Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.20
Liaison Josh Lasky
Submission Date May 14, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

George Washington University
SD-14: Endowment

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete N/A Donald Lindsey
Chief Investment Officer
Office of the Chief Investment Officer
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

The institution's total endowment market value as of the close of the most recent fiscal year:
1,329,700,000 US/Canadian $

Date as of:
June 30, 2011

Does the institution offer donors the option of directing gifts to an investment fund that considers environmental/sustainability factors?:
No

If yes, or if currently under consideration, provide a brief description:
---

Has the institution made investments in on-campus energy and/or water efficiency projects through the endowment (as an endowment investment and not a payout or using operating budget funds):
No

Size of capital commitments made within past 3 years:
---

Provide a brief description:
---

Does institution lack the ability to vote proxies on environmental and social resolutions, as the entire equity holdings of the endowment are invested in mutual funds (e.g. CommonFund, Fidelity, Vanguard)?:
No

Does the institution lack the ability to vote proxies on corporate governance resolutions, as the entire equity holdings of the endowment are invested in mutual funds (e.g. CommonFund, Fidelity, Vanguard)?:
No

Do investment managers handle the details of proxy voting on environmental and social resolutions?:
Yes

Do investment managers handle the details of proxy voting on corporate governance resolutions?:
---

Are investment managers provided with general guidelines that determine proxy votes on environmental and social resolutions?:
No

Are investment managers provided with general guidelines that determine proxy votes on corporate governance resolutions?:
No

Are investment managers provided with specific guidelines that determine proxy votes on environmental and social resolutions?:
No

Are investment managers provided with specific guidelines that determine proxy votes on corporate governance resolutions?:
No

Does a single administrator determine proxy votes on environmental and social resolutions?:
No

Does a single administrator determines proxy votes on corporate governance resolutions?:
No

Does a committee of administrators and/or trustees deliberate and make decisions on proxy votes on environmental and social resolutions?:
No

Does a committee of administrators and/or trustees deliberate and make decisions on proxy votes on corporate governance resolutions?:
No

Does a committee that includes student representatives deliberate and make recommendations or decisions on proxy votes on enviromental and social resolutions?:
No

Does a committee that includes student representatives deliberate and make recommendations or decisions on proxy votes on corporate governance resolutions?:
No

Is institution community feedback incorporated into proxy voting decisions on environmental and social resolutions through town hall meetings or a website?:
No

Is institution community feedback incorporated into proxy voting decisions on corporate governance resolutions through town hall meetings or a website?:
No

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Over the past year the endowment has moved away from primarily pooled or mutual funds to separately managed accounts. The Chief Investment Officer is now working with The Office of Sustainability to study best practices and draft a proxy voting policy. In addition, we are obtaining informatoin from our investment managers as to how proxy resolutions in 2012 were voted. We expect to have a policy in place by the 4th quarter of 2012.

GW has a Corporate Governance Committee of The Board of Trustees but they do not deal with proxy voting issues.


Over the past year the endowment has moved away from primarily pooled or mutual funds to separately managed accounts. The Chief Investment Officer is now working with The Office of Sustainability to study best practices and draft a proxy voting policy. In addition, we are obtaining informatoin from our investment managers as to how proxy resolutions in 2012 were voted. We expect to have a policy in place by the 4th quarter of 2012.

GW has a Corporate Governance Committee of The Board of Trustees but they do not deal with proxy voting issues.

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