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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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The nexus between stakeholders’ materiality and sustainable development goals: evidence from higher education institutions

  • Yildiz Technical University

The purpose of this study is to shed light on the association between stakeholders’ materiality and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), highlighting how higher education institutions (HEIs) can pursue sustainable …

Pathways to eliminate carbon emissions via renewable energy investments at higher education institutions

  • Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Newark Campus (NJ)

Higher education institutions are among the many public and private sector entities that have committed to long-term sustainability goals in response to the threat of climate change. A key challenge …

Green Fund for UofL

  • University of Louisville (KY)

The UofL Green Fund provides the seed money to help start and advance campus sustainability initiatives and pilot projects for which additional financial support will be required. Anyone who has …

Energy Efficiency Reserve

  • Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

Consistent with the intent of the Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA) and Ameren’s BizSavers program, Washington University’s Energy Efficiency Reserve provides a dedicated funding source for energy efficiency and …

Green Initiatives Fund

  • Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (MA)

Established as their senior class gift, the members of the Class of 2007 presented this endowment to fund green initiatives at Olin. The annual payout made available for distribution from …

Student Green Energy Fund

  • University of South Florida (FL)

The Student Green Energy Fund was launched in 2011 to support the University of South Florida's commitment to reduce and eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the Tampa campus. In …

Campus Sustainability Student Projects Fund [CSSPF]

  • Michigan State University (MI)

The CSSPF supports selected student-driven, staff-supported sustainability projects such as pollinator gardens, green walls and roofs, tree plantings, renewable energy demonstrations, sustainable art projects, and more. The fund was established …

ÉTS Student Association Sustainable Development Fund (FDDAÉÉTS)

  • École de Technologie Supérieure (QC)

The objective of the FDDAÉTS is to contribute to the financing of projects carried out by members of the ÉTS community that promote the integration and application of the principles …

  • Posted March 31, 2022
  • Green Funds
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Green Fund Program

  • Carleton University (ON)

The major $1 million Green Revolving Fund (GRF) provides capital for high performance campus design, operations, maintenance, and occupant behavior projects. The micro Green Engagement Fund (GEF) provides capital limited …

  • Posted March 31, 2022
  • Green Funds
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Sustainable Initiatives Fund (SIF)

  • Mohawk College (ON)

The Sustainable Initiatives Fund is an ancillary-fee based project fund which is jointly administed by the Sustainability Office and the Mohawk Students' Association. 4$ is collected each semester from every …

  • Posted March 10, 2022
  • Green Funds
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Student Sustainability Fund

  • University of Maryland, College Park (MD)

The Student Sustainability Fund supports student, staff, and faculty proposals that improve the environmental performance of campus, create opportunities for student engagement with sustainability, and/or are research proposals that create …

  • Posted March 10, 2022
  • Green Funds
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Educating the Next Generation of Sustainable Investment Leaders: A Report on the State of the Field of Student-Managed Investment Funds

  • Intentional Endowments Network (MA)

This report compiles information on the 40 sustainably invested student-managed investment funds engaged in the Intentional Endowment Network's Sustainable and Impact Investing Learning & Knowledge (SIILK) Network. It highlights the …

  • Posted March 10, 2022
  • Publications
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Sustainability Engagement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)

UMass Lowell’s S.E.E.D. Fund provides funding for projects that promote environmental sustainability and positively impact and enhance the student experience at the university. The S.E.E.D. Fund supports the sustainability goals …

Green Revolving Fund

  • University of Dayton (OH)

The UD Green Revolving Fund is a revolving loan fund that sponsors energy efficiency and other sustainability projects on campus. Generally these projects have a 7-year or less simple payback, …

Sustainability Fund

  • Prescott College (AZ)

Students pay $50 per semester as a fee which contributes to the Sustainability Fund. Originally, this fee was voluntarily created by students for the purpose of pooling resources that are …

Green Initiative Competition

  • University of Miami (FL)

The Green Initiative Competition was launched by the Student Government ECO Agency to incentivize sustainability innovation among students. The prizes are funded by ECO. In 2008, UM students decided to …

Learned Lessons and Tips for GRITS and Green Revolving Funds

  • Bentley University (MA)
  • Champlain College (VT)
  • Denison University (OH)
  • Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • GreenerU (MA)

In this session, you will hear from a wide variety of users of Green Revolving Funds and the GRITS tool sharing both best practices and learned lessons. We will also …

  • Posted Feb. 1, 2022
  • Videos & Webinars
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Campus as a Laboratory for Sustainability Funding

  • Syracuse University (NY)

The Syracuse University Campus as a Laboratory for Sustainability (CALS) program is offering up to $75,000 for faculty or student projects that advance the University’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas …

Sustainable Advancements Funding Endeavor (S.A.F.E.)

