Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions

• Key terms related to ESG
• Enacted ESG legislation
• Areas of inquiry and disagreement
• Opposition to ESG
• Federal ESG rules and regulations
• Public pension information by state
• Economy and Society: Ballotpedia's weekly ESG newsletter
  • Subscribe here

Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions
Basic facts
Location:	Denver, Colorado
Top official:	Amy C. McGarrity, interim executive director/chief investment officer
Active members:	15,274
Website:	Official website
Total assets under management
2022:	$4,313,602,000

See also: Public pensions in Colorado

The Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions is a Colorado state pension fund that provides retirement and benefits to employees of Denver Public Schools and their families. The Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions had $4,313,602,000 ($4.3 billion) in total assets under management as of December 31, 2022.

The management of public pension funds can indicate support or opposition to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investment practices. ESG investing considers the extent to which corporations align with and promote certain non-financial standards, such as net carbon emission or corporate board diversity goals. States typically hire asset management companies (AMCs) to direct pension plan investments, some of which have ESG commitments that guide their strategies.

This article features the following sections:

• Background: Information about the structure and functions of the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions.
• Pension performance overview: Overview of the funding level and assets managed by the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions.
• Assets and asset management: Information about the asset management companies (AMCs) that contract with Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions, including a list of contracting AMCs that are participants in the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative and the Climate Action 100+ initiative.
• Governance and accountability: Details about the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions' oversight board, including members and selection.

Background

See also: Public pensions

The Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions is one of five subfunds of the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), which was founded in 1933. Colorado PERA invests the assets of and provides funding for the [Colorado State Division Pension]], the Colorado School Division Pension, the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions, the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions, and the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions. Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions operates as a defined benefit plan established by Colorado state law. These plans—based on the employee's length of service and salary— provide retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to the state's public school teachers, school employees, and their families.

The Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions served 15,274 active members and 7,256retirees and beneficiaries as of December 31, 2022.

Pension performance overview

The following table features information about the funding level and assets managed by the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions as of December 31, 2022:

Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions performance (December 31, 2022)
Fiscal year	Percent funded	Unfunded liabilities	Total assets
2022	90.3%	$467,007,000	$4,313,602,000

Assets and asset management

Asset management companies (AMCs) contract with pension funds to manage asset investment. Some pension funds contract with multiple AMCs, some contract with a single AMC, and others make their own investment decisions without contracting with an AMC.

More than 300 AMCs as of December 2022 were members of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAM), and 362 asset managers as of June 2023 were investor participants in the Climate Action 100+ initiative. Both international asset manager initiatives aim to align signatory investment decisions with the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

List of AMCs contracting with the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions

The Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions, as a subfund of the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association, contracted with 464 asset management companies (AMCs) as of December 2022. Of those companies or funds, 17 were investor participants in Climate Action 100+, and 13 were members of NZAM, as of 2024. The following list identifies the AMCs (and in some cases, the specific funds) contracting with the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions:

