Financials

The overall financial objective for NIA organizations’ investment portfolios is to preserve the real (inflation-adjusted) purchasing power of assets while maximizing real income and minimizing volatility of principal value.

Real income is defined as the sum of dividends, interest, and realized gains/losses less the inflation rate as measured by CPI (Consumer Price Index) for the relevant time period.  

Without jeopardizing its financial objective stated above, NIA invests 100% of assets, other than funds held in cash instruments, in a socially responsible manner, consistent with the social missions of our members and in a manner determined prudent by the board of directors.

We achieve this objective through a variety of investment options, including fixed income portfolios with socially responsible screens and/or environment, social and governance (ESG) strategies, and equity funds with ESG strategies.  

As the socially responsible investment space is still evolving, NIA’s strategy is to both actively invest in funds based on positive social attributes as well as invest in funds that screen out investments with negative social attributes.

In general, we consider ESG to be an active strategy-seeking company demonstrating a commitment to environmental, social and governance best practices.

We consider social screening to be a form of avoiding investments of those which exhibit certain objectionable criteria.

These ESG and social screening strategies are equally applicable to equities and fixed income securities.

To accomplish our investment goals on behalf of members, NIA engages investment managers with a demonstrated record and well-documented process for evaluating and incorporating ESG criteria and/or social screening in its investment process. 

Insured by NIA:
Phamaly Theatre Company
Denver, CO

ESG.

Equity and fixed income strategies that incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics as part of a disciplined security selection process.

The intended outcome is for NIA’s ESG investments to emphasize companies that exhibit relatively strong metrics in these categories and/or demonstrate a company’s willingness and ability to improve in areas where needed.

We believe that incorporating ESG metrics not only reinforces important goals but also results in better long-term investments from a risk/reward standpoint.  

Social screening. 

In 2016, NIA divested of all investments in fossil fuels. Further, NIA investments qualifying as having a practice of screening out negative attributes use the following Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) socially responsible screens:  

1. Defense and weapons: Based on revenue derived from the manufacture and retail of civilian firearms and ammunition, weapon systems, components, and support systems and services.  
2. Nuclear power: Based on revenue derived from nuclear power activities.  
3. Tobacco: Based on revenue derived from the licensing, manufacturing, distribution, or retail sales of tobacco products.  
4. ESG ratings: An indicator measuring company involvement in controversies related to land use and biodiversity, toxic spills and releases, energy and climate change, water management, operations non-hazardous waste, the environmental impact of products and service, and management of supply chain environmental impact.  
5. Labor practices: An indicator measuring company involvement in controversies related to a firm’s workforce diversity. Factors affecting this evaluation include, but are not limited to, a history of involvement in discrimination-related legal cases; widespread or egregious instances of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, or ethnicity; resistance to improved practices; and criticism by NGOs and/or other third-party observers.