IN THIS ISSUE:

* HIP Scorecards for Obama's Stimulus

* New Findings: Sustainable Companies Worth 15% More; CFOs and CSR Leaders Want Quantification 

* FREE Webinar on March 3:  "Boost Your Bottom Line by Counting All Your Carbon"

* Take the HIP Survey: Chance to Win $50 Prizes

* Internships & HIP Alumni

* Make Your Portfolio & Organization More HIP

THE HIP SCORECARD FOR OBAMA'S STIMULUS - R.O.I. FOR YOUR TAXES

When investing in a business, you are a shareholder expecting a return on your investment (ROI).

But as a citizen, you are typically called a taxpayer.  In reality, we are tax-investors.  Our tax dollars need to generate a positive human, social or environmental impact.  In 2009, as businesses have slashed capital spending, the government is spurred to lead the "reinvestment" wave with hundreds of billions for economic recovery - and societal transformation. 

So, how will America measure the return on investment (ROI) of the federally-approved stimulus? More importantly, how will President Obama highlight successes, call out failing programs, and ensure the highest possible "return on investment" of taxpayer dollars? 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (full 407 page PDF) authorizes an Accountability and Transparency Board and specifies urgent ("flash"), quarterly and annual reporting to track metrics like job creation and economic growth. 

When President Obama, governors, mayors (like Honolulu's Mufi Hannemann, whom I met this week) and officials use a scorecard to track success, we recommend they track HIP metrics like these:

WEALTH: Job creation, income per person and net worth per person.   Which investments will create the most jobs?  According to this chart from Congressional testimony using Dept of Commerce data, each $1 million federal investment can create 23 educational services jobs, or 17  public-infrastructure jobs, or 16 "green" jobs.  That beats strategies like tax cuts (14 jobs per $1 million), military spending (11) and oil and gas initiatives (4).   The Reinvestment Act also specifies that worker compensation be in line with typical pay rates of similar work (and hire only American workers for companies taking TARP bailout funding). Count job creation - and income increases.

HEALTH:    Access to affordable health care, coverage for workers, and increases in health metrics.  Wellness programs at corporations, from General Mills to Motorola to Xerox, show highly attractive financial paybacks (2-to-1 and more) and increased quality of health for the employees participating. Future demand for Medicare can be reduced as well.  More corporate examples and payback data are here.

EARTH:  Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), energy usage (BTUs), water usage (volume), waste (volume).  Major retrofits and increased eco-efficiency of buildings reduce monthly expenses for fuel and utilities, as well as eliminate pollution,  For a "green" school, a $3 per-square-foot investment would yield $11 per sq.ft. in energy/emission/water benefits - and another $63 per sq.ft. in healthier staff and increased performance of both teachers and students - see the data. Green buildings generate both eco-benefits and health improvements, as well as higher student performance on tests as well.

Want to see the remainder of the HIP Stimulus Scorecard?  What ROI do you want to see?

FINISH READING THE "STIMULUS SCORECARD"

INTERACT AT WWW.RECOVERY.GOV

READ THE PROPOSED 2010 BUDGET HERE

NEW FINDINGS: 15% MORE VALUE FOR SHAREHOLDERS; CFOs WANT NPVs

Consultant A.T. Kearney analyzed almost 100 companies focused on sustainability and how their shareholder value performance from May to November 2008.  The good news:  Sustainability leaders outperformed by 15% on financial return , and in 16 of 18 industries reviewed, during this chaotic period.

READ THE A.T. KEARNEY ANALYSIS HERE

Management consultant McKinsey & Co.'s latest survey of 238 CFOs and investment professionals, as well as 127 CSR professionals and SRI (socially responsible) investors yielded some stunning results.

Three-quarters (and up to 85%) of CFOs and investors surveyed said they believe ESG (environmental, social and governance) programs drive HIGHER long-term value. But they also have trouble tracking quantifying how that happens, due to poor data and reporting.

(HIP Investor does just this: quantifying impact, linking it to financial value, and showing investors and executives how Human Impact drives higher profit.)

In the short-term, many CFOs and investors see environmental initiatives having decreased importance relative to new shareholder value in this economy (!).

Also, more than half of CSR leaders at companies answered "I don't know" to whether sustainability drives financial value.  Several corporate CSR managers ranked charitable giving slightly higher than revenue growth as the main task of their initiatives (!).  Brand (75%+) and employee satisfaction (50%+) were top rated benefits for pursuing environmental, social and governance programs. 