• 1992 Multi-Strategy Fund, L.P. (Highbridge Capital)
• Acadian Asset Management (NZAM, Climate Action 100+)
• Accel Partners III
• Accel Partners IV
• Access Venture Partners IV, L.P.
• Advanced Technology Ventures IV
• Advanced Technology Ventures V
• Advanced Technology Ventures VI
• Advanced Technology Ventures VII
• AEW
• AIG Global Emerging Markets Fund
• AIG Global Emerging Markets Fund II
• American Rivers Fund
• APA Excelsior IV
• APA Excelsior V
• Apax Europe VI
• Apax Europe VII
• Apax Excelsior VI
• Apax US VII
• Apollo Credit Opportunity Fund III
• Apollo Distressed Investment Fund (DIF)
• Apollo Energy Opportunity Fund
• Apollo Investment Fund III
• Apollo Investment Fund IV
• Apollo Investment Fund IX
• Apollo Investment Fund V
• Apollo Investment Fund VI
• Apollo Investment Fund VII
• Apollo Investment Fund VIII
• Arclight Energy Partners Fund V
• Arclight Energy Partners Fund VI
• ARES
• Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund
• Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund II
• Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund III
• Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.
• Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund V, L.P.
• Ares Energy Opportunities Fund
• Ares ICOF III
• Asia Pacific Growth Fund II
• Asia Pacific Growth Fund III
• Atlas Ventures VI (NZAM)
• Audax Mezzanine Fund III
• Avenue Asia Special Situations Fund III
• Avenue Asia Special Situations Fund IV
• Avenue Europe Special Situations Fund
• Avenue Europe Special Situations Fund II
• Avenue Special Situations Fund IV
• Avenue Special Situations Fund V
• Avenue Special Situations Fund VI
• Avista Capital Partners
• Avista Capital Partners II
• Avista Capital Partners III
• Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited (NZAM, Climate Action 100+)
• Barings (Climate Action 100+)
• Basalt Infrastructure Partners III
• BC European Capital IX
• BC European Capital X
• BC European Capital XI
• Beacon Energy II
• BlackRock (NZAM, Climate Action 100+)
• Blackrock Multi-Alternative Opportunities Fund (A) (NZAM, Climate Action 100+)
• Blackstone Capital Partners II
• Blackstone Capital Partners III
• Blackstone Capital Partners IV
• Blackstone Capital Partners V
• Blackstone Capital Partners VI
• Blackstone Capital Partners VII
• Blackstone Capital Partners VIII
• Blackstone Communications Partners
• Blackstone Energy Partners II L.P.
• Blackstone Real Estate Partners
• Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund
• Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund II
• Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund III
• Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund IV, L.P.
• Brantley Venture Partners II
• Brantley Venture Partners III
• Brentwood Associates Private Equity III
• Brentwood Associates Private Equity IV
• Brentwood Associates Private Equity V, L.P.
• Brentwood Associates Private Equity VI, L.P.
• Bridgewater Pure Alpha Major Markets, LLC
• Calmwater Real Estate Credit Fund IV
• Calmwater US Real Estate Credit Fund III
• Capitol Hill Co-Investment Fund L.P.
• Carlyle Aviation SASOF III
• Carlyle Aviation SASOF V, LP
• Carlyle Strategic Partners IV, L.P.
• CB Richard Ellis
• Centennial Business Development Fund
• Centennial Fund II
• Centennial Fund III
• Centennial Fund IV
• Centennial Fund Ltd
• Centennial Fund V
• Centennial Fund VI
• Centennial Ventures VII
• CMEA VI
• CMEA VII
• Coller International Partners IV
• Coller International Partners V, L.P.
• Coller International Partners VI, L.P.
• Coller International Partners VII, L.P.
• Coller International Partners VIII, L.P.
• Colorado Mile High Fund
• Colorado PERA Co-Investment 2000
• Colorado PERA Co-Investment 2001
• Colorado PERA Co-Investment 2002
• Colorado PERA Co-Investment 2021
• Colorado Venture Management III
• Colorado Venture Management IV
• Columbia Capital Equity Partners II
• Columbia Capital Equity Partners III
• Columbia Capital Equity Partners IV
• Columbine Venture Fund II
• Comvest Investment Partners IV
• Comvest Investment Partners V
• Courage Music Partners II, LP
• Court Square Capital Partners
• Court Square Capital Partners III
• Coventry
• CRG Partners III - Parallel Fund "A"
• CRG Partners IV
• Crow
• CVC European Equity Partners II
• CVC European Equity Partners III
• CVC European Equity Partners IV (D)
• CVC European Equity Partners V
• CVC European Equity Partners VI
• CVC European Equity Partners VIII
• Cypress Merchant Banking Partners
• Cypress Merchant Banking Partners II
• DLJ Merchant Banking Partners II
• DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III
• Doughty Hanson & Co Fund II
• Doughty Hanson & Co Fund III
• Doughty Hanson & Co Technology Fund
• Dover Street VII
• DRA Advisors
• Edison Venture Fund VI
• Edison Venture Fund VI
• Elevation Partners LP
• Enterprise Partners VI
