Honoring sustainable development at the „Money 4 Change – Impact Awards“

Thinking and talking about the challenges of our times can have an overwhelming effect on us. „What can I do? What’s a single person’s impact?“ Sure, we recycle our waste to the best of our abilities, and we board night-trains instead of planes when possible. Reducing CO2 emissions feels good! Yet, there is this constant lingering question accompanying us: „Is it enough?“

The answer certainly is unfortunate. While every individual’s effort is an important step in the right direction, this society and planet have reached a precipice. We know that change has to happen. We know that it has to happen now. But change has to happen on a larger scale, on a Corporate-, Asset- and Entrepreneurial level.

Role-Models encourage us to see things from different angles, to leave the beaten path and maybe find an even better one. They are trailblazing and showing us that change can happen, even more that it is already happening. What started as a trend is now a movement. Entrepreneurs putting their visions of a better future in the centre of their endeavors. Corporates empowering their employees to initiate change towards sustainability in their daily work. And last but not least Asset Owners, increasing their investments in the areas of social- and climate impact.

To support and bring recognition to those best practices, Mercer and Institutional Money have initiated the Money 4 Change – Impact Awards, which will be presented in four categories:

• Asset Owners

This category recognizes asset owners who already have an increased focus/adjustment to SDGs and/or are making increased investments in the area of Social/Climate Impact and/or take climate risks into account in the decision-making process. An ESG process has long been established.

• Corporates

This category honors corporates that use sustainable people management to help ensure that the people in the organization are treated responsibly and can therefore act responsibly themselves. The focus is on corporates that consciously encourage and empower employees to initiate changes in their daily work towards sustainability.

• Entrepreneurs

This category honors entrepreneurs who have put their focus on Social or Climate Impact. With their innovative impact solutions they support the SDGs.

• Collaboration (Corporations which have a measurable, sustainable and positive impact on the SDGs)

This category honors asset owners, companies and entrepreneurs who have jointly (with at least 2 of the categories listed) achieved a successful implementation of one of the DSG goals or jointly implemented innovative solutions.

To be eligible for application, Asset Owners, Corporates and Entrepreneurs must have:

• Created an alignment with the SDGs (the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations) – having max. 3 SDGs in focus
• Implemented innovative ideas to solve climate/social problems and challenges
• Developed and shaped an impact strategy or process
• A (measurable) sustainable and positive impact on the SDGs
• Collaborated with each other and achieved one of the above mentioned (optional)

The minimum requirement for Asset Owners & Corporates is a Membership of UNPRI and/or UNGC (or planned membership until May 30, 2021 or nomination of an existing member of UNPRI/UNGC to submit the award). For Entrepreneurs the business solution must focus on Social or Climate Impact.

The call for application will be open until April 16, 2021 here.

The jury process will take place in two stages: a pre-selection of the nominees and the subsequent final selection of the award winners. The Evaluation is based on the 5 Dimensions of Impact (IMP):

• Level of Impact: What change/impact has been created? What problem has the Asset Owner/Corporate/Entrepreneur identified and what was the solution?
• Stakeholders/Beneficiaries: Who has benefited from the change? Who is the target group?
• Level of Outcome/How much: Has the outcome target been defined and measured? What’s an evaluation possible and how? How deep/marginal was the change if measurement was possible? 
• Level of Contribution: Was the contribution marginal or significant/innovative? Is the company a pioneer when it comes to the measures taken? Any other factors which have been supportive? How important is impact when it comes to the decision making process?
• Level of Risk: Has the defined target been reached? We’re there any challenges during the implementation/delivery process?

The jury focus will lay on the implementation of the respective strategy/process/solution and the resulting impact. 

In April 2021, a short list of twelve finalists – three per category – will be disclosed. The three final winners will be announced at the gala evening during the „Institutional Money Congress“ in Wiesbaden on May 26, 2021.

In addition, the winners will present their solution this year at the „Impact Days“ in Vienna.

Meet the Jury:

Institutional Money

The leading trade magazine for institutional investors from German-speaking Europe also organizes the annual Institutional Money Congress with 1500 participants, and provides profound analyses and breaking news for their readers.

Mercer

As a leading global consulting firm, Mercer serves its clients in the areas of occupational pensions, investments and pension administration, compensation, human capital strategy and M&A.

Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens

The quasi-international organization is co-chaired by former Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, and former President of the Republic of Austria, Heinz Fischer. As a non-profit organization under Austrian law, the Centre strives for a world based on the universal respect of human rights, in which sustainable development is achieved through global citizenship in shared responsibility, understanding and compassion.

Impact Hub Vienna

A diverse community of founders, creatives, investors, established companies and NGOs who have one thing in common: entrepreneurial ideas can change society for the better. At the Impact Hub, people work with their hearts, balancing social responsibility and profitability to create a world that works for everyone.

United Nations Global Compact

The worlds largest and most important initiative for responsible corporate governance, pursuing the vision of an inclusive and sustainable global economy for the benefit of all people, communities and markets. More than 13.000 companies and organizations in about 70 local networks worldwide are registered signatories of the UN Global Compact and contribute to global visions. 

PRI UN Principles for Responsible Investment

Founded in 2006 as an investor initiative, PRI is the world’s leading advocate of responsible investment. Their mission is to understand the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors on investments, and to help its international network of investors to incorporate these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. 

Toniic

A community of investors who strive to achieve a significant positive impact on the entire spectrum of capital. Its members consist of more than 400 net worth individuals, family offices and foundation asset owners, active in more than 25 countries around the world.