January 18, 2023, 11 am ET

Join CDP, Schroders, and Green Century Capital Management for a conversation on natural capital and biodiversity in the investment process. CDP, which in September announced its intention to align with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), will dive into its work with Green Century Capital Management on identifying companies’ progress towards key performance indicators of deforestation risk assessments and biodiversity disclosure. Schroders continues to prioritize biodiversity in its strategy and has encouraged investors to do the same this year, launching its Plan for Nature this fall to outline their approach to reducing nature risk. The firm will speak on its strategy, the need to address biodiversity through institutional investments, and the ways US and UK asset managers are planning to manage nature-related risks in 2024.

Recording:

View the webinar slide deck

Speakers:

 Monique Ewerton, Senior Associate, Capital Markets, CDP

 Stephanie Williams, Sustainable Investment Analyst, Schroders

 Annie Sanders, Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Green Century Capital Management

This call will feature perspectives from George Suttles, Executive Director at the Commonfund Institute, and Rosalie Sheehy Cates, Senior Advisor at The Giving Practice. Suttles and Sheehy Cates will discuss the ways to inform and empower fiduciaries regarding the evolving nature of fiduciary duty, particularly how it relates to impact and sustainability. Their conversation will build on the resources Suttles and his team have supported at the Commonfund Institute, the efforts of Sheehy Cates with foundation boards and investment committees, and the work of organizations and members within IEN's Investment Governance Initiative around systemic risk and system-level investing. 

If you are interested in joining this Initiative and becoming an IEN Member, please contact Georges Dyer at [email protected].

Recording:

Speakers:

 Rosalie Sheehy Cates, Senior Advisor, The Giving Practice

 George Suttles, Executive Director, the Commonfund Institute

Great news! Early bird registration for the 2024 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit has been extended until December 15th. This means you still have time to secure your spot and join your peers at this transformative event at discounted rates. Register now!

Also, today is the last day to submit nominations for IEN's Leadership Award. Take a moment to nominate an outstanding leader in sustainable investing, including yourself!

In this week’s news, the Rockefeller Foundation makes a 2050 net zero commitment, the nation’s largest four-year public university system joins IEN, and Mercer releases its Endowment and Foundation Investment Survey 2023.

As we close our offices for the long holiday weekend, we are taking a moment to reflect on the success of the past few months and express our gratitude to the IEN Community for making this work possible. We are also reflecting on the larger context and history of Thanksgiving, and exploring ways our work can help our society move past the extractive system that inflicts harm on marginalized communities and support indigenous sovereignty.

We invite you to join us in our reflections as you observe the holiday and celebrate the many reasons to be thankful.

Students, sustainable investing professionals, and faculty we’re hosting our 2024 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge info sessions on November 14th and  November 16th. We invite you to join us to learn more about the Challenge and how to participate in this program that helps build the next generation of sustainable investors. 

Also, nominations for the Intentional Endowments Network Leadership Award are now open. We call on the IEN community to nominate candidates who work tirelessly to promote environmental justice in the sustainable investing space for recognition.

In this week’s news, indebted businesses are being threatened by climate change, LGIM launches a new ESG fund with an additional pillar, and an appeals court upholds a Nasdaq board diversity requirement. 

Highlights of the 2023 Fall Forum are now available on our website. As we get closer to the holiday, please note that an abbreviated version of our habitual News Round-Up will be sent on Wednesday, November 22nd. Stay ahead of the curve and keep an eye out for our email!

In this week’s news, the fifth National Climate Assessment is released, a real estate group commits $100 million to HBCUs, and JP Morgan raises its targets to reduce financed emissions to align with 2050 net zero targets. 

Join us for conversations that align with your work! We have a rich lineup of learning opportunities in the coming weeks. If you are a JEDI professional, you are invited to explore emerging trends shaping the future of HBCU investments by joining our HBCU Community Roundtable on November 6 at 3 p.m. ET.

In this week’s news, IEN released its Warren Wilson College briefing paper, US students take legal action against six universities for fossil fuel investments, and ISS ESG expands its scoring system to include more on board structure and executive pay.

We were thrilled to have many of you join us at the 2023 Fall Forum yesterday. Thank you to those that were able to make it to Virginia Beach. For those who couldn’t, we’ve added a few photos from the day’s energizing conversations for your viewing!

