Investing to positively impact people and the planet
At The Sustainability Group, we’re proud of our ability to help clients make a difference in the lives of real people and in the health of our planet. Through direct impact investing and shareholder advocacy, our clients have combined their passion with their investments to affect positive change. Here are a few examples of this impact over the last 35 years.
Impact through Engagement
Pushing progress on the climate crisis
Several years ago, we encouraged a global payments company—then virtually silent on climate issues—to take concrete steps to reduce its emissions. Today, the company is considered a climate leader in its sector.
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Direct Impact Investing
Helping small businesses navigate the pandemic
In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, this community loan fund doubled down on supporting small enterprises.
Impact through Engagement
Taking on
gun violence
Leveraging our rights as shareholders, we have encouraged corporations across multiple industries to take concrete steps to help end the gun violence epidemic.
Direct Impact Investing
Helping co-ops
succeed
For more than 40 years, we have invested in this community development loan fund, helping cooperatives and nonprofits create jobs and affordable housing in New England.
Impact through Engagement
Shining a light on political expenditures
We pressed two global technology companies to enhance transparency around their political expenditures and to reassess affiliations with associations and trade groups that were misaligned with core operational commitments.
Direct Impact Investing
Nurturing sustainable growth
Our investments in this nonprofit CDFI provide capital and expertise to help people, small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
Impact through Engagement
Protecting human rights through technology
Since 2018, we have engaged a tech giant over the long-term societal and ethical impacts of its technologies.
Direct Impact Investing
Community investing to fight climate change
Our investments in this organization help to expand renewable energy, energy efficiency and green businesses – particularly in areas undergoing economic transitions.
Impact through Engagement
Tackling systemic racism in Corporate America
We wrote to the CEOs of our top holdings pushing them to address systemic racism.
Direct Impact Investing
Building economic opportunity
Our investments in this fund have helped support thousands of local small businesses and affordable housing developments in the Greater D.C. area.
Impact through Engagement
Helping honeybees: Eliminating pesticides
Through a coordinated campaign, we educated retailers on the risks of pesticides to our declining pollinator populations.
Direct Impact Investing
Gender-inclusive agriculture
Our investments in this loan fund help provide economic opportunities for women in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa and Latin America.
Note: All information on Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) is sourced directly from the respective organizations.