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.
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GRITS Sustainability Project Management & Tracking Platform
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
GRITS is a platform to help institutions plan, analyze, track, and share the energy, financial, and carbon impacts of their sustainability projects. It also enables institutions to access and learn …
- Posted June 25, 2025
- Tools
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Climate Risks and Resilience at Dickinson College: Strategies for College Finances
- Bard College (NY)
- Dickinson College (PA)
Prepared for Building Climate Resilience at Dickinson and in Central Pennsylvania, an initiative of Dickinson College, the Borough of Carlisle, and Cumberland County, PA, as part of Dickinson’s Baird Sustainability …
- Posted April 3, 2025
- Publications
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It's Time to Address Financed Emissions From University Endowments
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
As the urgency of climate change grows, universities and other higher education institutions are increasingly accounting and reporting their annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Hundreds of higher education institutions participate …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Benchmarking Sustainability in Endowment Investing: Where Are We Now?
- California State University, Chancellor's Office (CA)
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
Transparency and disclosure around endowment investments have been at the forefront of conversations on university campuses in 2024. As students and faculty press universities for greater clarity on their investments, …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Leveraging IRA Incentives for Campus Decarbonization
- KPMG (NY)
In the evolving landscape of higher education, sustainability has become a cornerstone for institutional development and social responsibility. Please join KPMG subject matter experts for an engaging presentation and discussion …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Behind the Curtain: How to Create & Deploy Creative Funding Constructs That Get @!%$ Done
- Emory University (GA)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Have you tried to get a revolving fund or student sustainability fee and failed? Do you know certain efforts pay back financially, academically, and/or in advancing solutions to complex challenges …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Internal Carbon Pricing in a Decentralized Budget Environment: RCM and Environmental Incentives
- University of Vermont (VT)
In a higher education environment where universities are quickly shifting from centralized to decentralized budget models (RCM), it is vital to understand how institutional budgets can be leveraged to promote …
- Posted Feb. 27, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Sparking Student Engagement with Sustainability
- McGill University (QC)
The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) Ambassador Program is an academic year-long volunteering opportunity for students to promote the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) and encourage the development of new sustainability projects …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
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York University Endowment Fund: Sustainable Investing 2023-2024 Progress Report
- York University
The 2023-24 Sustainable Investing report highlights how York University's endowment fund continues to support the institution's commitment of contributing to a more sustainable future on local and global levels. The …
- Posted Jan. 14, 2025
- Publications
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New Chiller and Autoclaves Installed on Campus
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Cal State Fullerton is helping keep its students, faculty and staff cooler this summer and making the University more energy efficient — with the installation of a new chiller and …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2024
- Photographs
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Sustainability - CSUF works on the economic as well as environmental impacts
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
June 13, 2019 | Orange County Register, The (Santa Ana, CA) Author/Byline: By Susan Gill Vardon sgvardon@scng.com
At Cal State Fullerton, the idea of sustainability involves more than coming up …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2024
- Photographs
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Committed to Sustainability
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Campus Undergoes Study to Measure Effort
By Pamela McLaren
Last year, Cal State Fullerton committed to developing a campus more focused on sustainability in its operations, outlook and curriculum. Following …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2024
- Photographs
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A Beacon to Savings - Campus to Replace Lights for More Energy Efficiency
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
By Pamela McLaren
How many people does it take to switch out a light bulb? On a college campus dealing with more than 75,000 lamps — it will take a …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2024
- Photographs
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SunZia Wind
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
Construction photos of SunZia Wind
- Posted Aug. 20, 2024
- Photographs
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Creating A Stronger, Sustainable Campus
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
President Gordon Signs Talloires Declaration, Presidents Climate Commitment
By Pamela McLaren
President Milton A. Gordon has joined university presidents around the world in signing the Talloires Declaration, a statement of …
- Posted July 31, 2024
- Photographs
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Sustainability Presentation to Foundation Board
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI)
Mark Klapatch-Mathias, University of Wisconsin-River Falls Sustainability Coordinator, presents to the Foundation Board of the university. The presentation included an overview of sustainability efforts at the university and the results …
