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NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | SHAREOWNER ACTION | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Impact Measurement Can Drive Business Value
The Global Impact Investing Network surveys impact investors and learns that in addition to environmental and social benefits, measuring their investments can improve financial performance.

NEWS STORY: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Financial Stability Board to Review Governance Principles
The international body, formed to promote financial stability following the global financial crisis, seeks to determine how its member jurisdictions have implemented the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Community Capital Management Publishes Annual Impact Report
In a webinar, Chief Impact Investment Officer David Sand emphasizes the importance the sustainable fixed income firm places on environmental and social impacts.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Obama to Propose New Fee on Oil
Citing the opportunities in addressing climate change, the President's budget proposal will include a $10 per barrel fee on oil that will be used to build a sustainable national transportation infrastructure.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY | MUTUAL FUNDS
Community Capital Management a Top Fund Performer in 2015
The fund tracker Morningstar ranks the performance of the firm's fixed income investment product among the top one percent of 309 funds in the intermediate government category.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | FIXED INCOME
Green Bond Investments Reach $600 Billion
The fourth edition of Bonds and Climate Change, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative, reports that 70% of climate-aligned bonds are invested in low-carbon transport, while another 20% focus on clean energy.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | CARBON MANAGEMENT | HUMAN RIGHTS
Laudato Si Makes Waves Throughout Society
Sustainable investors and climate deniers alike weigh in with responses and reactions to Pope Francis's landmark encyclical on climate change. Second in a two-part series.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | CARBON MANAGEMENT | HUMAN RIGHTS
Pope Francis Delivers Encyclical on Climate Change
The Pope makes explicit the connection between climate action, poverty, and morality, and calls for a radical shift away from current failures and toward an “ecological conversion” instead. First in a two-part series.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Community Capital Management Expands Green Bond Offerings
The fixed income investment adviser offers opportunities for sustainable investors to meet their community investment mission.

INTERVIEW: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
At Yale, John Fullerton Presents on Regenerative Capitalism
Speaking to the generation that will have to reverse the course of multiple crises, the founder of the Capital Institute envisions a holistic organization of social systems to replace the current reductionist and competitive approach. Third of a three-part series.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Regenerative Capitalism Seeks Radical Overhaul of Financial System
John Fullerton, the founder of the Capital Institute, writes that the transition of an “antisocial” global financial system to one aligned with our understanding that “living systems are both sustainable and regenerative” is underway. But is the evolution decisive enough to solve the crises of our age? Second of a three-part series.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Forest Conservation Strategy Wins Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge
Four students from the Haas School of Business are awarded the $10 thousand grand prize for developing an institutional investment vehicle that will help alleviate drought and reduce forest fire risk.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Market for Conservation Investments Expected to Grow Dramatically
A first ever report on the practice of conservation investing, co-authored by The Nature Conservancy, anticipates that private investment will triple by 2018, from $2 billion to nearly $6 billion.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Community Capital Management Outlines Plans for $100 Million in Rural Development Bonds
The Florida based fixed income investment adviser published a report in which it reveals that it plans to invest $100 million in bonds financing rural community development.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Report Analyzes Impact Investing Funds
The Global Impact Investing Network reports on more than 300 impact investment funds that direct investments by foundations and high net worth individuals to social and environmental opportunities in North America and emerging markets.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Second Global Sustainable Investment Association Review Published
Negative screening persists as the investment strategy most often practiced, but integration of environmental, social, and corporate governance considerations into financial analysis has grown at the fastest rate over the last two years.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Eurosif Updates Study of Sustainable Investment in Europe
The sixth study published by the European Sustainable Investment Forum since 2003 details a continuing increase in assets devoted to aligning investments with social and environmental goals, and includes a lengthy analysis of the phenomenon of impact investing.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Extreme Weather and the Need for Resilient Power
Clean Energy Group continues its Resilient Power Project with a report outlining strategies for financing energy generation alternatives that can remain operative during extreme weather events.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Founder of Hope Credit Union Receives 2014 Ned Gramlich Award for Responsible Finance
Bill Bynum, CEO of the Mississippi-based Hope Credit Union, is awarded for his efforts to advance economic opportunity in low-income communities.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Only 10% of Distressed Asset Stabilization Loans Require Neighborhood Stabilization
A report by the Center for American Progress finds some benefits to homeowners in the Federal Housing Agency program, but recommends that many more be included in the Neighborhood Stabilization pool. Second of a two-part series.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Federal Program Helps Wall Street, not Homeowners
Distressed mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration are being sold to the highest bidder without regard to neighborhood stabilization. First of a two-part series.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FOOD INDUSTRY | FIXED INCOME
$50 Million to be Invested in Sustainable Agriculture
Community Capital Management commits to investing $50 million of fixed income investments in sustainable agriculture initiatives.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Three CDFIs receive NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance
The annual awards, which focused this year on expanding affordable housing, will presented at the annual meeting of the Opportunity Finance Network in October.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FIXED INCOME
Opportunities for Green Bond Investment Increasing
The investment advisory firm Community Capital Management publishes a white paper describing several green bond opportunities that have become increasingly popular among sustainable fixed income investors.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Two Sustainable Investment Funds Reach Milestones
Community Capital Management's flagship fixed income fund celebrates its fifteenth anniversary, and the fossil fuel free Green Century Equity Fund reaches $100 million in net assets.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
California CDFI First Recipient of Guaranteed Treasury Bond
Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institution will use the $100 million bond to finance community development projects in California and Nevada.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Wisconsin CDFI Wins 2014 NEXT Seed Capital Award
Impact Seven, a nonprofit community development financial institution, wins the unrestricted $100,000 grant for its program for preserving affordable housing in multifamily rental units in rural Wisconsin.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
New Jersey Creates Energy Resilience Bank
The state-run bank will use disaster relief funds issued following Superstorm Sandy to help finance energy resilience by increasing the number of distributed energy resources.

NEWS STORY: SOCIAL ISSUES | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT
Indigenous Rights Help Prevent Deforestation
A report by the World Resources Institute and the Rights and Resources Initiative concludes that autonomous decision-making by native peoples results in improved community benefits and greater carbon storage.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Finalists for Annual CDFI Awards Announced
Opportunity Finance Network announces that four community development financial institutions are finalists for $8.25 million in awards provided annually for safe and affordable housing in low-income communities.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Privatization Harms Public Services
A working paper published by the UK-based New Economics Foundation calls for a model of co-production of social services, in which front-line service providers and service recipients collaborate.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Community Development Financial Institutions Improve Financial Stability
The annual report on the state of the CDFI industry by the National Community Investment Fund anticipates an evolution that will improve revenues and fulfill mission of community development.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Opportunity Finance Network Reports on Starbucks Partnership
The national network of community development financial institutions joined with Starbucks in 2011 to form Create Jobs For USA, an initiative to fund sustainable jobs in underserved communities.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Third National Climate Assessment Published
In its new report, the US Global Change Research Program asserts that the effects of climate change have already become a present day concern, and announces the launch of a website to help Americans receive reliable scientific information.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Automated Financial Reporting for CDFIs Launched
The CDFI Assessment and Ratings System developed by CARS allows community development financial institutions to share quarterly performance data with their investors.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
News Briefs for March 20th
Green Century Capital Management releases an animated fossil fuel free investing video, and Community Capital Management announces the launch of the CCM Alternative Income Fund.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CDFIs Pledge $1 Billion to Support My Brother's Keeper
Opportunity Finance Network launches campaign for $1 billion annually in new financing by community development financial institutions, to benefit low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged communities across America.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | CORPORATE REPORTING | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Community Capital Management Publishes First Impact Report
The Florida-based fixed-income investment adviser reports on its use of proceeds and the social programs financed by its investment activities.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY
$10 Million Investment to Prevent Coffee Rust
A coalition including Green Mountain Coffee helps fund Root Capital's Coffee Farmer Resilience Initiative, which seeks to stabilize supply chains by battling the coffee leaf rust fungus in Central America.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY | FIXED INCOME
Community Capital Management Commits $200 Million to Community Development
The fixed income investment advisory firm announces its first Clinton Global Initiative America commitment, and will invest at least $200 million over the next year to help revitalize low-income communities.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTIITUTIONS
CDFI Fund Awards over $172 Million to Community Development Financial Institutions
191 community development financial institutions will use awards from US Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to provide lending and investments in low-income and economically distressed communities.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Three Community Lenders Awarded $8.25 Million
Opportunity Finance Network presents the 2013 Wells Fargo NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance to three community lenders for their pioneering strategies for financial products and services in low-income communities.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Entrepreneurs to Advertise for Investment through Crowdfunding
SocialFunds.com talks with Judd Hollas of EquityNet about the implications of a change in SEC rules that will allow small businesses to advertise to accredited investors for capital.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Global Impact Investing Network Publishes Guide to ESG Metrics for Investors
The Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) is a set of metrics designed to evaluate both a corporation's financial performance and its environmental, social, and governance impacts.

NEWS STORY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | WATER SCARCITY
As Consumption Declines, Water Utilities Need New Pricing Models
A report from Ceres and the University of North Carolina reveals that the current pricing models used by water utilities are inadequate at a time when they face considerable infrastructure costs.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Community Investment Practitioners Urged to Diversify Approaches
A new report published by US SIF notes barriers to increased community investment but finds that the industry is poised for expansion if practitioners can diversify products and marketing.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Impact Economy Produces Analysis of Impact Investing
The authors identify trends that are likely to encourage an increase in impact investing, but fail to distinguish the definition for it from that of sustainable investing.

NEWS STORY: SHAREOWNER ACTION | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT
US SIF Offers Guides on Climate Change Investment for Retail and Institutional Investors
Warning of the urgent crisis that is climate change, the guides provide basic information on voting proxies, filing shareowner resolutions, and public policy advocacy.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
Report Touts Inclusive Business as Means for Reducing Poverty in Africa
The African Facility for Inclusive Markets calls on diverse stakeholders to help create appropriate conditions for the growth of inclusive business in Africa and bring the benefits of economic growth directly to the poor.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
More than $90 Million Invested in SJF Ventures Fund
SJF Ventures, a sustainable venture capital partnership, conducts the final closing of its SJF Ventures III fund with more than $90 million in equity investments in cleantech and technology-enhanced services.

NEWS STORY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRIES
Subsidizing Fossil Fuels Hinders Investment in Renewables
A paper from the Overseas Development Institute calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies in order to help mobilize private investment in climate-compatible development in developing nations.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
US SIF Launches Online Course on Sustainable Investment
The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment launches the Center for Sustainable Investment Education and the first online course offering of its kind in the US.

NEWS BRIEF: SHAREOWNER ACTION | CORPORATE REPORTING | UTILITIES
Investors Want Better Disclosure from Municipal Water Utilities
Basing their requests on a framework developed by Ceres, 12 investors write to the National Federation of Municipal Analysts, asking for improved disclosure to ensure that all material information is provided.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Root Capital Surpasses $500 Million in Lending to Agricultural Businesses
Helping to address a need that has been estimated at $450 billion, the agricultural lender anticipates $1 billion in loans over the next five years to small agricultural businesses in developing nations.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | SOCIAL ISSUES | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CDFI Fund to Focus on Financing of Community Health Centers
The Financing Community Health Centers series will provide training and technical assistance to community development financial institutions to help them expand the financing of community health centers.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Pax World Adds TIAA-CREF to ESG Managers Portfolio
TIAA-CREF's fixed-income Social Choice Bond Fund, launched in September, will be included in the Moderate and Conservative portfolios of the series of asset allocation funds.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Sustainable Investment Forums Form International Alliance
The Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, consisting of seven major sustainable membership organizations, publishes a survey of global trends in sustainable investment.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Cuomo Proposes $1 Billion Green Bank for New York
The bank will leverage public funds with private sector investment to hasten the transition to a clean economy and environment in New York State.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Sustainable Investment Assets Continue Growth in Canada
The biennial report by the Social Investment Organization of Canada reveals that sustainable assets under management now represent 20% of the total.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Feds Hand Foreclosure Relief over to Banks
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Board reach an agreement with ten mortgage servicers that will end the Independent Foreclosure Review and instead provide $3.3 billion in direct payments to eligible borrowers.

NEWS STORY: SHAREOWNER ACTION | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Top Sustainable Investment Stories of 2012, Part 3
For some institutional investors, shareowner tactics evolve from resolutions to engagement, and proposals addressing hydraulic fracturing focus concerns on community impacts.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FIXED-INCOME INVESTING
Community Capital Management Helps Fund Sandy Relief
The fixed income investment manager announces that through its CRA Qualified Investment Fund it will dedicate $100 million in assets toward investing in recovery from the hurricane.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
US SIF Publishes Biennial Sustainable Investment Trends Report
The 2012 Trends Report notes a total of $3.74 trillion in assets allocated to sustainable investment, a 22% increase over a two-year period.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FIXED INCOME | EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
Community Capital Management Invests over $4 Million on Behalf of Sustainable ETF
The Florida-based fixed income investment manager, one of the portfolio managers for the AdvisorShares Global Echo exchange-traded fund, invests in projects that promote job creation and provide housing for low- and moderate-income residents.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Founder of New Hampshire Community Loan Fund Wins Responsible Finance Award
Juliana Eades, President and founding Executive Director of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, receives the fifth annual Ned Gramlich Award for Responsible Finance from Opportunity Finance Network.

