Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future.

Our Unique Theory of Change

We make the financial business case for sustainability to the largest, most influential investors, companies, policymakers and regulators. We encourage individual and collective actions that help stabilize the climate, protect water and natural resources, build a just and inclusive economy, and accelerate sustainable capital markets. We move capital, influence systems and strengthen policy to drive large-scale economic transformation. We focus on a variety of key strategies to get us there, including: 

  • Coordinate deep stakeholder engagements and dialogue with Ceres network members and our global partners;
  • Deliver science-based research and innovative tools that inspire best practices;
  • Co-lead global initiatives that drive collective action and economy-wide solutions; 
  • Mobilize advocacy campaigns to advance strong state, federal and global policy and regulatory actions; and 
  • Leverage the power of the media and digital communications to promote bold sustainability leadership.

Our Values

  • Integrity to the highest standards of ethics, science, honesty, and transparency because in our effort to achieve impact, we must not lose sight of why we do the work and of our expectations of each other and our collaborators.
  • Equity and belonging to build a just community, foster equitable participation, share power and decision-making, grow and develop together, and encourage colleagues to be allies in fighting all forms of oppression and injustice.
  • Collaboration because delivering durable solutions to the world’s most urgent sustainability challenges is only possible when we work with partners with a wide range of expertise and diverse perspectives.
  • Compassion and respect in advocating for our colleagues, each other, our partners, the global community, and for the well-being of the planet.
  • Pragmatic advocacy because our mission is urgent and pursuing ambitious, innovative, and achievable solutions is the most effective way to realize our bold vision to transform capital market systems.

Our History

In 1989, in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, a group of forward-looking socially responsible investors and environmentalists led by pioneer investor Joan Bavaria, came together to form the nonprofit organization Ceres. They had a vision for a better way of doing business and redefined the role and responsibility of companies as stewards of the environment and agents of economic and social change. At the time, these socially responsible investors were at the forefront of a transformative movement in business. They understood that the most successful businesses will need to consider their impacts on the environment, employees and communities. And, that fundamental premise continues to hold true decades later. 

At Ceres, we still believe that sustainability is the bottom line. 

Today, with more than three decades of proven results and impact, we are more confident than ever in the financial business case for sustainability. Over the years, Ceres has built networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits that have grown exponentially in size, scope of work, depth of engagement, and ambition. By mobilizing these capital market leaders and providing data-driven resources on sustainability risks and opportunities, we have created opportunities for collaboration and peer learning. In fact, together, we have developed the bold 10-year action plan for sustainability leadership. 

Known best for establishing “climate risk” and more recently “water risk” as mainstream global investment concepts, Ceres has achieved remarkable success by integrating sustainability into capital markets. We crafted the groundbreaking code of environmental conduct for companies and launched the global standard for corporate sustainability reporting in 1997 now known as Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and used by tens of thousands of companies worldwide. We mobilized investors to successfully petition the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to issue the first-ever guidance on mandatory corporate reporting of material climate risks. And in 2015, we led efforts to secure the necessary U.S. business support to get the historic Paris Climate Agreement across the finish line. Just to name a few. 

Now, more investors, companies, policymakers and regulators understand the profound impact they have on the health of our planet and the success of the economy. In fact, we’ve shown that businesses that integrate sustainability into decision-making are more resilient and outperform their peers. And we’ve driven home the fact that business action and policy and regulatory action go hand-in-hand by regularly organizing the largest business-led advocacy days on climate change.

Ceres has doubled down on efforts to achieve the goals of the global accord and build a net-zero emissions economy. In 2017, Ceres became a founding partner of Climate Action 100+, the world’s largest investor engagement initiative working to get the biggest corporate polluters to become net-zero businesses. Two years later, Ceres launched the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets to accelerate the net-zero transition with large-scale behavior and systems change in capital markets. 

There is a growing and transformational movement underway across the globe and in all sectors of the economy to get to net zero. Ceres is supporting capital market leaders in achieving commitments to get to net-zero emissions by 2040 and to get to 50% reductions by 2030. We are on this journey with capital market leaders worldwide to achieve this ambition and secure a better future for decades to come.


Support Our Work

As a nonprofit organization, Ceres depends on the generous support of donors and foundations. Please consider making a gift today to help build a just and sustainable world.

Ceres is proud to receive these accolades as a reflection of our effectiveness, integrity and impact.

Flip through our most recent biannual Ceres Works newsletter below to see our work in action.

CeresWorks Fall '23