The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) supports members in addressing financial risk and uncovering investment opportunities across topics at the intersections of social inequality and the climate crisis.
The following themes and topics are folded into all general programming, including events and webinars and the resource library. Additionally, through IEN Initiatives, we periodically do ‘deep dives’ into certain themes and topics.
Topics in focus in 2025 include Responsible Technology & AI and the Fiduciary Duty Case for Climate Justice.
Ongoing key themes include:
- Investment Governance
- Fiduciary Duty
- Financial Performance
- Climate Change, the Energy Transition, and Net Zero Portfolios
- Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Shareholder Engagement & Active Ownership
In Focus in 2025
Responsible Tech & AI
This initiative aims to equip endowments and foundations with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance responsible technology and AI in their investment portfolios and beyond.
Fiduciary Duty for Climate Justice
This initiative explores the interconnection between climate impacts and social inequality, and the compounded portfolio risks and potential investment opportunities for all investors.
Engage Across Themes & Topics
View all upcoming events and webinars to sign up for a peer learning opportunity across the key themes and topic areas listed above.
Ongoing Key Themes
Net Zero Endowments
Committing to a Net Zero investment portfolio as an effective and powerful way to reduce risks associated with climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)
Educating and supporting endowments in considering diversity, equity, and inclusion factors at all levels of the investment process.
Investment Governance
Connecting trustees to create opportunities for peer-to-peer learning among college and university fiduciaries on sustainable investing and developing documents and other vehicles to clarify for higher education trustees how sustainable investing strategies relate to their fiduciary duties, designed for audiences of trustees, presidents, CIO's, and CFO's.
Shareholder Engagement
Developing a strategy to share information with endowments on how to effectively use their rights as corporate share owners to engage portfolio companies on governance and sustainability concerns about accountability, transparency, the environment and social justice.
Sustainable & Impact Investing Learning and Knowledge (SIILK)
The SIILK Network connects student-managed fund advisors, academics focused on sustainable investing, and students involved in student-managed funds to share best practices and resources to advance sustainable investing curriculum and strategies in each fund.
Sustainable Retirements
Approximately 4,500 colleges and universities in the US alone represent a tremendous pool of retirement assets - totaling over $900 billion - that must be safeguarded from sustainability risks. This group works to support institutions in ensuring retirement options take material ESG factors into consideration.