Tag: Additional Articles

Starbucks Announces $100 Million Investment in CDFIs and Impact-Focused Financials Institutions-GreenMoney

Starbucks Announces $100 Million Investment in CDFIs and Other Impact-focused Financial Institutions

>> Back to February 2021 Issue

In January 2021, Starbucks announced new initiatives as part of its long-standing commitment to use its scale and platform to positively impact the communities it serves.

By 2025, the Starbucks Community Resilience Fund will invest $100 million to advance racial equity and environmental resilience by supporting small business growth and community development projects in neighborhoods with historically limited access to capital. The investments will initially focus on 12 U.S. metropolitan areas and their surrounding regions: Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

In partnership with community leaders, CDFIs, and other impact-focused financial institutions, the Fund will help provide access to capital intended to support small businesses and neighborhood projects, including those addressing the inequitable impacts of climate change.

“Starbucks is investing in the survival of small business by working with CDFIs in key cities across America. CDFIs deliver affordable credit as well as training on disaster recovery and rebuilding – and that is exactly what small businesses need right now to withstand ongoing economic and climate changes,” said OFN President and CEO Lisa Mensah. “With partners like Starbucks and CDFIs, these small businesses will have a fighting chance to recover, rebuild, hire workers, and serve their local economy.”

Read the full announcement.

 

SBX010821-Starbucks-Community-Resilience-Fund

Source: OFN

Additional Articles, Food & Farming, Impact Investing, Sustainable Business

The NextGen Committee of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation has awarded $100000 grant to Cultural Survival supporting grassroots Indigenous solutions to climate change-AG Training School

Ray C. Anderson Foundation’s NextGen Committee Awards $100,000 Grant to Cultural Survival

>> Back to February 2021 Issue
Above photo: Comité Ixtepecano en Defensa de la Vida y el Territorio – Binizá/Zapotec (México) Project: Implementation of the Guidxi Layú Agroecological Campesino School. Agricultural Training School Building, built with funds from KOEF, in use for a workshop called “Communality and Territorial Defense Based on Indigenous Women’s Knowledge.”

The NextGen Committee of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation has awarded a $100,000 grant to Cultural Survival to support grassroots Indigenous solutions to climate change.

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation is a private family foundation that was launched in 2012 to celebrate the legacy of Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), a globally known industrialist turned environmentalist that was once named the “Greenest CEO” by Fortune magazine and a “Hero of the Environment” by TIME.

The Foundation’s NextGen Committee is comprised of Ray’s five grandchildren and their spouses. Since 2014, the Committee has taken an active role in perpetuating Ray’s legacy by investing in projects geared to make the world a better place for “Tomorrow’s Child.” Over the past eight years, the committee has funded more than $500,000 in programs with focus ranging from conservation and climate change education, to urban agriculture, agroforestry and now grassroots solutions to climate change in Indigenous communities.

The NextGen Committee’s grant will allow Cultural Survival to direct the funds to Indigenous communities addressing climate change on a variety of fronts, through 13 small grants awarded through the Keepers of the Earth Fund (KOEF). Grantees will use the small grants to further work that is already happening to protect Indigenous lands and forests, pursue legal title to their lands, steward and transmit traditional knowledge between elders and youth, and practice and promote traditional agricultural practices with the framework of agroecology and other place-based Indigenous solutions.

Keepers of the Earth Fund is a small grants fund designed to support Indigenous Peoples’ advocacy and community development projects. Since 2017, the Keepers of the Earth Fund has supported 118 projects in 30 countries through small grants and technical assistance totaling over $528,000.

Keepers of the Earth Fund provides grants ranging between $500 and $5,000 that go directly to grassroots Indigenous-led organizations and groups to support their self-designed development projects based on Indigenous values.

“Cultural Survival has a unique passion and ability to empower change for Indigenous communities that are most directly affected by climate change,” said Stephanie Lanier, chair of the NextGen Committee. “Their role in building up the individuals and letting their voices be heard tells an inspiring story of hope, ingenuity, and commitment to protecting the land and those who live on it. We are proud to present this year’s grant to an organization with such passion for finding multifaceted solutions all around the world.”

“We are deeply honored and grateful to the NextGen Committee of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation for this opportunity and for recognizing the need to invest in Indigenous leadership and Indigenous-led solutions. Indigenous Peoples hold the answers to today’s challenges of climate change, biodiversity protection, land stewardship, and so much more. Our voices as Indigenous leaders need to be heard and upheld when taking on the climate crisis locally, nationally, and internationally, as our ancestral knowledge paves the way to restore balance in the world. Ray C. Anderson Foundation recognizes the value and integrity of our leadership and traditional knowledge, and we are excited for this new partnership where we will tackle climate change together,” says Galina Angarova (Buryat), Cultural Survival Executive Director.

