Managers at large investment offices who fret over where to put millions of dollars may be associated with “Wall Street greed” more easily than the idea social responsibility or charity. But in fact, some of the largest institutional investors are also the most generous “social givers” who seek to make a positive impact to society through monetary returns.

They facilitate improvements in education, healthcare, arts and poverty relief, just to name a few. Some organizations, such as school endowments and hospital systems, perform such roles due to the nature of their business. Others support certain causes and ideals that their founders feel strongly about. Most tax-exempt private foundations, for example, are required by law to pay out at least 5 percent of their total asset value for charitable purposes.

This week, Trusted Insight is highlighting 20 notable private foundations, university endowments, hospitals, pension funds and family offices who are not only shrewd investors, but also promoters of a better world.
 

• University of California, Berkeley Foundation     

CIO: John-Austin Saviano    
Total Assets: $1.68 billion
Organization Type: University Endowment
 

• Brandeis University    

CIO: Nicholas A. Warren    
Total Assets: $915 million
Organization Type: University Endowment
 

• The New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS)

CIO: Scott Evans  
Total Assets: $51.2 billion
Organization Type: Public Pension Fund
 

• Cleveland Clinic     

CIO: Stefan Strein    
Total Assets: $7 billion
Organization Type: Healthcare System
 

• Colorado Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)    

CIO: Jennifer Paquette
Total Assets: $42.8 billion     
Organization Type: Public Pension Fund
 

• Atapco Properties

CIO: Scott Soffen
Total Assets: N/A
Organization Type: Single-Family Office
 

• Kresge Foundation    

CIO: Robert J. Manilla    
Total Assets: $3.6 billion
Organization Type: Private Foundation
Causes Supported: Art and Culture, Environment, Education, Health, Human Services
 

• Maine Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)    

CIO: Andrew Sawyer    
Total Assets: $13 billion
Organization Type: Public Pension Fund
 

• Margaret A. Cargill Foundation    

CIO: Shawn Wischmeier    
Total Assets: $3 billion
Organization Type: Private Foundation
Causes Supported: Arts and Cultures, Environment, Relief and Resilience, Animal Welfare, Aging Services
 

• New York - Presbyterian    

CIO: William Lee    
Total Assets: $9.77 billion
Organization Type: Healthcare System
 

• Rice Management Company    

CIO: Allison K. Thacker    
Total Assets: $5.5 billion
Organization Type: University Endowment
 

• South Carolina Retirement System    

CIO: Geoffrey Berg    
Total Assets: $29.2 billion
Organization Type: Pension Funds
 

• The James Irvine Foundation    

CIO: John R. Jenks    
Total Assets: $2 billion
Organization Type: Private Foundation
Causes Supported: Arts, Youth, Political and Economic Opportunities in California
 

• The Presidio Group    

CIO: Mark Guinney    
Total Assets: N/A
Organization Type: Multi-Family Office
 

• Trinity Health    

CIO: Dina Richard    
Total Assets: $21.8 billion
Organization Type: Healthcare System
 

• UPS Group Trust    

CIO: Brian Pellegrino
Total Assets: $33.8 billion
Organization Type: Corporate Pension Fund 
   

• The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

CIO: Jonathan Hook    
Total Assets: $2.13 billion
Organization Type: Private Foundation
CausUPSes Supported: Basic Human Needs and Health; Disabilities; Older Adults; Education; Veterans; Workforce Development
 

• Wellesley College    

CIO: Debby Kuenstner   
Total Assets: $1.85 billion
Organization Type: University Endowment
 

• Wesleyan University    

CIO: Anne Martin    
Total Assets: $810 million
Organization Type: University Endowment
 

• Williams College    

CIO: Collette Chilton    
Total Assets: $2.4 billion
Organization Type: University Endowment

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