Panel: Investing in Solutions

Intentionally Designed Endowments Student Forum February 21, 2015 / South Hadley, MA Convened by Intentional Endowments Network and Mount Holyoke College Panelists: Sonal Mahida, US Network Manager, Principles for Responsible Investment Dorian Gregory, CPA, New England Loan & Outreach Officer, Cooperative Fund of New England Lynn Benander, President and CEO, Co-op Power Steve Wong, Project Officer and Communications Associate, The Working World Charles Sandmel, Portfolio Manager, Shelton Capital Management This forum was for students, investment professionals, and senior administrators at universities and colleges to engage in a critical and collaborative dialogue around the concerns, strategies and methods of intentionally designed endowments. An intentionally designed endowment is a fairly new concept, involving aligning investment portfolios with institutional mission, values, and sustainability goals, without sacrificing returns. This forum was an opportunity for communication across stakeholder groups, encouraging the exchange of different knowledge and perspectives. While the fossil fuel divestment movement has brought mission-related investment issues to the fore for endowments, the purpose of this event was not to focus on or advocate for any one approach. We explored the full range of sustainable investment strategies -- positive and negative screens, ESG integration, impact investing, and more -- and generated possible solutions to their persistent barriers. The forum culminated in collective visioning for creating intentionally designed endowments as a meaningful contribution to supporting solutions to climate change and the global sustainability challenge. Learn more at www.intentionalendowments

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