Welcome to our January 2021 issue, which looks at the latest SRI Trends Report from the US SIF. Lisa Woll, CEO of US SIF summarizes the impressive report: “…investors are considering ESG factors across $17 trillion of professionally managed assets, a 42 percent increase since 2018. This is a continuation of the significant growth of money managers and institutional investors who consider ESG factors to identify responsible, well-managed companies that will be resilient over the long term. They are investing in companies and products that advance environmental and social issues, including investing in community banks and credit unions.”
I close by mentioning a recent podcast episode I was a guest on: ABQ Business Podcast – Covering Sustainable Business & Impact Investing. Each week host, Jason Rigby interviews business leaders who inspire the vision and the spirit that are intrinsic to every successful entrepreneur.
– Cliff Feigenbaum, founder/publisher
SRI Trends Report 2020: Executive Summary
Sustainable investing in the US continues to expand at a healthy pace. The total US-domiciled assets under management using sustainable investing strategies grew from $12.0 trillion at the start of 2018 to $17.1 trillion at the start of 2020, an increase of 42 percent. This represents 33 percent, or one in three dollars, of the $51.4 trillion in total US assets under professional management.
ESG Incorporation by Money Managers
The US SIF Foundation identified, in their 2020 Trends Report, 384 money managers and 1,204 community investing institutions incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria into their investment analysis and decision-making processes. The $16.6 trillion in ESG incorporation assets they represent is a nearly 43 percent increase over the $11.6 trillion in such assets identified in 2018.
ESG Incorporation by Institutional Investors
The US SIF identified, in their 2020 Trends Report, 530 institutional asset owners with $6.2 trillion in ESG assets, equivalent to 51 percent of the $12.01 trillion that money managers identified as institutional assets. The group included institutional asset owners and plan sponsors such as public funds, insurance co, educational and Faith-based institutions, foundations, labor funds, hospitals, and family offices.
SRI and ESG Investors Advocacy
According to the Trends Report, from 2018 through mid-2020, 149 institutional investors and 56 investment managers collectively controlling nearly $2.0 trillion in assets filed or co-filed shareholder resolutions on ESG issues like corporate political activity, fair labor and equal employment, climate change, and other issues. Many investors also reported that they engaged in dialogue with companies on ESG issues.
Climate & Capital Media Featured News
ESG Moves Towards a Single Standard
ESG-driven products have continued to attract billions at a rapid rate during the last year, including a record $36 billion in October alone. The market keeps calling for a common set of rules to guide and govern such investments in a sector with hundreds of different ESG rating frameworks. Will that call be answered by the newly-created Value Reporting Foundation?
January 2021 Additional Articles
Calvert Impact Capital 2020 Impact Report & 25th Anniv.
Over the past 25 years, CIC has grown to a firm with over $575 million in total assets, raising capital from hundreds of brokerage firms and institutions and thousands of individuals. Making nearly a 1,000 loans and investments to over 500 organizations across 100+ countries, supporting hundreds of thousands of businesses and benefitting millions of lives around the world.
New Domini International Opportunities Fund Launched
Domini Impact Investments has launched a new mutual fund which combines core exposure to international equity markets through the lens of the impact investor with an allocation to solution-oriented companies helping to address some of our greatest sustainability challenges. The new Fund was built to capitalize on the success of their U.S. equity strategy.
Rodale Institute Invests $2M in IVF to Grow Organic Acres
Rodale Institute, the global leader of regenerative organic agriculture, is “putting its money where its mouth is” by investing $2 million dollars with Iroquois Valley Farmland Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), a farmland finance company that works with mission-driven investors to provide organic and regenerative farmers land security through long-term leases and mortgages.
CNote Raises $3M to Invest in Underserved Communities
CNote, a women-founded and led financial technology platform that makes it easy to invest in economic inclusion, has closed a $3M private funding round to extend its reach in the fast-growing SRI investing space. CNote is focused on advancing economic justice through community investments and will use the funding to grow its team and scale its offerings.
Starbucks Announces Mellody Hobson as Next Board Chair
Mellody has been a trusted advisor to me and the company for more than 20 years. She is a fearless leader defined by her grace and wisdom. She has long embraced the purpose of Starbucks and, along with the leadership team, will continue to reimagine Starbucks future through the foundation of its past” said Howard Schultz, founder and chairman emeritus
GreenMoney Journal’s 2021 Editorial Calendar
The GreenMoney Journal team is excited to announce our Editorial Calendar for 2021. Truthfully, we spend months deciding on these topics and you’ll notice we have added a couple of new ones for 2021 including ‘Green Impact Bonds’ and ‘Oceans and Climate’. Each issue explores different aspects of the topic throughout the month online and in our biweekly eJournals.
