aashe stars conference community hub bulletin
Login Create an Account Become a Member

AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub
Browse All

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.

View all Investment & Finance Submit a new resource

Featured Resources

Latest News from AASHE Bulletin

New Resources

729 resources

A Proven Upstream Funding Model for Waste Management from the University of Kentucky

  • University of Kentucky (KY)

The University of Kentucky funds several of its materials management programs by charging all university accounts a disposal fee each time they purchase materials and supplies. This system has been …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Democratizing Capital for a Regenerative Economy

  • Center for Economic Democracy (MA)

The Boston Ujima Project is organizing neighbors, workers, business owners, artists and investors to create a new community controlled economy in Greater Boston. Since launching in 2016, Ujima has built …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Fiduciary Duty and University Fossil Fuel Divestments

  • Soka University of America (CA)

One of the founding principles of Soka University of America is to 'foster leaders for the creative coexistence of nature and humanity.' Soka University has one of the highest endowments …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

What is the Potential of Fossil Fuel Divestment in Higher Education? A Data-Driven Analysis

  • Smith College (MA)

Fossil fuel divestment has become a major activist movement in higher education, with campaigns at colleges and universities across the country. This movement has driven critical conversations about institutional responsibility …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Moving Toward Climate Justice Through Divestment and Community Reinvestment

  • Better Future Project (MA)

All colleges have an endowment that they use to invest in a broad range of industries. Divestment is a powerful tactic where institutions can use their political and financial power …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Creating Positive Energy: Using Utility Rebates to Power Student-led Contributions to Society

  • Millersville University (PA)

In the spring of 2019, Millersville University established a Positive Energy Award Program in celebration of the first-year anniversary of the University's positive energy Lombardo Welcome Center. The Positive Energy …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Harvard's Campus Sustainability Innovation Fund: Bringing Students, Faculty, and Staff Together

  • Harvard University (MA)

In 2016, Harvard University enhanced its Living Lab Initiative by launching the Campus Sustainability Innovation Fund. This fund supports projects that use Harvard's campus or the neighboring community as a …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Student Approved Projects on Campus: What Could Go Wrong and What Could Go Right?

  • Western Michigan University (MI)

Like many universities, Western Michigan University has instituted a grant to fund student-led sustainable change on campus. What sets Western Michigan University apart, however, is that the allocations of these …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Creating a Strong Alumni Base for Meaningful Engagement and Mutual Economic Benefit

  • Lafayette College (PA)

Many sustainability practitioners seek to engage alumni in various ways: fundraising, expertise, guest speakers, jobs/internships and mentorship for students. Learn from Lehigh University and the University of Virginia about how …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Bridge Building: Translating Green Fund Ideas into Practice

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

This networking session offers opportunities for Green Fund project partners to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others engaged in campus Green Fund efforts. We welcome educators, students, facilities …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Monetizing Campus Sustainability: Converting Operations Into Assets to Increase Revenues

  • University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette (LA)
  • Learfield IMG College (TX)

During the first couple of decades of growth in campus sustainability, 'green' operations were perceived as causing additional costs with limited direct paybacks. However, as sustainability has grown in college …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Local Power: How to Partner With Local Investors to Install Renewable Energy Systems on Campus

  • Luther College (IA)

This session addresses the following question associated with the conference theme: 'How can higher education most effectively collaborate with business, government and civil society to create a sustainable economy?' The …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Connecting Endowment Investing, Experiential Education and Curriculum to Build a Sustainable Economy

  • Intentional Endowments Network (MA)

This session will discuss the growth of student-managed investment funds pursuing sustainable investing strategies, as well as the growth of sustainable investing curriculum development, highlighting current successful funds and courses, …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Creating and Maintaining Public Archives: Green Fund Website Redesign

  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)

With help from our Student Union Marketing Team, The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) at UC Berkeley has entirely rebuilt its website on a new platform, creating a public archive of …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Proxy Carbon Pricing for Identifying Climate-Smart Investments: Lessons From Practice

  • Princeton University (NJ)
  • Smith College (MA)

Given the slow policy response by governments, climate action in higher education has become an essential part of maintaining policy momentum, driving innovation, and fostering social dialog. Carbon pricing has …

  • Posted Dec. 4, 2019
  • Conference Presentations
  • View more

Carver and DeLaney Sustainability Endowment

  • Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)

