Center for Social Philanthropy: Archive

C-SocPhil hosts special briefing with Oakland...

Tellus Institute brings stakeholders together to discuss problems in agriland investments BOSTON — Following the release of three country-specific reports by the Oakland Institute on agricultural land investments in Africa, the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute hosted Oakland Institute Executive Director Anuradha Mittal and Board Member Jeff Furman for an in-depth...

Nov 4th

C-SocPhil issues new report on sustainability...

New C-SocPhil research documents 16% growth in sustainable alternative investments WASHINGTON, DC – In late October, US SIF Foundation released Sustainability Trends in US Alternative Investments, an in-depth report on the market of US alternative investment funds that incorporate environmental, social or governance (ESG) criteria. The report measures the growth of the ESG alternative...

Oct 26th

C-SocPhil releases issue brief on excessive...

New report documents exorbitant executive salaries and radical wage inequalities at Massachusetts’ wealthiest colleges. View the full report here: http://www.tellus.org/publications/files/issue-brief-exec-comp-201109.pdf BOSTON — In a newly released special issue brief, the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute documents the excessive compensation of top staff at Massachusetts...

Sep 28th

C-SocPhil co-sponsors Five Fund Forum VII at...

Connecting sustainable investors, increasing social impact SAN FRANCISCO — The Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute is please to announce its support and co-sponsorship for the Seventh Five Fund Forum, taking place September 7th, 2011, at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, in affiliation with SOCAP11, the annual Social Capital Markets conference dedicated to the flow of...

Sep 5th

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New release on leading US sustainable investing...

C-SocPhil director co-authors article in the Journal of Investing BOSTON — In the fall edition of the Journal of Investing, Meg Voorhes, research director at US SIF Foundation, and Joshua Humphreys, senior associate and director of the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute, have published a new article on “Recent Trends in Sustainable and Responsible Investing in the...

Aug 31st

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C-SocPhil hosts Responsible Microfinance Luncheon...

Tellus Institute roundtable tackles controversies in international microcredit BOSTON — The Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute and Oikocredit USA co-hosted a lunch meeting today with leading Boston-area impact investors to discuss controversies and challenges in the rapidly changing microfinance field. The meeting provided an opportunity to introduce Oikocredit...

Jul 14th

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Tellus endowment research cited in Boston Globe

C-SocPhil’s report on endowments and the financial crisis in the news BOSTON — The Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute was cited today in an online story on the pending Massachusetts Higher Education Transparency Act. As Matt Rocheleau reports on Boston.com, “The bill is driven by a report released last spring that examined six area schools, including five in and...

Apr 23rd

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C-SocPhil documents community impacts of delayed...

Sr. Fellow James Goldstein files affidavit in support of community groups in Atlantic Yards dispute. BOSTON – On March 3, James Goldstein, Senior Fellow and Director of the Sustainable Communities Program at Tellus Institute, joined a panel of leading authorities in urban planning and community development who submitted affidavits on behalf of a coalition of community organizations in Brooklyn,...

Mar 3rd

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Humphreys speaks on just investing at Brown

C-SocPhil director joins panel on “Investing in Justice” BOSTON — Joshua Humphreys, senior associate and director of the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute, joined representatives from the Responsible Endowments Coalition and the Service Employees International Union for a panel discussion on the theme of “Investing in Justice” at Brown University. ...

Feb 11th

C-SocPhil Director on Higher Ed Transparency

Humphreys interviewed by Tufts paper on college financial disclosures BOSTON — Joshua Humphreys, senior associate and director of the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute, was interviewed at length for an article in The Tufts Daily about pending legislation in the Massachusetts State House that would require fuller disclosure of financial information by private colleges. The...

Feb 10th

Humphreys on endowments in FT: Few lessons learned...

C-SocPhil director quoted at length today in FT piece on endowments. BOSTON — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys was quoted at length today in a story that appeared today in the Financial Times on the endowment model of investing Humphreys sharply criticized colleges and their investment consultants for taking liquidity for granted and embracing much more...

Jan 9th

New C-SocPhil research on social & environmental...

Social Investment Forum releases 2010 SRI Trends Report. SRI assets top $3 trillion, up 13% across financial crisis, growing faster than broader market. WASHINGTON, DC — Despite the recent economic downturn, sustainable and socially responsible investing (SRI) in the United States is continuing to grow at a faster pace than the total universe of investment assets under professional...