  • Southwestern University (TX)

Sustainable Advancements Funding Endeavor (S.A.F.E.) projects can be proposed by students, faculty, and staff, with priority given to student proposals and to projects having no other funding sources from Southwestern …

Fund Strategies to Develop the Most Spectacular Projects Possible

  • McGill University (QC)

Campus sustainability fund managers have myriad opportunities to stimulate, encourage, and develop more robust and impactful project proposals. The Sustainability Projects Fund at McGill University is a vibrant example of …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Transportation Demand Management: Arguments for the Diversification of Mobility

  • University of Southern Maine (ME)

The statement "we have a parking problem" is all too common on University campuses. However, parking is usually not the root problem. The root problem is the transportation ecosystem serving …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Making "Cents" of Green Funds: How to Start One, Keep It Going, and Innovate

  • George Mason University (VA)
  • Hanover College (IN)
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Let's put some "FUN" in "green fund!" Come ready to explore best practices for managing a university green fund, how to engage community partners in green fund projects, and ways …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Taking Action on Sustainability Commitments Using IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

  • Clemson University (SC)
  • Duke Energy (NC)

The future will require ingenuity and innovation as well as capital to move the needle on sustainability commitments. The past decade has clearly demonstrated that our previous capitalization and decision-making …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Influencing Sustainability Decision-Making: A "Simple" Triple Bottom Line Cost Benefit Analysis Tool

  • Ohio University (OH)

Making the business case argument for sustainability initiatives can be the most difficult part of a sustainability leader's job. A group of faculty, staff and students at Ohio University has …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Learning How to Move Corporations on Climate and Racial Justice

  • Ceres (MA)
  • Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
  • As You Sow (CA)

SEC Commissioner Allison Lee recently shared with the corporate community that "A study from 2018 .. showed that 71 of the top 100 revenue generators globally were corporations while only …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Electrification, Distributed Energy Solutions and Campus Economics - Re-Targeting Our Commitments!

  • Clemson University (SC)
  • Davidson College (NC)
  • Duke Energy (NC)

The future is.... all about ELECTRIFICATION, DISTRIBUTED ENERGY SOLUTIONS AND CAMPUS ECONOMICS. As we re-evaluate our commitments to sustainability, we must turn from broad goals to actionable strategies to make …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Take Advantage of 179D Government Program for Energy/Savings in Public Campuses

  • Efficiency Energy LLC (CO)

Federal legislation passed in 2021 a permanent tax benefit called 179D that reimburses for a portion of the square footage when one builds in energy efficiency. Your campus should take …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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20 Paths to a Living Wage Policy: Is Fair Employment in Your Institution's Future?

  • Saint Joseph's University (PA)

Raising the federal minimum wage has been discussed by the Biden administration and a living wage is receiving increased attention by public, media, employers, and employees. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic …

  • Posted Jan. 21, 2022
  • Conference Presentations
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Smart Campus Group

  • Universidad San Francisco de Quito - USFQ (Pichincha)

In 2020 through the creation of the Smart Campus Group an initial fund was enabled through the Dean of Research to sponsor campus sustainability projects. The projects where proposed by …

FEAST Fund

  • Butler University (IN)

Food Enterprises Achieve Sustainability Together- FEAST Fund supported by Bon Appetit, Butler's food service provider:

This fund allow Butler University and Bon Appetit to achieve our shared sustainability goals through …

Green Fund

  • Colorado School of Mines (CO)

The goal of the Mines Green Fund is to empower students to take an active role in making Mines a leader in sustainability. The Sustainability Office will provide funding for …

Gustavus Coca-Cola Educational Partnership Grants Program

  • Gustavus Adolphus College (MN)

Yearly funding is available for projects initiated by departments, programs, campus-wide initiatives or advocacy groups that focus on enhancing sustainability and community health. Sustainability projects have included developing and enhancing …

Green Fund

  • University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)

$12/ year of student segregated fees is allocated to funding sustainable initiatives on our UWSP campus and field stations (Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, Treehaven, and Schmeekle Forest Preserve). The green …

Sustainability Action Fund

  • University of Waterloo (ON)

