Invest with Values

The Investor's Gateway to Positive Change

The Investor's Gateway to Positive Change

3BL-Media

3BLmedia Logo 3BLmedia.com - Founded in 2009, 3BL Media is a leading news distribution and content marketing company focused on niche topics including sustainability, health, energy, education, philanthropy, community and other social and environmental topics. @3BLmedia

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20 Years On: Is Sustainability Reporting Actually Making a Difference?

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It’s a question all sustainability practitioners face: is sustainability reporting making a difference? At GRI, we believe the answer is yes. But we also know there’s still much more that needs to be done to create a sustainable economy and world that lifts people out of poverty while preserving our precious resources. Still, it’s important […]

FedEx to Invest $200 Million in More Than 200 Global Communities by 2020

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MEMPHIS, Tenn., February 3, 2016 /3BL Media/ —FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX) today unveiled its new global giving platform, FedEx Cares. The company will invest $200 million in more than 200 communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver positive change around the world. “FedEx and our team members have a long history of supporting the communities where […]

Responsible Investment Indices Outperform, Again

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The numbers keep coming, in report after report, and they show that Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) tracking socially responsible indices outperform those that track their parent indices. The latest evidence comes from UBS Global Asset Management. It finds that outperformance by socially responsible investment has been happening on a global scale over the last five […]

New Index Sets Benchmarks for Long Term Investment – The Minute

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A new investment index has been launched. It’s the latest result of a growing demand by investors to benchmark the impact of CSR, ESG, and sustainability issues on business valuation. The S&P Long-Term Value Creation Global Index, created by the S&P Dow Jones Indices, measures sustainability criteria and projected investment outcomes over the long term. […]

SASB Announces New Sustainability Accounting Standards

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SASB has announced a new educational program focused on teaching professionals how to identify, manage, and evaluate sustainability topics relevant to the company’s bottom line. This new program is called the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Credential. Nicolai Lundy is the Director of Education for the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) where he oversees SASB’s educational […]

Global Alliance for Banking on Values Advisor David Korslund and First Green Bank CEO Ken LaRoe Talk About Money & Spirit

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  The GABV Scorecard as a Strategic Tool for Values-Based Banking a conversation with David Korslund David Korslund began his banking career at the storied ShoreBank of Chicago, the nation’s first community development finance bank.  He went on to work at a succession of mainstream banking institutions, finally at ABN AMRO, where he had responsibility […]

Investors Integrate Sustainability into Financial Decision-Making

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According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), a sustainability revolution in the global financial industry is quietly gathering pace. A range of financial institutions are beginning to incorporate sustainable development considerations in their financial decision-making. Investors increasingly realize the need for such forward-looking approach to protect the global economy from climate-induced financial distress. France […]

Women Around the World Face Hurdles to Financial Inclusion

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  Presented by MetLife Foundation in collaboration with WSJ. Custom Studios, Multipliers of Prosperity takes a look globally at the challenges we face in confronting the issues of financial inclusion. The program dives deep into what’s working, questions what isn’t and finds the possible fixes. Most importantly, the program chronicles the triumphs of people who […]

A Better Path to Impact Careers for MBAs

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As I stood in front of my booth at the Net Impact Conference Expo, I watched eager MBA students stride between tables. These aren’t your typical MBA students. They’re not interested in climbing the corporate ladder or the highest-paying careers. These MBAs want to use their degrees to create a better world. The exhibit floor was buzzing […]

Give Once, Support Many with America’s Charities New Cause Funds

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  The world of philanthropy is changing – in the workplace and at home.  Donors want more charitable choice.  They want their hard-earned dollars invested in effective, reputable charities that are tackling major issues of critical importance.  They want to amplify the impact of their charitable donations.  And more and more people want to support […]

Do We Have CommonCents?