• Equitable Capital Private Inc & Equity Fund II
• Equitable Deal Flow Fund
• Euroknights III
• Euroknights IV
• Euroknights V
• Euroknights VI
• European Asset Value Fund II, LP
• ExodusPoint Partners Fund, LP
• Exxel Capital Partners VI
• Farallon Special Situations Fund II
• Focus Ventures II
• Forstmann Little Equity V
• Forstmann Little Equity VI
• Forstmann Little Equity VII
• Forstmann Little MBO VIII
• Forstmann Little Sub Debt & Equity V
• Forstmann Little Sub Debt & Equity VI
• Forstmann Little Sub Debt & Equity VII
• Fortress Credit Opportunities Fund
• Fortress Credit Opportunities Fund II
• Fortress Credit Opportunities Fund III
• Fortress Credit Opportunities Fund IV
• Fortress Credit Opportunities Fund V
• Fortress Credit Opportunities Fund V Expansion
• Founders Equity SBIC I
• Foundry Group Next 2018, L.P.
• Foundry Group Next, L.P.
• Four Corners Farmland Fund
• Francisco Partners
• Francisco Partners Agility II
• Francisco Partners II
• Francisco Partners III
• Francisco Partners IV
• Francisco Partners SP
• Francisco Partners V
• Francisco Partners VI
• Franklin Capital Associates III
• Galen Partners IV
• Galen Partners V
• Gateway Venture Partners III
• GC Equity Partners Fund II, L.P.
• Genstar Capital Partners IX
• Genstar Capital Partners VI
• Genstar Capital Partners VII
• Genstar Capital Partners VIII
• Genstar Capital Partners X
• Geocapital III
• Glendon Opportunities Fund, L.P.
• Global Energy and Power Infrastructure Fund III
• Goldman Sachs Special Opportunities Asia Fund (Climate Action 100+)
• Gordon Morris Investment Partnership
• Grey Mountain Partners II
• Grey Mountain Partners III
• Grotech Partners III
• Grotech Partners IV
• Gryphon Partners II
• GSO Capital Solutions Fund
• GSO Capital Solutions Fund II
• GSO Capital Solutions Fund III
• Haddington Energy Partners III
• Hancock Timber
• HarbourVest III
• HarbourVest International Private Equity Partners
• HarbourVest International VI - Partnership
• HarbourVest Intl Private Equity Partners III - Direct
• HarbourVest Intl Private Equity Partners III - Partnership
• HarbourVest Intl Private Equity Partners IV - Partnership
• HarbourVest Intl Private Equity Partners IV - Partnership
• HarbourVest Intl Private Equity Partnership IV - Direct
• HarbourVest Intl Pvt Equity Ptnrs II-Direct
• HarbourVest Intl Pvt Equity Ptnrs II-Partnership
• HarbourVest Intl Pvt Equity Ptnrs III-Direct
• HarbourVest Intl Pvt Equity Ptnrs III-Partnership
• HarbourVest IV-Direct
• HarbourVest IV-Partnership
• HarbourVest Partners VI - Partnership Buyout
• HarbourVest Partners VII Buyout
• HarbourVest Partners VII-Venture Partnership Fund
• HarbourVest V-Direct
• HarbourVest V-Partnership
• HarbourVest VI-Direct
• HarbourVest VI-Partnership
• HarbourVest VII-Venture Partnership Fund
• Hayfin SOF II USD
• Headland Private Equity Fund 3
• Headland Private Equity Fund 6
• Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners X
• Hg Genesis 9 (NZAM)
• HgCapital 6
• HgCapital 7
• Hicks Muse Tate & Furst Equity Fund III
• Hicks Muse Tate & Furst Equity Fund IV
• Highland Capital Partners VI
• Highland Capital Partners VII
• HMTF Latin America
• HMTF Latin America II
• HSBC Private Equity Fund II (NZAM, Climate Action 100+)
• Hudson Bay Fund LP
• Insight Equity I (Climate Action 100+)
• Insight Partners XI (Climate Action 100+)
• Insight Partners XII (Climate Action 100+)
• Insight Venture Partners IX (Climate Action 100+)
• Insight Venture Partners X (Climate Action 100+)
• Institutional Venture Partners XI
• Institutional Venture Partners XII
• Invesco (NZAM)
• ISQ GIF III Co-Investment Fund
• ISQ Global Infrastructure Fund III
• ITU Ventures Colorado I
• ITU Ventures III
• ITU Ventures West I
• Jamestown
• JC Flowers II
• Jefferson Partners Fund IV
• JK&B Capital III
• JK&B Capital IV
• JLL Partners IV
• JLL Partners V
• JLL Partners VI
• JLL Partners VII
• JLL Partners VIII
• Joseph Littlejohn & Levy Fund
• Joseph Littlejohn & Levy Fund II
• Joseph LIttlejohn & Levy Fund III
• JP Morgan (NZAM)
• Kelso Investment Associates IX, L.P.
• Kelso Investment Associates X, L.P.
• Kirkoswald Global Macro Fund LP
• Kirtland Capital Partners IV
• KPS Special Situations Fund II
• KPS Special Situations Fund III
• KPS Special Situations Fund III - Supplemental
• L&B Realty Advisors
• LADEN Co-Investment Fund, L.P.
• LaSalle (NZAM)
• Lazard (NZAM, Climate Action 100+)
• Leapfrog Ventures II
• Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Partnership
• Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Partnership II
• Lexington Capital Partners IX, L.P.
• Lexington Capital Partners VIII, L.P.
• Lexington Co-Investment Partners III
• Lexington Co-Investment Partners IV-B
• Lexington Co-Investment Partners V, L.P.
• Lighthouse Capital Partners VI
• Lime Rock II
• Lime Rock III
• Lime Rock IV
