Investments

Sustainability and Georgetown University’s financial operations

University Endowment

Georgetown’s endowment is used for academic and research programs, professorships and lectureships, student aid, facilities, library support, athletics and more. The board of directors is responsible for stewarding the university’s endowment carefully, consistent with its mission, in order to provide funding to support the academic mission of the institution for current and future students. 

Fossil fuels divestment has continued Georgetown’s commitment to sustainability. The university adopted a policy on fossil fuel and impact investments that is part of the university’s broad commitment to sustainability.

The Committee on Investments and Social Responsibility (CISR) is an advisory body comprising faculty, students and administrators charged with making recommendations as to the university’s voting of shareholder proxies as well as considering written proposals from members of the Georgetown community on issues related to socially responsible investment.

Consistent with the university’s mission and existing sustainability practices, Georgetown’s board of directors passed a resolution on June 4, 2015 stating that the university will not make or continue any direct investments of endowment funds in companies whose principal business is mining coal for use in energy production.  Georgetown also will encourage its external investment managers, which invest on the university’s behalf in funds that own wide ranges of securities, to avoid investments in these companies. In addition, the university will continue on a regular basis to evaluate in-depth issues related to socially responsible investments and management of the endowment. The resolution arose out of a thoughtful and engaged process that included students, staff, faculty and leadership across the university over multiple years. Learn more about Georgetown’s past investment decisions.

In 2017 Georgetown’s Board of Directors approved a policy to further align the University’s investment strategy of commitment to social justice, stewardship for the planet, and promotion of the common good.

Business Practices and Licensing

The Advisory Committee on Business Practices (ACBP) analyzes, evaluates and deepens understanding of the ethical and moral issues that should be taken into consideration in the evaluation of staff labor policy and renewal of existing contracts with Georgetown University vendors. In addition, the Committee considers and effectively assesses partnerships and vendor relationships in light of the moral and ethical concerns to which Georgetown University is committed. The Committee’s primary responsibility is to advise on practical ways to ensure concordance between Georgetown University business policy and practice and Georgetown’s commitment to social justice and the “common good” as reflected in Georgetown’s Mission Statement, as well as Georgetown’s Just Employment Policy.

The Licensing Oversight Committee (LOC) is charged with primary responsibility for establishing, managing, and reviewing policy toward, and relations with, the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), the Workers Rights Consortium (WRC) and all licensees. The committee makes recommendations to the president regarding the University’s relationships with the collegiate products and apparel industry stakeholders.