NEWS BRIEF: SHAREOWNER ACTION | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
ICCR Ally Succeeds in Bank of America Engagement
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement persuades Bank of America to help homeowners in Virginia county hit hard by mortgage crisis.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Three Community Development Financial Institutions Receive 2012 NEXT Awards
Primary Care Development Corporation will receive $4.25 million to expand beyond New York State, while Clearinghouse CDFI and the Corporation for Supportive Housing each receive awards of $2 million.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Growth of Sustainable Investment in Europe Continues to Outpace the Overall Market
In its fifth biennial survey of sustainable investment in Europe, Eurosif identifies norms-based screening as the fastest-growing strategy, and urges improved communications to encourage greater uptake of sustainable investment by retail investors.

NEWS BRIEF: SOCIAL ISSUES | HUMAN RIGHTS | EXTRACTIVES INDUSTRIES
Extractives Commitment to Human Rights Improving
But research from Oxfam America indicates that policies supporting Free, Prior, and Informed Consent must include a transition from resource extraction to development partnerships.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
Congress Unlikely to Pass 2012 Farm Bill in Time
As severe cuts in the food stamp program and assistance to farmers seem more likely, the responsibility for building a sustainable food supply falls to sustainable investors and other key stakeholders.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONA INVESTORS
Muhammad Yunus, Father of Microcredit and Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, to Address SRI Conference
The founder of the Grameen Bank will be the keynote speaker at October's SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing, which will also feature author Deepak Chopra and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Second of a two-part series.

INTERVIEW: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Rebranded, the SRI Conference Heads East
SocialFunds.com talks with Steve Schueth of First Affirmative Financial Network about the history of the conference and the decision to locate it at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut this year. First of a two-part series.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT
New York City Codifies Climate Change Adaptation
The legislation, which will require the city's Climate Change Adaptation Task Force to update its assessment of the effects of climate change every three years, is the first ordinance from a US city to use latest climate science to develop adaptation strategies.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES |RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Treasury Bonds Issue Will Help Fund Clean Energy Deployment
The Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act would both provide for the sale of US Treasury Bonds to help finance clean energy technologies, and extend the federal Production Tax Credit for wind energy.

INTERVIEW: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE| EMERGING MARKETS
Emerging Markets ESG Updates Database of Contacts
SocialFunds.com talks with Geoffrey Mazullo, whose twenty years of involvement with environmental, social, and corporate governance issues in emerging markets have provided him with a wealth of data and contacts compiled in a unique resource.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
A Record Amount of Dollars Awarded by CDFI Fund in 2012
Almost $187 million is awarded to 210 community development financial institutions that provide financial services to distressed communities that are often overlooked by mainstream financial institutions.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | CMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS | AGRICULTURE
How to Fund a Sustainable Food System
RSF Social Finance publishes a report on steps investors can take to help build a just and sustainable food system in the US.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Finalists for 2012 Wells Fargo NEXT Awards Announced
Three community development financial institutions are named as finalists for $8.25 million award to expand affordable housing, health care, or community facilities in distressed markets.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
College Endowments Lagging in Sustainable Investment
Once leaders in sustainable investment and shareowner advocacy, college and university endowments now lag behind many mainstream institutions in the uptake of environmental, social, and corporate governance investment criteria.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Community Investment Options Increase but Barriers Remain
A report from US SIF details an increasing number of community investment options, but low awareness, perceptions of low returns and high risk, and increased regulatory scrutiny remain as barriers to a wider uptake of the practice.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | CORPORATE REPORTING | FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
A Giant Leap Forward, or Unsustainable Business as Usual?
The Natural Capital Declaration, launched at Rio+20, aspires to properly value the environment in financial transactions, but at least one nongovernmental organization argues that the pricing of environmental assets is a fatally flawed solution.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | SMALL BUSINESSES
Business Leaders Call for Sustainable Economic Recovery
Members of the American Sustainable Business Council visit the White House for a summit in which they describe a market that accounts for externalities and benefits all participants.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CDFIs Rebound from Financial Crisis
The National Community Investment Fund reports that 88 certified community development financial institutions earned a net income of $82 million in 2011, reversing a two-year decline.

NEWS BRIEF: SOCIAL ISSUES | HUMAN RIGHTS | CHILD LABOR
Guidance for Corporate Respect for Children Is Published
Children are Everyone's Business, a workbook published by UNICEF, guides companies in the integration of children's rights into core business practices.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
Fund Seeks to Improve the Lives of East African Farmers
The Global Impact Investing Network publishes a case study of the African Agricultural Capital Fund, which invests in environmentally sustainable agriculture projects to benefit the rural poor in sub-Saharan Africa.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
Time for Investment in Africa Is Now
The second annual Ernst & Young survey of investment in Africa finds a distinct perception gap between the overwhelmingly positive responses of investors already doing business in Africa, and the possibly outmoded views of those who do not.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT| FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Advocates for a Fair Economy Call for End to Payday Lending by Banks
A coalition including several sustainable investment organizations ask federal regulators to investigate banks offering payday lending, which can trap low-income borrowers into a cycle of debt with interest rates as high as 417%.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | CORPORATE REPORTING |
More Stakeholders Call for Meaningful Action at Rio+20
The International Institute for Environment and Development outlines a three-point plan to ensure that government negotiators account for the needs of local communities through sufficient aid and realistic valuation of natural capital.

NEWS BRIEF: SHAREOWNER ACTION | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
JP Morgan Chase Holds Annual Meeting Days After $2 Billion Loss
A resolution calling for improved corporate governance through separating the roles of Chair and CEO gains 40% of shareowner support.

NEWS STORY: SHAREOWNER ACTION | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
ICCR Responds to Vatican Investigation of US Nuns
The all-male Church hierarchy apparently wants less social justice work by women religious in the US, and more outspoken opposition to homosexuality, abortion, and women's ordination.

NEWS STORY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
UNDP Reports on Outlook for Sustainable Development in Asia-Pacific
Exploring both widespread poverty and the impacts of climate change on the region, the report warns that the private sector and other stakeholders must act in order to galvanize government action.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY | EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS
New Exchange Traded Fund Will Support Sustainability Themes
A portion of the assets of AdvisorShares Global Echo ETF will support the Global Echo Foundation, a charitable foundation co-founded by Philippe Cousteau.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
Shared Interest to Reach More Low-Income South Africans
The investment fund's Campaign for the Next Generation seeks to provide opportunities for an additional 500,000 low-income South Africans, while reforming the practice of mainstream banking.

NEWS BRIEF: CORPORATE REPORTING | CARBON MANAGEMENT | GREEN JOBS
Green Jobs Topped Three Million in 2010
In its first-ever tally of green jobs, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 3.1 million jobs in businesses that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | CORPORATE REPORTING | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
$1 Million Grant to Automate Reporting by Community Development Financial Institutions
The grant from Citi Foundation will help the CDFI Assessment and Ratings System automate its financial performance data collection system for community development financial institutions.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | MICROFINANCE
Initiative of Calvert Foundation Seeks to Invest in Women
A $1 million grant from the Citi Foundation launches the Calvert Foundation's Women Investing in Women Initiative, which seeks to raise $20 million for economic opportunities for women.

NEWS BRIEF: SOCIAL ISSUES | HUMAN RIGHTS | CHILDREN
Business is Encouraged to Uphold Children's Rights
The Children's Rights and Business Principles call on companies to expand their commitment beyond child labor and develop policies and due diligence to actively ensure that the rights of children are respected.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SJF Ventures Announces Initial Closing of Impact Investment Fund
Capitalized entirely by private investment, the $75 million SJF Ventures III fund will target growth-stage cleantech companies with positive impacts on low-to-moderate income communities.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | MICROFINANCE | EMERGING MARKETS
Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance Publishes Compendium of Case Studies
The Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance wraps up its first year with case studies designed to help provide sustainable financial products and services to the world's poor.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
UN Adaptation Database Highlights Corporate Sustainability Efforts
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change publishes an online database featuring case studies of climate change adaptation activities undertaken by private companies.

BOOK REVIEW: BOOK REVIEW | SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
Book Review: Evolutions in Sustainable Investing: Strategies, Funds and Thought Leadership
Trucost executive Cary Krosinsky edits a book of essays demonstrating that sustainable investment in an era of growing resource scarcity yields significant opportunities for portfolio outperformance.

NEWS STORY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | WATER SCARCITY | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Ceres Aqua Gauge Helps Investors and Companies Manage Water Risk
As population growth and climate change make water risk management an issue for investors and companies to address without delay, the Ceres Aqua Gauge provides a framework for evaluating corporate strategies.

NEWS STORY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT
Climate Change and COP17 from an African Perspective
SocialFunds.com talks with Graham Sinclair, President of AfricaSIF, about his impressions of the recently concluded climate change conference held in South Africa.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | WATER RESOURCES AND SCARCITY
Shortfall in Water Infrastructure Investment Could Reach $84 Billion by 2020
The American Society of Civil Engineers warns of environmental and public health consequences of a failing water infrastructure, and maintains that private investment is crucial to reversing current investment trends.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | IMPACT INVESTORS
New Report Surveys Current State of Impact Investing
The Global Impact Investing Network finds that impact investors often provide debt investments to microfinance institutions in emerging markets, but provides little to distinguish the practice from sustainable investing.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FIXED INCOME INVESTING
Community Capital Management's Flagship Fund Surpasses $1 Billion in Assets
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Qualified Investment CRA Shares fund, which helps banks meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, now has over 300 bank shareowners.

NEWS STORY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Green Retrofits Outpace New Construction for First Time
The US Green Building Council says that LEED-certified square footage of existing buildings now exceeds that of new construction.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Crowdfunding to Help Small Business Development in Underserved Communities
Opportunity Finance Network and Starbucks collaborate on Create Jobs for USA, which will leverage donations to fund small business job creation in communities hit hardest by the recession.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Populist Outrage Takes on Big Banks
Today is Bank Transfer Day, and consumers are encouraged to move their accounts from megabanks to credit unions and community development banks.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
New SJF Ventures Fund Is Designated a SBIC Impact Fund
The North Carolina-based venture capital partnership receives green light to capitalize a $75 million fund that will invest in cleantech startups in low-to-middle income communities.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CDFIs from Maine and Pennsylvania are 2011 NEXT Awardees
Coastal Enterprises will expand its Working Partner Initiative, while The Progress Fund will expand and support replication of its Trail Town Program.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Ignoring Stalemate in Congress, States Still Embrace Energy Efficiency
Massachusetts displaces California in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's fifth study of states' energy efficiency efforts.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Billion Dollar Green Challenge to Universities: $1 Billion in Green Energy Investments
32 universities already commit $65 million to self-managed green revolving funds.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SRI in the Rockies: CDFI Fund Director Donna Gambrell Delivers Keynote Address
Gambrell challenges sustainable investors to help "realize the tremendous potential that exists for a partnership" with the CDFI industry.

NEWS STORY: SHAREOWNER ACTION | CORPORATE REPORTING
SRI in the Rockies: Public Policy as a Strategic Tool for Sustainable Investment
Leading voices for shareowner action discuss public policy engagement at this year's SRI in the Rockies conference.

NEWS BRIEF: CORPORATE REPORTING | EMERGING MARKETS
Asian Companies Show Improvement in ESG Reporting
As sustainable investors increasingly turn their attention to emerging markets, EIRIS finds that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance by Asian companies needs improvement.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
New Equity Fund to Invest $25 Million in East African Agribusiness
Members of the Global Impact Investing Network will invest $25 million to grow small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector of the region.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Clinton Praises $10 Billion Green Infrastructure Investment
The Investment and Training for American Infrastructure, launched by the AFL-CIO and the American Federations of Teachers, commits $10 billion in investment in energy-efficient infrastructure improvement and will train 140,000 workers.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
CalPERS to Quadruple Investment in California Infrastructure
Pension fund earmarks $800 million for investments of at least $150 million in infrastructure projects that support essential community services.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FIXED INCOME ASSETS
Sustainable Initiatives Supported by Fixed Income Investing
A white paper from Community Capital Management describes five categories of fixed income investments that can support environmental and social goals while providing competitive returns.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | AGRICULTURE | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
PRI Launches Farmland Initiative
Eight institutional investors join to develop the Principles for Responsible Investment in Farmland, to ensure that investment in farmland is sustainable and transparent.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Report Surveys Ten-Year Performance of Community Development Banking Institutions
The National Community Investment Fund reports that community development banking institutions have risks and returns comparable to mainstream banks, while offering far greater social impact.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | WATER
Cap-and-Trade Program for Water Quality Advances
The Electric Power Research Institute receives a $1 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture for its Ohio River Basin Water Quality Trading Project, which seeks to improve watersheds at lower cost.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Bond Program Will Increase Funding for CDFIs
Mark Pinsky of the Opportunity Finance Network talks with SocialFunds.com about the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, which will allow community development financial institutions to access $3 billion in guaranteed financing.