Nov 9th

Huff Post coverage for C-SocPhil endowments report

In the Huffington Post, Bob Samuels reviews the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute’s recent report on “Educational Endowments and the Financial Crisis,” principally authored by Joshua Humphreys, senior associate and the Center’s director. An excerpt from Samuels: Not only are large endowments and pension funds plagued by conflicts of interests, but as the...

Jun 8th

Felix Salmon on the problems with university...

Felix Salmon reviews the new Tellus Institute report “Educational Endowments and the Financial Crisis,” authored principally by Joshua Humphreys, senior associate and director of the Institute’s Center for Social Philanthropy. An excerpt from Salmon: “But even if they want to continue to chase absolute returns, it’s clear that the endowment model massively...

May 28th

C-SocPhil endowments report on Bloomberg TV

Humphreys quoted on Dartmouth trustee conflicts of interest. Bloomberg Businessweek’s Roben Farzad talks with Matt Miller and Carol Massar about how Harvard University, the richest U.S. college, and five of its New England peers succumbed to Wall Street’s influence on investment strategies, took on too much risk and made the financial crisis worse, according to a report by Tellus...

May 21st

C-SocPhil Director on WBUR

Humphreys stresses community impact from endowment declines. BOSTON — Joshua Humphreys, director of the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute, appeared in a story by Monica Brady-Myerov on WBUR public radio discussing the Center’s recent report on college endowments and the financial crisis: Joshua Humphreys, the lead investigator, says falling endowments have ripple...

May 21st

Tellus C-SocPhil releases new report on endowments...

C-SocPhil report documents social costs and systemic risks of the Endowment Model of Investing. View the report here: http://www.tellus.org/publications/files/endowmentcrisis.pdf BOSTON — A new report, released by the Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute, demonstrates the consequences of colleges and universities placing an increasing share of their endowments into high-risk...

May 20th

C-SocPhil director speaks at Resource Generation...

Joshua Humphreys presented MRI strategies at Resource Generation’s “Creating Change through Family Philanthropy” Retreat, March 19-21, 2010, Briarcliff Manor, NY. BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University and a Senior Associate at Tellus Institute, discussed proxy voting, shareholder...

Mar 21st

C-SocPhil Director speaks to Harvard Philanthropy...

Joshua Humphreys discusses Leveraging Philanthropic Assets for Long-Term Social and Environmental Impact at Harvard Kennedy School CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard and a Senior Associate at Tellus Institute, delivered a presentation today on “Leveraging Philanthropic Assets for Long-Term Social and...

Oct 22nd

C-SocPhil director participates in UN PRI Proxy...

Joshua Humphreys speaks on strategies for “Overcoming Obstacles to Active Ownership” BOSTON — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University and a Senior Associate at Tellus Institute, presented C-SocPhil’s work in the active ownership arena at a webinar sponsored by the United Nations Principles for Responsible...

Oct 20th

Proxy Stewardship Project convenes endowments at...

Endowments tackle the problem of passive proxy voting by commingled fund managers NEW YORK, NY — The Center for Social Philanthropy joined a group of leading philanthropic and educational endowments concerned about the problem of passive proxy voting by commingled fund managers at a special convening on the topic held at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund offices here.

Oct 15th

C-SocPhil co-hosts "Critical Issues in Responsible...

C-SocPhil director Joshua Humphreys leads panel on going “beyond proxy voting” PHILADELPHIA — The Center for Social Philanthropy at Tellus Institute joined the Responsible Endowments Coalition (REC), Sustainable Endowments Institute, and Columbia University’s Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing in co-hosting a special full-day workshop today at REC’s...

Oct 2nd

C-SocPhil Calls for Mandatory Sustainability...

Joshua Humphreys calls on the SEC to mandate corporate sustainability reporting of environmental, social and governance issues. BOSTON — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University and a Senior Associate at Tellus Institute, has joined social investors today in calling on the SEC to mandate corporate sustainability reporting of...

Jul 21st

C-SocPhil at Harvard Kennedy School

C-SocPhil director Joshua Humphreys speaks on “Fully Leveraged Philanthropy” at Harvard’s Hauser Center CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University and a Senior Associate at Tellus Institute, delivered a brownbag lunch talk today on “Fully Leveraged Philanthropy” at Harvard Kennedy...

Apr 23rd

Apr 9th

C-SocPhil director speaks at Tufts on endowment...

Joshua Humphreys addressed students at Tufts University on responsible investing by college endowments. BOSTON — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University and Senior Associate at Tellus Institute, addressed a crowd of students Monday evening at Tufts University about responsible investing by foundation and university endowments. ...