(With the HIP Scorecard and Index, investors and companies see how sustainability drives revenue growth through new products for customers, operational improvements for employees, and supply chain scorecards driving higher ROI - leading to increased profits and share value.) 

READ THE MCKINSEY SURVEY HERE - REQUIRES SUBSCRIPTION

FREE WEBINAR: TUES., MARCH 3,
"BOOST YOUR BOTTOM LINE BY COUNTING ALL YOUR CARBON"

How can counting carbon boost your bottom line? Climate Earth and HIP Investor invite you to a FREE webinar to hear how.

HIP Investor's CEO R. Paul Herman will share compelling case studies of S&P 500 companies that are generating higher profits through eco-efficiency from more systematic carbon accounting - resulting in revenue growth, cost reductions, tax benefits and brand enhancement 

Chris Erickson, Climate Earth's CEO, will describe how carbon accounting parallels financial accounting and how maximizing environmental value drives shareholder value.  Chris will also share a customer case study that illustrates how carbon accounting can be an effective centerpiece of bottom-line benefits and a competitive advantage. 

As always, we welcome your questions before, during and after the webinar.

Theme: Boosting Your Bottom Line By Counting all Your Carbon
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM Pacific /  2:00 PM Eastern
RSVP:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/702999219

TAKE THE HIP SURVEY & 
ENTER TO WIN A $50 PRIZE 

HIP Investor is preparing to launch exciting new products and services for investors in 2009 - and we are seeking to understand your needs and desires as an investor.  

Take the confidential HIP Survey (linked below), answer all the questions (should take less than 10 minutes), and enter your email address for a chance to win one of three $50 gift certificates to Amazon.com.  (Prizes only for individual investors. Deadline is March 3, 2009.)    

CLICK BELOW TO COMPLETE THE HIP INVESTOR SURVEY THAT APPLIES TO YOU:

 I AM AN INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR: CLICK HERE

 I REPRESENT AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR (fund, endowment, foundation, treasury): CLICK HERE

 I AM A FINANCIAL ADVISOR: CLICK HERE

Thanks in advance and please share the HIP Survey with other investors seeking to invest more HIP.

HIP ALUMNUS UPDATE

Congratulations to Lee Coker, a former HIP Sustainability Research Consultant, who will start at UNC-Chapel Hill's MBA program this summer (where HIPsters Napoleon Wallace and Varun Parmar are matriculating already).  Lee will focus on sustainable entreprise and finance, and build on his environmental education and HIP experience.  While excited about Carolina, Lee hopes to return to the Bay Area for his summer 2010 internship and future profession in sustainability consulting.

HOW HIP IS YOUR GROCER?  READ LEE'S BEST PRACTICE ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF Whole Foods, Walmart, Kroger, Testo and Safeway

SPRING and SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

Seeking a summer internship?  Check out these three opportunities:

* Peter Sims, co-author of True North, published by Harvard Business School Press and a N.Y. Times best-seller, is seeking 2 interns to assist with his next book.  Check out www.PeterSims.com, read Peter's column on The Huffington Post, and email him at PSims@stanford.edu

* SVT Group in San Francisco is seeking a research intern and a marketing intern for both Spring and Summer 2009.  More details HERE.

* HIP Investor is seeking talented individuals for Summer 2009 for researching international companies, and expanding our social networking. More details HERE.

MAKE YOUR PORTFOLIO AND COMPANY MORE HIP WITH OUR SERVICES

ORGANIZATIONS: Lead By Becoming More HIP

* HIP Financials and Wall Street Presentation - Educate Investors and Wall Street  About How Human Impact Leads to Profit - great for Shareholder meetings!

INVESTORS: Is Your Portfolio HIP?

* HIP 100 Index (TM) - Apply this new approach to your investments, seeking both good and profit. Can be customized to your specific passions and goals - like Health, Wealth, Earth, Equality and Trust. 

* HIP Scorecard - Measure the Impact of Your Portfolio (Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate and Charity) across each asset class - excellent for institutions, foundations and endowments.

LEARN more about HIP's services for investors and for companies or contact Jessica@HIPInvestor.com to help you, your portfolio, or your company be even more HIP!