The Edwards Mother Earth Foundation (EMEF) is a private family foundation established in 1997 in Washington state. The foundation focuses on reducing carbon emissions and improving climate wise buildings, as part of a broad vision for a sustainable planet.
The EMEF deploys capital and supports organisations in ways consistent with the foundation’s values, by providing grants and through a substantive impact investing approach.
Current EMEF grant programs are on climate change and energy efficiency. These include programs to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and improving energy efficiency through policy creation and implementation, supporting green buildings, renewable and clean energy initiatives.
Starting in 2014, the EMEF began investing their $35 million portfolio consistent with their goal of earning competitive financial returns and creating measurable environmental benefits. In doing so, they became one of the first private foundations to pursue an impact investing approach across 100% of their portfolio.
EMEF has a long-term investment horizon that is consistent with the values of a multi-generational family. Sustainability for EMEF includes both responsible investments and thematic investments. Responsible investments incorporate broad-based environmental, social, governance policies and practices. Thematic investments are currently defined as those which impact a specific issue area.
EMEF believes thematic investments provide better solutions for the problem of climate change and energy efficiency. Examples might include investments in green building, renewable energy, and carbon sequestration. The least preferred investments would be those that have the most intensive carbon exposure, the worst energy-use practices, and those that contribute to the climate crisis.
To enhance the sustainable and diverse quality of life by addressing global climate disruption.
Private family foundation created by the original donors, Bob and Jane Edwards.