In the heart of Long Beach, on the 11th of February, the 2024 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit commenced with the resonant voices of institutional leaders and industry experts gathered for the 2nd IEN's HBCU Endowment Growth Workshop. The gathering set the stage for a transformative dialogue on sustainable and mission-aligned investment and advancing sustainable capital growth at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

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Seed Stage Venture Fund Focused on Black & Innovative Entrepreneurs. Our investment thesis is backed by economic development and growth stage investment practices.

BFM Fund

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Amundi is Europe’s largest asset manager by AUM and ranked among the ten largest globally. We manage $2+ trillion of assets on behalf of our clients. An independent subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Group, our collective expertise is the byproduct of 5,400 employees spread across 36 countries.

Amundi US is one of the firm’s six global investment hubs with roots dating back over 95 years. We offer a range of fixed-income, equity and multi-asset investment solutions in close partnership with institutional investors, distribution platforms and wealth management firms. Our institutional client base includes a wide array of corporations, endowments, foundations, insurance groups, public entities and Taft-Hartley plans.

 Amundi, a trusted partner working every day in the interest of our clients and society.

Amundi

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Lombard Odier Investment Managers is the asset management business of the Lombard Odier Group, which has been wholly owned and funded by its
partners since its establishment in 1796. We believe that the next economic revolution has already begun and that sustainability could be a major driver of returns for the foreseeable future and beyond. For those with the skills to adapt to this new reality, sustainability is expected to create new sources of alpha, open up new investment opportunities and lead to enhanced return and reduced portfolio
risk.

Our 50+ person team of sustainability experts combine sophisticated data sources, academic rigour and technical innovation to create leading-edge,
science-based tools that provide unique insights that are available to all our investment professionals. These unique insights are reflected directly in our growing range of dedicated sustainable investment strategies that are aligned to this core belief - That our economic model must move from being Wasteful, Idle, Lopsided and Dirty to become Circular, Lean, Inclusive and Clean. We call this
The CLIC® Economy. With 150 investment professionals, we are a global business with a network of 13 offices across Europe, Asia and North America and assets under management of USD 69 billion (as of November 2023).

Lombard Odier

Resources:

• Sustainable Private Credit | Lombard Odier and the Community
  Solar whitepaper provided.

GIVING For a Just Society

Support Our End-of-Year Giving this GIVING TUESDAY!

Your Gift Goes a Long Way 

Higher education institutions hold significant power to drive systemic change.

Your donation helps us provide educational opportunities and resources to endowment decision-makers to invest for climate and social justice. 

Help Scale Sustainable Investing by Donating today! 

What do we do with your Donations?

Sustain our Staff

Your contribution will help us retain and attract top talent, enabling us to maintain the high expertise required to drive our mission forward.

Develop Resources

We aim to create comprehensive resources that empower individuals and institutions to learn about and adopt sustainable and impact investing strategies. Your support will directly contribute to the development of these essential materials.

Host Engaging Events

Our events are vital platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration. With your donation, we can continue to organize thought-provoking and impactful events that bring together thought leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders to learn about sustainable and impact investing best practices and implementation.

Grow the Network

This will build awareness and engagement, leading to more asset owners, managers, consultants, and others joining the Network and driving the financial sector and economy toward an equitable, low-carbon, and regenerative future. 

Give to scale sustainable investing Today!

Thank you for making a difference!

All 23 universities in the California State University system to engage and learn alongside peer institutions to further sustainable investing and promote equity in finance.

David Finegold, President and Founder, The National Transfer Network

When: October 17th

Where: Virtual

Real assets have been significantly exposed to global issues over the last year. Fires, floods, heat waves, and post-COVID economic shocks have all taken a toll. These, combined with energy security concerns and pockets of political grandstanding, present investors and managers with a complex set of sustainability issues and opportunities.   

What does this all mean for you and your sustainability-related efforts? Join us as we dive into the important topics of the day: 

• Our annual update on the state of real asset sustainability and ESG  
• The evolution of GRESB and a response to a complex ESG landscape 
• Top development priorities of the GRESB Foundation and the GRESB Standards
• This year’s benchmark results, at a global and regional level
• Achievements and leaders across the GRESB community  

Atlanta University Center Consortium, Dillard University, Florida Memorial University, Howard University, Johnson C Smith University, Lincoln University, Talladega College and UNCF to engage and learn alongside peer institutions to further sustainable investing and champion justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in finance.

Eight Historically Black Institutions Join the Intentional Endowments Network Membership

Atlanta University Center Consortium, Dillard University, Florida Memorial University, Howard University, Johnson C Smith University, Lincoln University, Talladega College and UNCF to engage and learn alongside peer institutions to further sustainable investing and champion justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in finance.

BOSTON, MA September 18, 2023 – The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) proudly announces the expansion of its membership to include eight esteemed Historically Black Institutions: Atlanta University Center Consortium (comprised of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine,and Spelman College); Dillard University, Florida Memorial University, Howard University, Johnson C Smith University, Lincoln University, Talladega College, and UNCF (United Negro College Fund). In addition, IEN has initiated a working relationship with UNCF to further our work with HBCUs.

These leading institutions are now part of the growing peer learning network comprising over 250 endowed institutions and sustainable investing firms. IEN supports members in navigating the intricate landscape of sustainable investing and promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within the finance industry, to ensure that endowments have access to the full range of talent to deliver the strongest financial results possible to support the critical missions of these institutions. 

Paris Prince, Director of JEDI at IEN shared the following reflection after participating in last month’s UNITE Conference, hosted by UNCF: “IEN’s contributions are helping to deliver on the promise of Black higher education. IEN’s presentation during the UNCF UNITE conference entitled 'Mission-Aligned Investing and Endowment Growth at HBCUs' inspired several institutions to commit to the learning journey of sustainable financial commitments. 

I want to thank panelists Dorien Nunez, Angela Outlaw-Matheny, Roberta Lobo, and Hilda Pinnix-Ragland for a thoughtful conversation. It was also inspiring to collaborate alongside Dr. Michael Lomax, Diego Avilez, Julian Thompson and Dr. Kendra Sharp at the endowment panel and reception co-sponsored by IEN and S&P Global. 

Mission-aligned investing and endowment growth are crucial components in ensuring the long-term sustainability and success of HBCUs. By aligning investments with the mission and values of these institutions, we can create a positive impact on both the educational experience of students and the broader society. Implementing sustainable strategies and policies means we can ensure that HBCUs are well-positioned to provide high-quality education and support to our students for years to come.”

“HBCUs have been longtime leaders in advancing a more just and equitable society - demonstrating that when we put these values first, everyone benefits,” said Georges Dyer, Executive Director of IEN. “We are honored to have these esteemed institutions join the Networks and look forward to their leadership in IEN’s work to support endowments in implementing mission-aligned investment strategies that drive positive change on society’s most vexing challenges, while reducing investment risk and enhancing financial returns.”

IEN membership equips institutions with access to relevant research and space for constructive dialogue that focuses on the unique characteristics that all endowments share: a long-term investment horizon with short-term spending requirements, diverse and wide-ranging stakeholders, and a responsibility to intergenerational equity. Benefits of IEN Membership include professional development resources, exclusive member networking, discounts to industry events, and access to advisory services. A full list of current members and information about membership may be found here.

This collective step forward exemplifies a shared commitment to transformative sustainable investing and reinforces IEN’s dedication to fostering meaningful dialogue, partnerships, and nurturing collaboration to shape the future of investment practices.

For a comprehensive list of IEN's members, please visit IEN’s website.

About the Intentional Endowments Network

The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) is a peer learning network of over 200+ asset owners, asset managers, consultants, OCIOs, and nonprofit partners. An initiative of the Crane Institute of Sustainability, IEN works to advance the field of sustainable investing and encourage endowments and institutional investors to allocate capital in a way that creates a low-carbon, equitable, and regenerative economy. It does so through in-person and virtual convenings, resource development, and partnerships. IEN’s premier convening, the Higher Education Leadership Summit, will be held in Long Beach, CA February 11-13, 2024.

www.intentionalendowments.org

Contact: 

Georges Dyer, Co-founder & Executive Director, Intentional Endowments Network & The Crane Institute of Sustainability

[email protected]

2023 has been full of undeniable signs -- from the urgent effects of climate change to ongoing systemic racial injustices – that investment portfolios that ensure long-term shareholder value demand an analysis of all major financial risks and opportunities – including those related to climate change social equity.

In this blog, we share the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)'s compelling press coverage underscoring investor’s fiduciary obligation to consider how ESG factors affect investment risk and return.

As we reflect on the importance of Juneteenth, we want to share with you some of the ways we’re honoring Juneteenth at IEN, and also ways investors can prioritize racial equity and environmental justice. Below, read about:

• Our upcoming Juneteenth webinar on the power of reparations and reparative finance to undo systemic harm;
• A recent JEDI quarterly call, featuring 4 powerful presentations from racial equity professionals and;
• The recent commitment we made at the Racial Equity Leadership Collaborative Summit  to advancing racial equity lens investing.

We hope these updates would inspire and encourage you to integrate justice into your sustainable investing work, and we look forward to engaging with you in the coming weeks. 

Wishing you a reflective and inspiring Juneteenth!

Register Here 

8th annual Sustainability Week focuses on helping businesses become sustainable faster.

IEN Women's History Month Spotlight: Dianne Dillon-Ridgley

Honoring Felicia Davis, the inaugural recipient of the Intentional Endowments Network Leadership Award!

Celebrating Black Impact Investing Professionals 

Black History Month Edition

Four Black sustainable finance professionals in our network share their experiences in both the impact investing and traditional finance industries.

Funding will support the development of an ‘Endowment Impact Benchmark’ to support endowments in reporting and celebrating progress on sustainable investing and to encourage the adoption of emerging impact standards.