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.

About SJF Institute

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.

Investors' Circle - SJF Institute

Investors' Circle - SJF Institute

SJF Institute was founded in 2001 as an independent nonprofit affiliate of SJF Ventures, a leading national impact investment venture capital fund. SJFI develops national and regional programs to connect, inspire and accelerate impact entrepreneurs and the fields that support them. SJFI has provided direct technical assistance to over 1500 impact entrepreneurs and has helped hundreds of others through its signature programs, including Getting Ready for Equity™, CleanLinks networking events, the SJF Cleantech Mentorship Program, the Green Jobs Award, and field-building reports such as Employees Matter: Maximizing Company Value Through Workforce Engagement.

Since 1992 Investors' Circle has built a network of over 150 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. During that time Investors' Circle has facilitated the flow of over $145 million into more than 220 companies and small funds addressing social and environmental issues. Members in IC's network of impact investors include some of the most experienced angels, early-stage and growth funds working to change the world.

Together, SJF Institute and Investors' Circle will increase entrepreneurs' access to capital, resources and networks, and will provide more opportunities for collaboration among impact investors.

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