Apr 6th

C-SocPhil VC data cited in BusinessWeek

C-SocPhil data on social and environmental venture capital funds were cited today in BusinessWeek’s special report on social enterprise. BOSTON - According to the Center for Social Philanthropy, venture capital and other private equity firms — as well as other alternative investment vehicles — that incorporate explicit criteria related to environmental and social issues manage an estimated $7.3...

Apr 3rd

Secret Giving

C-SocPhil Advisory Board member Darwin Stapleton speaks on foundation transparency and Rockfeller philanthropy during Australian tour. BOSTON — Dr. Darwin H. Stapleton, Executive Director Emeritus of the Rockefeller Archive Center and Advisory Board member of the Center for Social Philanthropy, discussed problems in philanthropic transparency and the traditions of Rockefeller philanthropy...

Mar 30th

C-SocPhil Director Speaks on "New Forms of...

Joshua Humphreys speaks at the Responsible Endowments Coalition conference. NEW YORK, NY — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University, participated on a panel devoted to “new forms of corporate engagement” at a conference hosted by the Responsible Endowments Coalition in New York earlier today. Students involved in...

Feb 20th

C-SocPhil Director Speaks on "Fully Leveraged...

C-SocPhil director delivers talk at Great Transition Initiative series at Tellus Institute. BOSTON — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University, presented the Center’s work on fully leveraged philanthropy at Tellus Institute today, as part of a series of lunchtime talks organized by the Institute’s Great Transition...

Feb 18th

C-SocPhil Director Speaks at Harvard Responsible...

Joshua Humphreys discusses how to data-mine the capital markets in order to shape responsible investing strategies and campaigns. CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard, spoke on the role of research in driving responsible investing by foundation and university endowments at the Harvard Responsible Endowments Conference. The...

Feb 7th

C-SocPhil Calls for White House Office on...

C-SocPhil Director joins social investors in calling for CSR Office. CAMBRIDGE, MA — Today the Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University, has joined social investors in calling for the creation of an Office for Innovation in Corporate Social Responsibility. More than 50 U.S. and overseas leaders in the fields of socially responsible...

Jan 29th

Investing for Impact

EGA releases new C-SocPhil research report on “Impact Investing” by environmental grantmakers Cambridge, MA — The Center for Social Philanthropy announces the release of a new report on asset-mobilization strategies by environmental funders, commissioned by the Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA), with funding from Merck Family Fund and Rockefeller Brothers Fund. “Investing...

Sep 23rd

C-SocPhil Director Contributes to New SRI Book

Joshua Humphreys contributes to Compelling Returns: A Practical Guide to SRI, by Scott J. Budde. CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University, has contributed a summary of recent efforts to change foundation involvement in socially responsible investing, in the newly released book Compelling Returns: A Practical Guide...

Sep 10th

Mobilizing Assets, Maximizing Impact

C-SocPhil Director Authors Cover Story for Fall 2008 EGA Journal CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s Director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University, has authored the cover story for the fall edition of Environmental Grantmakers Association’s quarterly publication, the EGA Journal. “Mobilizing Assets, Multiplying Impact: Fully Leveraging...

Aug 30th

C-SocPhil Calls for Enhanced Corporate...

C-SocPhil director Joshua Humphreys joins concerned philanthropists in signing comment letter to FASB. CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University and a Senior Associate at Tellus Institute in Boston, joined other philanthropic organizations today in signing a public comment letter to the Financial Accounting...

Aug 8th

C-SocPhil Director Speaks at Institute for...

Joshua Humphreys discusses Fully Leveraged Philanthropy at NCSU. RALEIGH, NC — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University, spoke here today on fully leveraged philanthropy at a lunchtime meeting of the Institute for Nonprofits at North Carolina State University. The talk was sponsored by the Institute’s Community of Nonprofit...

Mar 21st

C-SocPhil Director Cited in Fund Action

Joshua Humphreys interviewed for ”ETFs, SMAs Explode in SRI Market” CAMBRIDGE, MA — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys, a lecturer at Harvard University, was cited today in an article in Fund Action, a leading information source for the mutual fund industry. “The index-tracking structure of an ETF” is a good fit with the SRI...

Mar 17th

C-SocPhil in FT story on green investing

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. — The Center for Social Philanthropy’s director Joshua Humphreys was interviewed for one of a series of stories on environmental investing that appeared today in the Financial Times. “There are more than 100 retail funds and strategies that incorporate environmental criteria into portfolio management and they have more than $40 bn (£20 bn, €27bn) in assets, says...

Feb 4th