Learn more and register.

Register

June 13, 2023 | 1 pm ET

IEN's JEDI Initiative seeks to start the education and advocacy process for endowments to consider JEDI factors in the investment process in the following ways:

• Enhancing diversity within the university investment offices by ensuring people are not excluded deliberately or through implicit bias on the basis of race, ethnicity, or gender.
• Evaluating the performance of companies and funds with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their boards, management, and staff in the investment process and engage with companies and funds to improve on these issues.
• Identifying minority-led investment managers.
• Making investments that benefit women, low-income communities, and communities of color.
• Supporting finance and investment education of diverse students to build a pipeline of talent.

We advance the conversation on this agenda through a series of educational and peer-networking activities, including events, webinars, and white papers.

IEN's Quarterly Calls are member-only conversations. If you are not an IEN member but are interested in joining these calls and becoming a member, please contact Harrison Ungar at [email protected] 

If you are interested in learning more about IEN's JEDI Initiative, please contact Paris Prince at [email protected]

Learn more and register.

Date: May 3, 2023 at 2 pm ET

Register

With over 30,000 global publicly traded companies to cover, overburdened staff, manual processes, and lack of benchmarking tools, how do organizations effectively monitor or target fund portfolio companies for shareholder engagement?

Our discussion will revolve around how to use quantitatively structured ESG consensus scores to accomplish this important function. Valid, consistent, and comprehensive ESG engagement ratings data is critical for a proper oversight process. The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to the consumption of ESG adherence data has provided a solution to this problem: ESG consensus ratings.

By using ESG consensus ratings, asset owners can identify those companies within a fund’s portfolio or (target lists) whose key performance indicators are aligning with an organization’s ESG goals.

Participants will learn:

• To use quantitative research to evaluate public equity portfolio alignment with fund values and ESG policies;
• To develop data driven shareholder engagement strategies and dialogues with portfolio companies;
• To track ESG performance trends and benchmarking corporate dialogues with new reporting tools and analytics;
• To obtain breakouts of each ESG metric to better understand weaknesses and strengths;
• To efficiently scale shareholder advocacy campaigns;
• To apply what they've gathered to real world use cases

Speakers 

Eric Darrisaw, Senior Consultant, Hackett Group

View Eric's bio 

Brian J. Greene, Senior Vice President, Zeno AN Solutions

View Brian's Bio

Dale M. Neibert, Managing Director, OWL ESG, Inc.

View Dale's bio

Learn more and register.

March 30, 2023 | 1 pm ET

Register

The Endowment community continues showing interest in diverse, emerging, and women-owned investment enterprises as it seeks competitive returns and avenues to further ESG and DEI mission objectives. GP staking and seeding in diverse alternative asset managers is a vastly under-resourced endeavor that can support these objectives. There is a significant unmet need for diverse and women-owned alternative managers to source equity staking and seed capital for their enterprises that affords savvy and mission-oriented investors to achieve attractive long-term returns while meeting their mission objectives. This webinar will consider the opportunity set, risks, and rewards of such activity.

Participants of this webinar will learn:

• The process for identifying women owned GP firms and how to seed them
• The due diligence that goes behind that effort
• Learn the historical data supporting women owned GP financial performance.

Speakers:

• Sherrese Clarke Soares, Founder and CEO, Harbourview Equity Partners
• Jenifer B. Rizza, CFA, CAIA Trust Investment Manager, Eversource
• Tina Byles-Williams, Xponance Founder, CEO & CIO
• Lisa Hinds, Managing Director, Client Engagement & Sustainability

Today, we see an increase in companies increasing their mission-driven and communication along ESG principles, to attract a values based workforce, investor base, and like-minded consumer. Impact investing strategies are proving to be able to generate returns in line to their traditional counterparts. Over the next three decades, it is estimated that over $68+ trillion will transfer from baby boomers to Millennials. As we move to the next generation of investors, we are finding more companies aligning their beliefs, operation, and communication strategies with that of the Millennials & Gen X.

The ESG & Impact Investing Forum will look at many of the asset classes that encompass this space. We invite you to join us and meet top influencers, experienced investors, money managers, and service providers that are leading the charge in this ever growing space. Themes of defining impact investing, portfolio construction, asset class opportunities, comparing ESG vs Impact trends and the role of the investor are just a few of the stimulating topics to be covered at this event.

On our regular SIILK Network calls, a different faculty member or student presents on their work as it relates to a student-managed fund or sustainable investing focused course.