• Lime Rock V
• Lime Rock VI
• Lime Rock VII
• Lime Rock VIII
• LLR Equity Partners II
• LLR Equity Partners III
• LLR Equity Partners IV
• LLR Equity Partners V
• LLR Equity Partners VI
• LMR Fund, L.P.
• Longitude Prime Fund, L.P.
• Longtitude Venture Partners
• Longtitude Venture Partners II
• Longtitude Venture Partners III
• Longtitude Venture Partners IV
• Marlin Equity IV
• Marlin Equity V
• Marlin Heritage II
• Marlin Heritage, L.P.
• MBK Partners Special Situations II
• McCowen DeLeeuw IV
• Media/Communications Partners II
• Miller Global Properties
• Mobius/Softbank Technology Ventures V
• Mobius/Softbank Technology Ventures VI
• Mohr Davidow Ventures III
• Mohr Davidow Ventures IV
• Mondrian Investment Partners Limited
• Montauk TriGuard VI
• Montauk TriGuard VII
• Montauk TriGuard VIII
• Morgan Holland Fund II
• Morgan Holland One Liberty III
• Morgan Stanley
• Morgenthaler Venture Partners V
• Morgenthaler Venture Partners VI
• Nazem & Company III
• New Mountain Partners IV
• New Mountain Partners V
• New Mountain Partners VI
• Noson Lawen Partners
• Nuveen (Climate Action 100+)
• OHA CLO Enhanced Equity Fund
• OHA CLO Enhanced Equity Fund II
• OHA Tactical Investment Fund
• Orion European
• OVP Venture Partners
• Pacven Walden Ventures V
• Pacven Walden Ventures VI
• Pegasus Partners II
• Pegasus Partners III
• Pegasus Partners IV
• Pegasus Partners V
• Peloton
• Peloton II
• Peloton III
• PERA Internal Management
• Permira Europe III
• Permira V L.P.
• Permira VI L.P.
• Permira VII L.P.
• PGIM
• Pharo Gaia Fund Ltd.
• Phillips-Smith Specialty Retail Group III
• Phoenix Equity Partners 2010
• Phoenix Equity Partners II
• Phoenix Equity Partners III
• Phoenix Equity Partners IV
• Phoenix Equity Partners V (Phoenix Equity 2006)
• Pinnacle Arcadia Cattle Partners I, LP
• PMI Mezzanine Fund
• Polar Multi-Strategy Fund (Climate Action 100+)
• Portfolio Advisors Private Equity Fund IV
• Portfolio Advisors Private Equity Fund V
• Principal Real Estate Investors
• Raine Partners II LP
• Raine Partners III, LP
• Rho Ventures V
• Rocky Mountain Mezzanine II
• Rokos Global Macro Fund Ltd.
• RREEF
• Schroder Investment Management
• Sequel II
• Sequel III
• Sequel Ventures
• Shepherd Ventures II
• Signature Natural Resources Fund, LLC
• Siguler Guff Fund II
• Siguler Guff Fund III
• Sixth Street Agriculture Partners
• Sixth Street TAO 3.0
• Sixth Street TAO 4.0
• Sixth Street TAO 5.0
• SP Duet Investors
• SP Sia Investors
• Spectrum Equity Investors III
• Spectrum Equity Investors IV
• Sprout Capital IX
• SSG Capital Partners V, L.P.
• SSG Secured Lending Opportunities II
• SSG Secured Lending Opportunities III
• Stafford Infrastructure Secondaries Fund IV (NZAM)
• Strategic Partners II
• Strategic Partners III
• Strategic Partners IV
• Strategic Partners IX
• Strategic Partners V
• Strategic Partners VI
• Strategic Partners VII
• Strategic Partners VIII
• Strategic Value Special Situations Fund V
• Summit Partners Growth Equity IX
• Summit Partners Growth Equity VIII
• Summit Partners Growth Equity X
• SunTX Capital Partners II GP
• SunTX Fulcrum Fund
• Taiga Special Opportunities DAC
• Technology Crossover Ventures I
• Technology Crossover Ventures II
• Technology Crossover Ventures IV
• Technology Crossover Ventures IX
• Technology Crossover Ventures V
• Technology Crossover Ventures VI
• Technology Crossover Ventures VII
• Technology Crossover Ventures VIII
• Technology Crossover Ventures X
• Technology Crossover Ventures XI
• Technology for Information and Entertainment III
• Tenaska Power Fund II
• Terra Firma Capital Partners III
• TPG Growth IV, L.P.
• TPG Growth V, L.P.
• TSG 4
• TSG 5
• TSG 6
• TSG 7A
• TSG 7B
• TSG 8
• TVV Equity Investors II
• UBS Realty Investors (NZAM, Climate Action 100+)
• USAA
• Venture Strategy Partners II
• Versa Capital Fund I
• Versa Capital Fund II
• W Capital Partners III, L.P.
• W Capital Partners IV, L.P.
• Warburg Pincus China-Southeast Asia II
• Warburg Pincus Energy, L.P.
• Warburg Pincus Equity Partners
• Warburg Pincus Financial Sector II, L.P.
• Warburg Pincus Global Growth, L.P.
• Warburg Pincus International Partners
• Warburg Pincus Private Equity IX
• Warburg Pincus Private Equity VIII
• Warburg Pincus Private Equity X
• Warburg Pincus Private Equity XI
• Warburg Pincus Private Equity XI, L.P.
• Warburg Pincus Private Equity XII, L.P.
• Warburg Pincus Ventures
• Warburg Pincus Ventures International
• Wellspring Capital Partners III
• Wellspring Capital Partners IV
• Wellspring Capital Partners V
• Wellspring Capital Partners VI
• Westbrook
• Westphere Latin America PE Growth Fund II
• Westphere South America PE Growth Fund
• William Blair & Co. (Climate Action 100+)
• Windjammer Mezzanine and Equity Fund II
• Windjammer Senior Equity Fund III
• Windjammer Senior Equity Fund IV
• Z Capital Special Situations Fund II