 

About the NextGen Committee
Ray C. Anderson’s five grandchildren, along with their spouses, comprise the NextGen Committee. The Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees for worthwhile grants and initiatives. Over the past couple of years, the Committee has decided to focus its philanthropic efforts on programs that help reverse global warming.

About Cultural Survival
Cultural Survival (CS) is an Indigenous-led NGO and U.S. registered non-profit that advocates for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures, and political resilience, since 1972.

For over 48 years, Cultural Survival has partnered with Indigenous communities to advance Indigenous Peoples’ rights and cultures worldwide. CS envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples’ inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance. The core of Cultural Survival’s efforts rests on the principles of supporting, amplifying efforts, and raising awareness of self-determination for Indigenous communities.

Cultural Survival has curated a robust network of partnerships with Indigenous communities spanning over 70 countries on 6 continents. Cultural Survival’s work is predicated on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) to empower Indigenous Peoples as they strive to assert their rights to self-determination and sustain their lands, cultures, and vital ecosystems that are essential to the health of our planet and all living things. Additionally, Cultural Survival has deep connections and influence across movements, sectors, governmental agencies, and international mechanisms like the United Nations, where Cultural Survival has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic Social and Cultural Council since 2005. Cultural Survival supports grassroots Indigenous solutions to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of Indigenous communities and the organization’s approach centers on traditional knowledge to restore balance in the natural world. Based in Cambridge, MA, Cultural Survival employs 26 staff based in 10 countries. Cultural Survival’s staff is majority women, and both staff and board are majority Indigenous—a true reflection of the communities the organization serves!

About Cultural Survival’s Keepers of the Earth Fund
Keepers of the Earth Fund (KOEF) is an Indigenous-led fund within Cultural Survival that is managed by Indigenous staff and designed to support Indigenous Peoples’ community development projects. KOEF provides small grants to grassroots Indigenous-led organizations, collectives, and traditional governments in their self-determined development projects based on their Indigenous values. Moreover, Cultural Survival uses a rights’-based approach in their grantmaking strategies to support grassroots Indigenous solutions through the equitable distribution of resources to Indigenous communities.

Some past KOEF projects have focused on the following topics and their intersections: leadership of Indigenous women and youth; political, economic, and food sovereignty; land and water rights; land titling, tenure, and stewardship; agroecology; environmental and biodiversity protection; climate change; carbon sequestration; intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge; Indigenous language and knowledge revitalization; movement-building, and Indigenous participation and representation in local, regional, national and international spaces.

Contacts:

Valerie Bennett, 770.317.5858, valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org
and
Daisee Francour, 617.441.5400, dfrancour@culturalsurvival.org

Additional Articles, Energy & Climate, Food & Farming, Sustainable Business

Ten Trends Shaping Sustainability in 2021-from Center for Sustainability and Excellence-GreenMoney

10 Trends That Will Shape Sustainability in 2021 and Beyond

By Research Team, Center for Sustainability & Excellence

>> Back to February 2021 Issue

The COVID-19 pandemic came in 2020 to reinforce the climate crisis and increase business challenges and risks for investors and C-Suite Executives in several sectors.

Let’s take a look at important trends, based on CSE recent research, which cannot be ignored by organizations. Climate risks, ESG factors for investors, non-economic disclosures, social inequality, ’Circular Economy’ and ‘Carbon Net Zero’ strategies are some of the issues that will be on the top of C-Suite Executives to-do-list of in order to introduce more resilient and sustainable strategies to their organizations for 2021 and beyond.

Here are the Top 10 Trends in sustainable business in 2021:

• Comprehensive consideration of ESG factors and access to capital
In order to mitigate the financial losses of this year, special emphasis will be given on regulating both access to funding and corporate ESG behavior. The trend towards increasing ESG coverage will lead to more disclosures, check and data points. It should be noted that ESG issues are increasingly the focus of investors and regulators in North America.

• Use of ESG ratings and Standards is becoming the norm
Looking at CSE’s latest ESG research in over 600 companies in North America, ESG rating and SASB Standards are increasingly popular to provide information in a manner that is most relevant to their financial stakeholders and investors. Moreover, the TCFD recommendations are gaining traction, as 38% of the top 10 companies are identifying and reporting their climate-related financial risks and opportunities. The number is expected to rise through 2021.

• Climate change risks and transparency
Five years ago, investors committed to align with the Paris Agreement, leading companies into a series of radical changes. Those who still do not disclose environmental data will feel the consequences more than any other year. The organizations that use the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), for the disclosure of the climate-related financial risk, have doubled compared to 2019.

• Changing Policies in financial institutions
The pressure is now transferred to the Financial Sector, calling on them to adopt strategies to reduce the carbon footprint, with restrictions and the phase out of fossil fuel financing. According to the Institute for Economic Energy and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), 150 major global financial institutions have implemented policies to exit coal, with 65 Financial Institutions committing to stricter lending guidelines.

• Reorganization of the supply chain and production
Many companies have recently faced severe supply shortages due to the pandemic. The closure of production sites, the inability to transport goods and much more led not only to the review of suppliers, but also the production process itself. ESG criteria will be further integrated into the supply chain process.

• Circular economy integration
Perhaps the above could be a prelude to change, as the concept of the Circular Economy is going to be consolidated next year and remodeling the production is what many entrepreneurs should be concerned about. Companies need to move fast towards the new commitments to make all packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025. More than 400 companies have adopted the New Plastic Economy Global Commitment, while companies representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced worldwide have already committed to replacing their packages by 2025.

• Zero Waste
Efforts to eliminate the increased waste problem will continue. This will be achieved through the application of state-of-the-art technology and through an unprecedented level of collaboration and coordination between recyclers, designers, packers, manufacturers, companies and governments. According to the National Zero Waste Conference, there are plans to develop policy recommendations for 2021 based on the new goals of the Biden Administration, while the priority is on the market of recycled products.

• Sustainable materials
In light of the zero waste and the circular economy, the transition from plastic to paper has become an increasingly popular option. The use of aluminum cans is expected to increase just as significantly due to its distinctive features – its durability and the fact that it is light weight.

• Social equality as a source of sustainable business
The crisis of Covid-19 came to rekindle something that had been overlooked throughout the last years- the huge levels of inequality in global wealth. In 2021, it is predicted that investors will engage in approaches with innovative practices that will promote equality and could be a source of sustainable business advantage.

• Biodiversity crisis
The pandemic has reminded us that nature is important not only for human preservation, but also for maintaining the world economy. There will be a transformation in the way investors deal with the loss of biodiversity.

 

Article by the Research Team at CSE – Center for Sustainability and Excellence

CSE is a leading boutique firm operating globally that specializes in maximizing your business impact in Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility. For more than a decade, we have been helping professionals advance their careers through our certified on-site, online and group training services globally and supporting companies and organizations to grow and excel through Sustainability consulting and coaching.

Additional Articles, Energy & Climate, Food & Farming, Impact Investing, Sustainable Business

Saving Biodiversity-Investing in Climate Change is Not Enough-by Vicki Benjamin-Karner Blue Capital

Saving Biodiversity: Investing in Climate Change is Not Enough

By Vicki Benjamin, Karner Blue Capital

>> Back to February 2021 Issue

Vicki Benjamin-Karner Blue Capital-GreenMoneyThe two urgent environmental problems that will define this millennium and our lifetimes are climate change and biodiversity loss. Although both are the result of the actions of mankind, they are distinct issues and their consequences are, inextricably linked. The detrimental effects of biodiversity loss contribute to the magnitude of the climate change crisis, while climate change exacerbates biodiversity loss. Examining the nexus of these challenges is valuable to academics, scientists, and investors alike with a shared interest in finding solutions that simultaneously mitigate both challenges while ensuring the future sustainability of the planet.

Why is Biodiversity Important?

Biodiversity sustains ecosystems, supplies oxygen for clean air, protects water and soil, and breaks down pollution and waste. Protecting biodiversity contributes to climate stability through terrestrial and aquatic carbon absorption. Economically, biodiversity is a vital source of raw materials for products in industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, wood, and energy.1  In essence, biodiversity ensures the sustainability of life on earth.

How Does Climate Change Affect Biodiversity?

Climate change, or global warming, is primarily the result of human activity related to the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, transportation, and household cooking. These gases (composed of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) remain in the atmosphere for years, even decades, radiating heat back into the Earth’s atmosphere. This entrapment of radiation results in the warming of the planet’s atmosphere, affecting climate and weather patterns.

Climate change threatens biodiversity by disrupting ecosystems as well as the plants and animals that dwell in them. Changes in weather and seasonality alter food availability and feeding patterns; reproductive cycles and fertility; habitability of location due to temperature, water, and landscape adaptability; and migratory patterns. These migratory patterns result in the introduction of non-native “invasive” species to environments, as rising land and sea temperatures increasingly force species to relocate to cooler climates. In and of itself, this migration can exacerbate climate change.

Other Threats to Biodiversity

As harmful as climate change is to biodiversity, there would be a crisis of species loss even without greenhouse gas emissions and global warming due to resource depletion of wetlands and forests, exploitation of fish and endangered animals for food, and the introduction of invasive species into non-native environments through human movement, such as by boats and ships, and even automobiles.

The causes of biodiversity loss can be summarized into five primary driving factors, easily remembered by the acronym HIPPO (a species currently vulnerable to extinction): habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, human population, and overharvesting.2  Due to the cumulative impact of these factors, approximately 25 percent of all species (estimated to be between 8 and 10 million) are currently endangered, and 1 million creatures are at risk of extinction within this decade.

Potential Solutions

A multitude of remedies that are beneficial in addressing both the biodiversity loss and climate change crises do exist, including nature-based solutions, such as regenerative agriculture or natural infrastructure; emission-capture technologies that reduce the need for disruptive ground extraction; and circular economy strategies that recycle and avoid the need to source new raw materials. Through these solutions and others, farmers can maximize crop yields, communities can protect against natural disasters, upstream energy producers may receive favorable tax breaks, and manufacturers are able to eliminate or reduce the cost of buying new raw materials. These solution sets not only mitigate the biodiversity loss and climate change, but also, offer financial opportunities for cost savings and liability prevention.

Karner Blue Capital Proprietary Research Methodology

Karner Blue Capital (KBC) biodiversity research analysts benchmark companies operating in specific industries considered to have material dependencies and/or impacts on biodiversity and climate change using KBC’s proprietary industry-specific frameworks. Only companies that have met an overall ESG threshold are eligible for consideration. The KBC frameworks, or models are comprised of key performance indicators that represent significant environmental, social and governmental risks specific to each industry. These risks are wide ranging and those attributed to “E” include climate change, resource dependency, pollution and invasive species mitigation. Risks specific to “S” include threats to human health, including pandemics, social license to operate, and changing societal and consumer preferences. Risks specific to “G” include legislative (local and national) regulatory changes and liabilities related to the changes in those rules.

KBC analysts also evaluate industry and company-specific innovations and opportunities, focusing on those that develop technologies to mitigate their impacts, invent alternative products and services that disrupt traditional status quo operating protocols, and seek solutions to the complex problems of biodiversity loss and climate change. Only those companies leading their industry in biodiversity performance are further evaluated for financial opportunity by our investment team. We apply Quality at a Reasonable Price fundamental financial analysis to assess companies in the investable universe on growth, profitability, valuation, and balance sheet metrics to create a portfolio of public equities characterized by both robust sustainability practices and financial prospects. This is the work of Karner Blue Capital. We invite you to learn more here.

 

Article by Vicki Benjamin, CEO of Karner Blue Capital. Vicki is a co-founder of the Adviser and has been its Chief Executive Officer since it commenced operations as an investment adviser in 2018. Vicki maintains a 57% ownership stake in KBC. Ms. Benjamin was a partner at KPMG from September 2005 until February 2015, when she joined Calvert Investments, Inc. as its Chief Financial Officer. She served as the President of Calvert Investments, Inc. from January 2017 through June 2020. She received a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Bentley University McCallum Graduate School of Business.

Footnotes:

[1] https://soe.environment.gov.au/theme/biodiversity/topic/2016/importance-biodiversity#:~:text=Biodiversity%20is%20important%20to%20humans%20for%20many%20reasons.&text=Ecological%20life%20support%E2%80%94%20biodiversity%20provides,treatment%20and%20many%20ecosystem%20services

[2] https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog30/node/394#:~:text=H.I.P.P.O.,%2C%20Human%20Population%2C%20and%20Overharvesting

Additional Articles, Energy & Climate, Food & Farming, Impact Investing, Sustainable Business

Ten to Watch-Young Climate Entrepreneurs-Climate and Capital Media-Stephanie Wong

The Ten to Watch: Young Climate Entrepreneurs

By The Climate & Capital Team,

>> Back to February 2021 Issue
(above) Illustration by Stefanie Wong

Introducing ten promising young leaders in the climate space

CCM Featured news for GreenMoney readersWelcome to Climate & Capital Media’s inaugural “Ten to Watch“ list, in which we highlight leaders (below) delivering real change to address the world’s growing climate emergency.

Ten to Watch represents an important group of young entrepreneurs offering economic and financial climate solutions. From low-cost energy for the developing world and unconventional collaborative financing systems to software control of energy systems and kinetic energy generation, these leaders are working to address some of the biggest issues of energy and climate change.

In recent months, we’ve spoken with climate change experts, investors, and the candidates themselves to understand not just who has demonstrated creativity and early success, but who is making bold moves to scale their impact and change the dynamic of the market. We’ve chosen these climate entrepreneurs for their impact, creativity, innovation, global reach, and the diversity of their work.

Although here you will meet ten leaders we admire, our research uncovered hundreds of young entrepreneurs around the world taking big risks on enormously different approaches to a range of problems. It’s also worth noting that our team — steeped as we are in this world — walked away genuinely inspired by the ventures’ determination to find unique and effective climate solutions.

Along the way, this selection process has stirred debate in our newsroom, challenged our beliefs, and made us all sit up to listen closely. Each venture offers compelling potential for returns — not just economic, but also environmental and societal.

We’d like to thank Danny Kennedy, CEO of New Energy Nexus, for his invaluable help in sourcing some of our candidates. This remarkable collection of experts owes much to his advice and network.

This is our strong belief: That a great entrepreneur offers the world a way to see potential and lays down the first flagstones on the path to a just and sustainable climate economy. After our conversations, we are convinced that each of these emerging leaders does exactly that.

We hope this group and the solutions they’re building spark new ideas that lead to bold action.

Climate & Capital Media’s Ten to Watch List:

 

Xia Li ShenZhen Power-Solution
Charlotta Holmquist BL!XT
Laurence Kemball-Cook Pavegen Systems
Sebastian Kind GreenMap
Olaedo Osoko Daystar Power Group
Juan Pablo Cerda Zeigo
Ugwem Eneyo SHYFT Power Solutions
Omeed Badkoobeh Yotta Energy
Jessica O. Matthews Uncharted Power
Ajaita Shah Frontier Markets

 

Article by Climate & Capital Team. Our team aims to lead in the vibrant conversation taking place among entrepreneurs, climate scientists, investors, NGOs, policymakers and corporate leaders around climate change. What’s driving that discussion is a shared realization that building a sustainable future is both a moral imperative and an economic opportunity with potentially exponential returns for our portfolios and most importantly, our planet.

Additional Articles, Energy & Climate, Sustainable Business

Photo by Markus Winkler - Unsplash - GreenMoney 2021 Editorial Calendar

GreenMoney Journal’s 2021 Editorial Calendar

>> Back to January 2021 Issue
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The GreenMoney Journal team is excited to announce our updated Editorial Calendar for 2021. Truthfully, we spend months deciding on these themes 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. Overall, GreenMoney reports on the growing impact of sustainable investing and business on sectors including Organic Agriculture, Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Women’s Leadership, Millennial Activism, Ethical Business, Social Change Philanthropy, Impact Investing, and more. 

And believe it or not, next year 2022 is our 30th Anniversary year!

2021 Editorial Calendar Themes

March 21 Our Money Stories: Truth Be Told
April 21 Women and Investing: Changing the World
May 21 Annual All-Videos Issue: SRI, ESG and CSR
June 21 Investing in Sustainable Agriculture
July 21 The World of Green Building and Energy
August 21 Circular Economy and Sustainable Business
September 21 Oceans and Climate (new theme)
October 21 Community Impact Investing
November 21 Green Impact Bonds (new theme)
December 21 Women and Investing: Outlook on 2022
January 22 Our Special 200th Issue: Readers Favorites
February 22 Millennials and Money: Next Gen of Impact

If you are interested in working with us, you can find more information here: Advertising and Sponsorships here on greenmoney.com and in our biweekly eJournals.

We are also always looking for good content. If you have news to submit, contact founder/publisher Cliff Feigenbaum.   

Subscribe to our free biweekly eJournal here.

 

Additional Articles, Energy & Climate, Food & Farming, Impact Investing, Sustainable Business

Starbucks Announces Mellody Hobson as Next Board Chair-GreenMoney

Starbucks Announces Mellody Hobson as Next Board Chair

>> Back to January 2021 Issue

Currently serving as vice chair of the Starbucks board of directors, Hobson will succeed current chair, Myron E. Ullman, III upon his retirement in March 2021

Starbucks Corporation recently announced that Mellody Hobson will serve as the company’s next non-executive chair of its board of directors starting in March 2021. Hobson, who first joined the board as an independent director in 2005 and was appointed as the board’s independent vice chair in 2018, will succeed Myron (Mike) E. Ullman, III. Ullman, who has served on the board since 2003 and has served as its chair since 2018, will retire from the board in March 2021, and Hobson will assume the role of chair in connection with the Starbucks Annual Meeting of Shareholders in March 2021.

“It has been remarkable to be a part of the Starbucks board for nearly 18 years as this enduring company has grown with a mindset of prioritizing its people and its customers,” said Ullman. “It also has been an honor to serve as the chair of the Starbucks board, and to support and oversee the relationships of trust built with our stakeholders. With its Mission and Values as its guide, I am confident in the future of the company.”

“From the very beginning, I set out to build a different kind of company – one in which all decisions were to be made through the lens of humanity,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks modern day founder and chairman emeritus. “As a member of the board for the last 18 years and board chair since my departure, Mike has been instrumental in ensuring Starbucks answers its higher calling to be a different kind of public company. I am grateful to him for all his contributions and his enduring partnership to me and to Starbucks. 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. My heart is full and thankful that Starbucks will have Mellody’s leadership as chair.”

In addition to serving over 15 years on the Starbucks board of directors, Hobson is the co-CEO of Ariel Investments, LLC, a global value-based asset management firm. In this role, she is responsible for management, strategic planning and growth for all areas of Ariel Investments outside of research and portfolio management. Additionally, she serves as Chairman of the Board of the company’s publicly traded mutual funds. Prior to being named Co-CEO, Hobson spent nearly two decades as the firm’s President. Beyond Starbucks, she has brought invaluable experience to boardrooms across the nation. She currently serves as a director of JPMorgan Chase. Hobson is also a past director of Estée Lauder Companies and served as Chairman of the Board of DreamWorks Animation until the company’s sale.

“I am thrilled and honored to take on the role of chair,” said Hobson. “Over nearly two decades, I have seen the company continue to elevate and transform its business – adapting to various market environments and evolving consumer trends. I look forward to working with the board and talented leadership team on accelerating our strategy, supporting our valued partners, and continuing to create significant value for all of our stakeholders.” Hobson continued, “On behalf of the board, I would also like to thank Mike for his strong leadership, and all of his invaluable contributions.”

Hobson also serves as Chairman of After School Matters, a Chicago non-profit that provides area teens with high-quality after school and summer programs. Additionally, she is vice chair of World Business Chicago; co-chair of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art; and a board member of the George Lucas Education Foundation and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). She is a member of The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees and serves on the executive committee of the Investment Company Institute.

Hobson earned her AB from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. In 2019, she was awarded the University’s highest honor, the Woodrow Wilson Award, presented annually to a Princeton graduate whose career embodies a commitment to national service. She has also received honorary doctorate degrees from Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, St. Mary’s College, and the University of Southern California. In 2015, Time Magazine named her one of the “100 Most Influential People” in the world.

Other members of the Starbucks Board of Directors include: Richard Allison, Roz Brewer, Andy Campion, Mary Dillon, Isabel Ge Mahe, Kevin Johnson, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, Satya Nadella, Joshua Cooper Ramo, Clara Shih and Javier Teruel.

 

About Starbucks

Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 32,000 stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at https://stories.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com .

Note to Readers – Read Mellody Hobson’s article on “Women and the Future of Investing” that she wrote for GreenMoney in 2015.

Additional Articles, Food & Farming, Impact Investing, Sustainable Business

CNote Raises $3M to Invest in Underserved Communities-GreenMoney

CNote Raises $3M to Invest in Underserved Communities

>> Back to January 2021 Issue

CNote logoFintech company focused on advancing economic justice through community investments will use the funding to grow its team and scale its cash and fixed income offerings

CNote, a women-founded and led financial technology platform that makes it easy to invest in economic inclusion, has closed a $3 million dollar oversubscribed private funding round to extend its reach in the fast-growing socially responsible investing space. The funding round was led by ManchesterStory, with additional investments from Artemis Fund, SixThirty Ventures, H/L Ventures, Clearstone Capital, and Lateral Capital.

Since 2016, CNote has been developing technology to unlock access to investments in racial equity, economic justice and gender equity and help close the wealth gap in underserved communities across America.

“This investment is particularly timely, as CNote works to match growing investor demand for impact investments with increased capital needs from our community partners,” said CNote CEO Catherine Berman. “Our partners, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), are leading the economic response and recovery efforts for underserved communities impacted by the pandemic and our technology can help speed the flow of capital into these communities to support a faster recovery.”

CNote empowers investors to directly align their values with their investments through innovative cash and fixed income offerings. CNote’s community partners benet through access to new sources of capital that are often more flexible and mission-aligned.

CNote is building a suite of tools to make community investing seamless. CNote’s diligence and underwriting technologies reduce the time to onboard community investments while maintaining stringent underwriting standards and risk controls.

“Historically, there’s been no easy way to quickly source community investments addressing a specific cause like gender equity and the underwriting process and time to investment has been lengthy,” Berman added, “Today, investors can source, deploy and service community investments through CNote’s platform in a matter of days or weeks, not months, and this funding round allows us to continue reducing the barriers to investing in communities across America.”

Over the last 18 months, CNote has earned recognition as an Emerging Impact Manager in the 2020 Impact Assets 50 List and as the “Best Alternative Investments Platform” by Finovate 2020. Since CNote’s inception, investors have helped create more than 3,000 jobs across America and CNote has deployed over 50% of investor capital in BIPOC communities. In October of 2020, Mastercard expanded its partnership with CNote and made a $20 million-dollar commitment into CNote’s cash management solution, the Promise Account. In response to the pandemic, CNote launched the Rapid Response Fund to provide flexible long-term, low-cost capital to help communities recover.

 

About CNote

CNote is a women-led impact investment platform that uses technology to unlock diversified and proven community investments to generate economic mobility and financial inclusion. Every dollar invested on CNote’s platform funds small businesses owned by women and people of color, affordable housing, and economic development in financially underserved communities across America. With the mission of closing the wealth gap, CNote’s customizable products allow anyone to generate social and economic returns by investing in the causes and communities they care about.

Note to Readers – Read the article from Yuliya Tarasava, Co-Founder and COO of CNote on “How Impact Investing Can Change Our Relationship with Money” that she wrote for GreenMoney in 2019.

Additional Articles, Impact Investing, Sustainable Business

Rodale Inst Invests $2M in IVF to Grow Organic Acres

Rodale Institute Invests $2M in IVF to Grow Organic Acres

>> Back to January 2021 Issue
(Above) An agri-penuer working with MN Main Street Project – a beneficiary of Iroquois Valley Farmland – MSP uses a poultry-based regenerative system to develop farming opportunities for Latinx immigrants working in the food system.

Impact investment with Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT will provide farmer-friendly leases, mortgages, and lines of credit for farmers transitioning to organic.

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.

The Board of Directors at Rodale Institute approved the decision to invest a portion of the organization’s endowment fund and general operating budget with Iroquois Valley in an effort to increase land access for organic farmers across the country and boost organic acreage, a core tenet of Rodale Institute’s mission.

Rodale Institute has been researching the benefits of regenerative organic agriculture for over 70 years, focusing on growing the organic movement through science, farmer training, and consumer education. This investment makes Rodale Institute one of the top 5 shareholders in Iroquois Valley, allowing the Institute to support organic farmers while responsibility stewarding its assets and growing its endowment.

Rodale Intitute-In Organic We Trust-1947“Rodale Institute has always been committed to socially responsible investing,” said Maya Rodale, Co-Chair of Rodale Institute’s Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to invest with Iroquois Valley, whose mission to put more organic farmers on more organic acres couldn’t be more in line with ours. We are taking the opportunity to make a difference in the world with our investments—because the future is organic.”

Despite the organic market reaching $55 billion in the U.S. in 2019, only 1% of U.S. farmland is certified organic. Programs like Rodale Institute’s Organic Crop Consulting service, which puts trained agronomists on transitioning farms in a one-on-one mentorship model, are working to bridge that gap. However, land access and capital remain a barrier for potential organic farmers across the United States.

Iroquois Valley seeks to break down those barriers by purchasing farmland and entering into a lease agreement or underwriting a mortgage for organic farmers who are looking to start or expand their operation. Rodale Institute’s investment allows Iroquois Valley to purchase more land and offer those resources to farmers nationwide.

With the availability of farmable land decreasing every year, the power of Iroquois Valley to purchase land quickly for organic farmers who may not have access to traditional funding sources is critical in ensuring the growth of the organic movement. Iroquois Valley also offers lines of credit for organic farmers who need to jumpstart their operation. Iroquois Valley’s portfolio currently includes over 60 farms on more than 13,000 acres in 15 states.

“One of our founding goals at Iroquois Valley was simply to support organic farmers in growing their businesses and stewarding more land,” explained Iroquois Valley co-founder and board chair, Dr. Stephen Rivard. “We believe that more land in organic production is essential to changing both our food and healthcare systems. Rodale Institute’s investment will allow us to deploy more capital to organic and transitioning farmers who are building healthy soils and supporting healthy outcomes for people & planet. We are proud to partner with Rodale Institute and work together toward an organic future.”

Rodale Institute’s impact investment with Iroquois Valley not only increases land access for organic farmers but ensures responsible investment and growth of Rodale Institute’s endowment in a way that aligns with its mission. “Impact investing” refers to investments that provide capital to address social or environmental issues while generating a financial return. Rodale Institute’s bylaws state that “up to 100% of investment assets should be allocated to socially responsible investment opportunities.”

“Investing in farmland is an excellent addition to our already diverse portfolio,” said Elaine Macbeth, Rodale Institute’s Chief Financial Officer. “This addition allows for more stability in our portfolio and creates an investment that is inflation-resistant during adverse market conditions while upholding the mission we work towards every day.”