- Posted July 22, 2024
- Photographs
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Microgrid Workforce Development Training
- Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus (AZ)
Arizona State University's (ASU) Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) offers over 300 hours of training in energy systems, microgrids, minigrids (off-grid systems), grid modernization, and other energy-related topics. …
- Posted July 10, 2024
- Tools
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ACE Webinar: How your Institution can Save Money and Fight Climate Change
- Second Nature (MA)
- American Council on Education (DC)
Colleges and universities can now tap into significant cost savings and boost sustainability efforts thanks to new clean energy tax credits included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
ACE hosted …
- Posted April 3, 2024
- Videos & Webinars
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Leveling Up Sustainability Funds for Strategic Goals and Bigger Impact
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
- McGill University (QC)
In today's rapidly changing world, sustainability initiatives have become paramount for higher education institutions. As universities embrace their responsibility to lead by example, the management of campus sustainability funds has …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Investing in the Just Transition: How to Leverage Your Endowment
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
- Mercer Investment Consulting (MD)
- Global Endowment Management (NC)
The half trillion dollars in endowment funds invested by the nation's higher education institutions represent a relatively untapped resource containing immense economic and social power. The past few years have …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Transforming the Future of Finance Through Student Engagement
- Bentley University (MA)
- Harvard University (MA)
- Northeastern University (MA)
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
This session will discuss the growth and proliferation of student-managed investment funds pursuing sustainable investing strategies, as well as the growth of sustainable investing curriculum development. Speakers will highlight examples …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Climate Crisis University: Federal Funds for Transitioning Campuses of Zero Waste Zero Emissions
- Haverford College (PA)
- Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB) (VA)
The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signifies that for the first time in the history of the United States, the full financial power of the federal government …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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Moving Money: A reinvestment toolkit for college climate activists
- Harvard University (MA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- Warren Wilson College (NC)
- Whitman College (WA)
This toolkit, written by college students in the US and Canada, outlines key steps in the process of launching a reinvestment campaign.
- Posted Nov. 6, 2023
- Publications
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Notre Dame makes historic compensation investment, surpassing $75 million
- University of Notre Dame (IN)
Landscape crew managing greens in front of the golden dome
- Posted Aug. 31, 2023
- Photographs
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HKUST the First to Launch New ESG Investment Policy for its Net-Zero Carbon Goal
- Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (Hong Kong)
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) became the first university in Hong Kong to make a pledge to eliminate investments in fossil fuels, with a concrete environmental, …
- Posted Aug. 29, 2023
- Photographs
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Teddy Toro (CSUDH)- Finance and Investment
- California State University, Dominguez Hills (CA)
SCI 2023 photo, Top Performer, Investment & Finance
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Greening the Bottom Line: Advancing Institutional Sustainability Goals With Green Revolving Funds
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
Greening the Bottom Line: Advancing Institutional Sustainability Goals with Green Revolving Funds tracks the latest trends and highlights best practices to enable more institutions and communities to learn about and …
- Posted Aug. 17, 2023
- Publications
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Higher Ed and Climate Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Aspen Institute (NY)
- Second Nature
With $369 billion in climate and energy provisions, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signifies the largest climate investment in US history and has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by …
- Posted Aug. 9, 2023
- Publications
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Funding Opportunities from DOE to Advance Climate Solutions
- AASHE (MA)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
- Urban Sustainability Directors Network (IL)
A webinar brought to you by AASHE, Second Nature, and the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) at the Department of Energy.
The Office of State and Community …
- Posted July 26, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Using Strategies Elites Understand: Divestment as an Approach to Social Change
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus (NJ)
- University of Southern California (CA)
Over the past 50 years, student activists and community organizers on college campuses have advocated for divestment as a strategy to enact necessary change. These activists and organizers are often …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Ameresco leads partnership in establishing Colorado’s largest of its kind battery energy storage system complex at Colorado Mountain College
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- Ameresco, Inc. (MA)
As the largest installation of its kind in Colorado, completed in September 2022, the combined solar and battery work furthers HCE’s goal of increasing the clean energy sources it provides …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Divestment and its Effects on Enrollment: A Win-Win?
