Investment Priorities

Overview

The Investment Priorities category focuses on where a school invests its endowment. Since points were awarded to schools for aiming to optimize investment return—one component of a sustainable endowment—no school received less than a C grade in this category.

Other elements of long-term endowment sustainability are investments related to clean energy and to the community. Accordingly, additional points were given for:

• Investigating or investing in renewable energy funds, community development financial insititutions, or on-campus water/energy-efficiency projects
• Using investment managers or policies that consider environmental factors
• Offering donors the option to direct their gift to an investment fund that considers sustainability factors

Key Findings

• Nearly half of schools invest part of their endowment in renewable energy funds. Forty-nine percent of the schools currently have endowment investments in renewable energy funds or similar investment opportunities, while an additional forty-three percent are exploring endowment investments in this area.

• One in six schools invests part of its endowment in community development funds. Sixteen percent of schools currently have endowment investments in community development loan funds or similar investment opportunities, while an additional 16 percent are exploring endowment investments in this area.

• A number of the schools invest a portion of their endowment in on-campus projects to advance energy and/or water efficiency. Eight percent of the schools report currently having these investments, while an additional 10 percent are exploring endowment investments in this area.

• The average grade for the Investment Priorities category is B+. For a summary of grade distribution for this category, please refer to the chart on the right. 

                                                                            Leading by Example

Grade Breakdown

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