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Cornell University

Cornell Brooks Public Policy

Environmental Finance and Impact Investing (EFII) Fellows Program

Through a series of courses, coupled with applied projects, EFII Program Fellows will be trained to invest in, manage, or regulate businesses or projects seeking financial, environmental, and/or social goals. Fellows will gain experience in a range of topics, including finance and analytics, markets and regulation, science and technology, and economic and political analysis. In addition, they will be required to complete an individual capstone project that aligns with their career goals and includes outreach to relevant professionals in industry, government, and the NGO community.  This capstone project fulfills the MPA professional writing requirement.

Eligibility

The EFII program is open to all residential Cornell MPA and MBA students with an interest in a career at the intersection of finance and sustainability. Students must be in good academic standing.

Application Process

To apply to the EFII Fellows Program, you will need to prepare the following materials and submit them through the application form. Questions on the application process or timing can be directed to CSGE@cornell.edu.

  • Statement of Interest: An essay of up to 1,000 words demonstrating your interest in participating in the program, as well as the value-added perspective or experience that you will bring to the program and its faculty and students. In addition, you should discuss how you hope to incorporate the EFII program into your future academic and professional life.
  • Résumé/CV
  • Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate, if applicable)

Interview:

If selected as a finalist for the EFII Fellows program, you will be asked to participate in an interview with EFII program faculty and/or staff.

Application Deadline:

The deadline for applying to the EFII Fellows program is November 9, 2025.

Academic Requirements

Required Coursework for EFII Certificate (14 credits total):

  • NBA 6030 Strategies for Sustainability (Fall/Spring) – 1.5 credits
  • NBA 6380 Finance & Sustainability Colloquium (Spring) – 1 credit (must be taken twice)
  • NBA 5979 Environmental Finance & Impact Investing Practicum (Spring) – 1.5 credits

An additional 9 credits of relevant electives which must include PUBPOL 5425 Fundamentals of Accounting and Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (Fall/Spring) are also required on topics related to Finance & Analytics, Markets & Regulation, Environmental Finance, and Impact Investing (a list of classes to select from will be provided).

Additional requirements for EFII Certificate:

  1. Meet with program directors and other EFII Fellows to discuss program requirements, exchange information, share intelligence about job opportunities, and discuss recent developments about environmental finance and impact investing.
  2. Join the SGE Club or the Energy Club
  3. Complete one content write-up for the website. This can be about an internship, speaker, conference, project, etc. relevant to environmental finance or impact investing.

The EFII program was one of the reasons I chose the MPA Program. My background is in international development and I was interested in learning more about the role of the private sector in achieving environmental and social development goals. The EFII program allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of the financial side of this equation.

– Elif Senvardarli, MPA 2017 ESG Research Analyst, Calvert Research and Management