- University of the Incarnate Word (TX)
In the burgeoning field of research on university divestment campaigns, much has been written about the motivations, validity, and outcomes of divestment movements at campuses in North America and the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Making the Case: Raise Funds, Cultivate Donors, & Position Sustainability as a Strategic Priority
- Stanford University (CA)
- Swarthmore College (PA)
Want to raise money for sustainability?! Come learn how to partner effectively with advancement officers to “make the case” to raise funds for sustainability at colleges and universities. Learn about …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Fossil Fuel Divestment in US Schools: Lessons From Analysis
- Smith College (MA)
The fossil fuel divestment movement was started in 2011 as a response to the climate crisis. Since the first divestment announcement from a U.S. higher education institution (HEI) in 2012, …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Governance & Administration
- Austin College (TX)
- Ball State University (IN)
- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to governance and administration. The Lightning Talks are: Harvesting Carbon Capital: Using the Carbon Credit Purchasing Program (C2P2) - This …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Franklin University Switzerland’s ACT Program: A Case Study in Stakeholder Carbon Markets for College Campuses
- Franklin University Switzerland (Ticino)
At Franklin University Switzerland, Academic Travel (“AT”) has historically been the university-funded activity that generates the greatest amount of carbon emissions by the Franklin community each year. In order to …
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Case Studies
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CSUF Unleashes 1.16MW of Solar Power
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
With a flip of the switch, Cal State Fullerton continues to capitalize on the power of the sun.
The university today celebrated the completion of a solar-energy network for the …
- Posted April 19, 2023
- Photographs
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Campus Physical Master Plan
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
CSUF's Campus Physical Master Plan is our blueprint for providing a safe, sustainable, welcoming and cohesive learning environment that supports student success into the future.
The Campus Master Plan is …
- Posted March 6, 2023
- Publications
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Sustainability Policies and Plans in Higher Education: Recommendations for Florida State University
- Florida State University (FL)
This capstone project examines how higher education institutions (HEIs) use policies and plans to institutionalize their commitments to sustainability and the key success factors that influence their implementation. A systematic …
- Posted Nov. 10, 2022
- Publications
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Alternative Energy Initiatives
- University of Idaho (ID)
This $1.75 per full time student, per semester fee provides funding to innovative student-led campus projects relating to alternative energy and green infrastructure to further the university's goal of carbon …
- Posted Aug. 15, 2022
- Green Funds
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Support for Strategic Initiatives
- Middlebury College (VT)
The Provost has funds available to support initiatives that further Middlebury’s strategy. The Provost’s Academic Council (PAC) makes decisions about which ideas to pursue and prioritize, consulting regularly with other …
- Posted Aug. 15, 2022
- Green Funds
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Charity fundraising basketball game to support the underprivileged
- National Tsing Hua University
NTHU partners with local businesses to host charity basketball tournament to raise funds for scholarships for economically disadvantaged students.
- Posted Aug. 8, 2022
- Photographs
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Successful alumni donate to remediate representative school lakes
- National Tsing Hua University
The most representative lake on campus needs remediation, and successful alumni donated funds.
- Posted Aug. 8, 2022
- Photographs
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Sustainable Investments Concordia University
- Concordia University (QC)
Concordia's GM and MB buildings where business courses such as courses on sustainable investing are taught.
- Posted Aug. 4, 2022
- Photographs
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Concentration in Sustainable Investing
- Bentley University (MA)
Finance majors have the option of a concentration in Sustainable Investing and all majors are eligible for a sustainable investing minor. Students graduating from this curriculum will have knowledge in …
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Minor in Sustainable Investing
- Bentley University (MA)
Finance majors have the option of a concentration in Sustainable Investing and all majors are eligible for a sustainable investing minor. Students graduating from this curriculum will have knowledge in …
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Katz Graduate Certificate in Sustainability
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Any Katz MBA student is eligible to pursue the Katz Graduate Certificate in Sustainability in addition to their declared degree program. This 10.5 credit certificate guides students to act as …
- Posted June 10, 2022
- Academic Programs
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Green Revolving Loan Fund
- Weber State University (UT)
In 2010, Weber State University created a $5 million revolving loan fund to finance energy efficiency projects, water conservation projects, and renewable energy projects. Money is borrowed from this fund …
- Posted May 20, 2022
- Green Funds
- View more
Climate Action Commitment Roadshow Series
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Virginia Tech recently approved a revised version of the Climate Action Commitment. To educate the campus community about it, our Climate Action, Sustainability, and Energy (CASE) Office went on a …
- Posted May 19, 2022
- Case Studies
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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.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
PA 9: Committee on Investor Responsibility
- Description of the committee for investor responsibility (CIR)
- Examples of CIR actions during the previous 3 years
- Website URL - Committee for investor responsibility
PA 10: Sustainable Investment
- Percent of the institution's investment pool in positive sustainability investments
- Sustainability investment policy (upload)
- Sustainability investment policy (description)
- Description of public divestment effort or negative screens
- Website URL - Sustainable investment
PA 11: Investment Disclosure
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.