Investment & Finance
Introduction
Collectively, colleges and universities invest hundreds of billions of dollars. Like other decisions that institutions make, these investments have impacts that are both local and global in scope. Institutions with transparent and democratic investment processes promote accountability and engagement by the campus and community. By using the tools of sustainable investing, institutions can improve the long-term health of their endowments, encourage better corporate behavior, support innovation in sustainable products and services, support sustainability in their community, and help build a more just and sustainable financial system.
Featured Resources
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Discounted Intentional Endowments Network Membership for AASHE Members Membership Required
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) is a non-profit peer-learning network that aims to support the development of intentionally designed endowments – that enhance financial performance while aligning with institutional mission, values ...
- Posted 2 days, 18 hours ago
- Tools
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Students Contribute Record-Breaking $6 Million to Student Green Energy Fund Membership Required
- University of South Florida (FL)
The purpose of the Student Green Energy Fund is to provide an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to present formal proposals to a governing Fund Council with the goal ...
- Posted 2 months ago
- Case Studies
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Funding Strategies for Non-Traditional University MS4 Stormwater Programs Membership Required
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
- University of Virginia (VA)
Stormwater programs have historically been stymied by lack of proper funding resources. Unlike drinking water and sanitary sewer utility services that long ago transitioned to enterprise funds, a stormwater utility ...
- Posted 2 months, 1 week ago
- Publications
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McGill University's Sustainability Projects Fund Membership Required
- McGill University (QC)
The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) is a crown jewel of McGill University’s sustainability efforts and a best-practice model for universities. The SPF’s main goal is to build a ...
- Posted 2 months, 1 week ago
- Case Studies
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Green Revolving Funds: A Guide to Implementation & Management Membership Required
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
- AASHE (PA)
- ICF International (VA)
Green Revolving Funds: A Guide to Implementation & Management combines the expertise of energy professionals and college administrators from dozens of institutions to establish best practices for designing and managing ...
- Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago
- Publications
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A comparative analysis of the anti-Apartheid and fossil fuel divestment campaigns Membership Required
- University of Waterloo (ON)
Divestment from the fossil fuel industry is campaigned as a means to address carbon-induced anthropogenic climate change, much like the anti-Apartheid divestment movement that was campaigned as a mean to ...
- Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago
- Publications
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Fossil fuel divestment: implications for the future of sustainability discourse and action within higher education Membership Required
- Salem State University (MA)
This paper provides a critical overview and analysis of the student-led fossil fuel divestment (FFD) movement and its impact on sustainability discourse and actions within US higher education. Analysing higher ...
- Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago
- Publications
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Greening Federal Grants: Why there is a need to connect efficiency to federal funding for research at universities Membership Required
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- AASHE (PA)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (CO)
This webinar will includes two parts: PART 1: The Department of Energy (DOE) will provide an overview of the DOE Smart Labs Accelerator Program which was launched at the 2016 ...
- Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago
- Videos & Webinars
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LEED Certification of Campus Buildings: A Cost-Benefit Approach Membership Required
- Seton Hall University (NJ)
No comprehensive study has been done within the higher education sector to see if Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification makes sense economically. This study helps fill the ...
- Posted 4 months, 1 week ago
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The business case for high performance green buildings: Sustainability and its financial impact Membership Required
- Johnson Controls, Inc (WI)
This paper endeavours to present building owners, managers, architects and design/builders with a compelling business case for considering a green building for their new construction projects. A green building ...
- Posted 4 months, 1 week ago
- Publications
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Carbon Tax Membership Required
- Whitman College (WA)
The Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) Sustainability Committee passed a self-imposed carbon tax on February 7, 2016. The tax is designed to raise money for the Green Fund, a ...
- Posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago
- Case Studies
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What are We Advancing? Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education: Integration of the University and College Development Office
- California Polytechnic State University (CA)
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
This paper examines the shifting role of the university and college advancement office in a national trend toward advancing sustainability in higher education and presents a range of ideas in ...
- Posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago
- Publications
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Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance Issues Into Institutional Investment: A Handbook for Colleges and Universities Membership Required
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
- Amnesty International
The purpose of this handbook is to assist colleges and universities in implementing investment policies that consider environmental, social, and governance issues. Each section of the handbook supports the development ...
