Sharon Hendricks

I'm Not an Impact Investor, or Am I?

Caitlin MacLean, Janet Cowell, Sharon Hendricks, William Lee, Shawn Wischmeier, Bill Lee

Representatives from Cargill Philanthropies, North Carolina State Treasurer, CalSTRS, and Kaiser Foundation convened to discuss managing a combined $400 billion in assets through tailored frameworks ranging from mission investing to long-term risk mitigation. The panel highlighted strong financial performance, including a 20% internal rate of return for North Carolina's in-state program, while identifying critical operational hurdles such as standardized data gaps and a scarcity of sophisticated managers. Moving forward, the institutions plan to establish common metrics, integrate ESG checklists into daily research, and shift from divestment strategies toward active engagement to balance fiduciary duty with environmental and social goals over multi-decade horizons.