INTERVIEW: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
AfricaSIF Co-Founder Describes Challenges to Sustainable Investment in Africa
Graham Sinclair talks with SocialFunds.com about a recent report he authored on sustainable investment in sub-Saharan Africa, and the challenges to mainstreaming the practice on the continent.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | RENEWABLE ENERGY | CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Report Details State Legislation Supporting Green Building
The US Green Building Council finds that despite widespread concern over budget deficits, at least 30 pieces of legislation addressing green building have been enacted by states in 2011.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Community Development Financial Institutions Anticipate Expanding Services
Mark Pinsky of Opportunity Finance Network talks with SocialFunds.com about the challenges and opportunities of providing financial products and services to low-income communities over the next 15 years.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT |FORESTRY
Media Company Launches Carbon Offsets Portal
REDDcarbonCredits seeks to inform sustainable investors about carbon offsets to decrease deforestation, which is responsible for 20% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

NEWS BRIEF: SOCIAL ISSUES | HUMAN RIGHTS | FINANCIAL INDUSTRIES
Oxfam Commends IFC for Revised Sustainability Framework
The IFC now says that its investments in private sector enterprises in developing countries will require Free Prior and Informed Consent and payments to host governments by companies in the extractive industries.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Community Development Banks: Too Important to Fail
The National Community Investment Fund reports that the risks and returns of Community Development Banking Institutions are similar to traditional banks, but that they have far greater social impact.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Finalists for 2011 Wachovia Wells Fargo NEXT Awards are Announced
The annual awards are given to community development financial institutions that demonstrate innovative solutions for economically distressed communities and underserved people in the US.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
TIAA-CREF Publishes 2011 Socially Responsible Investing Annual Report
The report describes the accomplishments of the $470 billion financial services company in promoting sustainable investment according to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Sustainable Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa Is Growing
A report by IFC finds that private equity and sustainability initiatives undertaken in South Africa have led to $125 billion in sustainable investment in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
ImpactAssets Seeks to Administer $1 Billion in Impact Investing Assets
Ten years after developing the Giving Fund for the Calvert Foundation, Tim Freundlich talks with SocialFunds.com about the nonprofit's efforts to catalyze investment for environmental, social, and financial impact.

NEWS STORY: SOCIAL ISSUES | CORPORATE GOV ERNANCE
ICCR Launches Initiative to Improve Social Sustainability Measures
The Social Sustainability Resource Guide argues for a focus on long-term impacts of corporate activities in communities, and emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach in addressing social issues.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | RENEWABLE ENERGY
Investment in Renewable Energy Up in 2010
The annual survey by the UN Environment Program of investment in renewable energy technologies finds a 32% increase in 2010, to $210 billion.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Is Corporate Social Responsibility a Distraction?
A paper by consultants at Dalberg Global Development Advisors argue for the return of a focus on the single bottom line of corporate profitability, but calls for a long-term horizon that coincides with the interests of sustainable investors.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | EMERGING MARKETS
Report Studies Impact Investing in Emerging Markets
Responsible Research finds that while challenges to effective measurement of social and financial benefits persist, the opportunities for impact investors in emerging markets are likely to grow.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CLIMATE CHANGE
Global Emissions Reach Record High in 2010
The International Energy Agency finds that, following a decline in global emissions in 2009, they increased by five percent over the previous record year, adding to the challenge of meeting reduction goals established at Cancun last year.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | PENSION FUNDS
CalSTRS To Include ESG in Discussions with Asset Managers
At the Ceres Conference 2011, the pension fund announces that all performance-based discussions with its external managers will include how they are incorporating environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors into investment strategies.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | PENSION FUNDS
CalPERS Will Integrate ESG Considerations Across all Asset Classes
At the Ceres Conference 2011, CalPERS CEO Anne Stausboll announces that the pension fund will expand its integration of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors to include all five asset classes in which it invests.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | MICROFINANCE | EMERGING MARKETS
LeapFrog Investment in East African Microinsurer Is the Largest in African History
The fund invests $14 million in Apollo Investment to provide insurance coverage to 7.9 million self-employed people in Africa.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | BENEFIT CORPORATIONS
B Lab Advocates for Legislation Allowing Corporations to Have a Social Mission
The nonprofit has certified more than 400 companies as B Corps, while advocating for benefit corporation legislation that has passed in four states thus far.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
The State of Sustainable Investment in Canada
The Social Investment Organization publishes its biennial study of sustainable investment in Canada, and reports that despite the impact of the financial crisis the uptake of sustainable investment strategies by asset managers has increased.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | RENEWABLE ENERGY | PRIVATE EQUITY
New Fund Will Invest in Clean Tech in Louisiana
SAIL Capital Partners launches the Louisiana Sustainability Fund, which will invest in sustainable businesses in Louisiana and mitigate risk by focusing on established later-stage growth companies.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Trends Point Toward a Growing Surge in Community Investing
The Social Investment Forum identifies a tenfold increase in community investing over ten years, to which continued government funding and frustration with the abusive practices of big banks have contributed.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTING | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
2011 College Sustainability Report Card is Published
In its annual evaluation of the campus and endowment sustainability activities at colleges and universities with the largest endowments in the United States and Canada, the Sustainable Endowments Institute recognizes 23 as Endowment Sustainability Leaders.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Treasury Awards $3.5 Billion in New Markets Tax Credits
The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund allocates $3.5 billion to 99 organizations to promote growth in communities with high rates of poverty and unemployment.

NEWS STORY: FILM REVIEW | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL INDUSTRY
Film Review: Inside Job
Writer-director Charles Ferguson's Oscar-winning documentary explores the roots of the financial crisis and the global recession that followed.

NEWS STORY: SOCIAL ISSUES | CORPORATE REPORTING | EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
SEC is Urged to Issue Regulations Mandating Reporting on ESG Issues by Extractive Industries
Oxfam America and Calvert support strong regulation on disclosure by companies in extractive industries of payments to governments.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure and ESG: Are Trade-offs Inevitable?
Eurosif reports that financing of the infrastructure sector will require private investment, and recommends action to ensure that environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) considerations are addressed.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
New Markets Tax Credits Come Under Media Scrutiny
Mark Pinsky of the Opportunity Finance Network talks with SocialFunds.com about revelations that tax credits intended for underserved communities were used to finance the renovation of a luxury hotel in Chicago.

NEWS STORY: SOCIAL ISSUES | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | MICROFINANCE
PRI Launches Inclusive Finance Initiative
Forty global investors have signed the Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance, which seek to encourage sustainable institutions and improve client protection.

NEWS STORY: SOCIAL ISSUES | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Oxfam's Better Returns in a Better World Project Seeks Poverty Alleviation Through Investment
SocialFunds.com speaks with Helena Vińes Fiestas of Oxfam about the results of roundtable discussions with institutional investors seeking to incorporate social considerations into investment.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | SOCIAL ISSUES | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS | EMERGING MARKETS
Barriers Continue to Challenge Investment for Poverty Alleviation
Based on two years of research, a report by Oxfam International encourages engagement by investors to improve corporate reporting, and recommends that governments require companies to report on social issues.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING | IMPACT INVESTING | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Report Describes Impact Investing as an Alternative Asset Class
SocialFunds.com talks with Antony Bugg-Levine of the Rockefeller Foundation about the growing interest in impact investing, as well as the challenges that remain to its large-scale adoption.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Government Policies Will Help Speed Adoption of Renewable Energy in Southern US
Report from the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance suggests that, led by wind and biopower, a diversity of renewable energy technologies could help replace the region's reliance on coal as a power source.

NEWS STORY: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | EMERGING MARKETS
ESG Transparency and Performance Improves Among Emerging Market Companies
A Eurosif report on emerging markets finds an increase in the uptake of sustainability issues by companies, and recommends that investors encourage continual improvement.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT
Low-Carbon Investment Not Enough to Mitigate Climate Change
A report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development argues for clear policy signals from governments to encourage private investment in low-carbon technologies.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | MICROFINANCE |EMERGING MARKETS
Microfinance in India Faces a Crisis
Amid charges of unsustainable interest rates and overly aggressive collections practices, the state of Andhra Pradesh has issued an ordinance that would regulate microfinance institutions at a regional level.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
The State of Sustainable Investment in Australia
SocialFunds.com speaks with Louise O'Halloran, Executive Director of Responsible Investment Association Australasia, about the growing acceptance of sustainable investment in Australia.

BOOK REVIEW: BOOK REVIEW | SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
Book Review: What Investors Really Want
Author Meir Statman argues for behavioral finance in interpreting investor behavior, and finds sustainable investment practice an effective method of incorporating expressive and emotional factors into investment decision-making.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
Sustainable Investment in Australia and New Zealand Outperformed Market in 2010
The tenth annual report on sustainable investment from Responsible Investment Association Australasia finds a 25% increase in assets in 2010, to $74 billion.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FIXED INCOME FUNDS
Community Investing Fixed-Income Fund Reaches $1 Billion in Assets under Management
Community Capital Management's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Qualified Investment Fund has invested over $3 billion in community development activities.

NEWS STORY: FILM REVIEW | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT
Film Review: Carbon Nation Celebrates Small-Scale Responses to Climate Change
The documentary profiles entrepreneurs and activists who have contributed to climate change mitigation, and recommends investment in green technologies.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
Growth in Sustainable Assets Outpaces Mainstream
The 2010 Trends Report by the Social Investment Forum finds that sustainable assets have grown by 13% since 2007, compared to less than one percent by mainstream assets.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT
Carbon Disclosure Project Launches CDP Cities
The initiative asks 40 of the world's largest cities to measure and disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change mitigation strategies.

NEWS STORY: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | WATER SCARCITY | UTILITIES
Water Scarcity Is a Growing Risk for Public Utilities and for Investors in Municipal Bonds
A report from Ceres and Water Asset Management finds inadequate disclosure of risks by public water and electric utilities, and that rating agencies may foster wasteful consumption by ignoring risks.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES | CARBON MANAGEMENT | RENEWABLE ENERGY
Investors Urge California Voters to Reject Proposition 23
Investor coalition argues that repeal of California's Global Warming Solutions Act would lead to the loss of billions of dollars in clean energy investment in the state.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Boston Community Capital and Enterprise Cascadia Are Wachovia Wells Fargo NEXT Awardees
Annual award for Community Development Financial Institutions recognize foreclosure strategy of BCCC and green financing by Enterprise.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Securities and Exchange Commission Settles with Predatory Lenders
SocialFunds.com speaks with David Beck of Self-Help Credit Union about the settlement with Countrywide executives, as well as the outlook for community development financial institutions. First in a two-part series.

NEWS BRIEF: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | SOCIAL ISSUES | FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS | BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION
UK Banks Complicit in Nigerian Corruption
A report by Global Witness finds that even after the public outcry in 2001 over money laundering by former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, UK banks continued to accept deposits from corrupt Nigerian officials.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | NONPROFIT BUSINESS MODELS
Report Encourages the Application of For-Profit Business Model to Nonprofit Management
NFF Capital Partners issues report detailing the success of some nonprofits in attracting philanthropic equity investments to subsidize their activities.

NEWS BRIEF: INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS | ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (esg) ISSUES
South Africa Proposes Code for Sustainable Investment by Institutional Investors
If adopted, South Africa will become only the second country to require attention to environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) by institutional investors.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS | BANK FAILURES
ShoreBank Closed by Federal Regulators
The Chicago-based community banking pioneer is replaced by the Urban Partnership Bank, which plans to continue the mission of its predecessor.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Plan Seeks 100% Renewable Energy in Australia in Ten Years
Report from Beyond Zero Emissions asserts that Australia's energy needs can be fully met by renewable sources within ten years with technologies that are already available.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | CORPORATE REPORTING | TRANSPORT SECTOR
Transport Sector Lags in Addressing Climate Change
A report from the Carbon Disclosure Project finds that despite being a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, the transport sector lags in setting reduction targets and recognizing risks and opportunities.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | FIXED INCOME BONDS
New Fixed-Income Fund Will Help Finance Everglades Restoration
RSF Social Finance and Community Capital Management partner to develop fund that will provide funding for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Wachovia Wells Fargo Next Award Finalists Announced
Two community development financial institutions (CDFIs) will share awards totaling $8.25 million in program-related investments and unrestricted grants.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
New Program Seeks to Unlock $100 Million in Small Business Lending
A $10 million Bank of America grant program will provide loan loss reserves for Community Development Financial Institutions in order to access $100 million in small business lending.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | REGULATORY ACTIONS
EPA Rejects Challenges to Climate Science
The Agency disallows ten petitions challenging its 2009 endangerment finding on greenhouse gas emissions, stating that "climate science is credible, compelling, and growing stronger."

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | AFRICA
AfricaSIF Aims to Encourage Sustainable Investment Practices in Africa
SocialFunds.com speaks with Graham Sinclair, co-founder of AfricaSIF, about the state of sustainable investment in Africa and the mission of the organization.

