California State University—Long Beach
Endowment Value: $122 million (2021)
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public university in Long Beach, California. It is the third-largest school within the 23-school California State University system (CSU) and has a student body of almost 40,000. The California State University 49er Foundation manages the endowment which is then overseen by the Board of Directors.
According to its Socially Responsible Investment Policy, “the 49er Foundation seeks to invest in well-managed corporations providing beneficial goods and services that align with the University’s values of diversity, sustainability, and innovation.” The Foundation also encourages its Outsourced Chief Investment Officers (OCIO) and investment managers to incorporate ESG analysis in the review of investment risk and opportunities.
Since 2011, CSULB has been a proud signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The administration has taken significant action to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and pursue its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. CSULB’s Climate Action Plan, Water Action Plan, Strategic Energy Plan, Landscape Master Plan, all serve as a roadmap to achieve its goals.
In 2018, CSULB established the President’s Commission on Sustainability (PCS). The PCS aims to integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability into the university’s operations. To achieve this goal, the PCS is working to strengthen the university’s climate action plan, infuse their curriculum with a focus on sustainability, and engage with the community surrounding the university.
In 2020, CSULB hosted its 10th annual Innovation Challenge with partner Sunstone Management, an investment company that supports CSULB and sustainable businesses. The challenge’s first-prize was awarded to PeriDeals, an app that connects its users with affordable food.
Initiatives & Commitments:
- AASHE STARS: Yes, Silver
- ACUPCC: Yes, Climate Neutral by 2030
- Billion Dollar Green Challenge: No
- CDP: No
- Committee on Investor Responsibility: No
- Divestment Goal: Yes, halt fossil fuel investments
- INCR: No
- Montreal Carbon Pledge: No
- Sustainable Investment Fund: No
- Sustainable Investment Policy: Yes
- Principles for Responsible Investment: No
Other Sustainable Investing Practices: