Trillium Asset Management offers investment strategies and services that seek to advance humankind towards a global sustainable economy, a just society, and a better world. For over 40 years, the firm has been at the forefront of ESG thought leadership and draws from decades of experience focused exclusively on responsible investing. Devoted to aligning stakeholders’ values and objectives, Trillium combines impactful investment solutions with active ownership.
Our current economic system does not work for all stakeholders. As we pursue our mission of investing for a just and sustainable economy, we leverage the following strategies in support of this work:
Trillium continues to be a transformative thought- leader in impact-driven, ESG-focused strategies that align values with investment objectives. Our commitment to active ownership and shareholder advocacy has supported concrete and positive changes in corporate ESG practices.
Years of operation
Distinctive ESG Strategies
Joan Bavaria founded Trillium in 1982 to provide a space for clients to invest their money in alignment with their values. She is often referred to as the “Founding Mother” of Socially Responsible Investing. Under Joan’s visionary leadership, Trillium grew to become one of the largest SRI investment firms in the U.S. Joan was proud to use Trillium as an incubator to create organizations with impact. Our firm helped nurture US SIF, Ceres, SIRAN and Open MIC.
Joan Bavaria (1943-2008)
Founder, Trillium Asset Management
The "Founding Mother" of ESG Investing
Trillium’s purpose is to activate our clients’ capital to advance humankind towards a global sustainable economy, a just society, and a better world. We believe that a community’s sustainability depends upon a balance between equity, ecology, and economy, and that our efforts should contribute towards the achievement of this balance. No single action is likely to achieve all of these goals; likewise, no single company or investable asset will perfectly embody all of these goals. However, these values are the guideposts we use to evaluate whether our business practices, investment decisions, and advocacy further our goals.
Including the rights of freedom of opinion, speech, the press, assembly, and movement; and the equity and human dignity of all people from all racial, ethnic, Indigenous, and gender identities, sexual orientations, religious groups, or other marginalized status. We understand human rights to include the rights to—without discrimination—a living wage, freedom from slavery or forced labor; to safety; and to access to food, clean water, shelter, education, and healthcare.
Including democratic governments, the rule of law, communities, and families of all structures. We strive to advance these values through our investment strategies and advocacy.
Especially for the disenfranchised and the voiceless, including economic, environmental, and climate justice, as well as redressing historic and current inequities generated by implicit and/or explicit biases.
Including the right to organize and collectively bargain, payment of living wages, and just and favorable conditions of work.
Including slowing and adapting to climate change, the protection of air, water and biodiversity, and the humane treatment of animals.
as Franklin Research & Development by Joan Bavaria; becomes first dedicated SRI Advisor
(formerly the Social Investment Forum) is cofounded by Joan Bavaria
a nonprofit organization mobilizing businesses and investor leadership on environmental issues is cofounded by Joan Bavaria
launched by the firm
on sexual orientation with Johnson & Johnson
UN Principles for Responsible Investment
the fourth financial firm to receive this recognition
by Australian Financial Firm Perpetual Ltd.
for tenth consecutive year*
The B Corporation award is not indicative of the future performance of Trillium Asset Management. B Lab, a non-profit organization helping companies manage corporate social responsibility, recognizes businesses that have earned an overall score in the top 5% of approximately 4,000 Certified B Corporations in one of the impact areas assessed: community, customers, environment, governance, and workers. The latest B Corporation ‘Best for World Overall’ Honoree was awarded in July 2022. B Labs discontinued the “Best for the WorldTM” recognition in 2023.
Trillium stands at the forefront of ESG thought-leadership. Drawing on decades of experience focused exclusively on responsible investing, we apply a holistic, fully integrated. fundamental investment process to uncover compelling long-term investment opportunities.
We believe that “impact is active” and leverage the full breadth of company resources, including a dedicated shareholder advocacy team, to engage with companies and governments, activating stakeholders’ assets to create concrete, positive social and environmental change.
Trillium is devoted to aligning values and objectives by combining sustainable and responsible investment solutions with active ownership in order to provide “social dividendsTM.”
Trillium’s investment approach focuses on positive integration of material quantitative and qualitative ESG data with fundamental financial analysis to provide meaningful insights into value-creation opportunities and risk profiles. We also consider it part of our mission to engage with the companies that we hold to press for positive change on ESG concerns or opportunities that we believe will help protect or enhance shareholder value and/or create meaningful impact for stakeholders.
Learn how Trillium’s impact investing strategies transform investor capital into a catalyst for change.