NEWS STORY: CORPORATE SOCIAL REPSONSIBILITY | INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Investors Urge US to Support Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Calvert and the Indigenous Peoples Working Group of the Social Investment Forum encourage the US State Department in its reconsideration of the 2007 vote against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

NEWS BRIEF: DEVELOPING NATIONS | SUSTAINABILITY | CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Report Examines Role of Business in a Sustainable Economy
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development identifies alarming levels of growth in urbanization and consumption, and describes crucial role of business in transition to sustainability.

NEWS STORY: FIXED-INCOME INVESTING | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Bond Program Will Help Affordable Housing in New York City
Through its CRA Qualified Investment Fund, Community Capital Management will finance the acquisition and development of 5,600 affordable units.

NEWS STORY: FINANCIAL REFORM | SUSTAINABLE MUTUAL FUNDS
Appleseed Fund Announces Investment Policy That Excludes Too-Big-To-Fail Banks
Although the policy does not change an investment strategy that excludes big banks that represent a systemic risk, Appleseed is the first mutual fund to explicitly exclude them.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT | AFRICA
As African Economy Grows, Sustainability Advocates Look to Leapfrog Investment as Usual
A McKinsey report finds that economic growth is on the upswing in Africa, and AfricaSIF is launched to encourage sustainable investment on the continent.

NEWS STORY: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY | DEVELOPING NATIONS
Access to Medicine Foundation Publishes 2010 Access to Medicine Index
The new index improves upon the 2008 version by including more pharmaceutical companies and by shifting focus from policy to practice.

NEWS BRIEF: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | GENDER EQUALITY
Global CEOs Express Support for Empowerment Principles for Women
The United Nations Development Fund for Women and the UN Global Compact announce that 38 corporate CEOs have signed a Statement of Support for Women's Empowerment Principles.

NEWS BRIEF: CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING
GRI Plans Incremental Updates to Sustainability Reporting Framework
The world’s most widely used corporate reporting framework invites public comment on updates in areas of community, human rights, and gender.

NEWS BRIEF: CLEAN ENERGY | EMERGING MARKETS
Clean Energy Investment in Emerging Markets Is Growing
A study by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) finds that clean energy investment in Brazil, China, India, and South Africa is large, and is expected to grow as regulation evolves.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Fortress World or Great Transition?
A report by the Tellus Institute explores four scenarios in response to sustainability demands, and calls for a profound restructuring of global economic priorities.

NEWS STORY: FINANCIAL REFORM | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | LEGISLATION
Investors and Shareowners Applaud Senate Passage of Financial Reform Bill
Corporate governance provisions would improve accountability by management, while consumer protection provisions will help stabilize small businesses.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | LEGISLATION
Six Thousand US Companies Support Climate Change Legislation
An analysis by American Businesses for Clean Energy finds that supporters of climate legislation include many companies in the Fortune 100 and Fortune 500.

NEWS STORY: FINANCIAL CRISIS | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
ShoreBank Scrambles to Raise Enough Cash to Avoid FDIC Seizure
The pioneering community lender, whose practice of providing loans in distressed neighborhoods led to high default rates in the aftermath of the recession, is described as a victim of the financial crisis.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Citigroup Launches Fund to Loan $200 Million to Small Businesses in Low-Income Communities
The bank partners with Calvert Foundation and Opportunity Finance Network to provide Community Development Financial Institution Loan Funds with capital to lend to small businesses.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | WATER SCARCITY
Three Reports Detail Investment Risks in South and Southeast Asia
The World Resources Institute examines the potential impact of water scarcity on investment in the food and beverage, power generation, and real estate sectors in the region.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | ASSET ALLOCATION
Study to Evaluate Climate Change Impact Across Asset Classes
Mercer joins with institutional asset owners and investors to launch a study exploring the impact of climate change on asset allocation.

INTERVIEW: CLIMATE CHANGE | LEGISLATION
A Corporate CEO Speaks Out on Climate Change
Gary Hirshberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farm, talks with SocialFunds.com about the business case for climate change legislation and the competitive danger of not acting quickly enough. Second of a two-part series.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | LEGISLATION
Companies Voice Their Support for Effective Climate Change Legislation
Asserting that the US has already fallen behind other countries in the development of renewable energy technologies, the We Can Lead lobbying campaign brings businesses to Washington DC to call for legislation that includes a price on carbon. First of a two-part series.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | CAP-AND-TRADE
Seventh Auction of Carbon Allowances by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Yields $88 Million for Clean Energy Investment
As doubts about passage of federal cap-and-trade legislation grow, total proceeds from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions increase to more than $582 million.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING | PEER-TO-PEER LENDING
People Capital Launches Peer Lending Platform for Qualified Education Loans
Following an SEC clarification of peer lending products as securities, People Capital hopes that social investors will use its lending platform to execute their missions.

BOOK REVIEW: COMMUNITY INVESTING | BOOK REVIEW
Book Review: Solutions for Impact Investors: From Strategy to Implementation
Authors Steven Godeke and Raul Pomares seek to provide an investment strategy that can combine social impact with financial returns.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Treasury Department Will Invest $1 Billion in Community Development Financial Institutions
With unemployment rates still at record highs and big banks unwilling to lend to small businesses, CDFIs welcome the infusion of capital when demand for their services is greater than ever.

NEWS BRIEF: CARBON OFFSETS | DEFORESTATION AND FOREST DEGRADATION
Report Details the Growth of Market for Forest Offset Credits
Although the vast majority of projects are transacted in voluntary markets, third-party certification as well as commitments to offsets by governments have grown.

NEWS BRIEF: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
UN Introduces Website for Partnerships with Business
The need for humanitarian assistance following disasters such as earthquake in Haiti leads to development of the first single interface connecting business with the entire UN system.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | GOVERNMENT POLICIES | PRIVATE INVESTMENT
Investors Call on Governments to Act on Climate Change Now
Investor groups attending the 2010 Investor Summit on Climate Risk at the UN endorse a statement calling for climate change policies that encourage private investment.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTING | MUTUAL FUNDS
Pax World Joins With Morningstar Associates to Launch ESG Managers Portfolios
The new series of asset allocation funds are designed for investment advisors and clients looking for environmental, social, and governance criteria in their investments.

NEWS STORY: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | INDIA
Indian Government Issues Voluntary Guidelines for Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility
At the conclusion of the first India Corporate Week, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issues guidelines intended to encourage best practices in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

NEWS BRIEF: RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES | PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
US Patent and Trademark Office Launches Program to Speed Patent Applications in Green Technologies
The program is designed to encourage the development of alternative energy businesses in the US.

NEWS BRIEF: RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
US Department of Energy Will Fund Research and Development of Alternative Energy Sources
The formation by the DOE of three Energy Innovation Hubs is intended to accelerate the commercial deployment of new energy technologies.

NEWS BRIEF: ENERGY EFFICIENCY | GREEN BUILDINGS |
Investing in Energy-Efficient Buildings Can Reduce Emissions While Strengthening Portfolios
A new report from Ceres and Mercer identifies efficiency as a significant front in mitigating climate change, and recommends that investors focus on efficiency measures in their real estate holdings.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Institutional Investors Object to Lack of Acknowledgement in Copenhagen
Open letter from the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment to Heads of State asserts that the Copenhagen agreement ignores the fact that the vast majority of financing of climate change mitigation will come from private sources.

NEWS STORY: ECONOMIC CRISIS | JOBS CREATION
Ambitious Plan for Jobs Creation Is Offered by the Economic Policy Institute
According to its report, a plan to create at least 4.6 million jobs in the first year could be repaid by the implementation of a financial transactions tax.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | JOBS CREATION | PRIVATE INVESTMENT
Clean Jobs Creation Needs Private Investment to Succeed
A Five-Point Plan issued by the Apollo Alliance details a number of opportunities for private investors in the creation of jobs that help combat climate change. Second of a two-part series.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | RENEWABLE ENERGY | JOBS CREATION
Creating a Sustainable Clean Energy Economy Will Require Government Support
A report from the Global Climate Network finds that opportunities for investment in the global transition to a low-carbon economy will require government support in the current economic climate. First of a two-part series.

NEWS BRIEF: RENEWABLE ENERGY | DEVELOPING NATIONS
US Secretary of Energy Announces Plan for Clean Energy Deployment in Developing Countries
While progress toward even a non-binding agreement in Copenhagen stalls, the US Secretary of Energy announces program to help fund energy efficiency measures in developing countries.

NEWS BRIEF: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS | REGULATIONS
EPA Announces Endangerment Findings on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Agency responds to 2007 Supreme Court ruling by finding that greenhouse gases (GHGs) threaten public health and welfare, and finalizes proposed regulations to reduce vehicle emissions.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | TREATIES
Obama to Attend Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen
Hopes for substance in Copenhagen increase as the President intends to declare a US commitment to emissions reduction targets, and China announces targets as well.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS
Low Income Housing Advocates Call on Congress to Strengthen Tax Credit Program
A new report finds that the market for low-income housing tax credits declined by more than one-third due to the economic crisis, and proposes legislation for strengthening the program.

NEWS STORY: EMISSIONS REDUCTION OFFSET CREDITS | DEFORESTATION
Forest Carbon Offset Market Needs Consistent Accounting Standards
The market for offset credits to mitigate deforestation is growing, but investors and other stakeholders require that guidance be provided in accounting for them.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | LEGISLATION
Senate Committee Approves Kerry-Boxer Climate Bill
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act continues to face obstacles as it is considered this week by Senate committees on Finance, and Energy and Natural Resources.

NEWS BRIEF: FOUNDATIONS | MISSION INVESTING
Foundations Project That Mission Investing Will Have Increased in 2009
Survey undertaken by More for Mission finds that mission investing by foundations continues despite effects of economic downturn, but that few respondents exercise shareowner advocacy.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
2009 Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance Are Awarded to Two CDFIs
The New Hampshire Community Loan Fund and the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises are awarded a total of $8.25 million in low-cost loans and unrestricted grants.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS | FINANCIAL PRODUCTS
Report Looks at Prepaid Cards as Potential Source of Income for CDFIs
The National Community Investment Fund finds that by providing prepaid card services in underserved communities, CDFIs can help bring consumers without banking relationships into the mainstream economy.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | EMERGING MARKETS | FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Emerging Markets Financial Institutions Should Increase Attention to Climate Change
Report commissioned by DEG and prepared by Ceres and RiskMetrics finds improvements in corporate governance, but much work yet to be done in emissions measurement and reporting.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
Investors Call for Binding Climate Change Agreement in Copenhagen
Group of 181 institutional investors representing $13 trillion in assets says that a global agreement is necessary for confidence in investment in climate change mitigation.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | CARBON OFFSETS
Report Calls Carbon Offsets a Disaster for Averting Climate Change
Friends of the Earth contends that international offsets allow developed countries to go on polluting, and delay the development of a global low-carbon economy.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | CLIMATE CHANGE
Sustainable Development Is Integral to Reducing Impacts of Climate Change
Report by the UCLA School of Law calls for commitment from local, state, and federal governments to remove impediments to sustainable development projects.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | WATER SCARCITY
World Water Week Participants Call for Attention to Water Issues at Copenhagen Climate Conference
Unanimously supported by 2,500 participants, the Stockholm Statement calls for inclusion of adaptive measures with broad development goals, and increased funding to support adaptive measures.

NEWS STORY: SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING | MUTUAL FUNDS
Many SRI Funds Are Outperforming Benchmarks in 2009
The Appleseed Fund continues its strong performance among domestic equity funds, while Pax World posts highest return on investment among fixed-income products.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTING | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Contenders for 2009 Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance Are Announced
Presented by the Opportunity Finance Network, the awards will provide $8.25 million in financing to leading Community Development Financial Institutions.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTING | FAITH-BASED INVESTORS
Faith-based Investors Get Handbook to Help Increase Community Investing
The Social Investment Forum has published a handbook to help facilitate the increase in community investing by faith-based individual and institutional investors.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTING | MICROFINANCE
María Otero Is Confirmed as US Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs
Under her leadership as CEO since 2000, ACCION International served 3.7 million micro-entrepreneurs and had a combined portfolio of nearly $3.6 billion.

NEWS BRIEF: RENEWABLE ENERGY | AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009
Treasury Department Calls for Applications for Renewable Energy Grants
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, at least $3 billion is available for construction of renewable energy facilities.

NEWS STORY: CLIMATE CHANGE | ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Efficiency Measures Can Play Major Role in Reducing US Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Two new reports find considerable potential in energy efficiency for significant reductions in US greenhouse gas emissions, and that cost savings should far outweigh the price of implementation.

NEWS STORY: WATER SCARCITY | WATER UTILITIES | SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT
ESG Disclosure by Water Services Sector is Insufficient, Report Finds
Survey by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility of ESG reporting by water companies finds that investors are provided too little information on which to make informed investment decisions.