The Carver and DeLaney Family Environmental Studies Endowment seeks to encourage and support student sustainability projects on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges and/or the local community. This …

Webinar: Student Power to Fund Renewable Energy: A New Take on the Solar PPA

  • Southern Oregon University (OR)
  • AASHE (MA)

As campuses look to expand on site renewable energy generation, one of the greatest barriers to implementation is often initial project funding. Over the last year and a half, students …

  • Posted Aug. 29, 2019
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

State of the Recycling Industry

  • University of South Carolina (SC)
  • University of Oregon (OR)
  • College & University Recycling Coalition (DC)

"State of the Recycling Industry: Education & operations best practices for a challenging recycling market"

Originally took place May 30th 2019

Presenters:

Neil Seldman President, Institute for Local Self-Reliance Topic: …

  • Posted Aug. 22, 2019
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

Step Away from the Spreadsheet: Online Tools are Making Sustainability Management in Higher Education Easy

  • University of New Hampshire (NH)
  • Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
  • Second Nature (MA)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • US Green Building Council - San Diego Chapter (CA)

Management of sustainability data in higher education has experienced an exciting evolution over the last few years. Whereas spreadsheets used to dominate, there are now a variety of online tools …

  • Posted Aug. 7, 2019
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more

RFQ for Large Scale Renewable Energy consultant

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

This template will assist you in drafting a REquest for Qualifications for a consultant to assist in acquiring renewable energy via a Large Scale Renewable Energy (LSRE) project. Adapt at …

How Students Can Achieve Campus Sustainability: The Sustainability Climate Initiative Fund

  • University of Utah (UT)

Edmond Andrews, the University of Utah Sustainability Climate Initiative Fund (SCIF) Manager, explains what SCIF is and how it works.

The Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) is the University of …

  • Posted May 22, 2019
  • Videos & Webinars
  • View more
Aggie Green Fund Official Logo

Aggie Green Fund

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

Aggie Green Fund (AGF) is a funds granting program under the Office of Sustainability that invites sustainability ideas from all members of the University community (students, faculty, and staff) to …

UVA Clark Hall Delta Force Renovations

  • University of Virginia (VA)

The University of Virginia's Office of Sustainability within the Facilities Management department developed and currently runs the Delta Force Initiative, an internal performance contracting program. that increases energy efficiency and …

One of Columbia University's new electric buses traveling along Broadway in New York City

Columbia University transitions to electric intercampus buses to reduce emissions by 70%

  • Columbia University (NY)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (NY)
  • New Flyer (MB)

In 2018, Columbia University introduced six new battery-electric transit-style buses to its intercampus shuttle network as a way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from campus operations, improve local air …

Lombardo Welcome Center Entrance

Generating Positive Community Energy with Millersville University's Zero Energy Lombardo Welcome Center

  • Millersville University (PA)

Millersville University leveraged the positive energy performance, utility rebates and cost savings associated with its new zero energy Lombardo Welcome Center to establish a fund that supports community engagement related …

Associations Between Higher Education Sustainability and Alumni Giving

  • Harvard University (MA)

Remaking higher education campuses to meet climate commitments will have real and significant costs, yet many campuses are financially constrained. For most institutions, alumni giving is a significant, yet declining, …

Seattle University’s Decision to Divest from Fossil Fuels

  • Seattle University (WA)

One of Seattle University’s largest accomplishments in sustainability leadership has been the university’s recent decision to divest from fossil fuels. In September 2018, after six arduous years of campaigning and …

Does green management matter for donation intentions?: The influence of environmental consciousness and environmental importance

  • Texas A&M University (TX)

Purpose – Several factors are known to influence donations to university athletic departments including previous donations and university affiliation. This research aims to build on prior work by examining whether …

Challenging the Consumption Economy

University of Vermont Points of Intervention Fair

  • University of Vermont (VT)

The theme surrounding the University of Vermont's Earth Week was Points of Intervention (POI). Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN) added UVM to their stops of college on their POI Fair! …

Parametric analysis for cost-optimal renewable energy integration into residential buildings: Techno-economic model

  • Illinois State University (IL)
  • Hanyang University

Determining the optimum penetration of renewable energy systems and their associated aggregated technical and economic benefits is a growing concern for both researchers and policy makers. The purpose of this …

  • Posted March 31, 2019
  • Publications
  • View more

Colleges That Funded Scooter Startups Don’t Love Them on Campus

  • Michigan State University (MI)
  • University of Texas at Austin (TX)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • Bloomberg (NY)
  • Bird (CA)

This article examines why campus safety offices and the endowment managers may feel differently about scooter startups.

