SJF Institute Works With Green Entrepreneurs, Investors, Foundations and Corporations to Change the World

Impact Investing Thought Leader Broadens Scope, Expands Reach

DURHAM, N.C. – Sept. 14, 2010 – The SJF Institute, which connects, inspires and accelerates sustainable entrepreneurs and was formerly known as SJF Advisory Services, today unveiled a new scope of influence and ideas at the SJF Summit on the New Green Economy at the Durham Marriott Convention Center. The SJF Institute’s focus now includes specific programs to build the infrastructure of the emerging “impact investing” industry, an investment strategy also known as socially responsible investing that seeks to maximize both financial return and social good, through programs and services such as the SJF Best Practices Paper series, industry events such as the SJF Summit, hands-on entrepreneurial programs, and the first ever Green Jobs Awards later this year.

In its nascent form, SJF Advisory Services assisted more than 1,500 entrepreneurs over the past nine years via one-on-one guidance, small-group workshops and industry events. Today, the organization’s leaders see a greater opportunity to leverage their expertise in impact investing, green jobs, and employee engagement and to become a critical contributor of global entrepreneurial direction through more and larger partnerships throughout the U.S.

“As SJF Institute, our mission to connect, inspire and accelerate sustainable entrepreneurs and the fields that support them remains the same, and we’re now expanding our scope, capacity, reach and goals to become a thought leader on a larger scale as we empower companies that provide green solutions and build workplaces where employees can grow and thrive,” said Bonny Moellenbrock, Executive Director of the SJF Institute.

Highlights of the expanded scope of the SJF Institute’s work includes:

  • Partnerships with universities, corporations and individuals who want to engage the Institute to help them develop programs or conduct research in the fields of green jobs, impact investing and employee engagement;
  • The Green Jobs Awards, presented in conjunction with Green for All, to recognize excellence in companies focusing on profitable green business solutions and employee engagement;
  • Entrepreneur-focused initiatives such as the Cleantech Mentorship program, Getting Ready for Equity™ workshops, CleanLinks networking events, industry Summits and CEO panels and webinars; and
  • Best practices research and papers such as Employees Matter: Maximizing Company Value Through Employee Engagement.

SJF Summit sponsors include Articulate Communications, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt, Acorn Energy, Grant Thornton, Cleantech Group, Hutchison Law Group, iContact, Investors’ Circle, Duke Edge, The Redwoods Group, The Institute of Minority Economic Development, Internet Securities, and Sustainable Industries. SJF Institute and its programs receive support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the F.B. Heron Foundation, the Citi Foundation and the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation.

SJF Institute connects, inspires and accelerates sustainable entrepreneurs and the fields that support them. The Institute empowers companies that provide green solutions and build workplaces where employees can grow and thrive. For more information, please visit its website at www.sjfinstitute.org.