In 2006 a group of Liberal Arts and Management Program (LAMP) students at Indiana University developed a novel idea.
Seeking to move their educational experiences beyond the classroom, these social entrepreneurs hoped to create and manage a philanthropic investment fund to support and establish global non-profit agency, Timmy Global Health (formerly the Timmy Foundation).
At its core, The Virtu Project.s mission is two-fold. First, Virtu seeks to educate its student members about how to invest money effectively and ethically. Second, Virtu prides itself on imparting an appreciation for giving onto its members. Virtu does this through the partnership with Timmy: members see the work that Timmy does and find their passion for altruism through Virtu.s unique model. Putting these two pieces together, Virtu strives to send its members into the world with skills they could not have acquired in the classroom and with the values of a dedicated philanthropist.
Virtu opened the investment fund in 2008. As of December 2011, Virtu has completed four investment .windows. (each one year in length) and has beaten the S&P 500 index three times. As a result of this performance and its generous supporters, Virtu has raised over $35,000 for Timmy Global Health.
"In many years at IU, I've never seen a group of students work with such passion and intensity on a project that has no class credit and no grade."
Jim Madison
Past director of LAMP and the Thomas and Kathryn Miller Professor of History
The Virtu Project creates a unique opportunity for hands-on learning, particularly in the areas of ethical investing, networking, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.
The Virtu Project is organized into three divisions: Associates, Managers, and Partners.
Collaboration is key within the Virtu Project, and all teams are interdependent and overseen by LAMP faculty advisors. The responsibilities and goals of each division are described below
Partners
Partners consist of Virtu Project members who are in their final year at Indiana University. Members who joined in their junior year will become partners, but will still be expected to perform many of the tasks assigned to Managers. The Virtu Officers will be Partners with additional responsibilities.
Responsibilities of Partners Include:
Managers
Associates that have gained the fundamental skills of equity analysis through the Virtu investment curriculum are promoted to the position of manager.
Responsibilities of Managers Include:
Associates
Associates are accepted into the Virtu Project at the end of the fall semester during their sophomore or junior year. Prior to their acceptance, associates undergo an application and interview process conducted by current members of the Virtu Project.
Responsibilities of Associates Include:
Eric Bohn - President
Major(s): History, EconomicsJacob Peters - Investment Director
Major(s): Economics, MathematicsAdrian Hepfer - Communication Director
Major(s): History, SpanishDan Krueger - Treasurer
Major(s): Economics
Derek Sprunger - Secretary
Major(s): Economics, Mathematics
Sukriti Bansal
Major(s): Biochemistry
Ryan Clodfelter
Major(s): Biochemistry
Kurt Langdon
Major(s): Biology
Tim McCall
Major(s): BiotechnologyAndrew Nielsen
Major(s): Economics
Daniel Violi
Major(s): Economics, Philosophy
Turner Duncan
Major(s): BiologyJohn Glennon
Major(s): Political ScienceIvana Huang
Major(s): Economics, TelecommunicationsMohsin Mukhtar
Major(s): Biology, International Healthcare and Public PolicyJulia Selby
Major(s): Anthropology
Lindsey Blum
Major(s): Economics, FrenchMin Kyung Im
Major(s): EconomicsNikitha Linga
Major(s): EconomicsAudrey Oliger
Major(s): BiologyMatt Plunkett
Major(s): EconomicsErin Selsemeyer
Major(s): Communication & CultureCarson Small
Major(s): Communication and CultureXi Zheng
Major(s): BiologyThe portfolio is invested in the interest of maximizing annual returns while implementing a strategy aimed at long term growth. Pledges are gathered for 100% investment purposes, and tracked on an annual fund basis. The principal goal for annual activities is 1 million dollars in pledges with a minimum rate of return of 8%.
Our primary objective is to profit a contributory donation of at least 8% of total pledged amount to The Timmy Foundation. Secondly, we seek to educate students in the field of socially responsible equity investing by teaching the skills necessary to manage one's own portfolio.
Initial allocation of the Virtu fund will be determined by the investment team coordinator based upon the recommendations of the investment team members. Reallocations of the fund may be recommended by investment team members and are subject to the approval of the investment team coordinator and the leadership board as a whole.
Profits will be measured on a per year basis starting and ending the first Friday in December, which allows the donation to be declared tax-deductible on annual budgets. Any donations gathered throughout the year will be responsible for the year-long profit rate, yet will be contributed towards the fund during the next term.
Name | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | AAPL |
| Bank of America Corporation Common Stock | BAC |
| Brinks Company (The) Common Stock | BCO |
| China Mobile Limited Common Stock | CHL |
| Canadian National Railway Company | CNI |
| CVS Caremark Corporation Common Stock | CVS |
| DeVry Inc. Common Stock | DV |
| Ford Motor Company Common Stock | F |
| FactSet Research Systems Inc. Common Stock | FDS |
| Forrester Research, Inc. | FORR |
| Goldcorp Incorporated Common Stock | GG |
| Johnson & Johnson Common Stock | JNJ |
| Kimco Realty Corporation Common Stock | KIM |
| Limited Brands, Inc. | LTD |
| McDonald's Corporation Common Stock | MCD |
| Noble Energy Inc. Common Stock | NBL |
| Northrop Grumman Corporation Common Stock | NOC |
| Oracle Corporation | ORCL |
| PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 | QQQ |
| Silver Wheaton Corp Common Stock | SLW |
| Simon Porperty Group, Inc. Common Stock | SPG |
| Stryker Corporation Common Stock | SYK |
| Tempur-pedic International Inc | TPX |
| ProShares UltraPro S&P 500 | UPRO |