- Posted 6 months ago
- Publications
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Lessons Learned from Two Longstanding Green Funds Membership Required
- Portland Community College (OR)
- Utah State University (UT)
Let's take a look at how one community college and one university are playing a vital role in reducing green house gas emissions and working towards achieving carbon neutrality ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Green Funds: How Students Use Their Money to Build a Better Campus and Community Membership Required
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Utah (UT)
This session covers 2 case studies: A green fund at UC Berkeley and a student-driven Revolving Loan Fund at the University of Utah 1. The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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We're Divesting! Where can we Move our Money? Membership Required
- National Union of Students
Working with others in the Divest-Invest movement this workshop will present the steps that can be taken once a fossil fuel divestment commitment has been secured. The workshop will cover ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Leadership Network Carbon Offset Projects Networking Membership Required
- Clarkson University (NY)
- Second Nature (MA)
This networking meeting will focus on the development of carbon offset projects for colleges and universities. An advisory group formed after a networking session at last year's AASHE conference ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Using Campus Solar Deployment Roadmaps to Guide University Investment Membership Required
- Second Nature (MA)
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association (WI)
With support from the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) has been working to develop approaches and define opportunities for on- and ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Finance 201: Financial Analysis and Your Campus Projects Membership Required
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
- Second Nature (MA)
Campus sustainability professionals must frequently build the business case for their work. While they are well versed in environmental issues, knowledge of financial terms may be necessary to write a ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Higher Education Endowments & the Paris Climate Agreement: Investing for a Sustainable Future Membership Required
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
- Impax Asset Management
- Cambridge Associates (VA)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
Higher education has been leading by example on climate change, striving for climate neutrality in campus operations and promoting education, research, and community engagement for climate solutions. In recent years ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Getting it Done - Building a Team and Value Proposition for Large Scale Renewables - Part 2 Membership Required
- American University (DC)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Second Nature (MA)
- CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)
This two part working session will help participants overcome two hurdles that have held back a wider adoption of large-scale renewable projects in the higher education: (1) establishing a team ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Getting it Done - Building a Team and Value Proposition for Large Scale Renewables - Part 1 Membership Required
- American University (DC)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Second Nature (MA)
- CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)
This two part working session will help participants overcome two hurdles that have held back a wider adoption of large-scale renewable projects in the higher education: (1) establishing a team ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability in Higher Education Retirement Plans. Membership Required
- Green Retirement, Inc.
Higher education institutions are critical in advancing sustainability. Given the threat of climate change to human health and wellbeing, sustainability must permeate all aspects of an institution's fabric. A ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Embolden Facilities and Finance Office Collaborations for Sustainability Membership Required
- Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers (APPA) (VA)
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (DC)
Two major national association organizations - representing facilities and business offices - will highlight collaborations, programs, and developments regarding sustainability that cross boundaries for success. Collaboration with these units, within a campus ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Financing Sustainability and How to REALLY Talk to the Business Office Membership Required
- Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- Slippery Rock University (PA)
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (DC)
Two experienced vice presidents of finance will briefly discuss some of their accomplishments in sustainability and their partners at the campus that have helped or hindered. They have changed laws ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Internal Carbon Pricing: Designing and Implementing Campus Climate Policies with Vassar, Swarthmore, and Yale Membership Required
- Swarthmore College (PA)
- Vassar College (NY)
- Yale University (CT)
In the absence of federal or international carbon markets, higher education has a momentous opportunity to model institutional capacity to put a price on carbon. The goal of this panel ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Learn how to Launch a University Surplus Program and Start Making Real Money for Sustainability While Reducing Your Waste Membership Required
- Drexel University (PA)
- Temple University (PA)
Universities invest in equipment and facilities to stay competitive. While these acquisitions are needed, much of the 'obsolete' equipment offers value to a secondary market. Nationally, universities are extracting value ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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The State of Campus Green Funds in 2016 Membership Required
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
In 2013, AASHE published the How-To Guide: Campus Green Fund Implementation. Green funds have evolved since the original publication, identifying a need to review and discuss new green fund trends ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Catalyzing a Culture of Sustainability on Campus: the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) of McGill University Membership Required
- McGill University (QC)
The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) of McGill University was created in 2010 to catalyze a culture of sustainability on its campuses. The SPF is one of the largest dedicated sustainability ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Establishing a Sustainability Grant Fund to Promote Sustainability Related Research for Students and Faculty Membership Required
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) established the Sustainability Grant Fund (SGF) to promote and encourage sustainability-related research at TRU and within the broader community. The SGF provides up to $100,000 ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Establishing a Student Green Fund at Your University Membership Required
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a student-led effort recently succeeded with the establishment of a student green fund. The green fund currently provides approximately $46,000 per year to be ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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A Unique Partnership With Our Utility Company Membership Required
- University of San Diego (CA)
