Mission-Related Investments
Using endowment funds, Winrock makes mission-related investments to test innovations and
scale-up programs that have demonstrated a positive impact on the environment,
agriculture, and social justice. In the words of Winrock board member Dr. Sandra Batie,
these initiatives are designed to "think big, start small, and scale fast."
Initiatives currently under development include providing scholarships and mentoring for
African girls; expanding high-paying jobs in the state of Arkansas; expanding a greenhouse
gas registry; and working to advance socially responsible and sustainable bioenergy
projects that increase rural standards of living.
Climate Change Solutions:
As the first private voluntary greenhouse gas registry in the U.S., Winrock's
American Carbon Registry™
boasts time-tested integrity in carbon registry operations and
technical services. The non-profit Registry
is one of the largest and most respected
online carbon registries in the U.S. voluntary and pre-compliance markets.
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Girls' Education:
Winrock is expanding its efforts in girls’ education through Scholarships for
African Girls Education (SAGE), a special initiative to help girls successfully
transition from primary to secondary school. To help girls overcome the many
social obstacles to continuing education, Winrock complements annual scholarships
with life-skills training, mentorships and income-generation activities.
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Investing in Innovation:
The Innovate Arkansas initiative aims to increase the number of high-paying jobs
across the state by channeling investment toward entrepreneurs as they move hi-tech
ideas, like this automated soil probe from AgRobotics, toward viable commercial enterprises.
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Bioenergy and Biofuels:
Winrock is working to facilitate public and private investment in sustainable bioenergy
and biofuels projects that provide economic development opportunities in rural areas,
such as this cane-to-ethanol distillery plant in the Caribbean.
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