Below are recordings of each presentation. If you are interested in presenting on your work on an upcoming call please reach out to Nicole at [email protected]

• Yale University: Dwight Hall SRI Fund | October 2017 
• Middlebury College: RISE (Research and Investment in Sustainable Equity) l April 2018
• Bryant University: Archway Investment Fund l May 2018
• Stanford University: Graduate School of Business Impact Fund l September 2018
• Loomis Chaffee School: ESG Fund l October 2018
• How SASB Metrics Can Be Used in Fund Analysis l November 2018
• University Impact l March 2019
• Northeastern University: NU Impact l April 2019
• University of Minnesota: Carlson Funds Enterprise l April 2019
• New York University: Impact Investing Fund l September 2019
• Emory University: Goizueta Impact Investors l October 2019
• Arizona State University: Socially Responsible Investment Fund l December 2019
• Portland State University: Impact Venture Fund l January 2020
• Bentley University: Bentley Sustainable Investment Group l February 2020
• Northeastern University: NU Impact l May 2020
• University of Utah: Impact Venture Fund l October 2021 
• Student-Led Shareholder Engagement Network (SIILK Quarterly Call) | February 2023

Register

We invite IEN Members to join our first Investment Governance call of 2023 on Wednesday, March 15 at 2 pm ET!

IEN’s Investment Governance Initiative supports endowment fiduciaries in developing the tools needed to provide the leadership, stewardship, and governance to ensure their portfolios and institutions are positioned to have their investment practices reflect their mission while meeting the endowment’s risk and return objectives.

Members of the Investment Governance Initiative undertake and enable peer-to-peer connections among endowment trustees and actively serve as ambassadors for IEN.

Speakers and topics:

• Fiduciary Duty with Tiffany Reeves, Partner, Faegre Drinker
• UPMIFA and Building Diverse Investment Committees with George Suttles, Executive Director, Commonfund Institute
• Driving Financial Performance with Impact Measurement Frameworks with Kate Murray, Director - Impact Strategy & Measurement, TAS Impact

We’re excited to co-host the EarthX E-Capital Summit to inspire and catalyze action in the sustainable investing field. Apply to join investors, innovators, and industry leaders focused on the environment, sustainability, clean technology, and resilience in April.

We also want to remind IEN Members about our forthcoming Initiative calls, including for the Sustainable Retirements Initiative on Thursday, March 9 at 12 pm ET to discuss the recent DOL ESG backlash and ESG-aligned mutual funds.

In this week’s news, we share Black professionals' perspectives of the sustainable finance industry, the NACUBO-TIAA 2022 Study of Endowments, and the US Executive Office expectation to veto Congress’ vote against the DOL’s ESG rule.

Thank you to those who were able to join our SIILK Quarterly Call this afternoon. We invite members to continue to engage and build their professional network by registering for the Sustainable Retirement Initiative call scheduled for March 9 at 12 pm ET. Join us to hear from Schroders on its Impact principles and proprietary Impact framework, and from Nia Impact Capital’s new mutual fund.

In this week’s news, we share 37 black investors changing the VC industry with firms dedicated to fund diverse startup founders, Senate GOP attempts to block the DOL’s new ESG Rule, and Cambridge Associates highlights the journey from net zero policies to implementation.

We invite IEN members to register for our upcoming Initiative calls. IEN Initiatives offer a forum for its members to engage in topical conversations, build their professional networks, expertise, requests for support and develop resources to advance the field.

The SIILK Initiative, scheduled for February 23 at 2 pm ET, will feature a presentation by an emerging Student-Led Shareholder Engagement Network. Join us to learn more.

In this week’s news, Carleton College divests from direct fossil fuel holdings, seven Black sustainable leaders are celebrated for their work, and Harvard Management Company releases its February 2023 Climate Report. We also share a few articles that respond to the anti-ESG sentiment to help you speak on sustainable investing in your institutions.

Western New England University, Bard College, and the Sierra Club Foundation Join Growing List of Colleges, Universities, Foundations, and Other Nonprofit Institutions Committing to Evaluate Sustainable Retirement Plan Options with Renewed Focus on Climate and Social Justice

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 14, 2023 – Western New England University, the Sierra Club Foundation, and Bard College have become signatories of the Intentional Endowments Network’s (IEN) Sustainable Retirements Plan Pledge. IEN’s Sustainable Retirement Plan pledge, supported by Second Nature and The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), establishes that university and nonprofit “employees deserve a range of sustainable investing retirement fund options that consider environmental, social, and governance factors, consistent with the goals of reducing risk, protecting capital, and enhancing financial returns.”   

By signing this Pledge, these institutions have set the intention to review its current retirement plan fund offerings and assess the sustainable investing options currently available. Western New England University, Bard College, and the Sierra Club Foundation will also work with plan administrators to determine if there are suitable sustainable investing options for plans that take into account the best interest of the University’s beneficiaries and their retirement goals.

“The University supports this pledge as its 403(b) retirement plan currently offers a socially responsible mutual fund in its investment lineup and is committed to evaluating sustainable investment fund offerings going forward,” said Basil Stewart, V.P. for Finance and Administration at Western New England University.

“Sierra Club Foundation believes in putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to investing our assets in investments that take ESG factors and environmental sustainability into account,” said Kevin McGahan, CFO of the Sierra Club Foundation. “Sierra Club Foundation signed onto the Sustainable Retirement Plan pledge because we believe in providing our staff with investment options that help to align their values with the funds they invest in for their retirements."

