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Handbook Helps Asset Managers Multiply Impact Through Investments Across All Asset Classes

Handbook Helps Asset Managers Multiply Impact Through Investments Across All Asset Classes

Published 12-04-07

Submitted by Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

CHESTNUT HILL "“ December 4, 2007 - A new handbook on responsible investing across asset classes, released by Boston College's Institute for Responsible Investment, provides a tool for investors interested in multiplying their organization's impact on society through options that complement their mission with investments that create long-term value to society.

The handbook, which offers an overview on how to implement responsible investment practices across a range of asset classes and investment styles, is designed to meet the needs of foundation and university endowments, pension funds, socially responsible investors including church pension funds and socially responsible mutual funds, high-net-worth individuals, nonprofits, and others target investments that create long-term societal wealth while also achieving institutional financial objectives.

The project, made possible by a grant from the F.B. Heron Foundation, was developed by the Institute for Responsible Investment (IRI), a part of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship. The Handbook will be disseminated in collaboration with the U.S. Social Investment Forum and Eurosif.

The Institute for Responsible Investment (IRI), an affiliate of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, works with investors, corporations, public sector organizations, and research institutes to coordinate thinking and actions around issues of strategic importance to long-term wealth creation for shareholders and society. The IRI is funded in part through generous support from the Brooks Family Foundation.

Responsible investing-understood as the incorporation of environmental and social analysis into investment decision-making-is a growing discipline that offers opportunities for long-term value creation both for investors and society as a whole.

"In recent years investors have increasingly turned to environmental and social analysis to identify long-term risks and opportunities related to their investments," said David Wood, director of the IRI. "At the same time, a broad range of investors such as foundation endowments are exploring alternative methods for creating social and environmental benefits consistent with their missions, while achieving market rates of return."

Each chapter of the Handbook focuses on a single asset class-cash equivalents, public equities, fixed-income, real estate, private equity, hedge funds, and commodities-identifying three key issues and challenges for responsible investment, including real-world examples of responsible investment underway in each area. Each section includes information on how to:

  • Design a responsible investment strategy for the asset class;

  • Identify opportunities for market-rate responsible investments in the asset
    class;

  • Incorporate engagement strategies into the asset class investment strategy.

    In particular, the Handbook will be useful to:

  • Foundation endowments and other investors who want to align their endowment investments with their institutional mission, in order both to further institutional goals and manage reputational risk

  • Institutional investors who wish to address the financial implications of long-term social and environmental risks and opportunities in their investment mandate

  • Asset owners, money managers, and consultants who see the creation of social and environmental value, and the mitigation of social and environmental damage, as increasingly important elements of their fiduciary concerns

    To download a PDF of the handbook or to order a print copy contact David Wood at david.wood.4@bc.edu. All media inquiries should be directed to Peggy Connolly at peggy.connolly.1@bc.edu.

    About The Institute for Responsible Investment

    The Institute for Responsible Investment is an affiliate of the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship works with investors, corporations, public sector organizations, and research institutes to coordinate thinking and actions around issues of strategic importance to long-term wealth creation for shareholders and society. www.bcccc.net/responsibleinvestment

    About the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

    The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship is a membership-based research organization associated with the Carroll School of Management. It is committed to helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. The Center creates knowledge, value and demand for corporate citizenship and offers publications including a newsletter, research reports, and white papers; executive education, including Certificate programs; events that include an annual conference, round-tables and regional meetings; peer-to-peer learning forums and a corporate membership program. www.bcccc.net

  • Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship logo

    Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

    Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

    The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship connects professionals with research, insights on corporate social responsibility and management education opportunities. Founded by the Carroll School of Management, we help our member companies know more, do more and achieve more with their corporate citizenship programs. We engage over 400 member companies and more than 10,000 individuals annually to share knowledge and expertise about the practice of corporate citizenship through our executive education program, research, courses, and our annual conference. For more information on our courses, research and membership, visit ccc.bc.edu. Connect with Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship: Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook & Google+.

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