Endowment Value: $2.11 billion (June 2018)
Swarthmore College is a private, liberal arts college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The college's Finance and Investment offices manages the endowment and is overseen by the Board of Managers.
The various student-driven fossil divestment campaigns currently sweeping across campus often attributed to having roots in Swarthmore’s campus when students established Swarthmore Mountain Justice in 2010 to call upon the administration to divest after witnessing mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia.
Although it has yet to fully divest from fossil fuels, Swarthmore does consider ESG factors to an extent, including making it a criteria in manager selection, engaging in dialogue with existing managers, and “has not had direct investments in coal production companies.” Furthermore, SC has pledged to intensify sustainability actions such as expanding environmental studies curriculum and improving on-campus energy efficiencies. Its Committee on Investor Responsibility does provide proxy voting recommendations on shareholder resolutions addressing social issues.
In 2015 the Board established a fossil-fuel free fund for donors that wish to contribute to Swarthmore’s endowment. Swarthmore currently has several environmental sustainability funds designated for green project grants, environmental studies scholarships, and internships.
Swarthmore College is a participant or member of the following Initiatives & Commitments:
- AASHE STARs: Yes, Silver
- ACUPCC: Yes, Climate Neutral by 2035
- Billion Dollar Green Challenge: No
- CDP: No
- Committee for Investor Responsibility: Yes: The Committee on Investor Responsibility
- Divestment Goal: No
- INCR: No
- Montreal Carbon Pledge: No
- Sustainable Investment Fund: Yes
- Sustainable Investment Policy: Yes
- Principles for Responsible Investment: No
Other Sustainable Investing Practices: