Schools: Move Our Money!

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Take The First Step

Our Schools and Wall Street
Big banks  take our universities’ money and use it to finance mountaintop removal coal mining, risky investments in derivatives, high fees on credit cards, lobbying to bend and break time-tested laws, and predatory loans to low-income people. They also use that money to help finance predatory, high-cost, student loans and lobby to change laws in congress to benefit the 1% at the expense of the 99%. Around the country, students and other stakeholders are already taking action to say that their schools do not support the practices of the national banks whose irresponsible and exploitive practices contributed to the financial crisis, and are demanding their schools divest from Wall Street.

The Alternative: Community Investment
Community development financial institutions, like credit unions and community banks, have missions to lend to local individuals and businesses who want to improve their communities in socially positive and sustainable ways. By focusing on affordable housing, small business creation, environmental issues, empowerment of women and minorities, and providing financial services to under-served populations, community investment addresses many economic and environmental challenges.

The First Step To a Responsible Endowment
Endowments are huge amounts of money, and figuring out where to start can be overwhelming. Before moving money to environmental funds, engaging with major corporations, or divesting from the worst of the worst — yes, your school could do all of these things! — you can start easily and right at home. This is the first, simplest, and safest step towards showing your administration that a responsibly invested endowment can be a reality.

Want to learn more? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.