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It is not often that a corporate foundation will partner with a disruptive [the new buzz word] thinker to  advance a cause, but recently MetLife Foundation did just that. On Monday, December 7, we announced an $8 million, three-year partnership with Dan Ariely, head of Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight, to launch a new laboratory focused […]

Socially Responsible Investment Gaining Ground in Europe

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Wealthy European investors are beginning to see the long term value in sustainable funds. They are increasingly looking to Socially Responsible Investments (SRI’s), a form of investment that is dynamic and a solution. SRI’s combine financial objectives with social, ethical and environmental issues. Between June 2012 and June 2013, the U.K. saw ethical assets increase […]

Infographic: A Snapshot of Financial Health in 3 Countries

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Presented by MetLife Foundation in collaboration with WSJ. Custom Studios, Multipliers of Prosperity takes a look globally at the challenges we face in confronting the issues of financial inclusion. The program dives deep into what’s working, questions what isn’t and finds the possible fixes. Most importantly, the program chronicles the triumphs of people who have […]

Capital Markets Heading for Value 2.0

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“Impact Investing is still a small part of the capital markets. But the returns on these investments are good enough to attract vastly larger amounts of capital. And governments, through financial and other incentives, can further encourage the allocation of capital to investments using environmental, social and governance criteria.” —Robert Glauber, Harvard Kennedy School of […]

Responsible Investing Practice at Northern Trust

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  Northern Trust is an advocate of the highest ESG standards. We fully acknowledge that the long-term financial success of our clients and shareholders depends on a healthy global environment, a stable society and well-functioning companies. In our daily operations and strategic planning, we strive to mitigate our environmental impact and improve our social and governance procedures. As a leading investment manager […]

U.S. Trust Launches Carbon Reserve-Free Strategy

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New Component of Socially Innovative Investing Strategy Expands Access to Investments in Carbon Divestment-compliant Companies   December 16, 2015 /3BL Media/ – U.S. Trust launched a new component of its proprietary and customizable Socially Innovative Investing (S2I) strategy. The Carbon Reserve-Free Strategy (CRF) offers investors who want to express their environmental values the opportunity to invest […]

Enable Impact Helps Two Social Enterprises Raise $250,000 Each

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(3BL Media/Justmeans) – Social enterprises are usually more inclined to innovate and experiment than conventional business models because they are typically designed to fill a gap in existing services not likely to be addressed by private sector companies. A key challenge for early-stage social ventures is how to find relevant investors quickly and cost-effectively. This […]

Part Two: COP21 and the Effects of Carbon on an Investment Portfolio

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By, Jon Duncan, Head of Responsible Investment, Old Mutual Investment Group Dec 9, 2015 11:30 AM ET Tweet This: Part 2: .@OldMutualSA discussing the impact of carbon on investment portfolios #COP21 http://3bl.me/c9d7f6 Article Read Part One: Jon Duncan, Old Mutual’s Head of Responsible Investment Writes About COP21 and the Effects of Carbon on an Investment Portfolio The […]

Part One: Jon Duncan, Old Mutual’s Head of Responsible Investment Writes About COP21 and the Effects of Carbon on an Investment Portfolio

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Who would want to argue with NASA when they say this about climate change? “97% of climate scientists agree that climate warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.” — http://climate.nasa.gov/ Yet, some members of […]

Spending Valuable Time on Financial Education

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  Research by the Money Advice Service maintains that adult habits around money can be formed as early as the age of seven. And in this fast evolving technical age, where the whole, traditional transaction of purchase is often unseen (just look at iTunes and Uber), Visa Europe believes that teaching young people money management […]

What’s the Real Story? Reading Between the ESG Lines

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  CHICAGO, December 7, 2015 /3BL Media/ – While the triple bottom line is now an established principle in sustainability circles, moving from the platitudes in CSR reports to the hard data investors seek to understand the ROI of these measures involves a far more rigorous approach to disclosure. In a recent presentation to SRI, JLL’s General […]

A Better Path to Impact Careers for MBAs

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Guest blog by Ryan Steinbach, Net Impact As I stood in front of my booth at the Net Impact Conference Expo, I watched eager MBA students stride between tables. These aren’t your typical MBA students. They’re not interested in climbing the corporate ladder or the highest-paying careers. These MBAs want to use their degrees to create a […]

Wall Street And World’s Largest Asset Managers are Awake to Climate Change

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(3BL Media/Justmeans) – Decarbonising the global economy is an ambitious plan. Now, corporate leaders understand the size of the challenge and the importance of meeting it. We are on the threshold of an economic revolution that will transform how we think about productive activity and growth. Wall Street is waking up to climate-conscious investing; financial […]

Impact Investing in Emerging Economies Promises Competitive Advantage

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(3BL Media/Justmeans) – The environmental footprint of global companies has an economic cost that affects their valuations and competitiveness. The risk of environmental damage increases when these companies have a substantial presence in emerging markets. Even institutional investors with significant exposure to emerging markets may have liabilities for unsustainable operations in the developing world. The […]

Bloomberg partner CDP launches their US Climate Change Report

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  Wall Street is waking up to climate-conscious investing. Financial giants are acquiring investment boutiques and quickly building departments to address environmental opportunities and risks. The world’s largest asset managers are designing products that capture the full returns of the S&P500 and other indexes but with half of their greenhouse gas emissions, and adding green […]

Millennials and Scaling Social Finance

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“Generation Lost: Engaging Millennials with Retirement Saving” is a new study by BNY Mellon and Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge that surveyed 1,253 millennials between July and September this year. In this extract from the study, BNY Mellon’s John Buckley, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, talks about bringing social finance to scale. […]

Good Advice for Corporate Boards on Sustainability From Bob Eccles – Prominent Harvard Business School Voice

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Professor Bob Eccles of Harvard Business School is out front and very vocal on key corporate sustainability issues (like the global Integrated Reporting movement and continued expansion of sustainable investing). In a Forbes commentary he offers advice for corporate leadership on “how to show corporate leadership [in sustainability], posing the question to boards and C-suite:  “What progress are […]

Reflections from a Waypoint in First Green Bank’s Regenerative Journey

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  Over the course of the first six months of Capital Institute‘s Year in the Life of a Regenerative Bank project, we have talked to the stakeholders of First Green Bank about the critical challenges they face as the bank works to embed its regenerative-values-based mission into its day-to-day operations and to balance the profit motive against […]

Wells Fargo Invests $1,000,000 in Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers

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Investment will provide small business loans for emerging entrepreneurs   MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 16, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced it has provided a $1,000,000 Equity Equivalent Investment (EQ2) to Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD), a 501(c)3 organization that provides small business loans and technical assistance to emerging entrepreneurs who […]

Play BIG: From Isolation Towards Integration

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  by Marian Moore, co-founder & convener of Play BIG. For six years, RSF Social Finance has been the primary organizational partner for Play BIG, an intimate annual convening I lead that espouses the idea of activating one’s “whole portfolio” to mission. Play BIG emerged from pioneering work that Carol Newell funded in British Columbia. […]

RSF Social Finance Loan to Froozer Helps Bring Whole Produce to Schools, Hospitals

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  SAN FRANCISCO, November 11, 2015 /3BL Media/ ­– Obesity and diabetes rates in the United States have hit an all-time high. More than two in three American adults are considered overweight today, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a health research center. Children are no better off, reporting skyrocketing increases in new […]

Active Viewpoint: Stranded Assets

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David Sheasby, Head of Governance and Sustainability at Martin Currie Shares His Perspective   “Imagine the scenario. A large multinational with a secure market position, steady cash flows and a healthy balance sheet suddenly and unexpectedly gets news of a regulatory change that will have a significantly negative impact on its business. Almost overnight the […]

Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association Receives an Outstanding on its First-Ever Rating from Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for Community Reinvestment Initiatives

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SOURCE: Morgan Stanley DESCRIPTION: NEW YORK, October 26, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, a national bank subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, has been recognized with the highest rating from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for its excellent record in meeting the needs of the communities it serves.  […]

