Home Education Fundamentals in Sustainable and Impact Investing

US SIF's Flagship Course: Fundamentals in Sustainable and Impact Investing

4 hours

This class will give you the tools you need to meet growing client demand for sustainable and impact investment products and strategies.

This course will be delivered online. Participants will be sent details of how to join ahead of the session. Attendees will also receive a copy of the presentation following the webinar.

Special In-Person Session at US SIF Forum 2025

25 June 2025

Pricing options shown on registration page.

Why Take This Course?

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, staying current with sustainable and impact investing practices is essential. The Fundamentals in Sustainable and Impact Investing course - US SIF’s flagship program - is designed to equip financial professionals, investors, and students with the critical knowledge, practical tools, and analytical skills to navigate the growing demand for ESG-integrated strategies. Taught by leading practitioners in the field, this course offers real-world insights, best practices in ESG data analysis, and updates on regulatory changes and trends.

As sustainable investing continues to expand and transform, so do the challenges and opportunities. That’s why the course is offered regularly throughout the year - with the latest updates on technology, regulations, and research. Even past participants are encouraged to rejoin future sessions to stay sharp and up to date. Whether you’re a seasoned advisor or just starting out, this course ensures you're well-prepared to meet rising client demand and contribute meaningfully to the field.

Course Options

Live Online and In Person

Join interactive live sessions offered quarterly, including at least one in-person opportunity during our annual FORUM. Stay current with real-time updates on ESG trends, tools, and policy shifts.

On-Demand Self-Study

Ideal for beginners or those with tight schedules, this asynchronous course covers the foundations of sustainable investing - from history and strategy to communication tips and portfolio design insights.

(Coming Summer 2025)

Ad-hoc on Request

Tailored for organizations, this custom delivery option allows companies to purchase a block of seats for a private session delivered directly to their teams. It’s an ideal way to train staff collectively, build internal ESG expertise, and align investment practices with sustainability goals.

Fundamentals for Training & Onboarding New Hires

For many of the aforementioned reasons, our member organizations have recommended Fundamentals as a recommended training course for their summer interns or an onboarding requirement for corporate sales teams or new hires.

If the timing of our live offerings doesn’t happen to align with your firm’s onboarding needs, it is not a problem! We are happy to arrange an abridged 2-hour training session that will still satisfy all of the necessary knowledge and skills needed to get started in the sustainable investing space. Member firms can arrange these sessions for their interns or new hires at no cost!

Please directly contact our head of content & development, Jenny Coombs (jcoombs@ussif.org) to arrange a session.

Meet Our Instructors

Click below to learn more about our experienced team of instructors on rotation for the in-person and virtual offerings of our programming

Jennifer Coombs

Head of Content & Development, US SIF

Bryan McGannon

Managing Director, US SIF

Ben Vivari

Co-Founder, Till Investors

Eddie Deschapelles

Professor, Georgetown University

Erin Gray

VP Business Development, Green Century Capital Management, Inc.

Simon Rebbechi

Vice President, Investment Consultant, Sustainable Strategies, Calamos Investments

Sam Adams

CEO & Co-Founder, Vert Asset Management

Nick Ashburn

Founder & CEO, Persona Wealth

Course Curriculum

The course curriculum evolves depending on the audience and which instructors have been invited to participate. Overall, the instructors touch upon six key areas:

Module I: Overview of Sustainable Investing and ESG

A (Brief) History of Sustainable Investing
What is ‘Sustainable Investing’?
What is ‘ESG’?
ERISA & Fiduciary Duty for Financial Advising
Who are Sustainable Investors?
Current State of the ESG Market
Market Growth & Outlook
US SIF Trends Report

Module II: Approaches to ESG and Portfolio Construction Considerations

Asset allocation process
Sustainable Investing Strategies
Materiality - Mapping Activity
Asset Classes & Considerations
- Equities
- Fixed Income
- CDFIs
- Alternatives (Real Estate)

Module III: Shareowner Advocacy

Financial Advisors Advocacy Perspectives
Shareholder Engagement Strategies & Tools
Proxy Voting
Participating in Dialogues with Companies
Filing Shareholder Resolutions
Recent Shareholder Success Stories
Resources & Suggestions for Engagement

Module IV: ESG Data Capabilities and Performance

ESG Performance Studies & Research
ESG Data, Ratings, and Scores
Demonstration of analytical software
Industry Trends: UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and connection to scores/date

Module V: Public Policy and Regulatory Environment

US SIF Policy Program
Current year highlights
Federal Regulatory Expectations
ESG Regulation (in the States)
ESG Regulation (International)
Member Resources

Module VI : Engaging Clients with Sustainable Investing (Guest Speaker)

In this section, we often invite a financial advisor, wealth manager, or someone who actively consults with these groups to offer their unique perspective and recommendations on client engagement and best practices. It is an opportunity for those in the industry to learn from their peers and exchange ideas about engagement techniques and answer questions regarding potential challenges in their practices. This is an offering unique to US SIF and its member groups.

About US SIF and the US SIF Foundation

This course is part of the US SIF Foundation's Center for Sustainable Investment Education, which provides investment professionals with resources and training to gain expertise in the field of sustainable and impact investment. The Center provides high quality education, research and thought leadership on sustainable investment to investors, investment advisers, consultants and analysts.

The US SIF Foundation undertakes educational, research and programmatic activities to advance the mission of US SIF. US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment is the leading voice advancing sustainable and impact investing across all asset classes. US SIF and its members advance investment practices that consider environmental, social and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact.