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Dear Bella,
The last few months have been undeniably sobering for our sector, as the political atmosphere in the United States becomes increasingly contentious. Higher education’s freedom to operate and invest as it sees fit is under fire, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are facing heightened scrutiny.
Amidst all of this, we continue our work supporting Members through peer to peer connections, closed-door and open virtual conversations, and resource development. This quarter, we released our 2024 EIB Pilot Report , our first EIB info session of the year, and our session as part of NACUBO’s Endowment Leadership Series .
We also launched The Future of Finance podcast , where Georges Dyer explores big ideas like sustainable investing, impact-driven strategies, reimagining capitalism, tackling climate change, reducing inequality, and reshaping economic systems to better serve people and the planet. Have you listened to the latest episode ?
We’re looking forward to continuing these conversations at our upcoming events this year, including at our Virtual Forum and at our Fall Forum. We hope you’ll join us!
Thank you for your continued support,
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IEN Team News
This winter, Sorelle Ngatchou , Aicha Ly , and Paris Prince moved on from the IEN team. Each of them made meaningful contributions to IEN's programs and mission. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and hard work over the years. As they move forward in their careers, we extend our sincere appreciation for their service and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.
IEN Fellowship Program Updates
We’re grateful for the support of our 10th Anniversary Gala donors, who allow us to continue our Fellowship program and support the next generation of sustainability professionals. This spring, we’ve welcomed Aviva Gornick and Leticia Carvalho to our team for the semester.
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Leticia Carvalho, Social Media and Communications Fellow : Leticia Carvalho is an Integrated Media Design student at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA. A member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Leticia is experienced in social media strategy and creative design.
 Aviva Gornick, Sustainable Investing Fellow : Aviva is a senior at Brandeis University double-majoring in Sociology and Political Science and minoring in Business. She is interested in leveraging the intersection between public policy, sustainability, and business through frameworks such as CSR and ESG to encourage investments in green technology and community development.
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Upcoming Events
IEN Events:
Other Events
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4th Annual Symposium on System-level Investing | The Impact Investing Project, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Virtual & In-Person
Oberlin College Impact Investing Symposium | Oberlin College, April 23, 11 am to 2 pm | Register
- The Oberlin College Impact Investment Symposium, hosted by the Impact Investment Advisory Group, will provide an opportunity to discuss what the AI investment boom means for emissions reduction targets and goals and how the current administration’s policies affect ESG goals and objectives of institutions.
Amplifying Alts Forum | NAIC, October 1-2, 2025 Los Angeles, California
- NAIC's event will focus on showcasing the outstanding performance of diverse alternative investment managers and connect LP and GP decision makers in hundreds of private one-on-one meetings. Registration for LPs/Capital Allocators is complimentary for the conference.
IEN Members can access past webinar recordings through IEN’s member-only archive
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Virtual Spring Forum: June 2-5, 2025
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Have you registered for the Virtual Spring Forum ? Connect with peers in higher education and finance for dynamic conversations, networking, and thought-provoking keynotes. The Forum will take place in concise, impactful blocks of time – from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET each day. Topics we’ll cover include:
- Managing Systemic Risks
- Political Risks & Threats to Democracy
- The Role of Investors in Responsible Tech & AI
- Addressing Social Inequity and the Climate Crisis
- Communicating the Value of Demographic Board Diversity
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the IEN community and gain valuable insights - register today!
Thank you to our community partner!
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Endowment Impact Benchmark (EIB)
The Endowment Impact Benchmark (EIB) is a a sustainable and impact investing assessment, rating and benchmarking framework. In 2023 and 2024, IEN piloted the EIB with fifteen participants. Pilot participants held assets under management ranging from $50 million to over $20 billion, and came from a diverse range of institution types, including public and private higher education institutions, and private, family, and non-profit foundations.
The EIB is open for endowments and foundations to participate in 2025. By participating in the EIB in 2025 , your institution will:
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Benchmark Progress: Access aggregate data of participating endowments and foundations, enabling benchmarking of progress against that of their peers.
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Receive Feedback: Receive high value feedback and recommendations from BlueMark, the leading impact investing verification provider, on improving sustainable investing policies.
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Gain Recognition*: Earning a rating of Participant, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum (*Participants also have the ability to participate anonymously).
To express interest in participating, complete the interest form.
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The Future of Finance Podcast
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This quarter we launched a new podcast, the Future of Finance !
Through the first eight episodes, we’ve held conversations on sustainability topics ranging from mission-aligned passive equities strategies to macroeconomics & climate change. The Future of Finance explores big ideas like sustainable investing, impact-driven strategies, reimagining capitalism, tackling climate change, reducing inequality, and reshaping economic systems to better serve people and the planet.
Miss any episodes? Watch them on Youtube, or listen on your favorite podcast platform via Podbean.
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What’s in the News?
View recent announcements by endowments and other asset owners about their progress . Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive these updates in your inbox every Thursday.
IEN In The Media
Our Story: Sharpening The Russell Family Foundation’s Philanthropic Tools to Help Drive Transparent Climate Action
From IEN’s Blog:
Resources from the Field:
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