NEWS STORY: MICROFINANCE | ECONOMIC CRISIS
Microfinance Practitioners See Themselves as Vulnerable to Macro-Economic Forces
Second Microfinance Banana Skins report finds that in wake of economic crisis, financial issues such as credit risk and liquidity replace management quality and corporate governance as primary concerns.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Report Suggests that CDFIs are Weathering the Worst of the Economic Crisis
With funding for community development financial institutions a central part of the economic stimulus, and with renewed interest from individual investors, CDFIs look forward to improved performance for remainder of 2009.

NEWS STORY: FAIR MORTGAGE LENDING
Mortgage Borrowers Gain Tool to Access Fair and Safe Loans
The Fair Mortgage Collaborative provides consumers with access to mortgage lenders who have been certified for their fair lending practices.

NEWS BRIEF: CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | SUPPLY CHAINS | AFRICA
Coca-Cola Distribution Model Contributes to Entrepreneurship in Africa
Report finds that the company's Manual Distribution Centers have led to the creation of 12,000 jobs while contributing to the Millennium Development Goals.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | CDFIS
NCIF Develops Tool to Measure Impact of CDFIs on Low-Income Communities
The National Community Investment Fund finds CDFIs and mission-driven community banks outperform other banks in service to underserved communities by a substantial margin.

NEWS STORY: SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING | CANADA
Canadian SRI Assets Increased to $609 Billion in 2008
Report by the Social Investment Organization finds that SRI has maintained its market share of almost 20%.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE | CARBON TRADING | FORESTRY
Reforestation Plays a Growing Role in Corporate Carbon Offset Strategies
Report finds that many companies are purchasing forest carbon offset credits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and offer carbon-neutral products and services to customers.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING | FORECLOSURES
Congress Is Briefed on Plans to Fund Revitalization of Neighborhoods Hit by Foreclosures
NSP funding requires communities to submit action plans detailing their spending, and report by Enterprise Community Partners is the first published effort to study the data.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABILITY | COWORKING
New San Francisco Coworking Space Will Benefit Social Entrepreneurs
Social innovators rent space from HUBsf as needed, and share ideas with like-minded entrepreneurs and nonprofits.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
Rating System Helps Investors Assess Social and Financial Performances of CDFIs
In the first quarter of 2009, the CDFI Assessment and Rating System added seven CDFIs to list of 46 that it has analyzed, and it hopes to rate an additional 23 by year's end.

NEWS STORY: MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS | CLIMATE CHANGE
Microfinance Institutions Begin to Incorporate Climate Change in Development Strategies
Report from CGAP finds that MFIs are well-positioned to contribute to energy efficiency in developing countries, but recommends shift in priorities from loans to financial services that include savings.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABILITY INVESTING: EMERGING MARKETS
ESG Trends in Emerging Markets Is Focus of New Study
Report from IFC and Mercer finds growth in sustainable investing in emerging markets, but notes need for improvement in such areas as active ownership.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE
Labor Unions and Environmental Groups Join to Endorse Climate Change Legislation
The Blue Green Alliance announces support for a cap-and-trade system and a renewable electricity standard included in proposed Waxman-Markey clean energy legislation.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTING: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
CDFI Fund Fast-Tracks Capital for Underserved Communities
Community Development Financial Institutions and other Community Development Entities will receive $90 million in June and another $50 million in September.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: GREEN BUILDING
Fixed Income Investments Support Green Building
The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority and Community Capital Management describe how fixed income investment help fund successful rehabilitation of buildings based on green building principles.

NEWS STORY: ECONOMIC STIMULUS: GREEN TECHNOLOGIES: SOLAR POWER
Solar Expected to Maintain its Status as the World's Fastest-Growing Energy Technology
Decreases in cost of installation and favorable regulatory environment should protect the continued growth of solar in the US from effects of the economic crisis.

NEWS BRIEF: CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Change Lobbyists Pour into Washington on Behalf of Special Interests
An investigation by the Center for Public Integrity finds an estimated 2,340 lobbyists seeking to influence climate change policy, a 300% increase over five years.

NEWS STORY: ECONOMIC STIMULUS: GREEN TECHNOLOGIES
Economic Stimulus Is Expected to Spur Investment in Renewable Energy
The renewable energy industry and sustainable investors believe stimulus will provide significant investment in green energy infrastructure. Second in a two-part series.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING: MICROFINANCE
New Guidelines to Help Investors Measure Success of Microfinance Institutions
Grameen Foundation employs data from its Progress out of Poverty Index to develop checklist of questions for investors to ask about the social benefits of microfinance.

NEWS STORY: ECONOMIC STIMULUS: COMMUNITY INVESTING
Economic Stimulus Package Will Help Revitalize Community Investment
Community Development Financial Institutions gain $100 million in new financing with which to support small business and affordable housing. First in a two-part series.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING
Investors Embrace Community Development Loan Funds to Invest Safely While Earning Interest
As interest in community investing grows, CDLFs are proven vehicles for investment in affordable housing and other projects.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTING: BANKS
Wells Fargo Exceeds Environmental Financing Goals
Bank's progress report details $3 billion in financing for green business opportunities over a three-year period.

BOOK REVIEW: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
Book Review: Sustainable Investing: The Art of Long Term Performance
Editors Cary Krosinsky and Nick Robins new book compiles eighteen new essays that argue sustainable investing is the key to positive long-term performance and the health of the planet.

NEWS STORY: CHINA: WORKING CONDITIONS: NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANZIATIONS
US-based Verite Helps Build Coalitions to Improve Working Conditions in China
The organization's report details relationships with academics and civil society organizations to ensure fair labor practices in centers of manufacturing for export.

NEWS BRIEF: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: WATER
Report Details Risks and Opportunities Facing Water-Dependent Industries
Eurosif water report finds that increasing water scarcity results in critical issues for many businesses and offers potential solutions to alleviate crisis.

NEWS BRIEF: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT: DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Business Can Take Leading Role in Alleviating Poverty
Report by WBCSD notes increasing reliance on business as a partner with government and NGOs in sustainable development in developing countries.

NEWS BRIEF:
UNEP Launches Green Economy Initiative as Green New Deal
United Nations program warns against retreat from sustainability and proposes global economy based on environment and natural infrastructure.

NEWS STORY: ECONOMIC CRISIS: COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT
Studies Rebuff Charges of CRA Complicity in Financial Crisis
Attempts by some conservatives to link the Community Reinvestment Act to predatory mortgage lending are shown to be misleading and often false.

NEWS STORY: OPPORTUNITY FINANCE
Book Review-Good Policies For a Great America, published by Opportunity Finance Network
A new collection of essays on the impact and possibilities of the opportunity finance industry is a guidebook for the next President and Congress.

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Calvert Foundation Receives $10 Million Investment from Merrill Lynch
Investment in foundation's Community Investment Note is intended to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
CDFIs Offer Responsible Alternative to Predatory Lending
Community development financial institutions provide housing loans to underserved markets, yet maintain profitability and low net charge-offs. Part II of a three-part series on the credit crisis.

NEWS STORY: FINANCIAL CRISIS: PREDATORY LENDING
Effects of Predatory Lending Lead to Economic Crisis
Proposed $700 billion bailout by Treasury Department offers measure of relief to roiling markets while raising questions of fairness. Part I of a three-part series.

NEWS STORY: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
It Takes a Village to Raise a Turbine: Making the Case for Community-Owned Windpower
Newly public wind development company is bringing energy ownership and economic improvement to communities.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTING;HOUSING
Investing to Empower Homeowners
The Calvert Foundation partners with Habitat for Humanity to offer investors a vehicle to drive homeownership while also receiving a financial return.

NEWS STORY: SUPPLY CHAIN, CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Transparent Supply Chain Sends A Clear Message
Hewlett-Packard recently released a list of its largest suppliers in hopes of increasing accountability from factory floors to consumers' front doors.

NEWS STORY: SCREENING,SHAREHOLDER ACTIVISM,COMMUNITY INVESTING
SRI Assets Surge Ahead
New socially responsible investing study reports one dollar out of every nine dollars under professional management is invested responsibly.

NEWS STORY: MICROFINANCE
MicroPlace: Microfinance for the Masses
US investors with as little as $100 can help fight global poverty at eBay owned MicroPlace.

NEWS STORY: RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY INVESTING
Making a Real Difference with Real Estate
The Responsible Property Investment movement gathers momentum with the help of the Responsible Property Investment Center and the backing of UNEP FI.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: MICROFINANCE
Microfinance: Catch the Swelling SRI Wave
The microfinance sector offers socially responsible investors a growing arena to create positive social and financial growth according to a new Deutche Bank study.

NEWS STORY: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Giving to the Givers: Honoring Community Development Organizations
The Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance names ACCION Texas and the Latino Community Credit Union for its 2007 $8.25 million prize.

NEWS STORY:
Equalizing the Economic Playing and Farming Fields
Equity Trust invests in farms, non-profits and communities, helping people take charge of their economic futures.

NEWS STORY:
CEOs Add ESG Issues to Business Blueprints
A report from McKinsey & Company finds that more CEOs are including environmental, social, and governance issues in core strategies.

NEWS STORY:
Good Mortgages Still Going to Good People
Community development financial institutions and their customers across the country are disproving the idea that low-income people are mortgage risks.

BOOK REVIEW:
Book Review: The Clean Tech Revolution
A new book on investing in green technology looks at new and expected developments that hold out promise for big returns over the coming decades.

NEWS STORY:
Working for the Earth: Green Companies and Green Jobs Attract Employees
New research shows that employees want to work at green companies and are happiest at companies with solid corporate social responsibility programs in place.

NEWS STORY:
The Subprime Meltdown and SRI: Engage, Avoid, Predict
Shareowner activists engaged banks on predatory lending long before the subprime crisis climaxed, and SRI research predicted the meltdown in time to avoid some impacts.

NEWS STORY:
17th and Jackson: Community Development in Action, Turning a Vacant Lot into Affordable Housing and More
Non-traditional financing, including an investment by Enterprise Community Investment, funds a green multi-use building in Seattle's Central Area Neighborhood.

NEWS STORY:
JPMorgan Chase Committed to Helping Low- and Moderate-income Communities
Reporting in its third year, Chase is on target to invest $800 billion over ten years to benefit low- and middle-income people and neighborhoods.

NEWS STORY:
One and Two Percent Allocations Add Up for Social and Community Development
TIAA-CREF allocates 2% of its Social Choice account for proactive social investments and the Social Investment Forum and Co-op America's 1% or More for Community campaign aims to double the amount invested in community development.

NEWS STORY:
Helping Close the Capital Gap in Africa: Two Big Investments in African Microfinance
More than half of all South Africans still have no access to banking reports Shared Interest, a non-profit investment fund that guarantees bank loans for South Africa's poorest communities. Many Africans suffer from lack of available capital, where only 7 million of Africa's estimated 940 million people had access to microcredit in 2005, according to the State of Microcredit Summit Campaign Report 2006.

NEWS STORY:
MMA Helps People Far and Near With its New OneWorld Community Development Investment Program
MMA and the Mennonite Economic Development Associates have created a program for investors to help capital reach poor neighborhoods in the US and abroad.

NEWS STORY:
Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance Honor CDFIs
Three heavy-hitters come together to support community development financial institutions with $42.5 million pledged over the next five years in grants and loans.

NEWS STORY:
One and Two Percent Allocations Add Up for Social and Community Development
TIAA-CREF allocates 2% of its Social Choice account for proactive social investments while the Social Investment Forum and Co-op America's 1% or More for Community campaign aims to double the amount invested in community development.

BOOK REVIEW:
Book Review: Deep Economy: The Wealth Of Communities And The Durable Future
Author Bill McKibben's latest book helps lay the groundwork to create a more livable and viable world in which less is actually better.

NEWS STORY:
Subprime Lending Hurts Homeowners
The Center for Responsible Lending contends that subprime lending has led to a net loss in homeownership.

NEWS STORY:
The World's Poor: Huge Market or Just a Marketer’s Fantasy?
New report from the International Finance Corporation and World Resources Institute measures the market-size of the Earth's people who live in poverty.

NEWS STORY:
New Fund for Affordable Housing In Latin America
With $100 million pledged from OPIC, the Alsis Latin America Fund supports home construction and local capital markets in Latin America.

NEWS STORY:
Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2006
Green investing booms, microfinance pioneer wins Nobel Peace Prize, shareowner democracy increases, resolutions receive record votes, and UN launches Principles of Responsible Investment

NEWS STORY:
Merrill Lynch Uses CDFI Assessment and Ratings System on $93 Million Community Investment
While many investors use the CARS ratings as secondary information in their community investment decisions, Merrill Lynch will use it as its primary underwriting tool.

NEWS STORY:
Nobel Prize Links Microfinance to Peace
The granting of the Nobel Peace Prize to Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank breaks new ground by explicitly linking economic development to peace development.

NEWS STORY:
Microfinance Crosses Continental Divide with $100 Million Commitment from TIAA-CREF
TIAA-CREF inaugurated its Global Microfinance Investment Program by purchasing from ProCredit Holdings $43 million in private equity shares, a new strategy in microfinance.

