Shawn Wischmeier
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- Milken Institute58 min
Aligning Endowment Investments with Philanthropic Mission
Kerry Kennedy, Kim Lew, Brian O'Neil, Mark Suzman, Darren Walker, Shawn Wischmeier, Carrie Kennedy, Frank, Nelson, Daniel, Amy Christensen
Carrie Kennedy moderated a panel of foundation leaders, including Darren Walker of the Ford Foundation and Mark Sussman of the Gates Foundation, who detailed their strategies for aligning endowment capital with social missions through mission-related investments, program-related investments, and strict ethical screens. The discussion highlighted a divergence in approaches, with the Ford Foundation committing $1 billion to double-bottom-line strategies while Carnegie Corporation maintains a "do no harm" stance, though all participants agreed that integrating mission goals is financially viable and critical for institutional relevance. By addressing systemic biases through diversity initiatives and leveraging capital to build investment infrastructure, these organizations aim to transform the traditional fiduciary model to ensure endowments actively advance their charitable objectives rather than merely preserving wealth.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
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.