We also invite you to register for our upcoming JEDI professionals-only Community Roundtable (11/6) to explore emerging trends shaping the future of HBCU investments and our Shareholder Engagement Call scheduled for Nov 8th. 

In this week’s news, The Belonging Collaborative is hosting a webinar on the legal landscape for investing with an equity lens. Robert Gordon University divests from fossil fuels, a report from UN University raises alarm as the world approaches environmental tipping points, and Dartmouth students call on the university to eliminate remaining ties to the fossil fuel industry. 

We’re less than a week away from our 2023 Fall Forum! Preview the Forum’s agenda, speaker lineup, and event logistics as we get ready to connect and be inspired by insightful conversation on October 25! If you haven’t registered and just thought of joining us, you can still secure your spot now!

Also, sign-ups for our 2024 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge are open for student teams interested in competing at the graduate or undergraduate levels. Sign up your team before December 22nd, and register for the November 14 or 16 information session to learn more about the challenge. 

In this week’s news, the Russell Family Foundation announces interim emissions targets, higher education leaders look to build coalitions against anti-DEI action, and California incentivizes community college students to transfer to HBCUs. 

We’re sharing exciting event updates with you this week! We’re running a flash sale on the 2023 Fall Forum to make the event accessible to all. Register before Wednesday, October 18th to get a 10% discount on your registration ticket. Secure your spot today to connect and learn with your peers in Virginia Beach.

IEN and Second Nature are also pleased to offer varying levels of financial support for a limited number of BIPOC attendees to participate in the 2024 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit. Please review the qualification guidelines carefully and apply before November 1st.

In this week’s news, Impax launches its new Global Opportunities Fund, the Union of Concerned Scientists reviews its work with the State of California to advance climate solutions, and a new guide centers around securing indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination. 

There is still time to register for IEN’s 2023 Fall Forum in Virginia Beach, VA, October 25! A key focus will be addressing how recent political attacks on sustainable investing are relevant to higher education, and how the IEN Network can protect higher education's freedom to consider sustainability metrics when investing. We invite you to preview the agenda and register to join us at Virginia Wesleyan University!

We are also excited to announce that students can now sign up to participate in our 2024 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge! You can learn more about the Challenge, view past winners, and read about mentorship opportunities on our website. 

In this week’s news, Nature Action 100 announces a list of companies investors will engage on biodiversity issues with, Schroders’ Institutional Investor Study reveals the ways investors are shifting energy allocations, and the ICF Climate Center reveals how the US could ready net zero by 2050.

December 12, 2023 | 2 pm ET

The Student Corporate Engagement Challenge, now in its fifth year, asks student teams to pitch an investment in a publicly-traded company, and include in that recommendation a shareholder engagement strategy focused on addressing inequality and the climate crisis. These strategies cover topics including increasing DEI in leadership, addressing supply chain risks, and eliminating workplace harassment.

Participating students will build their professional networks and learning from leaders in the sustainable investing field through mentorship and exclusive workshops. IEN's SIILK Initiative is holding two information sessions for the Challenge, open to students, mentors, judges, and others interested in participating or learning more.

The first of these calls will be on December 14th at 2 pm ET. We hope some of you will be able to join us, and encourage you to share this invite with students/faculty/etc in your Network that may be interested in learning more about the Challenge. As a reminder, the sign-up form is open for student teams until December 22; individuals in the space interested in supporting these student groups can also sign up to mentor.

November 8, 2023 | 1 pm ET

The Shareholder Engagement initiative focuses on supporting colleges and universities in utilizing their power as shareholders to engage portfolio companies across issues related to social justice and the climate crisis. There are several forms of shareholder engagement that endowments can pursue to address material investment risks, improve corporate sustainability performance and support policies that move us toward an equitable, low-carbon, and regenerative economy.

They include proxy voting, engaging in dialogue with mutual funds or companies held in the portfolio, filing or co-filing shareholder resolutions, and signing on to public investor letters or statements. This call featured a presentation from As You Sow's Andrew Behar and Kaylea Noce.

To join this initiative contact Nicole Torrico, Managing Director at [email protected].

There is still time to register for IEN's 2023 Fall Forum taking place October 25 in Virginia Beach. Join us with over 100 higher education stakeholders for an afternoon of impactful conversations on sustainable investing, networking, and relationship building.

