Assets under management in the U.S. that use sustainable, responsible and impact investing strategies account for more than one out of every six dollars under professional management, according to a new report by the US SIF Foundation.
The report said SRI assets using SRI strategies grew by 76% to $6.6 trillion from the start of 2012 to the start of 2014.
The foundation's research, conducted between May and August, found that 480 U.S. institutional investors, 308 money managers and 880 community investment institutions that applied environmental, social and governance criteria in their investment analysis and portfolio selection held $6.2 trillion as of Jan. 1.
As well, 202 institutional investors or money managers with $1.7 billion under management filed or co-filed shareholder resolutions on ESG issues at publicly traded companies from 2012 through 2014.
The foundation arrived at its overall total by eliminating double-counting for assets involved in both strategies.
It said assets engaged in SRI investing practices at the start of 2014 represented nearly 18% of the $37 trillion in total assets under management tracked by Cerulli Associates.
"The findings clearly demonstrate that investment decisions using sustainable, responsible and impact investing strategies are on the rise," Lisa Woll, chief executive of US SIF and the US SIF Foundation, said in a statement.
"Sustainable investment strategies are being applied across asset classes to promote corporate social responsibility, build long-term value for companies and their stakeholders, and foster businesses that will yield community and environmental benefits."
Since 1995, the SRI universe has generated a 13.1% compound annual growth rate, according to the report.
SIF Trends
The report described several major trends it said were shaping the evolution and growth of SRI within U.S. financial markets.