Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund
What's New
- Missed the Unitarian Universalist Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF) Quarterly Conference Call on September 29th? Listen now! (MP3)
- Security Screening in the UUCEF (PDF)
The Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA's) investment policy adopted by the Board of Directors prohibits investments in the weapons and tobacco industries. In addition, other companies are excluded based on poor performance on an array of other factors including environmental performance, social impact, and corporate governance (often referred to as "ESG"). The UUA engages an independent consultant to analyze the 1000 largest companies in the U.S. on ESG factors and rate each. This analysis is updated every six months. The Investment Committee then eliminates the poorest performing companies from the UUCEF portfolio of directly held investments. The current list of prohibited companies can be viewed here. Note that approximately 50% of the UUCEF is invested in co-mingled funds that do not screen their investments.
- Endowment Payout Methods (PDF)
Financial Advisor Dan Brody's presentation at the January Board of Trustees meeting analyzes different ways of calculating endowment payouts. He looks at the 13 quarter rolling average, used by the UUCEF, as well as the Yale formula and the straight percentage.
- UUCEF Investment Information Memorandum now online!
- "Now What?" (PDF) UUA's Investment Committee Chair, Jim Sherblom, gives a sermon on the current economic crisis.
- The UUA's Investment Fund Gets a New Name
- UUA Treasurer and VP of Finance, Tim Brennan, gives a presentation to the Pacific Central District on Building and Managing Endowments (PDF).
About the UUCEF
The UU Common Endowment Fund is available for the investment of endowment funds, trust funds, and other assets of congregations that have a long-term investment perspective and the need for income to support their missions. Formerly known as the General Investment Fund, the Common Endowment Fund received its new name in June 2008.
The UUCEF is an alternative for UU congregations that currently manage or direct the investment of their own assets. The Fund is more than a single investment option; it is an investment program, which implements a range of key tasks that may be challenging (and costly) for any single congregation to perform on its own. Under oversight of the UUA Board of Trustees, the Investment Committee selects professional outside advisors and investment managers utilizing criteria set forth in the UUA policies.
The Fund brings investors an added dimension—an active program of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), which consists of making investment decisions that reflect UU values and contribute to positive social and environmental change.
To learn more about the fund please read our Investment Information Memorandum.
- Investment Policy (PDF, 5 pages)
- Performance Data
- Quarterly Holdings
- 1962 GIF Governing Plan (PDF, 3 pages)
- UUA Socially Responsible Investing Guidelines (PDF, 3 pages)
- Frequently Asked Questions
For more information contact treasurer @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, October 16, 2009.
