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
New Resources
Greening the Bottom Line 2012
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
In collaboration with AASHE and other partner organizations, this Sustainable Endowments Institute publication highlights current trends based on a 2012 survey of 79 green revolving funds (GRFs) at 76 institutions ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Operational Analysis: Green Grants Program
- New York University (NY)
This Operational Analysis is an overall description of how New York University's Green Grants Program is functioning, including how well the program supports its stakeholders, grantees, staff and how ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Comparative Analysis of Campus Greening Grant Programs at U.S. Post-Secondary Institutions
- New York University (NY)
This document compares New York University's Green Grants program with twelve similar campus sustainability granting programs within the United States. It has been prepared as part of an internal ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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A Sustainability Fund at Rensselaer: A Policy Analysis and Guide for the Future
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY)
The sustainability fund, also known as a green fund, has been introduced at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada in the past two decades as a methodology ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Greening the Bottom Line: The Trend toward Green Revolving Funds on Campus
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
In collaboration with AASHE and 10 other partner organizations, this Sustainable Endowments Institute publication highlights current trends based on a 2010 survey of green revolving funds that included 52 institutions ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
- View more
Student Green Fund Implementation in U.S. Colleges and Universities from 1973-2010
- Harvard University (MA)
- University of Vermont (VT)
College campuses across the U.S. and abroad have seen a growth of student campaigns to take institutional action on climate change. The campus sustainability movement, an outgrowth of the ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Student Green Funds: 1997 - 2009
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
While all institutions and individuals share an obligation to pursue their daily activities in recognition of future generations under the sustainability concept, institutions of higher education have a unique responsibility ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Raise the Funds: Campus Action Toolkit
- AASHE (MA)
This is a guide to funding mechanisms for campus sustainability projects and initiatives for students, staff and administrators. It was released in November 2008.
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Interview with Senator Bernie Sanders on Federal Support for Campus Sustainability
- AASHE (MA)
In late December, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was signed into law. The Act included language introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) that authorizes $250 million annually ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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An optimal investment tool for "greening the campus"
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
Buildings consume about 40% of total global energy production, and their greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste generation constitute a major part of global environmental impacts. Current "greening the built ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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A Commitment to Climate Neutrality at the University of Massachusetts Amherst: Environmental urgency and financial prudence
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
In the past year, the ambitious goal of climate neutrality has exploded out of the higher education sustainability movement, with over 450 schools, including the entire University of Massachusetts system ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Environmental management accounting within universities: current state and future potential
- RMIT University
Environmental management accounting (EMA) is attracting increased recognition as a management tool that assists in improving financial and environmental performance through enhanced environmental accountability. Various industries have been included in ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Creating a Campus Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund: A Guide for Students
- Macalester College (MN)
- AASHE (MA)
This publication describes innovative and powerful mechanisms for financing sustainability projects on campus including energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations. The guide provides step-by-step guidance for establishing revolving loan ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Green Investment, Green Return
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
Colleges and universities across America are sending a powerful message that what's good for the environment is also good for the bottom-line. Green Investment, Green Return: How Practical Conservation ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2016
- Publications
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Green Action Fund
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)
The Green Action Fund is a student-initiated, student-funded, student-led committee that aims to reduce the ecological footprint of UCCS. They promote sustainable environmental, social and economic values through student-sponsored projects ...
- Posted June 19, 2015
- Case Studies
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University of Kentucky Sustainability Challenge Grant Program
- University of Kentucky (KY)
The University of Kentucky Sustainability Challenge Grant program was designed to engage multidisciplinary teams from the University community in the creation and implementation of initiatives that will promote sustainability by ...
- Posted June 19, 2015
- Case Studies
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Centennial Solar Panel System
- Northwestern University (IL)
- Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)
The Centennial Solar Panel System (CSPS), a 17 kW solar photovoltaic array at Northwestern University, is a partner project between Engineers for a Sustainable World and the Northwestern Sustainability Fund ...
- Posted June 24, 2011
- Case Studies
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The Campus Sustainability Fund at the University of Washington
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) is a student-funded and student-led initiative which launched in the fall of 2010 at the University of Washington (UW) with the mission of fostering campus ...
- Posted June 24, 2011
- Case Studies
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Building Institutional Capacity for Sustainability Teaching, Research and Engagement at Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation challenge grant of $25 million, awarded to Portland State University in September 2008, was the largest gift in Portland State University's ...
- Posted June 30, 2010
- Case Studies
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Launching the Social Innovation Incubator at Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
The Portland State University Social Innovation Incubator (SII) accelerates the impact of social innovations by addressing the specific needs of a growing cadre of social entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs (i.e ...
- Posted June 8, 2010
- 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.