The Sustainability Action Fund supports projects that advance the objectives of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy. Applications can be submitted from any student, staff, or faculty member. The fund has, to …

Campus Sustainability Incubator Fund

The Campus Sustainability Incubator Fund seeks to enable MIT community members to use the MIT campus as a test bed for research in sustainable operations, management, and design. The seed …

Leveraging $1 Trillion in Higher Ed Retirement Funds for a Just Transition

  • Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
  • Federated Hermes (PA)

The Higher Education Community has approximately one trillion in assets under management in their retirement plans. This represents an enormous pool of funds that could be leveraged to achieve a …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Investing in the Just Transition: How to Leverage Your Institution's Endowment

  • University of New Hampshire (NH)
  • Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
  • RBC Global Asset Management
  • Low Income Investment Fund (CA)

When exploring how to finance the just transition, the over half-trillion dollars in endowment funds invested by the nation's higher education institutions represent a relatively untapped resource containing immense economic …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Democratizing Campus Sustainability Through Student Empowerment

  • University of Kentucky (KY)

The University of Kentucky Student Sustainability Council was established in 2009 to steward the Green Fee collected annually from students. By bringing together student leaders from many disciplines and backgrounds, …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Northern Arizona University Green Fund: Successes and Struggles

  • Northern Arizona University (AZ)

This 40 minute session would cover how Northern Arizona University's Green Fund operates, what it has had success doing, what it has struggled with, and what it looks to accomplish …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Empowering and Transforming Universities through Sustainable Grant Projects

  • University of Northern Colorado (CO)

This session is for university affiliates looking for ways to create a more sustainable campus through capital projects. For the past three years, I have served on my university's sustainability …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Catalyzing a Culture of Sustainability at McGill University with the Sustainability Projects Fund

  • McGill University (QC)

The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) is a crown jewel of McGill's sustainability efforts and a best-practice model for universities. The SPF's main goal is to build a culture of sustainability …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Imagining New Realities: the Green Fund and Student-Led Change

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

Come learn from the experiences of students involved with the Green Fund at a large public university. A Green Fund offers money to student-led projects that reduce the operating costs …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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University Sustainability Funds 2.0: A Model for the Next Generation

  • University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
  • McGill University (QC)

The University of Washington's Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) and McGill University's Sustainability Project Fund (SPF) are two of the largest university sustainability funds in North America with yearly budgets of …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Meeting Immediate Needs: A Curriculum for Worker Cooperatives

  • University of California, Irvine (CA)
  • Cooperacion Santa Ana (CA)

UCI Community Resilience Projects fosters people-centered and inclusive solutions to climate challenges. Our community-driven academic partnerships work from a shared understanding that the problems of climate change, racism and all …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Innovation in Food System Funding - The New England Food Vision Prize for New England Campuses

  • Sodexo USA (MD)
  • Henry P. Kendall Foundation

In order to challenge and empower campus dining programs to become instruments of change in farm to institution, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation launched a new type of food system …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Action Funds - Starting, Maintaining, Evolving student-led support for sustainability

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Southwestern University (TX)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)

Green Funds have been historically used by many universities to advance student sustainability initiatives and empower student leadership. This workshop will explore Green Funds at four (4) different universities, expand …

  • Posted Nov. 15, 2021
  • Conference Presentations
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Green Student Initiative

  • Oklahoma State University (OK)

In the spring semester of 2010, the student body of Oklahoma State University had the option to vote on a referendum attached to the elections ballot for Student Government Association …

  • Posted Sept. 21, 2021
  • Green Funds
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Green Engagement Fund

  • University of Southern California (CA)

The University of Southern California Green Engagement Fund (USCGEF) was created in 2014 to fund student-driven, innovative projects aimed at increasing sustainability at USC while increasing awareness in environmental stewardship. …

  • Posted Sept. 21, 2021
  • Green Funds
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University Annual Fund - Campus as a Living Lab Designation

  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette (LA)

The University Annual Fund is comprised of private philanthropic support/donations from individuals and organizations. Each year, 25% of this fund is designated for Campus as a Living Lab projects. Campus …

  • Posted Sept. 21, 2021
  • Green Funds
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LUCC Environmental Project Fund

  • Lawrence University (WI)

All project proposals must be for infrastructural changes, defined as physical facilities or installations contributing to the operation of the university, that have a positive financial return of better than …

  • Posted Sept. 21, 2021
  • Green Funds
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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

PA 10: Sustainable Investment

PA 11: Investment Disclosure

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

Investment & Finance Partners

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