Volatility on campuses and across the country has brought political risk into sharp focus. Join IEN and the Leadership Now Project next week, Thursday, August 22nd at 11 am ET to learn how to assess political risk as an institutional investor. Register!

In this week’s news, Georges Dyer and VegTech CEO Elysabeth Alfano discuss impact and benchmarking, UC investments reap big returns from aindex fund shunning fossil fuels and tobacco, and Catawba College receives its second $200 million donation in three years toward sustainability .

Remember to register for our upcoming events this month! Sign up for this month Climate Solutions Investing Series with ScopeFour Capital on August 15, and register for the webinar on assessing political risk as an institutional investor on August 22nd.

In this week’s news, the Nathan Cummings, Rockefeller and Schmidt Family foundations invest in Aligned Climate Capital’s Fund 2, a UConn professor explains how he created the first all-female student-managed investment fund, and Queen’s University’s Responsible Investing Committee invites those with interest or expertise to share input on a special request related to the Israel Palestine divestment discussion. 

We’re look forward to discussing the impact of volatile interest rates and upcoming elections on climate-focused equities with ScopeFour Capital on August 15th at 10 am ET. Register to join this informative conversation.

In this week’s news, the The Intentional Endowment Network’s Endowment Impact Benchmark continues to drive change forward for institutional investors, the Russell Family Foundation explores its 5 tools for climate-aligned investment, and Cambridge Associates provides guidance for endowments looking to address the divestment question: focus on governance.

IEN is excited to support the Turner Impact Portfolio Challenge (TIPC), hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. We invite students and faculty interested in the Challenge to register for the virtual information session on July 31 at 12 pm.

We are also thrilled to announce two inspiring speakers for our 10th Anniversary Gala – Mindy Lubber, President and CEO of Ceres, and Natasha Lamb, CIO, Managing Partner & Portfolio Manager of Arjuna Capital will be joining us on November 14. RSVP Today to be energized by their remarks!

In this week’s news, an Oklahoma judge permanently blocks the enforcement of a controversial anti-ESG law, the Russell Family Foundation highlights the ways it is building a cleaner, just future with Shift Zero, and the 2024 Equality Index Report reveals 45% of companies now publish disability data.

Interested in learning how investors can drive climate solutions at public companies? Join us on July 23 at 1 pm ET to learn from Mikayla Hart and Brett Hoff during our Climate Solutions Investing Series convening!

In this week’s news, Aon reflects on FY2023 and what lies ahead for endowments and foundations, Cambridge University does an about-face on fossil fuel donations, and Rights CoLab launches the Investor HREDD Precision Tools.

If you haven’t yet, we invite you to register for our next Climate Solutions Investing Series call on July 23 at 1 p.m. ET. Congruence Capital will present ways investors can drive solutions at public companies. Register today!

In this week’s news, Lombard Odier builds funds around ESG, pension plans prevail in ESG divestment suit, and a new study examines the role of universities in accelerating the sustainable development goals in Europe. 

Sign-ups for the Endowment Impact Benchmark (EIB) second pilot are open. Endowments and foundations interested in participating are encouraged to complete this participation form. We have limited spots available, and the deadline to confirm participation is July 31st.

In this week’s news, Drexel and Howard University collaborate on a Department of Energy project for clean energy education, Moody’s and MSCI announce a strategic partnership and recent Supreme Court decisions echo for the EPA, SEC, and even impact investors. 

Thank you to those who attended our Juneteenth celebration webinar and Climate Solution Series call on community solar with Aligned Climate Capital. The recordings of both events will soon be available to the event’s registrants and IEN Members.

In this week’s news, the Sorenson Impact Institute releases its What’s Next in Impact report, leading mission-aligned investing foundation the California Endowment names a new CIO, and Exxon’s lawsuit against Arjuna Capital is thrown out.

Also, we’ll be closed next Thursday to honor our national holiday, and we’ll be sending next week’s news on Wednesday, July 3rd.

University of Pennsylvania

Endowment Value: $21.0 billion (2024)

 Other Sustainable Investing Practices and Resources from the University of Pennsylvania:

Sustainable Returns - Net Zero Update | Penn Office of Investments (May 2024)

Registration for the 2025 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit is now open! Join us on February 2 - 4 in Washington, DC for a three-day event to connect with peers, learn from inspiring speakers, and gain insights on how endowments can advance sustainable, mission-aligned investment strategies. Take advantage of Super Early Bird Rates Today! 

In this week’s news, UPP plans to allocate millions to climate solutions, legislative attacks on ESG fall into a rut, and insurers make some progress on climate disclosures. 

We’re looking forward to our Juneteenth webinar on Advancing Racial Equity as Institutional Investors next week, June 18th at 6 pm ET. This event is part of an ongoing series of conversations on racial equity across the investment industry with the Belonging Collaborative. Register to join today!

We are also excited to be a partner of GreenFin24 taking place on June 17 - 19 in New York City! It’s not too late to register to join hundreds of sustainability and investment professionals at the Javits Center next week!

In this week’s news, California students pressure the state to divest its teacher’s pension funds from fossil fuels, a new episode of Beyond Carbon is released on celebrity activism and climate finance, and a new report reveals that global university fossil fuel divestment is nearing a tipping point.