UUCEF Proxy Voting Update
At the UU Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF), proxy voting is a key way we put our values into practice as investors. Our Investment Policy Statement emphasizes that active ownership – including proxy voting, corporate engagement, and filing shareholder resolutions – is essential to advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities. We use the ISS( Institutional […]
Sustainable Banking for Congregations, an Update
In our participation at recent UUA webinars, several attendees asked about our presentation on Sustainable Banking for Congregations made at the 2025 General Assembly. For background, a sustainable bank is a financial institution that integrates environmental, social, and governance principles into its core operations. Unlike conventional banks, sustainable banks often prioritize lending and investment practices […]
UUCEF at Green Sanctuary
Please join us for a member webinar introducing the UUA Strategies to Advance Climate Justice and the Green Sanctuary 2030 initiative—an interactive session designed to connect our endowment’s mission and stewardship with concrete, values-aligned climate action. We’ll walk through what the program is, how congregations and partners engage, and practical ways our endowment community can support impact […]
Introducing the new UUCEF Website!
The UUA is thrilled to announce the August 18, 2025 launch of our brand-new UU Common Endowment Fund website www.uucef.org. It was designed, in part, based on feedback from UU congregations and was built with you in mind! Our refreshed online experience makes it easier than ever to access key resources, stay updated on your […]
June Monthly Commentary
Markets surged in June, setting new records, amid fading concerns around tariffs, and the passing of Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill. During this period, the S&P 500 gained 5.1%, hitting a new high. Small-cap equities led the way with the Russell 2000 up 5.4%; growth outperformed value with the Russell 1000 Growth returning 6.4% compared […]
Faith-Consistent Investing
The below article was recently published by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR). The UUA works together with other religious organizations through ICCR on shareholder advocacy. Why Faith Groups Have Historically Practiced Sustainable and Responsible Investing Religious organizations steward their organizational finances and the investments managed on behalf of their constituents and beneficiaries in alignment […]
May Monthly Commentary
The adage, “Sell in May and go away,” did not hold in 2025 as global equities posted strong returns on the back of a broad de-escalation in tariff rhetoric following news of a 90-day tariff truce between the U.S. and China, an agreement with the U.K. to cut tariffs, and delayed implementation of a 50% […]
Where to find the UUCEF Investment Committee and our new Senior Endowment Officer at GA
At this year’s General Assembly, members of the Common Endowment Fund (CEF) and Investment Committee (IC) will be actively engaged in several key sessions. Highlights include “Sustainable Banking for Congregations” on Thursday at 1pm, featuring Mathew Jensen and Randy Webb; the FY25–26 UUA Budget Hearing at 4pm with Dave Valentine and David Stewart; and the […]
April Monthly Commentary
Global equities moved sharply lower at the beginning of April on the heels of stiff tariffs announced by the U.S. administration. On April 2, President Trump declared a 10% baseline tariff rate on imported goods from all countries and higher reciprocal tariffs on around 60 countries and regions with which the U.S. has significant trade […]
July Monthly Commentary
Stocks hit all-time highs in July, with the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ repeatedly setting new records. Corporate earnings were a bright spot last month as the S&P 500’s blended earnings growth rate overshot expectations with over 80% of companies reporting earnings that exceeded street estimates. During this period, the S&P 500 gained 2.2% with […]