Charge to the Committee on Socially Responsible Investing

1. Mission and Responsibilities
   The committee’s mission is to uphold the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA’s) commitment to invest its endowment funds in alignment with Unitarian Universalist (UU) values. The committee’s specific responsibilities are as follows:
    
   1. To advise the UU Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF) Investment Committee on investment policy issues, with particular regard to stock screening and manager selection
       
   2. To assist the UUA staff with community investment, shareholder advocacy, and educating UU congregations on socially responsible investment
       
   3. To advise the UUA Board on needed changes in the UUCEF’s governing documents, and to report to the UUA Board on the UUCEF’s success in meeting its socially responsible investment objectives
       
   4. To carry out any other responsibilities stated in the UUCEF bylaws.
       
2. Appointment and Terms
   The committee shall have seven members, as follows:
    
   1. Four individuals with expertise in socially responsible investment, at least one of whom shall have expertise in shareholder advocacy, and at least one of whom shall have expertise in community investment.
       
   2. One individual who has experience with endowment management in an organization that invests in the UUCEF, and who has knowledge of UUA priorities, programs, and communities, as well as of socially responsible investment practices. The UUA Board shall appoint this individual to also serve as a member of the UUCEF Investment Committee.
       
   3. The Treasurer
       
   4. The Financial Advisor
       
   The Treasurer and the Financial Advisor shall serve on the committee as long as they hold office. The other members of the committee shall serve for terms of two years and until their successors are appointed and qualified, subject to a limit of eight years of service.

Abstract from the Minutes of the UUA Board of Trustees Meeting of April 21-22, 2001

The Committee will:

• Maintain and assist with implementation of SRI policies and practices with respect to funds over which the Trustees have responsibility (including alternative and community development investments) that reflect UU values, especially as expressed by the GA resolutions and Statements of Immediate Witness, Board resolutions and UU Principles and Purposes.
   
• Assist the Investment Committee in the implementation of the UUA's SRI responsibilities as set forth in the Investment Guidelines adopted by the Board and amended from time to time.
   
• Utilize shareholder activism to express UU values to the corporations in which our funds are invested, including dialogues with corporate managers, proxy voting, and filling resolutions on specific issues.
   
• Broaden coalitions with other like-minded faith-based organizations, coordinating with the Washington Office, the Office of Public Witness, and other UUA departments and constituencies, as appropriate.
   
• Communicate SRI policies and activities to the Board, staff, member congregations, and other constituencies. Expand services to the member congregations and individual UUs with respect to the implementation of SRI programs and establishment of more powerful coalitions in pursuit of shareholder activism and positive social change.
   
• Develop an ongoing process of assessment and audit of the effectiveness of the SRI policies and practices.