  • Posted March 30, 2019
  • Publications
  • View more

Central College Student Green Fund

  • Central College (IA)

What is Green Fund? The purpose of the Central College Student Green Fund is to promote innovative student projects that further the vision of sustainability at Central College.

Who can …

Sustainable Energy Initiative

  • Western Carolina University (NC)

The WCU Sustainable Energy Initiative is a committee of students, faculty and staff advisers that are responsible for allocating money towards the implementation of renewable energy, energy efficiency improvements, research, …

CSB Green Fund

  • College of Saint Benedict (MN)

The CSB Green Fund is an annual fund that serves as a resource to support sustainability initiatives generated by students, faculty, staff, and the monastic community, benefiting the campus and …

Green Revolving Fund

  • Drew University (NJ)

Grant from Jesse Ball duPont fund provided seed money and was matched by Drew for a total of $150,000 to start the fund. The green revolving fund provides a loan …

Eagle Fund

  • Culver Academies (IN)

Student-managed Green Revolving Fund established in April 2018. Culver Academies is a college-prep high school in Indiana

Green Fund

  • College of Lake County (IL)

Established in 2017 with incentive rebates from the utilities for retrofitting light fixtures to LED and HVAC improvements.

Clean Energy Revolving Fund (Inactive)

  • Macalester College (MN)

The fund, active from 2006-2010, was one of the first funds of it's type in the country.

Sustainability Action Fund

  • Babson College (MA)

Donations to support sustainability and climate action on campus.

Green to Gold Fund

  • College of William & Mary (VA)

The Green to Gold Fund is a green revolving fund established in 2016 to reduce William & Mary's impact on the environment and to improve efficiency in ways that create …

Sustainability Microloan Fund

  • Yale University (CT)

The Sustainability Microloan Fund was created to encourage members of the Yale community — students, staff and faculty — to come up with creative ideas that will make the campus …

Class of 1980 Student Project Fund Awards

  • Yale University (CT)

The Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Class of 1980 has received the Association of Yale Alumni's School Volunteer Engagement and Leadership award for two funds that have supported …

Social Choice Fund

  • Williams College (MA)

The Williams Social Choice Fund invests its gifts to the College in accordance with strict social and environmental investment criteria. Income generated from SCF investments provide unrestricted support for the …

Sustainable Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

  • Whitman College (WA)

The Whitman Sustainable Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) is a $50,000 line of credit designated for campus improvements that significantly benefit Whitman's sustainability efforts by conserving resources and improving efficiency. All …

WMU Green Revolving Fund

  • Western Michigan University (MI)

Western Michigan University has designed an innovative “Quasi-Revolving Fund” model that demonstrates the institution’s full commitment to incorporating sustainability into campus operations. The Quasi-Revolving Fund recaptures money from cost-savings, similar …

Green Fund

  • Western Kentucky University (KY)

Contributions to the fund will provide support in three principle areas: Green campus initiatives are physical projects and operational improvements to reduce the ecological footprint on campus. Curriculum redesign includes …

Class of 1957 Green Fund

  • Wellesley College (MA)

The Class of 1957 Fund was established by the Class of 1957 to provide funding for initiatives designed to enhance sustainable practices at Wellesley, to reduce Wellesley's environmental impact, and …

Kreitler Environmental Fund

  • Virginia Theological Seminary (VA)

The Kreitler Environmental Fund's mission is to empower clergy and the church with a strong environmental ethic in order to help conserve and preserve the environment. Once fully funded, the …

Green RFP Program

  • Virginia Tech (VA)

The Request for Proposal for Sustainability Initiatives by Student Organizations (Green RFP Program), was established in 2010 to give students an opportunity to help make Virginia Tech a national leader …

Green Revolving Loan Fund (GRLF)

  • Vermont Law School (VT)

The VLS Green Revolving Fund has been established with an anonymous donation of $200,000, as well as, a $50,000 contribution from the Vermont Law School Board of Trustees. This initial …

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

All Material Copyright © 2005–2023 Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
AASHE reserves the right to control the reproduction and use of all material posted on this website.
For questions about this site, please email resources@aashe.org — Privacy Policy

About
Finding Resources
Submission Guidelines