Ceres was founded by a group of investors and environmentalists in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989.

Led by Joan Bavaria, founder of Trillium Asset Management, the group had a vision for a better way of doing business. They re-evaluated the role and responsibility of companies as stewards of the environment and agents of economic and social change.

One of Ceres’ first actions was to reframe the conversation around sustainability and push for systematic risk disclosure. A group of socially responsible investors, public pension funds and environmental organisations created the Ceres Principles, a ten-point code of environmental conduct for companies that commit to continuous environmental improvement.

The Ceres Report was created soon after, the first standardised corporate environmental report format. This was crafted through the collaboration of Fortune 500 companies, progressive smaller companies, institutional investors and NGOs.

One of Ceres’ most notable achievements came in 1997, with the launch of the Global Reporting Initiative, the first global sustainability reporting standard, now used by over 10,000 companies worldwide. Ceres later persuaded the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to issue the first-ever disclosure guidance for corporate reporting on climate change risks.

Ceres continues to encourage stock exchanges worldwide to set minimum requirements for sustainability reporting by all listed companies.

Ceres’ theory of change is to move investors, companies, policymakers and other capital market influencers to take action on four global sustainability challenges:

• climate change,
• water scarcity and pollution,
• inequitable workplaces, and
• outdated capital market systems.

Influential networks of investors, companies and nonprofit organisations have been formed by Ceres including:

• Ceres Investor Network
• Ceres Company Network
• Ceres Policy Network
• Ceres Nonprofit Network
• Food Emissions 50
• Valuing Water Finance Initiative

The aim is to equip leaders with science-based research and tools on sustainability in order to transform the global economy.

Transforming the economy to build a sustainable future for people and the planet.

The majority of Ceres’ revenue (57%) comes from foundation grants.

Other sources include:

• Network member dues – 15%
• Individual and family foundation giving – 10%
• Events and sponsorship – 9%
• Corporate foundations and other corporate support – 6%

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