Currently open for additional signers, the IEN Sustainable Retirements pledge was first adopted by Arizona State University, The ASU Foundation, Chatham University, Lewis & Clark College, and the NorthLight Foundation.

“Institutional retirement plans represent trillions in investments, and we at IEN are committed to ensuring that they offer participants options that align with the transition to a sustainable future, so retirees are not caught ‘holding the bag’ of risky investments that are not positioned for the transition to a more equitable, clean energy and low-carbon economy.”said Georges Dyer, Executive Director of IEN.

The Sustainable Retirements Pledge was first announced at IEN’s Institutional Investor Roundtable during Climate Week in September 2022, to an audience of over 100 endowment trustees, CIOs, investment staff, asset managers, investment consultants, outsourced CIOs, retirement planning experts, sustainability leaders, faculty, and nonprofit partners.

Demand for sustainable investing is increasing. There are nearly $1 trillion in assets held in 403(b) employee retirement plans. ESG assets are predicted to grow to $53 trillion by 2025, which would comprise one-third of all global assets under management. The interest in sustainable investing is also reflected in demands on investment managers, and a stronger connection between investment returns and sustainable outcomes is being established. Including sustainable investment options in 403(b) retirement plans can mitigate investment risk and yield greater economic resilience.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sorelle Ngatchou, Communications and Media Manager, [email protected]

ABOUT IEN

The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) is a peer learning network of colleges, universities, and other mission-driven institutional investors working together to achieve their risk and return objectives through investment actions that create a thriving, sustainable economy. IEN has more than 200 network members including endowments, asset managers, investment consultants, nonprofit partners, and individuals.

The IEN Team expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the 300+ individuals that joined us at the University of Miami this week for the 2023 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit!

This week's news focuses on the 2023 Summit's key takeaways and session highlights. We'll resume to our regular News Round-Up next Thursday.

Thank you again for those who were able to join us, and we look forward to sharing more details on this year's Summit soon -- including when and where we'll host the 2024 Summit.

During this Black History Month, we’ll celebrate and honor people of color by including a special section in our weekly news roundup highlighting black stories, perspectives, and opportunities in the investment industry throughout the month of February.

We also invite you to join our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion plenary virtually at the 2023 Higher education Leadership Summit to learn how to prioritize equity in the endowment and investment process.

In this week’s news, Cambridge Associates released its biennial client survey, a climate accountability package is introduced in California, and V Square Asset Management releases its ESG trends report.

We’re excited to announce that virtual registration for the 2023 Higher Education Climate Leader Summit is now open! For those unable to attend the 2023 Summit in person, a virtual ticket will give you access to 10 live-streamed sessions, including main stage plenaries, keynotes and concurrent sessions across endowment management and sustainability leadership topics. Register and join us virtually here!

In this week’s news, we’ve welcomed Five New Sustainable Investing Leaders to our Steering Committee and released the third episode of the Beyond Carbon Podcast featuring Jeff Mindlin, CIO of Arizona State University.

Additionally, ISS ESG releases its Actionable Insights – Top ESG Themes In 2023 report, NYC pension funds file proposals with four North American Banks, and the Tipping Point Fund awards $3.2 million in grants to 16 organizations, including IEN, to advance the impact investing space.

We’d like to express our gratitude for those that were able to join this week’s webinar with Wespath. IEN Members can view the webinar recording here.If you haven’t yet, take a moment to register for the 2023 Higher Education Leadership Summit and preview the 2023 Summit’s inspiring and action oriented agenda.

In this week’s news, we’re thrilled to announce Tim Coffin as the newest member of IEN’s Net Zero Committee, and to welcome 10 student teams to the 2023 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge!

We're also sharing a call to action for investors to reaffirm their support for sustainable investing, especially at this time when the viability of ESG is being questioned. Learn more and sign on here.

There is still time to register and join higher education leaders, sustainable investing experts, and other stakeholders to advance higher education sustainability at the 2023 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit in Coral Gables, FL.

In case you missed it, register for our upcoming learning opportunity with Wespath on systemic risk and risk mitigation scheduled for next week,Tuesday, January 17 at 1 PM ET. Learn more here.

In this week’s news, the Milken Institute releases a report on inclusive capitalism for asset owners, Washington State begins to cap carbon emissions, and Church Commissioners for England creates a fund to counter the effects of slavery.

As a reminder, our offices will be closed on Monday, January 16 as we observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

March 21, 2023

1 PM - 2:30 PM

Register

The JEDI Initiative seeks to start the education and advocacy process for endowments to consider JEDI factors in the investment process in the following ways:

• Enhancing diversity within the university investment offices by ensuring people are not excluded deliberately or through implicit bias on the basis of race, ethnicity, or gender.
• Evaluating the performance of companies and funds with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their boards, management, and staff in the investment process and engage with companies and funds to improve on these issues.
• Identifying minority-led investment managers.
• Making investments that benefit women, low-income communities, and communities of color.
• Supporting finance and investment education of diverse students to build a pipeline of talent.

We advance the conversation on this agenda through a series of educational and peer-networking activities, including events, webinars, and white papers.