In this week’s news, Trinity College commits to divest from fossil fuels by 2030, a federal judge in Texas supports DOL’s ESG rule, and the results from an AGF-commissioned study shows that interest in sustainable investing continues to grow among institutional investors.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn how to align purpose with profit during next week’s webinar with Bob Bancroft, Mamadou-Abou Sarr, and Rachael Camargo. Register to join us for an engaging conversation and Q&A on impactful and mission-aligned investments. 

In this week’s news, eight HBCUs have joined the Intentional Endowments Network,  the Treasury releases its Net Zero Principles, Generation Investment Management publishes its Sustainability Trends Report, and we share a special announcement.

We’re excited to have Rachael Camargo (MSCI), Bob Bancroft (Nathan Cummings Foundation), and Mamadou-Abou Sarr (V-Square) to speak about Reconciling Funding Programs and Impactful Investment Portfolios on September 26 at 1 pm ET. Register to join us to learn how to leverage partnerships to drive multi-sector and real-world change. Register here!

In this week’s news, NYU commits to divest its $5 billion endowment of fossil fuels, California passes major climate disclosure rules for public and private companies, and AASHE releases its 2023 Sustainable Campus Index.

Our 2023 Fall Forum is fast approaching. Register to join 100+ higher education leaders on October 25 in Virginia Beach to network and engage in critical conversations on mission-aligned investing. Preview the 2023 Fall Forum speakers lineup, and remember to secure your spot today!

In this week’s news, FFI Solutions published a call-to-action for college endowments; climate risk drives home insurers to cut natural disaster coverage from policies; and Australia agrees to disclose the climate risks of sovereign bonds after a college student’s lawsuit.

September 26, 2023

Harmonizing Purpose and Profit: Navigating Impactful Investments for Mission-Driven Foundations

The world of philanthropy and impact investing is undergoing a profound transformation, with foundations and endowment at the heart of this change. We recognize the vital role they play in shaping our social and economic landscape, driving positive change for the communities they serve. However, the journey to balance funding programs that uplift these communities while generating sustainable investment returns remains a complex challenge.

Join The Nathan Cummings Foundation, MSCI, and V-Square Asset Management for an insightful webinar where we delve into the theme of aligning purpose with profit for investors.

Participants will:

- Better understand foundation dynamics
- Understand how to navigate dual mandates
- Explore the solutions implemented by V-Square and MSCI, respectively
- Analyze collaborative partnerships for the potential to drive multi-sector and real-world change

Recording:

We are looking forward to hosting a sustainable investing in endowments panel at AASHE 2023 Conference & Expo, and invite you to join us alongside other higher education stakeholders for this transformative event in Boston.

Also, IEN members are invited to register our next Investment Governance Initiative call on September 5 at 1 pm ET, featuring Jon Lukomnik, founder of Sinclair Capital. Join us for a conversation on systems-level investing and more next Tuesday!

Additionally, our 2024 Student Corporate Engagement Challenge interest form is open! Whether you’re a student, a sustainable investing professional interested in mentoring a student, or a firm interested in partnering, you can indicate your interest in learning more about this academic year’s Challenge. 

In this week’s news, Vanguard’s support for climate-related shareholder proposals fell this proxy voting year, Pro Mujer issues the first gender-focused bond in Argentina, and a new report provides suggestions for shareholder engagement on agriculture and biodiversity. 

November 6, 2023 | 3 pm ET

The IEN Community Roundtable was a unique event dedicated to supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).This call provided an opportunity to engage with HBCU stakeholders and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) professionals as we explored mission-aligned investing strategies and other critical topics and emerging trends that will shape the future of HBCU investments.

Participants discovered the distinctive needs and hurdles faced by HBCUs in their sustainable investing journey, learned from peers and thought leaders, and explored how the Intentional Endowments Network can support along the way.

Registrants enjoyed an opportunity to connect and delve into critical topics related to endowment management to make positive social and environmental impact with investments.

Recording:

Transcript

HBCU Roundtable Notes

Speakers:

 
 Charles Prince, Chief Transformation and Sustainability Officer, Chief of Staff, Dillard University

 
 Angela Outlaw-Matheny, Director of Diverse Manager Equity at Crewcial Partners LLC