Governance and accountability

This section features information about the 16-member board of trustees that oversees the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions, as a subfund of the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association. The board is specific to oversight of the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions and does not exercise oversight duties for other state funds.

Board selection method

The board of trustees that oversees the Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions is made up of 16 members: “three Trustees appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; four members from the School Division; three members from the State Division; one member from the Local Government Division; one Judicial Division member; two PERA retirees; a non-voting representative from the DPS Division; and the State Treasurer as an ex officio, voting member.”

Board of trustees membership

A 16-member board of trustees oversees the operation and administration of Colorado Denver Public Schools Division Pensions. The following individuals served on the board as of March 2024:

• Marcus Pennell, chair
• Taylor McLemore, vice chair
• Eunice Botchway
• Norm Franke
• Rebecca Freyre
• Julie Friedemann
• Nathan Geroche
• Amy Grant
• Timothy M. O’Brien
• Jennifer Pasquino
• Trina Ruhland
• Tracy Marie Rushing
• Ashley M. Smith
• Scott Smith
• Dave Young

See also

• Public pensions in Colorado
• Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
• Areas of inquiry and disagreement related to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
• Opposition to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing
• Reform proposals related to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
• State legislative approaches opposing ESG investing
• State legislative approaches supporting ESG investing

External links

• Search Google News for this topic