The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) is a peer-learning network that supports institutions in exploring how these topics impact their capital pools, including: endowments at colleges and universities, endowments at foundations and other institutions, and retirement funds.
Join our community of 250+ active member organizations to learn from peers, gain access to exclusive resources, and gauge progress with our assessment and benchmarking tools.
IEN works globally (with a focus on the U.S. and Canada) to support stakeholders across the financial system (with a focus on endowments & foundations) in addressing financial risk and uncovering investment opportunities.
We advance education and implementation across topics and capital pools through the following core strategies:
We recognize that diversity enhances organizational innovation and effectiveness. We are strategic about not discriminating against any group, regardless of cognitive, demographic, and other dimensions of diversity. We reject the zero-sum paradigm, defined as "the idea that progress for some of us must come at the expense of others," and recognize the benefits we gain when people come together to accomplish what we simply can't do on our own.
Read more about IEN's Culture of Inclusivity.
Endowments have a unique opportunity where doing the right thing for the climate – reducing their exposure to stranded carbon asset risk, and investing solutions – is also the smart thing for their investment portfolios.
– Bob Litterman
Chair, Risk Committee
Kepos Capital LP
We maintain an archive of over 80 past IEN webinars, available to IEN members here.
The 2025 Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) Virtual Forum convened thought leaders, investment professionals, and mission-driven institutions over four dynamic days to explore how endowments and asset owners can advance systemic solutions through investment.
The peer-learning network will support investors in driving responsible governance and guardrails for safe application of AI technologies.
From February 2-4, the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) joined over 350 leaders in higher education, sustainable investing, and community engagement at the 2025 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit. Held in Washington, D.C., this year’s convening underscored the urgent need for endowments to advance sustainable and impact investing strategies, ensure long-term institutional financial sustainability, and continue to address systemic risk despite current political headwinds.