The following provides a list of resources for socially responsible investing for Jesuit Universities in the hope that these resources will be used in determining future investments to ensure a positive impact socially and environmentally.

Sustainability Report Card for Jesuit Universities

Resources for Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)

What is socially responsible investing (SRI)?: SRI means using your finances to have a positive impact on the people and the planet. It means addressing your social and environmental concerns while still meeting your financial goals and driving companies to improve their environmental, social, and governance records. This includes investing in companies that engage in environmental sustainability and clean energy/technologies, as well as fair and equal treatment of individuals. The acronym SRI has also been used to represent “sustainable and responsible investing” or “socially and environmentally responsible investing.” “ESG investing” is an alternative acronym which stands for “environmental, social, and governance investing” but regardless of the title SRI or ESG the meaning remains the same.

For Institutions & Investors

Investment Companies

Calvert Investments: “As a leader in sustainable and responsible investing (SRI), Calvert offers a range of SRI strategies. Recognizing that investors want choice in how they meet their financial goals and impact corporate responsibility and sustainability practices, we offer three distinct approaches…”

Domini Social Investments: “We are an investment firm specializing exclusively in socially responsible investing. We manage funds for individual and institutional investors who wish to integrate social and environmental standards into their investment decisions.”

First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC: “First Affirmative creates and manages customized investment portfolios for individual and institutional clients that seek to align investment decision making with personal values and/or institutional mission. Working through a  nationwide network of investment professionals, we help clients invest in companies that contribute to clean, healthy environment, treat people fairly, embrace equal opportunity, create safe and useful  products, and support efforts to promote a more peaceful world.”

Green Century Funds: “Founded by a partnership of non-profit advocacy organizations, Green Century provides investors who care about a clean, healthy planet to use the clout of their investment dollars to encourage environmentally responsible corporate behavior. At Green Century, “green investmenting” means investing in a diverse array of companies that are helping to build a cleaner, greener future for us all- from small innovative wind power producers to large,
established firms using cleaner technologies to run their business and bring their products to market.”

Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund: “One of the world’s first socially responsive funds among mainstream investment managers that includes an integrated investment process and social analysis- no part of the process is outsourced. The fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in securities of companies that meet the funds financial criteria and social policy.”

Resources and Information

Responsible Endowment Coalition: “The Responsible Endowments Coalition (REC) works to build and unify the college and university-based responsible investment movement, both by educating and empowering a diverse network of individuals to act on their campuses, and by fostering a national network for collective action. We empower young people to defend human rights and the environment while making both corporations and universities accountable to global stakeholders. Our goal is to foster social and environmental change by making responsible investment common practice amongst colleges and universities, and to support the next generation of activists with a new and powerful toolkit.”

Green America: “Green America’s mission is to harness economic power- the strength through consumers, investors, businesses and the marketplace-to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.”

UN “Study of Studies” on SRI: “The threat of climate change impacts, the struggle to protect fragile ecosystems, and the understanding of the economic and social impacts of urban and industrial pollution, have embedded themselves in the global public perception as real and present dangers.  We cannot underestimate the influence of financial services and the potential impacts of the world’s most powerful private institutions on delivering a more intelligent management of the environment and its nature-based assets.  Nor should we forget the fundamental importance of these assets that intimately support our financial institutions, economies, capital markets and, ultimately, all life on Earth.”

US Social Investment Forum: US SIF and its members advance investment practices that consider environmental, social and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact.

NJCRI: “The primary purpose of the National Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility (NJCIR) is to advocate for and effect change in corporate behavior by coordinating shareholder advocacy initiatives at both the province and national levels. NJCIR province representatives collaborate to identify economic justice priorities and to work together to promote corporate social responsibility consistent with just sustainability in the community, the environment, and the economy.”

For Students

Responsible Endowments Coalition: “The Responsible Endowments Coalition (REC) works to build and unify the college and university-based responsible investment movement, both by educating and empowering a diverse network of individuals to act on their campuses, and by fostering a national network for collective action. We empower young people to defend human rights and the environment while making both corporations and universities accountable to global stakeholders. Our goal is to foster social and environmental change by making responsible investment common practice amongst colleges and universities, and to support the next generation of activists with a new and powerful toolkit.”