One example of the direct impact of Rodale Institute’s investment is Main Street Project, a nonprofit based in Northfield, Minnesota. Main Street Project uses a poultry-based regenerative system to develop farming opportunities for Latinx immigrants working in the food system.

Iroquois Valley, through the help of their investors, was able to scale up Main Street Project’s model to a 100-acre farm where the organization can document the economic, ecological, and social impacts of regenerative livestock on a family-farm level. Iroquois Valley’s support has also allowed Main Street Project to increase training opportunities for upcoming and established farmers looking to integrate regenerative poultry.

In addition to advancing the impact of Rodale Institute’s investments, Iroquois Valley is also utilizing Rodale Institute’s research, farmer training, and educational resources, such as consulting, to assist their clients with the economics of transition.

Rodale Institute has always believed that investment in organic agriculture is an investment in rural communities, farm families, and public health. Investing in Iroquois Valley’s diversified portfolio of farmland allows the Rodale Institute to spread its impact across the United States, moving closer to an organic future.

Source: Rodale

Additional Articles, Food & Farming, Impact Investing

New Domini International Opportunities Fund Launched

>> Back to January 2021 Issue

Domini Impact Investments LLC, an investment adviser specializing exclusively in impact investing, recently launched the Domini International Opportunities Fund. This new mutual fund 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. This Fund was built to capitalize on the success of the U.S. equity strategy used by the Domini Impact Equity Fund since December 2018.

“We are excited to replicate the approach of the Domini Impact Equity Fund for use in another region. Investors can now geographically diversify their portfolios while helping promote universal human dignity and ecological sustainability around the world,” said Carole Laible, CEO of Domini.

The Domini International Opportunities Fund combines two unique investment strategies:

  • Core: Through its “Core” strategy, the Fund invests across developed international markets, primarily in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions, and across most industries in a broad, diversified selection of companies that demonstrate strong environmental and social performance relative to their peers, as determined by Domini’s proprietary research and analysis of each company’s impact.
  • Thematic Solutions: Through its “Thematic Solutions” strategy, the Fund adds opportunistic exposure to a select number of solution-oriented companies in which Domini has strong long-term conviction and that it determines support certain sustainability themes, including the low-carbon transition, access to clean water, sustainable food systems, financial inclusion, and more.

Under normal market conditions, Domini expects to allocate approximately 80 to 95 percent of the Fund’s net assets to the Core strategy and the remaining 5 to 20 percent to the Thematic Solutions strategy.

Domini Impact Investment Standards

All of the Fund’s investments are evaluated on environmental and social factors using proprietary research guided by Domini’s Impact Investment Standards. These standards, with fundamental goals of universal human dignity and ecological sustainability, serve as the foundational framework for the research used across all of Domini’s investment strategies.

The Fund will also leverage Domini’s industry-leading engagement experience to amplify its impact. As with all Domini Funds, it will use a combination of engagement tools, including the disciplined use of proxy voting and direct dialogue with corporate management teams.

Domini’s Founder and Chair, Amy Domini, and CEO, Carole Laible, serve as co-portfolio managers for the Fund. Its Investor shares (ticker: RISEX) and Institutional shares (ticker: LEADX) are open to investment as of November 30, 2020.

For more information on Domini International Opportunities Fund, visit domini.com

 

About Domini Impact Investments

Domini Impact Investments LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser specializing exclusively in impact investing. Domini serves individual and institutional investors who wish to create positive environmental and social outcomes while seeking competitive financial returns. Domini applies environmental and social standards to all its investments, believing they can help identify opportunities to provide strong financial rewards while also helping create a more just and sustainable economic system.

Before investing, consider the Domini Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Visit domini.com or contact us at 800-225-FUND for a prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully. An investment in the Domini International Opportunities Fund is not insured and is subject to foreign investing, geographic focus, country, currency, impact investing, recent events and market risks. Investing internationally involves special risks, such as currency fluctuations, social and economic instability, differing security regulations and accounting standards, limited public information, possible changes to taxation, and periods of illiquidity. The Adviser’s evaluation of environmental and social factors in its investment selections and the timing of the Subadviser’s implementation of the Adviser’s investment selections will affect the Fund’s exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, regions and countries and may impact the relative financial performance of the Fund –  positively or negatively – depending on whether such investments are in or out of favor. Public health crises caused by the COVID-19 outbreak may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries and globally. You may lose money.

DSIL Investment Services LLC (DSILD), Distributor, Member FINRA. Domini Impact Investments LLC (Domini) is the Funds’ investment manager. 11/20

Additional Articles, Energy & Climate, Impact Investing, Sustainable Business

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