In 2009, the University of San Diego (USD) applied to become part of the Local Governments Partnerships in San Diego through San Diego Gas and Electric. The request was approved ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Furman University's Energy Efficiency Eco-philanthropy Project Membership Required
- Furman University (SC)
During the 2015 - 2016 academic year, The Environmental Community of Students, a first year engaged living program at Furman University, received an $80,000 donation from a local donor to ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Novel cost-neutral programs that advance your campus waste reduction goals Membership Required
- GreeniPhi (VA)
As budgets are slashed on campuses, realizing ambitious sustainability goals requires novel thinking in order to create self-financed and cost-neutral projects. Experiential fundraisers may not seem to be the clearest ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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UC Berkeley's The Green Initiative Fund: Strategies and lessons learned from renewing a green fund Membership Required
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Campus green funds have become symbols of empowerment for the student body. By providing funding towards sustainability projects and initiatives, green funds promote innovation, student leadership, and help bridge the ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Advancing Sustainability - Green Grants Program Membership Required
- New York University (NY)
Since 2007 New York University's Green Grants program has awarded funding to students, faculty and staff with ideas or projects that advance sustainability. Improving the university's environmental performance ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Campus-Scale Water Reuse Solutions to Enhance Water Sustainability in Higher Ed Membership Required
- Sustainable Water, LLC (VA)
Water reclamation and reuse is vital for bulk-water consumers, like college campuses, to meet water supply challenges. Campus-scale reclaimed water projects, like the WaterHub® at Emory University, are becoming increasingly ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Business Sustainability 2.0: Moving from Enterprise Integration to Market Transformation and the Necessary Changes in the Business System Membership Required
- University of Michigan (MI)
Enterprise Integration has been with us since the mid 1990s. It involves integrating sustainability into existing business logics (such as operational efficiency, cost of capital, consumer demand, etc.) and the ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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A Case Example for B-Schools: Energy and Economic Opportunity in Modernizing the Grid Membership Required
- Skidmore College (NY)
Changing regulatory environments are creating economic (and business higher ed) opportunity. The current re-envisioning the energy (REV) proceeding in New York before the public service commission represents a regulatory proceeding ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Framework for Implementing Change Membership Required
- Green Whys Consulting (TX)
Business schools seeking to integrate sustainability into business education can benefit from the same change management framework leveraged in corporate transformations. 'Change management' is to business education change what LEED ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Colloquium on Sustainability in Business Higher Education Discussion Membership Required
- Appalachian State University (NC)
We are agents of change, and realize that sustainability is the future of business and business education. Higher education institutions are in the initial phases of examining this question, with ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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The Economics of Sustainability: Using Microeconomic Principles to Teach Sustainability Membership Required
- Aquinas College (MI)
As a means to support a sustainable business program at Aquinas College, principles of microeconomics courses take on a unique sustainability focus. Here the concepts of consumption and production are ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Utilizing Carbon Offsets To Fulfil the Second Nature Climate Leadership Commitments Membership Required
- Ball State University (IN)
- Colgate University (NY)
- Oberlin College (OH)
- Second Nature (MA)
This session will give an overview of the new guidelines for utilizing carbon offsets as part of the Second Nature Climate Commitments and highlight a sampling of some of the ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Renewable Energy for Colleges: Onsite and Virtual Solar Solutions Membership Required
- NRG Energy, Inc (CA)
Procuring renewable energy is expanding beyond its obvious value as the environmentally responsible thing to do; now it's increasingly becoming an economically viable option, as well. Colleges and universities ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Funding Campus Sustainability with Student Green Fee Grants: Campus Collaborations are Greater than the Sum of their Parts Membership Required
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
Georgia Southern University's Center for Sustainability is partly funded by a $10 student fee, proposed by students. The fees finance a grant program that has funded >$650,000 ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Investment Managers on Proxy Voting & Other Forms of Shareholder Engagement Membership Required
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's "Engaging Investment Managers on Proxy Voting & Other Forms of Shareholder Engagement" document outlines potential questions for investment managers on their proxy voting and other ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Publications
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The Business Case for ESG Briefing Paper Membership Required
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's "Business Case for ESG Briefing Paper" was developed to help endowment stakeholders understand what Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing is, how ESG investing and ...
- Posted 8 months, 1 week ago
- Publications
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White Paper: Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments Membership Required
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's new report titled “Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments” was designed to encourage conversation about the financial and societal benefits of clean energy investments ...
- Posted 8 months, 2 weeks ago
- Publications
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Bringing Responsible Investment to Campus: A Handbook for Committees on Investor Responsibiity Membership Required
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
This toolkit is intended to be a guide to the creation, organization, and operation of Committees on Investor Responsibility that function effectively. Many schools have adopted the model of the ...
- Posted 8 months, 4 weeks ago
- Publications
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People's Climate March Membership Required
- Unity College (ME)
Unity College students participate in the People's Climate March. Unity College was the first to divest its endowment from fossil fuels.
- Posted 10 months, 1 week ago
- Photographs
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Committees on responsible investment (CIR)
- Sustainable investment policies
- Negative screens on investment
- Proxy voting guidelines and records
- Engagement with corporations in investment portfolios about sustainability issues
- Participation in investor networks and collaborations
- Investment holdings snapshots
Scores
The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).