NEWS STORY:
Calvert and Ford Foundations Help Launch Public Radio Fund to Democratize the Airwaves
The foundations jointly seeded $4.5 million in the revolving loan fund administered by Denver-based Public Radio Capital to provide low-interest loans to public radio projects nationally.

NEWS STORY:
The Pages of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility
Books addressing climate change dominate the fourth annual SocialFunds.com Summer Reading List recommended by socially responsible investing and corporate social responsibility leaders.

NEWS STORY:
Survey Reveals TIAA-CREF Investor Desire to Up Commitment to SRI
TIAA-CREF promises to respond to participants, of whom over three-quarters prioritize social and environmental considerations in investing choices.

NEWS STORY:
Missouri Farmers Union Credit Union Supports Sustainability in Low-Income Rural Areas
The new credit union supports cooperative entrepreneurial models that advance social responsibility and environmental sustainability in low-income agricultural regions.

NEWS STORY:
Sending Funds Home to Mexico Just Got Cheaper for Latino Community Credit Union Members
The Durham, North Carolina-based community development credit union will charge a flat $3 fee, use the exchange rate set by the Fed, and allow recipients to set up accounts in Mexico.

NEWS STORY:
Why Do Minorities Receive More Subprime Mortgages? Can You Say, Kickback?
A new Center for Responsible Lending study shoots holes in industry rationale that bad credit histories of African-Americans and Latinos account for disproportionate subprime mortgages.

NEWS STORY:
The Numbers--and the Stories Behind Them--on Community Development Financial Institutions
CDFI Data Project recently released the most comprehensive report on the CDFI industry, with statistics documenting CDFI growth and case studies illustrating positive social impacts.

NEWS STORY:
Wainwright Bank and Equal Exchange Partner to Offer the First Branded Certificate of Deposit
This new branded CD model is particularly suited to socially responsible banks, companies, and investors, as the increased social returns can counterbalance the slightly higher financial risks.

NEWS STORY:
Using the Same Tape Measure: MicroRate To Launch Tool for Rating Microfinance Funds
The rating tool, a project supported by Gray Ghost Microfinance Fund, Omidyar Network, and Gates Foundation, is yet another step toward establishing microfinance as a distinct asset class.

NEWS STORY:
Ecological Community Loan Pool Directly Links Ecologically Minded Investors to Eco-Preneurs
The portal created by Ecostructure Financial tweaks the community development financial institution model to allow investors to lend directly to startups solving environmental problems.

NEWS STORY:
The Case for Categorizing Community Development Venture Capital as a New Asset Class
A white paper by Pacific Community Ventures lays out the argument and identifies steps to promote growth in community development venture capital, such as standardizing social return metrics.

NEWS STORY:
Enterprise Social Fund First to Tap Corporate Community for Community Investing
The fund partners Enterprise Community Partners, which will manage the portfolio, with Deutsche Bank, which will seek investment from socially responsible companies and individuals.

NEWS STORY:
Common Good Bank Advances One Branch of Community Investing Evolution
The bank promotes the common good by distributing excess profits to the community and by making all lending and spending decisions through participatory democracy.

NEWS STORY:
Thirty Years and Counting: Cofounder Wayne Silby Recounts the Birth of Calvert
To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Calvert, SocialFunds.com speaks with co-founder Wayne Silby about its genesis, development, and future.

NEWS STORY:
Social Investment Forum Trends Report Tracks Rises and Falls of Socially Responsible Investing
The 2005 report documents increases since 2003 in assets overall in SRI, in SRI mutual funds, and in shareholder advocacy, but decreases in overall screened assets and in screened separate accounts.

NEWS STORY:
Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2005
Socially responsible investing, corporate social responsibility, and microfinance embraced by the mainstream; shareowner advocates withdraw several climate change resolutions as companies agree to report; and exchange traded funds apply SRI strategies.

NEWS STORY:
Socially Responsible Investing Advances Anti-Racism in Helping Rebuild New Orleans
In addition to supporting community investment and leveraging influence through shareowner advocacy, social investors can help rebuild in the aftermath of Katrina by naming root problems.

NEWS STORY:
Fonkoze Helps Transform Microfinance to Reach the Poorest of the Poor in Haiti
After convening a summit on how to modify microfinance to serve the extreme poor, Fonkoze adapts a model pioneered by the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee.

NEWS STORY:
Consortium Advances Microfinance as an Emerging New Asset Class
The Global Commercial Microfinance Consortium, with its $75 million fund, links mainstream financial institutions to socially responsible investment practitioners with microfinance experience.

NEWS STORY:
Community Development Financial Institutions Spread Like Wild Grass in Indian Country
First Nations Oweesta Corporation serves as a national umbrella organization providing the structural framework and organizational support to fuel current exponential Native CDFI growth.

NEWS STORY:
Scaling Community Investment: Report Addresses Growth in Community Development Finance
An Aspen Institute report serves as the basis of a series of conferences at regional federal reserve banks on how to best scale up community investment.

NEWS STORY:
Divining the Future of Socially Responsible Investing
A study commissioned by Vancity Credit Union surveys 42 SRI thought leaders to identify trends, opportunities, and obstacles, as well as potential developments that defy prediction.

NEWS STORY:
Changing of the Guard: Vanguard Pulls a Switcheroo on SRI Index Providers
Vanguard is swapping the benchmark for its socially responsible investing index fund from the Calvert Social Index to the FTSE4Good US Select Index.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment Bridges the Gap from Destitution to Restitution After Hurricane Katrina
Predominantly low-income African Americans were barred from crossing the bridge out of New Orleans, but now community development bridge loans are spanning the gulf back to stability.

NEWS STORY:
Oneida Nation Loan to Lakota Fund Marks First Intertribal Community Development Financing
While the World Bank Global Fund for Indigenous Peoples covers only developing nations and socially responsible investors have yet to support the Lakota Fund, a fellow tribe fills gap.

NEWS STORY:
TIAA-CREF Creates New Director of Social Investing Post But Refrains From Some SRI Strategies
TIAA-CREF enhances its proxy voting and practices some community investment, but finds obstacles to supporting community development financial institutions and SRI venture capital.

NEWS STORY:
Appalachian Federal Credit Union Celebrates Silver Anniversary With New HQ
With $16 million in assets, AFCU helps counteract poverty in one of the poorest regions of the US by providing fairly priced loans to low-income earners, even those with bad credit histories.

NEWS STORY:
The Calvert Group Funds Film on Social Entrepreneurs Airing on Public Broadcasting System
One segment of the film profiles Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, who pioneered the microcredit model promoted by Calvert Foundation and other community investment advocates.

NEWS STORY:
Mount Holyoke First US College to Dedicate Fund Exclusively to Community Investment
While other schools have devoted some funds to community investment, this move by the Massachusetts-based women's college sets precedent and may lead to its use of other SRI strategies.

NEWS STORY:
Microfinance and Donor-Advised Fund Provide Tsunami Relief
A Grameen Foundation USA report examines barriers and opportunities for using microfinance as tsunami relief, and the Calvert Foundation funnels donations to tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka.

NEWS STORY:
LISC Commits $300 Million to Preserve Affordable Housing for Low-Income Earners
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation will work with its affiliates, the National Equity Fund and the Community Development Trust, to counteract expiration of affordable housing subsidies.

NEWS STORY:
Measuring Social Returns on Community Development Venture Capital Investment
The Community Development Venture Capital Alliance releases the Measuring Impacts Toolkit, which attempts to quantify social returns from community investments.

NEWS STORY:
CARS Hits the Road: First Seven Community Development Financial Institutions Rated
The National Community Capital Association CDFI Assessment and Rating System has another 11 ratings in the works, and expects to by fully operational by 2007.

NEWS STORY:
Wanted: Socially Responsible Real Estate Investments
An academician searches for socially responsible real estate investment trusts, finding few that fit the definition, as well as disagreement over what criteria define SRI REITs.

NEWS STORY:
Not Just for Corporations: Six Microfinance Banks on Three Continents Use GRI Guidelines
Microfinance institutions in Africa, Asia, and South America are issuing sustainability reports using Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, as are other non-corporate entities such as GRI itself.

NEWS STORY:
US Representatives Introduce Anti-Predatory Mortgage Lending Bill
The bill, based on an effective North Carolina anti- predatory lending law, and is supported by anti-predatory lending activists such as the Center for Responsible Lending and Fair Finance Watch.

NEWS STORY:
Community Credit Union Brings Hope to Low-Income Residents of the Mississippi Delta
Hope Community Credit Union launched a $15 million initiative supported by corporate investment and New Markets Tax Credits to promote economic justice in the Mid-South.

NEWS STORY:
MMA Praxis International Fund Buoyed by Strong Performance in Global Markets
Growth is concentrated in sectors and companies that are excluded by social and environmental screens.

NEWS STORY:
Bush Budget Ghettoizes 18 Community Development Programs, Slashing Their Funds
Community development advocates criticize the proposed budget for fiscal year 2006, as the consolidated programs will have to compete with one another for a smaller pool of funds.

NEWS STORY:
Academic Study Links Predatory Lending to Increased Risk of Foreclosure
Prepayment penalties increase the risk of foreclosure by 20 percent, while balloon payments raise the risk to almost 50 percent, according to the University of North Carolina study.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment Surpasses the $1 Billion Mark at The Rock
The Prudential Financial Social Investment Program, one of the oldest community investment programs in the country, has distributed more than $1 billion before its 30th anniversary.

NEWS STORY:
Calvert Foundation Community Investment Notes Go Electronic
For the first time, individual and institutional investors will be able to support community investment in the same way they transact most other investments--via computer.

NEWS STORY:
Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2004
Shareowner engagement shifted from confrontational to collaborative, sustainability analysis fused with financial analysis, and fiduciary duty expanded to include social and environmental issues.

NEWS STORY:
Bushwick Cooperative Federal Credit Union Democratizes Financial Service in Brooklyn
This three-and-a-half year-old community development credit union fills the gap left vacant by formal sector financial institutions, empowering members through financial education.

NEWS STORY:
Is CRA the Right Remedy for Race-Based Disparity in Mortgage Lending?
A new study finds significant disparity between lending to minorities versus whites, but a Community Reinvestment Act expert questions the focus on CRA as the cure.

NEWS STORY:
Fonkoze Partners With Zanmi Lasante to Link Microfinance and Health in Haiti
The largest microfinance institution in Haiti teams with a renowned community health provider to launch a new bank and hospital in a rural village.

NEWS STORY:
Socially Responsible Investment Assets On the Up and Up Down Under
The Ethical Investment Association in Australia reports that SRI assets have doubled in the three years it has been producing benchmarking surveys.

NEWS STORY:
FDIC Proposes Rule Watering Down Community Reinvestment Act Requirements
The SaveCRA.org website promotes opposition to the rule change, posting information and a sample letter to file with the FDIC before the end of the comment period tomorrow.

NEWS STORY:
Blueberries, Bats, and Barns: How Community Investing Aids Small Family Farms
The Community Investing Program of the Social Investment Forum and Co-op America honors nine community investment organizations for assisting small family farms.

NEWS STORY:
First and Largest International Microfinance Bond Issued
Grameen Foundation USA joins forces with two socially responsible investment firms to issue a $40 million bond to support microfinance institutions in nine developing nations.

NEWS STORY:
CRAFund Goes Retail
Formerly available only to institutional investors, the Community Reinvestment Act Qualified Investment Fund is now available to individuals through Charles Schwab.

NEWS STORY:
Microcredit Development Fund Helps Transform Household Scraps into Sustainable Entrepreneurship
The Deutsche Bank Microcredit Development Fund seeks to alleviate poverty worldwide by helping microfinance institutions grow to scale and achieve sustainability.

NEWS STORY:
Assets in CDFIs Grew Twice as Fast as Those in Commercial US Banks
A new study of community development financial institutions highlights several key distinctions between CDFIs and mainstream financial institutions.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment Benefits Middle Income Earners in Los Angeles
The Genesis Workforce Housing Fund develops the first institutional investor-backed project promoting home-ownership for middle-income earners in the US.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment Institutions Managed By and Benefiting African Americans
Generations Community Credit Union, Carver Bancorp, and UrbanAmerica are three African American managed community investment institutions.

NEWS STORY:
Sarona Supports Microfinance To Help Alleviate Poverty in Developing Regions
The Sarona Global Investment Fund finances starch processing in Paraguay, a foundation supporting small enterprises in Romania, and a savings and loan cooperative in Haiti.

NEWS STORY:
Matchmaker Boosts FDIC Limit to $5 Million for Community Development Banks
A new system allows community development banks to trade portions of deposits, upping the amount covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to $5 million.

NEWS STORY:
Community Foundations and Community Investment: An Obvious But Underused Link
The Vermont Community Foundation recently broke new ground by launching a first-of-its-kind community investment program with the support of the Calvert Foundation.

NEWS STORY:
Into Africa: The Paradox of Socially Responsible Investing in the Developing Continent
To support sustainability in Africa, social investors can invest directly outside the SRI community, or else they can pursue community investment and shareowner action.

NEWS STORY:
Piper Jaffray Consulting Division Marries Best Asset Managers with Customized Social Screening
Socially responsible investment consultant can apply social screens to best asset managers, even if they do not usually practice SRI.

