US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment is a business association that promotes so-called sustainable investing. The organization promotes the use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria for investing in companies.

The organization supports the adoption of ESG criteria to lead companies to promote a more equitable and sustainable society on left-of-center principles. The organization’s members represent many facets of the financial services industry and represent, according to the network, over $5 trillion worth of assets under management. ¹

The organization argues that not only are ESG-based funds better for the planet and the overall community, but that they are profitable as well. It points to an increase of over 38 percent since 2016 of funds that use ESG criteria as a part of their operations. ²

Overview

US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment is a business association that promotes the use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria for investing decisions. The organization argues that the use of ESG criteria in investment will lead to a more sustainable and equitable society. ³

The organization represents members from nearly all sectors of the financial services industry. It claims that the companies who are members of the organization manage over $5 trillion worth of assets. ⁴

The organization works to increase the presence of ESG-based investments through a series of programs. One of the programs that it does is that it produces research and publications that promote the benefits of ESG-based investing. It publishes the biannual Report on US Sustainable and Impact Investing Trends. ⁵

The organization also offers education for people who work in the financial services industry. It also offers, in collaboration with the College for Financial Planning, the only sustainable investment designation in the United States. ⁶

In addition to the organization itself, US SIF is associated with the US SIF Foundation, which supports its work. ⁷

Public Policy Stances

In contrast with most other business organizations, US SIF supports increased federal regulation of business practices. It is a supporter of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and opposed efforts to revise it in 2017. ⁸

The organization supports increased environmental regulations. It opposed the decision of the Trump administration to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords. It also called on the Biden administration to increase environmental regulations. ⁹

The organization also supports a larger welfare state. It supports a $15 per hour minimum wage on the national level and paid sick leave mandates. It also advocates for a “pay ratio” rule that requires companies to disclose ratio of the compensation of all employees of a company compared to the compensation paid to the CEO. ¹⁰

In response to claims that ESG-based investing is not profitable, the organization has released data that claims that it is. It points to an increase of over 38 percent since 2016 of firms that take ESG metrics into account to guide investment decisions. ¹¹

Leadership

Lisa Woll is the CEO of US SIF. She has worked in this capacity since 2006. Previously, she was the executive director of the International Women’s Media Foundation. She also previously directed the Washington, D.C. office of Save The Children. ¹²

Diederik Timmer is the chair of the board. ¹³

Funding

According to its 2019 tax return, US SIF had $1,349,630 in revenue and $1,153,777 in expenses. It had $1,491,946 in assets. ¹⁴

1. “About.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/about.
2. Woll, Lisa. “Opinion: Critics of ESG Funds Are Wrong – Sustainable Investing Delivers Competitive Returns.” MarketWatch. MarketWatch, July 17, 2019. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/critics-of-esg-funds-are-wrong-sustainable-investing-delivers-competitive-returns-2019-07-17.
3. “About.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/about.
4. “About.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/about.
5. “About.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/about.
6. “About.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/about.
7. “About.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/about.
8. “Policy: Financial Reform.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/financialreform.
9. “Policy: Environment.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/environmental.
10.  “Policy: Social.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/social.
11. Woll, Lisa. “Opinion: Critics of ESG Funds Are Wrong – Sustainable Investing Delivers Competitive Returns.” MarketWatch. MarketWatch, July 17, 2019. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/critics-of-esg-funds-are-wrong-sustainable-investing-delivers-competitive-returns-2019-07-17.
12. “Meet The Staff.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/staff.
13. “Board of Directors.” The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://www.ussif.org/board.
14. “US SIF The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment Inc, Full Filing .” ProPublica. Accessed November 7, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/222701978/202023189349309127/full.