VEDC and JPMorgan Chase Announce Loan Fund for African American-Owned Small Businesses

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NEW YORK, October 23, 2015 /3BL Media/ – VEDC and JPMorgan Chase & Co. today announced a new lending program for African American-owned small businesses in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. The National African American Small Business Loan Fund will boost economic opportunity for minority-owned businesses in these cities and help them serve low-income […]

From Boomers to Millennials: How to Design an Employee Giving Program that Engages All of Your People

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We’re approaching that time of year again, when charities start to make end-of-year fundraising asks, and employers launch what, for most, is their annual workplace giving campaign. Before you take that dusty giving campaign playbook off the shelf, you should know that participation in conventional company-led efforts needs improvement. Between 2006 and 2012, America’s Charities […]

Walking Off Wall Street

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  I have read the Wall Street Journal cover-to-cover nearly every business day for the last 20 years. It’s been a central part of my financial education, and has allowed me to research a myriad of topics that I did not immediately understand. Steadily, I have increased my knowledge of highly specialized financial structures and […]

RSF Social Finance Employee Profile: Tim Green

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  As part of RSF’s Social Impact Assessment (as mentioned in RSF’s 2014 Annual Report), we ask staff to answer a series of questions about how our organizational culture and organizational purpose impacts them. This is based on the understanding that “self-work” is the foundation for transforming the way the world works with money. The […]

Shareholders Achieve Major Corporate Sustainability Improvements

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October 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Following another record-breaking season for climate-related shareholder resolutions and company engagements, the sustainability advocacy nonprofit group Ceres today released a report on the implementation of corporate commitments made to shareholders. The analysis found that shareholder resolutions and company dialogues helped spur over 100 corporate commitments in 2014 and 2015 […]

New Profits, New Values

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$4.7 trillion: that’s the total of assets in the U.S. invested using ESG standards, an amount that grew eight times between 2012 and 2014. With this exponential growth has come a question about transparency. Financial Advisor reports on a recent study by US SIF, a nonprofit organization that represents U.S. organizations, institutions and individuals engaged […]

Ethics and Profits: ESG Investing Grows in Mainstream Markets

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The debate in the investment sector between maximizing returns versus consideration of ethics has taken an historic turn—as in eliminating “versus” and inserting “and,” according to Global Capital. That’s the summary of a report by the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment, based on 50 interviews with investors, lawyers, and regulators. PRI, set up to promote […]

What’s Next for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?

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John Buckley, BNY Mellon’s global head of CSR, reflects on the adoption of the UN’s sustainable development goals and discusses why rule of law and social finance are critical to their success. SOURCE: BNY Mellon DESCRIPTION: This past weekend marked an important milestone in tackling the world’s development challenges: the United Nations (UN) General Assembly […]

Bank of America Launches Directory Listing Sources of Capital for Small Businesses

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Directory Designed to Create More Awareness of Available Funding SOURCE: Bank of America DESCRIPTION: CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 1, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Bank of America announced today the launch of an online community development financial institution (CDFI) directory to connect small businesses to more capital. This nationwide directory, www.bankofamerica.com/cdfi, will enable entrepreneurs and small business owners […]

Bloomberg’s New Tool Integrates Water Risk Considerations in Equity Valuation Process

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Bloomberg Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Data and Tools SOURCE: Bloomberg DESCRIPTION: Originally posted on Justmeans. Bloomberg offers a suite of ESG data, tools and research on the terminal. The newest addition is the Water Risk Valuation Tool – a practical, high-level demonstration tool that illustrates how water risk can be incorporated into company valuation […]

Achieving Impact! 2015 – Community Investment in Canada

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TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2015 /3BL Media/– In 2014, 36 LBG Canada companies invested $428 million dollars in community. When including funds leveraged from external stakeholders, this total increases to $551 million dollars. Over the course of the next two days, 65 community investment professionals will gather at the RBC Centre for Achieving Impact! 2015, the annual national […]