NEWS STORY:
Study Finds Loans to Low-Income Borrowers No More Risky than Conventional Loans
Research released yesterday finds that community development financial institutions serving low-income clients have a lower rate of loan write-offs than mainstream banks.

NEWS STORY:
CRA Fund Helps Transform Environmental Liabilities Into Social Assets
The CRA Fund supports environmental remediation of brownfield sites, helping transform them into socially beneficial projects.

NEWS STORY:
The Leviticus Fund Helps Shelter the Homeless and Provide Care for Children
In its third decade, the Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund lending program continues to grow and now offers a return for social investors.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment Advocates Question Bank of America/FleetBoston Merger
Bank of America is responding to critics of its proposed merger with FleetBoston.

NEWS STORY:
Robert Zevin, a Father of Socially Responsible Investing
Robert Zevin helped establish socially responsible investing by fusing traditional investment theory with social justice advocacy, among many other achievements.

NEWS STORY:
Top Five Social Investing News Stories of 2003
The major social investing news stories of the year include SEC reforms, stock exchanges mandating social, environmental, and corporate governance practices, and climate risk assessment defined as a fiduciary duty.

NEWS STORY:
US Community Investment Assets Nearly Double Over the Past Two Years
Community development financial institution assets rise 84 percent from 2001 to 2003, making community investment the fastest growing segment of socially responsible investing.

NEWS STORY:
From Pallet Shacks to Cinderblock Homes: Microfinance Loans on the Mexican Border
CHF/Mexico addresses an acute housing shortage by providing technical assistance and affordable loans to low-income families.

NEWS STORY:
As, Bs, and Cs: New Rating Tool Grades Community Development Financial Institutions
The National Community Capital Association launches CARS: the CDFI Assessment and Ratings System.

NEWS STORY:
Social Investment Forum’s Trends Report Tracks Rises and Falls in SRI
Assets in screened portfolios grew since 2001, while overall assets in socially responsible investments fell during the same time period, according to SIF’s 2003 Trends Report.

NEWS STORY:
Community Development Financial Institutions Help Rebuild Post-9/11
The National Community Capital Association unveils a report on the impact of CDFIs on post-9/11 lower Manhattan.

NEWS STORY:
SRI Growing Amongst European Institutional Investors and in Asian Emerging Markets
Two new reports document the status and prospects of sustainable and responsible investment in Asian emerging markets and with European institutional investors.

NEWS STORY:
Give Peace a Chance: Support Women in Business
The Business Council for Peace helps women create sustainable businesses by providing the technology for them to train in computer and entrepreneurial skills.

NEWS STORY:
SRI Money Market Accounts Earn Competitive Financial Returns
In addition to offering social and environmental returns, socially responsible investing money market accounts generate competitive financial returns compared to their non-SRI counterparts.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment Bond Helps House the Learning Disabled in the UK
The UK arm of Triodos Bank issues a bond that supports Golden Lane Housing, a UK charity that provides housing to people with learning disabilities.

NEWS STORY:
Jazz and Orchids Provide Inner City Hope and Opportunity
An interview with William Strickland, CEO of the not-for-profit Manchester Bidwell Corporation in Pittsburgh, reveals he is continuing to push the boundaries of inner city economic development.

NEWS STORY:
Domini Social Bond Fund Supports Community Development Financial Institutions
The Domini Social Bond Fund allocates almost seven percent of its assets to CDFIs while also performing like a classic intermediate-term bond fund.

NEWS STORY:
The Needmor Fund Utilizes a Muscular Definition of Fiduciary Responsibility
Susan Stranahan, treasurer of the Needmor Fund, discusses socially responsible investing as a fiduciary duty and tier A money managers who have a social mission.

NEWS STORY:
ACCION Creates Self-Sufficiency by Providing Microfinance to Microenterprises
Social investors can support ACCION's international and national microlending initiatives, which seek to break the cycle of poverty through several mechanisms.

NEWS STORY:
Foundation Begins to Reconcile Investments with Programs
The Fetzer Institute uses screens and community investment to align a small portion of its assets with its social and environmental goals.

NEWS STORY:
Philadelphia Innovates Solutions to Predatory Lending for Low- and Middle-Income Homeowners
Two programs supported by the city of Philadelphia help low- and middle-income homeowners exposed to predatory lending when seeking loans to rehabilitate their houses.

NEWS STORY:
The Sun is Rising on SRI in Japan
A major Tokyo public pension fund commits to socially responsible investing, an indication of Japan's growing interest in SRI (part one of a two-part article.)

NEWS STORY:
Catholic Institutional Investors Launch an SRI Fund of Funds Hedge Fund
In order to fill a market niche, five Catholic healthcare organizations joined forces to launch an SRI fund of funds hedge fund that is available to other institutional investors.

NEWS STORY:
Socially Responsible Investing in 529 Funds Requires Some Savvy
There are now three SRI options for 529 college savings plans, though ascertaining how best to save for college in a socially responsible way may require professional advice.

NEWS STORY:
Village Banking Supports Tomato-Selling in Tanzania (and Other Community Investing)
FINCA provides microfinance to groups of villagers at market rates to create businesses that remain sustainable in the local economy long after loan repayment ends.

NEWS STORY:
Rebuilding Iraq: Humanitarianism Versus Opportunism
Socially responsible investing supports companies and nonprofit initiatives that advance humanitarian efforts to rebuild Iraq and avoids investment in profiteering companies.

NEWS STORY:
Socially Responsible Investment Firms Respond to New War with Tried and True Tactics
SRI firms are sticking with their traditional strategies, such as screening, community investment, and support for humanitarian aid, in response to war.

NEWS STORY:
Credit Reporting Companies Obstruct Positive Credit History Reports
Credit reporting companies readily accept negative credit reports, but require positive credit report submissions in batches of 100, preventing many microlenders from reporting.

NEWS STORY:
New UK Index Rates Corporate Social Responsibility Performance
UK-based Business in the Community launches its Corporate Responsibility Index, which benchmarks corporate social responsibility performance.

BOOK REVIEW:
Book Review: Socially Responsible Investment: A Global Revolution
A new book is generous in its history of socially responsible investing, but it shortchanges readers with its definition of SRI and its coverage of SRI's globalization.

NEWS STORY:
Individual Retirement Accounts Meet Socially Responsible Investing
IRAs that employ socially responsible investing strategies can help create a more secure financial, social, and environmental future.

NEWS STORY:
Congress Cuts Funding for New Markets Venture Capital Program
The New Markets Venture Capital program, which provides entrepreneurial expertise and equity capital to small businesses in low-income regions, received the Congressional ax.

NEWS STORY:
Federal Credit Union and Nonprofits Go 50-50 on Loans to Low-Income Individuals
Alternatives Federal Credit Union's Community Partnership Lending program doubles the amount of money nonprofits can loan to underserved communities.

NEWS STORY:
Calvert Foundation Offers Community Investment in Self-Directed IRAs
The Calvert Foundation has partnered with PENSCO Trust Company to offer Calvert Community Investment Notes for use in self-directed individual retirement accounts.

NEWS STORY:
National Wildlife Federation and Amnesty International USA Embrace SRI
Two well-known advocacy organizations have made a commitment to lowering the wall between their program activities and their investments.

NEWS STORY:
Meritas Launches Four New SRI Funds for Canadian Group Pension Plans
A mainstream group pension plan provider in Canada contracted Meritas Financial to create and manage four new SRI mutual funds for retirement plan investors.

NEWS STORY:
NeighborWorks Network Helps Low-Income Families
The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation operates the NeighborWorks Network, a coalition of local organizations that provide community investment loans to low-income residents.

NEWS STORY:
Green Banking
Ten exemplary "green banking" enterprises were honored recently, highlighting the growth of environment-friendly community investing.

NEWS STORY:
Top Five Social Investing News Stories of 2002
The major social investing news stories of the year include significant corporate governance reforms and the success of community investment.

NEWS STORY:
Investment in Affordable Housing Generates Market-beating Returns
CalPERS' highest returning investment category over the last ten years is its Single Family Housing Program. The pension giant is not the only institutional investor that has had success with community investing.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment Pays: More Conversation with F.B. Heron's Luther Ragin
Luther Ragin details F.B. Heron Foundation's returns on its community investments and urges other foundations and institutional investors to consider community investing (part two of a two-part article).

NEWS STORY:
Helping People Help Themselves: A Conversation with F.B. Heron's Luther Ragin
Luther Ragin explains why and how the F.B. Heron Foundation commits a whopping 18 percent of its total assets toward community investment projects (part one of a two-part article).

NEWS STORY:
A Tribute to Chuck Matthei, Community Investing Trailblazer
At a time of year when many people give thanks for their gifts, the SRI community continues to reflect on Chuck Matthei's numerous contributions to community investing.

NEWS STORY:
SRI Gains Momentum in University and College Endowment Investments
U.S. academic institutions are increasingly applying socially responsible investment principles, although not comprehensively.

NEWS STORY:
Freddie Mac's SHIP Sails Over the Stormy Seas of the Bear Market
The Socially Responsible Housing Investment Program (SHIP) run by Freddie Mac earns positive returns while supporting low-income housing.

NEWS STORY:
The Ethical Investment Group, Canada's Socially Responsible Investment Club
Initially spurred by a popular trend in the 1990's, a Montreal-based investment club continues its commitment to socially responsible investment.

NEWS STORY:
Tables Turning on Predatory Lending?
The fight against predatory lending is being waged across the country by committed organizations that are utilizing capital from investors to create critical community impact. Meanwhile, major penalties are being handed down on predatory lenders.

NEWS STORY:
WRI Promotes Sustainable Business in China
The World Resources Institute has launched a project that will support green business initiatives in China.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investing Pays
New study refutes the myth that loans to low-income borrowers carry higher risk than loans to conventional borrowers.

NEWS STORY:
Hong Kong Investment Firm Launches New Asian SRI Fund
The Kingsway SRI Asia Fund will apply both negative and positive screens to investments throughout the non-Japanese Asian markets.

NEWS STORY:
Innovative Community Investment Fund Attracts Institutional Investors
The CRA Qualified Investment Fund, originally established to help banks fulfill a federal mandate for community investment, now appeals to a broader range of institutional investors.

NEWS STORY:
CDVCA's Double Bottom Line
By investing capital in low-income communities, community development venture capital funds create jobs and foster economic development.

NEWS STORY:
Wells Fargo to Acquire Silicon Valley Investment Boutique with SRI Expertise
Wells Fargo recently inked an agreement to acquire Nelson Capital Management, an award-winning private money manager that specializes in socially responsible investing.

NEWS STORY:
Pension Funds, Fiduciary Duty, and SRI
An interview with Meredith Miller from the Connecticut State Treasurer's Office gives some insight into why the State of Connecticut is increasingly embracing SRI.

NEWS STORY:
Cooperative Fund of New England Attracts Investment through Self-Directed IRAs
Self-directed IRAs offer a win-win situation for nonprofits, which benefit from low-interest loans, and investors, who benefit from tax-friendly community investment.

NEWS STORY:
SRI Income Funds Yield Competitive Dividends
Often overlooked, SRI income funds allow social investors to diversify their portfolios.

NEWS STORY:
NCCED Supports CDCs
The National Congress for Community Economic Development is helping community development corporations operate more effectively and expand their services.

NEWS STORY:
Conference to Consider the Business Case for SRI
Institutional investors will discuss SRI at the Green Mountain SRI Summit, to be held in Stowe, Vermont in September.

NEWS STORY:
SRI Simulations Beat Benchmarks
The Triple Bottom Line Simulation demonstrates to institutional investors how socially responsible investing generates positive financial, social, and environmental returns.

NEWS STORY:
New PRI Opportunity Garners Flexible Capital for Award-Winning Community Development Corporations
Calvert Foundation has created a well-structured program related investment (PRI) opportunity that for the first time allows funders to buy-into a PRI Offering, combining strong credit quality and convenience with significant community impact.

NEWS STORY:
Minnesota Bank Puts Community Investment Accounts on Equal Footing
University Bank offers accounts that support projects in economically distressed communities and deliver the same interest rates as traditional accounts.

NEWS STORY:
New Markets Tax Credit Rewards Community Investment
Over the next seven years, the U.S. Treasury Department will allocate $15 billion in tax credits to investors who support qualifying community investments.

NEWS STORY:
Financing Rural Western Community Infrastructure
The Rural Community Assistance Corporation helps people in the western United States build homes, strengthen small communities and create environmental infrastructure.

NEWS STORY:
Community Development Credit Unions Introduce Affordable International Wiring Services
Several Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) have started to provide services that allow working immigrants affordable ways to send funds "back home".

NEWS STORY:
New Organization Demands Good Returns from Charitable Investments
New intermediary organization will act as a clearinghouse for information on the financial and social strengths of charitable organizations for social investors.

NEWS STORY:
Students Compel Williams College to Offer Social Investment Option for Donors
Alumni and other donors now can have their endowment contributions invested in a socially responsible manner.

