read our full JEDI Statement on the Commitment to JEDI page.
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Organizations and Initiatives in the Field of Sustainable Investing and Endowment Management
There are a number of organizations that provide tools, research, support, events, and opportunities for action in the field of sustainable investing and endowment management. Membership and participation in these various initiatives are complementary and not mutually exclusive. The field is large, and growing. Here are three ways to help navigate the space:
1. IEN's active Working Groups and Initiatives are listed here
Our working groups and initiatives provide connect peers directly and are a starting point for getting to know other key players in the field.
2. Other organizations that IEN works most closely with, including on joint events and resources, are listed under IEN's Partners.
Check our Partner page for current resources, events, and opportunities with the most directly relevant peer groups supporting IEN members.
3. In addition to IEN's working groups, initiatives, and partnerships, we have compiled a representative - but not comprehensive - list of other non-profit groups and initiatives focused on investor education and action:
International grassroots effort to raise awareness of the need to decrease carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million.Promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies.An association of over 900 members across 48 U.S. states, 1 U.S. Territory, 9 Canadian provinces, and 20 countries, AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. Working with and for higher education, they ensure that the world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges.Encourages colleges, universities, and other nonprofit institutions to invest a combined total of one billion dollars in self-managed revolving funds that finance energy efficiency improvements.A non-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts.Learn More: IEN Webinar: ESG Integration & CDP’s Investor Signatory Programs for University Endowments (June 2015)
Engages more than 130 institutional investors to build an equitable, sustainable global economy and planet.Researches and releases information on the climate crisis and works with investors to employ low-carbon investing.Institutional investment management firm serving the non-profit and pension investment communities, including an outsourced management practice for endowments.A non-profit network of over 200 private, public, and community foundations, that works to enhance the ability of foundations to align the management of assets with an organizational mission to promote environmental sustainability and social justice.An investor-led initiative to ensure the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters take necessary action on climate change.An independent institute for advanced social and environmental research and engagement.An effort to increase the absolute number of, and assets under management by, diverse-owned asset management firms for institutional investors, with specific focus on public, corporate, faith and labor union pension funds as well as foundation and university endowments.A series of initiatives focused on encouraging investors to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions.The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is the global champion of impact investing, dedicated to increasing its scale and effectiveness around the world. By convening impact investors, the GIIN seeks to accelerate the industry's development through focused leadership and collective action.Provides a sustainability reporting framework to help companies measure and communicate sustainability performance information, aiming to make sustainability reporting standard practice.IEN has joined forces with the HBCU Green Fund to launch an initiative aimed at improving endowment investment decision-making in higher education to better incorporate factors related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The central driving force of this initiative is a high-level Working Group of senior leaders from higher education, the investment industry, foundations, and nonprofit partners.The ImPact's purpose is to improve the probability and pace of solving social and environmental problems by increasing the flow of capital to investments that generate measurable impact. It is a global membership community of families committed to aligning their assets with their values.The Impact Capital Managers mission is to accelerate the performance of its members and promote the smart growth of the private capital impact investing marketplace. It does this through its membership association, which today includes 52 funds representing more than $11B in impact-focused capital, and through field-building initiatives and partnerships.A coalition of over 300 global institutional investors representing more than $400 billion in managed assets that engages company management to identify and mitigate social and environmental risks resulting from operations and policies.Learn More: IEN Webinar: The Investor Case for Human Rights (January 2018)
Promotes integrated reporting of organizations’ financials, sustainability performance, strategy, governance, and prospects in the context of its external environment.Free educational website that features a directory of over 300 resources and organizations, and a community discussion forum both focused on aligning money and values through local banking, community investing, sustainable & responsible investing, and impact investing.Announced as part of the 2018 PRI in Person and the Global Climate Action Summit, this collaborative initiative seeks to support the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement by providing a way for investors to report, accelerate and scale-up their actions. With nearly 400 investors with $32 trillion in assets collectively under management, its launch demonstrates significant momentum in the transition to a low-carbon economy.A network convened by Ceres of more than 110 institutional investors representing more than $13 trillion in assets committed to addressing the risks resulting from climate change and other sustainability challenges.Mission Investors Exchange is the leading impact investing network for foundations dedicated to deploying capital for social and environmental change. With over 200 members, it provides resources, inspiration, and connections to help its members increase the scale and impact of their impact investing practice.A commitment made by investors to measure and publicly disclose the carbon footprint of their investment portfolios on an annual basis.The national membership association for chief financial officers and other business officers of colleges and universities.The United Nations-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance is an international group of institutional investors delivering on a bold commitment to transition our investment portfolios to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. IEN is a Supporting Partner of the Alliance, supporting our Network in making Net Zero Portfolio commitments, and working with the Alliance to help investors implement such commitments.
Mobilizes financial markets to catalyze economic decarbonization.An organization that engages an international network of signatories to promote adoption of its Six Principles for Responsible Investment in investment decision-making.Organizes students, alumni, university administrators, and the larger college community to challenge and pressure universities to invest their endowments more responsibly.The University and College Sector’s Collective Response to the Sustainable Development Goals. The purpose of the SDG Accord is twofold: 1). to inspire, celebrate, and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 2). a commitment learning institutions are making to one another to do more to deliver the goals, to annually report on each signatory's progress, and to do so in ways that share the learning with each other both nationally and internationally.Works to make sustainability a strategic imperative for colleges and universities; the supporting organization of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.Social Venture Circle (SVC) is a membership network that equips entrepreneurs, impact investors, and capacity-builders with connections, money, and expertise in order to build businesses that drive the NEXT economy: one that is regenerative, equitable and prosperous for all.Works to establish industry-based sustainability standards for the recognition and disclosure of material ESG impacts by companies traded on US exchanges.Works to advance institutional responses to the climate crisis, focusing on sustainable use of endowment and operations assets; leads the Billion Dollar Green Challenge, encouraging campuses to establish “green revolving funds.”Conducts impartial research and publishes reports on organized efforts to influence corporate behavior on social and environmental issues.Toniic is a global community of asset owners seeking deeper positive net impact across the spectrum of capital. Its members consist of more than 400 high net worth individuals, family office, and foundation asset owners who are deepening their impact across the spectrum of capital and personal resources in more than 25 countries around the world.A global partnership between UNEP and the financial sector. Over 200 institutions, including banks, insurers and fund managers, work with UNEP to understand the impacts of environmental and social considerations on financial performance.The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment – a US membership association for professionals, firms, institutions, and organizations engaged in sustainable and responsible investing.WRI’s Sustainable Investing Initiative advances sustainable investment practices in the mainstream investor marketplace through tailored data, research, and peer-to-peer learning.
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