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The Student Association made history when the Board of Trustees’ Subcommittee on Endowments and Investment voted to approve our proposal to establish the $2 million Sustainable Investment Fund. The fund will be fossil free, with the payout going toward student financial aid.
For the first time in the University’s history, student advocacy has influenced how our endowment is invested — according to the priorities and voices of students. The fund will be guided by socially-responsible investing related to environmental, social, and governance issues including but not limited to climate change mitigation and environmental justice. The fund will also seek to avoid investing in the Carbon Underground 200 — the top 100 coal and top 100 oil and gas companies. In addition, a student-driven Committee on Sustainable Investing will help guide ongoing conversations on the fund’s investment principles.
The creation of the Sustainable Investment Fund is the result of months of Student Association advocacy and years of student activism, particularly from the Fossil Free GW community. We are excited about the significant role of student voices in guiding our University’s commitment to future generations, through strengthening sustainability and student aid.
The Sustainable Investment Fund includes four main components:
Commitment to Change: Redirecting $2,000,000 from GW’s endowment to a fund for environmental, social and governance investment that is also fossil free. The fund will be invested in efforts that seek to address social and governance issues, as well as combat environmental injustice, enhance clean energy, and abate pollution.
Supporting Our Students: Dedicating the fund’s annual payout to student aid as an investment in our community and future generations.
Involving Our Community: Forming a Committee on Sustainable Investing, driven by students and other members of the GW community to monitor and give advice on the fund to ensure transparency and significant student input.
Opportunities for More: Growing the size of the fund and increasing the significance of sustainable investment in The George Washington University’s endowment, this fund will be available for current
students, alumni, and other members of the GW community to donate to.
We would like to thank President LeBlanc, the Board of Trustees, and University administrators for their partnership and commitment to incorporating student voices into the University’s future.
Peak Sen Chua
President
Sydney Nelson
Executive Vice President
Logan Malik
Vice President for Undergraduate Student Policy