NEWS STORY:
One Percent Community Investing Campaign Gains Momentum
MMA Praxis places 1 percent of its assets in community investments, indicating continued overall growth of community investing.

NEWS STORY:
Top Five Social Investing News Stories of 2001
Among the major social investing news stories of the year, social mutual funds continued to bust poor performance myths, and governments and shareowners pushed companies on sustainability and corporate social responsibility issues.

NEWS STORY:
Florida Community Loan Fund Brings Sunshine to Low-income Communities
A wide lending focus helps the Florida Community Loan Fund provide the necessities of life throughout Florida.

NEWS STORY:
Empowering Micro-business Entrepreneurs to Succeed
A for-profit Washington, D.C. company develops business training tools that are helping educate entrepreneurs in the U.S. and around the world.

NEWS STORY:
SIF Reports on Socially Responsible Investment Growth in the U.S.
In its biennial report, the Social Investment Forum documents modest gains in socially responsible investments.

NEWS STORY:
Calvert Foundation Launches Donor Advised Fund
With a $5,000 minimum, the Calvert Giving Fund enables many investors to reap the multiple benefits of having a donor advised fund.

NEWS STORY:
Strengthening Communities in Massachusetts and the Northeast
Boston Community Capital offers investors opportunities to provide loans and equity for affordable housing, community infrastructure and business start-ups.

NEWS STORY:
Property Flipping Remediation Yields Investment-grade Security
Refinancing plan for victims of property flipping in Minneapolis includes mortgage-backed securities for institutional investors (part two of a two-part article).

NEWS STORY:
Property Flipping Robs Homeowners of Money and Credit
Community non-profit organizations, private companies, government officials and others cooperate to help victims of a complex predatory lending scheme in Minneapolis (part one of a two-part article).

NEWS STORY:
ShoreBank Surpasses $1 Billion in Community Development Investment
Nation's oldest and largest community development bank passes milestone in serving distressed inner-city neighborhoods.

NEWS STORY:
SRI in the Rockies Reflects Growth in Social Investing, Perseveres Under Extraordinary Circumstances
Conference of SRI industry professionals facilitates learning and networking, and on September 11, support of a different kind.

NEWS STORY:
Ben & Jerry's Co-founder Invests in "Sweat-free" Garments
Following the sale of the Ben & Jerry's label to Unilever, Ben Cohen has shifted his focus from ice cream to the clothing industry as a vehicle for social change.

NEWS STORY:
Building a Vibrant Arkansas
Southern Development Bancorporation focuses on developing Arkansas' rural economies by investing in its people, businesses and real estate.

NEWS STORY:
Community Investment As a Means of Competitive Advantage
Ford Foundation report illustrates how companies are finding investment in rural and urban markets to be good business.

NEWS STORY:
Vermont Benefits from Socially Responsible Banking Program
Regional bank brings socially responsible banking and investing to the Green Mountain State.

NEWS STORY:
ICE Preserves Affordable Housing
The Institute for Community Economics (ICE) works with groups around the country to create and support community land trusts, organizations that ensure a long-term supply of affordable housing.

NEWS STORY:
LIHF Helps Families Out of Poverty
The Low Income Housing Fund, one of the country's largest community development financial institutions, helps people gain stability and hope.

NEWS STORY:
Budget Proposal Threatens Huge Cut in CDFI Fund
House and Senate subcommittees will soon be looking at a Bush budget proposal that cuts CDFI Fund funding by nearly half.

NEWS STORY:
Helping People on the Plains
Regional community development organization in South Dakota provides a variety of needed resources and services to farmers, Native Americans and others.

NEWS STORY:
Manna Inc. Helps Families Find Homes
The non-profit developer works to create affordable for-sale homes for low- and moderate-income families in Washington D.C.

NEWS STORY:
Rural Housing Organization Reaches Milestone
The Housing Assistance Council celebrates 30 years of helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America.

NEWS STORY:
Entrepreneurs Foundation Starts Up Community Service
Innovative organization taps the resources of the entrepreneurial sector to strengthen communities.

NEWS STORY:
Louisville Community Development Bank Focuses on Inner City Neighborhoods
Unique bank helps turn pockets of despair into pockets of hope.

NEWS STORY:
Jewish Foundation Promotes Community Development
Jewish individuals and organizations are supporting communities through investments in community development financial institutions.

NEWS STORY:
Bank of America Invests in Affordable Housing
Funding of a non-profit syndicator of federal tax credits is part of a 10-year, $350 billion commitment to community development banking.

NEWS STORY:
Mutual Fund Breaks New Ground in Community Investment
The CRA Qualified Investment Mutual Fund now allows investors to direct their money to specific communities.

NEWS STORY:
New Tech Incubator Warms to Socially Responsible Firms
A Washington, D.C.-area patent lawyer sparks formation of a tech incubator that aims to promote good corporate citizenship.

NEWS STORY:
Self-Help Credit Union Reaches Milestone in Community Investing
From humble beginnings in the back of a Volkswagon Beetle, non-profit lender generates $1 billion in financing.

BOOK REVIEW:
Book Review: Comeback Cities
Community development corporations spotlighted in recent book on revitalizing cities.

BOOK REVIEW:
Book Review: Investing With Your Values
Thorough handbook on socially responsible investing is revised for the 21st century.

NEWS STORY:
U.K. Fund Managers Eye Socially Responsible Investment
New survey reveals many investment fund managers in the U.K. expect interest in socially responsible investment to continue growing.

NEWS STORY:
Chicago Community Loan Fund Meeting Human Needs
Loans for affordable housing, social service and other projects benefit low- and middle-income Chicago neighborhoods.

NEWS STORY:
Canadian Business Organization Promotes Education on Corporate Social Responsibility
The Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility program will give professionals the opportunity to learn how corporate social responsibility can fit into their own organizations.

BOOK REVIEW:
Book Review: Socially Responsible Investing
Social investment industry pioneer Amy Domini pens a new, comprehensive book on the whys and hows of socially responsible investing.

NEWS STORY:
Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund Puts Money Where Its Faith Is
Religious-based community development organization is working to lift the lot of the economically disadvantaged.

NEWS STORY:
New Organization Facilitates Global Social Investing
A coalition of research organizations is working to provide investors greater access to worldwide social investment research products and services.

NEWS STORY:
Five Top Social Investing Stories of 2000
The end-of-the-year news roundup reflects socially responsible investing's continued march into the mainstream.

NEWS STORY:
Canada Values Social Investment
A new study reveals that socially responsible investment in Canada has reached nearly $50 billion.

NEWS STORY:
Green Loan Fund Supports Environmental Enterprises in Latin America
EcoLogic Enterprise Ventures has created a model where loans for economic development help promote tropical forest conservation.

:
Shared Interest Launches African Century Challenge
A three-year initiative to double loan capital will help ensure economic democracy in the new South Africa.

:
Sarona Fund Gets Big Social Returns on Small Investments
A Mennonite micro-enterprise fund finds economic promise in low-income communities around the world.

:
Canadian Community Loan Fund Struggles for Retirement Dollars
The Jubilee Fund is pressing the Canadian government to permit retirement plans to include community investments.

:
Albany Loan Fund Celebrates 15 Years of Social Impact
Capital District Community Loan Fund links investors with community projects in need of capital for high social returns.

:
Community Development Partnership Helps Midwesterners Buy Homes
A targeted program spearheaded by the Housing Assistance Council and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka helps boost home ownership in rural communities.

:
Northwestern Community Fund Seeks Economic Justice
Cascadia Revolving Fund provides loans and technical support to small businesses that employ low-income people and minorities in the shadow of prosperity.

:
Minority- and Women-owned Community Banks Gain Recognition
The National Bankers Association reports member banks that have received federal community development financial institution certification.

:
Freddie Mac Targets Predatory Lending
A public information campaign launched in 12 cities nationwide stands to alert millions of Americans about abusive lending practices.

:
Ithaca Credit Union Reaches Youth Community
Alternatives Federal Credit Union embraces community development through a variety of innovative programs for underserved communities, including teenagers.

:
Sustainable Jobs Fund Makes Virtuous Ventures
A new venture capital fund stands to create quality jobs while growing responsible businesses.

:
New Mexico Fund Opens Doors
Dedicated to economic empowerment of low-income people, the New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund celebrates ten years of lending.

:
Canadian Credit Union Launches International Community Deposit
VanCity introduces a community investment vehicle that benefits underserved communities around the world.

:
McAuley Institute Introduces Women's Homeownership Program
The women-led community development corporation, established by the Sisters of Mercy, is launching a national initiative to increase the number of women who own homes.

:
Domini Launches Social Bond Fund
In a unique partnership with South Shore Bank, Domini Social Investments introduces a socially screened bond fund with community impact.

:
Calvert Launches LGBT Community Loan Program
A community loan program introduced by Calvert Foundation provides investment capital to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities.

NEWS STORY:
Shorebank Offers National Banking with Community Impact
The oldest and largest community development bank in the U.S., Shorebank is uniquely positioned to be the bank of social investors.

NEWS STORY:
California State Treasurer Launches Community Investment Initiative
In a report released last week, Treasurer Philip Angelides musters $8 billion of investments in domestic emerging markets to help underserved communities.

NEWS STORY:
Social Investors Rise to New Challenges at National Conference
At a meeting held in New York this week, socially responsible investment professionals reveled in a decade of outstanding growth, but did not rest on their laurels.

NEWS STORY:
Calvert Launches Linked Account for Social Impact
A new product combines measurable social returns with the flexibility and liquidity of a money market account.

NEWS STORY:
Ohio Fund Finds Room for Children to Grow
Ohio Community Development Finance Fund promotes the social benefits of adequate childcare facilities across the state.

NEWS STORY:
Annual Conference Offers Inspiration for Social Investors
The fourth annual "Making a Profit While Making a Difference" conference provides a wealth of information for both high-net-worth individual and institutional investors.

:
MMA and Calvert Collaborate on Community Investment
Mennonite Mutual Aid breaks into the community development investing market with the help of Calvert Foundation, bringing millions of dollars of capital to underserved communities.

:
Social Investment Makes Sense to California State Treasurer
Leading other state and local governments, the Treasurer of California uses state funds to promote social goals.

:
NICA Fund Gives Credit to Nicaraguan Communities
A year after their first loan, the Nicaraguan Credit Alternatives Fund has loaned $1.65 million to help rebuild the economy of the Central American nation from the ground up.

NEWS STORY:
Religious Investors Find New Frontiers at MMA Praxis
The Mennonite mutual fund family leads the way to more complete program of socially responsible investing.

NEWS STORY:
VCLF Makes a Big Difference in a Small State
Vermont Community Loan Fund brings a vibrant program of affordable housing, community facilities, and small business to the Green Mountain State.

NEWS STORY:
Business Ethics Announces Six Social Investment Award Winners
Mutual funds and community investment firms gain high honors for both performance and social activism.

NEWS STORY:
New Ventures Rewards Start-up Environmental Businesses in Latin America
Environmental companies in six sectors compete for venture capital, professional consulting, and $100,000 cash.

NEWS STORY:
Funding Social Change Brings Charity Beyond Band-Aids
The Funding Exchange puts social, political, and economic justice into the vocabulary of philanthropy.

NEWS STORY:
Delta Community Harvests Sustainability in Sweet Potatoes
The Enterprise Corporation of the Delta provides capital for vital community development in rural Mississippi town.

NEWS STORY:
The Five Biggest Social Investing Stories of 1999
In the growing field of socially responsible investing, here's five news items that topped the charts and made 1999 a year to remember.

NEWS STORY:
New Hampshire Community Loan Fund Brings a Merry Christmas to Concord Family
The Home of Your Own Program offers the dream of ownership to low-income families dealing with developmental disabilities.

NEWS STORY:
Nonprofits Find Added Value in Venture Philanthropy
Although it will not replace classical philanthropy, venture philanthropy brings grant-making to a new level of engagement.

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Community Development Helps Build Cabinets and Job Opportunities
Cooperative Fund of New England boosts small business development in Hartford neighborhood

NEWS STORY:
Two Trillion Dollars in Socially Responsible Investments
Social Investment Forum reports that one out of every eight dollars under management is now invested responsibly.

:
DEVCAP Shares the Wealth with the World's Poorest
One billion people are living in extreme poverty, earning less than 75 cents a day. DEVCAP Shared Return Fund brings them microenterprise development and hope.

:
New Bank Deal May Be Bum Deal for Communities
Advocates fear that financial institution mergers could spell disaster for regulatory oversight and community financial needs.

:
Calvert Foundation Offers New Community Investment Scheme
The Community Giftshare donor program launched by Calvert Foundation gives donors the opportunity to put their money where they want it most.

:
Calvert Tops 1,000 Community Investors
Trend-setting foundation adds to its flock of community benefactors.

:
Clinton Calls for Community Investment
President Clinton tours MMA's community investment sites, calls attention to their good example.

BOOK REVIEW:
Book Review: "Investing with Your Values"
A book from leading voices in socially responsible investing gives readers an intimate look at SRI's bright future.

NEWS STORY: SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT

NEWS BRIEF: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

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