About the Endowment Impact Benchmark
The Endowment Impact Benchmark (EIB) is a sustainable and impact investing assessment, rating and benchmarking framework for endowments and foundations (E&Fs).
EIB Participants:
- Benchmark Progress: Access aggregate data of participating E&Fs, enabling benchmarking of progress against that of their peers.
- Receive Feedback: Receive high value feedback and recommendations from BlueMark, the leading impact investing verification provider, on improving sustainable investing policies.
- Gain Recognition*: Earning a rating of Participant, Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum (*Participants also have the ability to participate anonymously).
Sign-Up to Participate
Learn more about the Endowment Impact Benchmark, including benefits of participation, timeline, and expectations, or indicate interest in participating.
Data provided during the assessment are kept private, confidential and secured. Endowments and Foundations can participate anonymously if preferred
Why An ‘Impact’ Benchmark
“All investing has an impact that is largely opaque to the investor, and I think that the work of our field, in part, is to make that impact, positive and negative…transparent to the investor so that the investor can choose.”
– Fran Seegull, Executive Director, U.S. Impact Investing Alliance
The Endowment Impact Benchmark is named in reference to the impact – both positive and negative – that all investments have. Any endowment can participate in the EIB, regardless of their approach to sustainable investing. Our framework is inclusive of all sustainable investing strategies and approaches, including but not limited to positive screening, negative screening, ESG integration, and impact investing.
The assessment endowments complete is comprised of four components: Strategy, Management, Governance and Transparency, and is intended to provide a robust framework for understanding and evaluating social and environmental considerations in the context of endowment management.
Why Participate
Participation in the Endowments Impact Benchmark offers unique benefits:
- Learn and improve on sustainable investing practices
- Receive high-value recommendations from BlueMark, the leading impact investing verification provider, on improving sustainable investing policies
- Access aggregated data and benchmarking relative to other participants
- Gain recognition as a leader in sustainable investing (anonymous participation available)
Timeline & Expectations
Week 1-2: Report (Time Commitment: Varies)
Following a kickoff call with BlueMark, the endowment will complete the 32-question EIB questionnaire and submit supporting documents and data to the BlueMark team.
Week 3: Assess (Time Commitment: 1-2 hours)
BlueMark will schedule a 45-minute interview with appropriate endowment staff and conduct an in-depth assessment of the endowment’s answers to the questionnaire.
Week 4: Review (Time Commitment: 1 hour)
BlueMark will prepare a detailed presentation summarizing the endowment’s EIB score, other relevant findings, and feedback to improve performance.
2024 EIB Report
In 2023 and 2024, The Intentional Endowments Network 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.
Participants continue to find the verification process effective and the feedback and recommendations they received to be valuable to their ongoing processes related to sustainable and impact investing.
Learn more about the participating endowments and foundations and results of the pilot in this summary report:
EIB Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsoring the EIB offers a high-visibility opportunity to showcase your organization’s commitment to advancing sustainable and impact investing. Benefits include the opportunity to connect with endowment offices, increase brand awareness, public exposure through media campaigns and EIB event promotions, and more!
Contact
To learn more about the Endowment Impact Benchmark or to indicate interest in participating, please contact Georges Dyer and Nicole Torrico at georges@intentionalendowments.org and nicole@intentionalendowments.org.
Endowment Impact Benchmark Funders
About the Team
The EIB is a project of the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), and is managed by IEN Staff.
The EIB was developed in consultation with an Advisory Committee of experts in the field, who continue to provide feedback on the direction and approach of the EIB.
About The Intentional Endowments Network
The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) is a peer-learning network that encourages and supports higher education and other endowed institutions in learning about and adopting investment strategies that create an equitable, low-carbon, and regenerative economy. IEN an Initiative of the Crane Institute of Sustainability, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes leadership for sustainability. We work collaboratively across organizations, and across sectors to promote a whole-systems approach to sustainability.
About BlueMark
BlueMark is a leading provider of impact verification services for investors and companies. Founded in 2020, BlueMark’s mission is to “strengthen trust in impact investing.” BlueMark’s verification methodologies draw on a range of industry standards, frameworks, and regulations, including the Impact Management Project, the Operating Principles for Impact Management, the Principles for Responsible Investment, SDG Impact, and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.
Endowment Impact Benchmark 