Seed funding from the McKinney Family Foundation will support continuous reinvestment to reduce emissions and waste 

Butler University is launching Indiana’s only Green Revolving Fund (GRF), an innovative financing model designed to accelerate campus sustainability projects by reinvesting energy and other resource savings into future infrastructure improvements. 

Supported by seed funding from the McKinney Family Foundation and additional commitments from sustainability-minded partners, the GRF will create a self-sustaining source of capital for projects that reduce energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve operational efficiency across campus. Rather than relying solely on traditional funding sources, the model allows savings generated by one project to help finance the next, creating a continuous cycle of investment in Butler’s decarbonization efforts. 

The GRF represents a significant step forward in Butler’s long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. In 2012, the University pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and Butler’s Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive Decarbonization Master Plan in 2024 that outlines a pathway toward that goal. Other goals that could be supported by GRF include achieving Zero Waste by 2030 and sustainable management of 70 acres on Butler’s Midtown campus by 2035. 

“At Butler, we believe innovation isn’t just about what we build—it’s also about how we invest in our future,” Butler President James Danko said. “The Green Revolving Fund reflects the kind of creative thinking that advances the goals of Boldly Butler, allowing us to be responsible stewards of our physical resources while creating a sustainable funding 

model that supports long-term impact. By reinvesting savings into future improvements, we’re building momentum that will benefit our campus, our students, and our community for years to come.” 

“Most sustainability projects generate real financial returns, but too often those savings disappear into operating budgets and the cycle starts over,” Julia Angstmann, Butler’s Executive Director of Sustainability, said. “The Green Revolving Fund allows us to capture those savings and reinvest them into the next project, creating a self-sustaining model that accelerates progress toward our climate goals. It’s an innovative approach that treats sustainability as an investment rather than an expense.” 

The McKinney Family Foundation’s seed investment is helping launch the fund, while Butler is also building a coalition of partners committed to its long-term success. Campus dining partner Bon Appétit Management Company, known for its industry-leading sustainability and climate policies, and official beverage partner PepsiCo have joined the effort with significant investments in the Green Revolving Fund. Together, these commitments will help the fund grow over time, supporting an expanding portfolio of projects that improve campus sustainability while generating savings for future reinvestment. 

“McKinney Family Foundation is proud to support several of Butler’s sustainability and environmental education initiatives. We are eager to see the positive impacts the Green Revolving Fund will have on the campus, students, staff, faculty, and the broader community,” Stephanie Goodrid Lawson, Executive Director of the McKinney Family Foundation, said. “McKinney Family Foundation hopes that the Green Revolving Fund will be a model for more Indiana institutions to improve both the resilience and cost savings for their campuses.” 

“Over the last seven years, Bon Appétit Management Company and Butler have formed a close partnership centered around shared values and a commitment to a sustainable future,” Geordon Duncan, Resident District Manager for Bon Appétit Management Company at Butler, said. “We’re thrilled to deepen our existing collaborations and support the next phase of sustainability leadership on campus by contributing to the Green Revolving Fund.” 

“At PepsiCo, we believe meaningful progress happens through strong local collaborations and investments that create lasting impact. Butler University’s Green Revolving Fund is an innovative approach that connects environmental stewardship with long-term financial sustainability, helping accelerate action while building valuable learning opportunities for students,” Margaret Henry, VP of Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture, PepsiCo, said. 

“We’re proud to support Butler’s efforts and look forward to seeing how this model helps advance the University’s sustainability goals while preparing the next generation of leaders.” 

Green revolving funds have gained traction at colleges and universities across the country because they pair environmental impact with financial sustainability. The model has been championed by the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s Billion Dollar Green Challenge, a national initiative that has helped institutions invest more than $1 billion in sustainability projects through revolving funds. Projects supported by these funds generate measurable savings through reduced energy, water, or resource consumption, with those savings reinvested into future projects, allowing the funds—and their impact—to grow over time. 

The GRF’s inaugural project will focus on upgrading Butler’s digital energy infrastructure. Planned improvements include expanded building-level energy metering, advanced energy management software, and intelligent building management systems that will provide real-time insights and system modifications into energy reductions across campus. 

These upgrades will give Butler a more detailed understanding of how energy is consumed in individual buildings, helping identify opportunities to improve efficiency, optimize heating and cooling systems, and prioritize future decarbonization investments. The new technology is expected to generate significant utility savings while also reducing campus greenhouse gas emissions. 

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” Rusty Vineyard, Associate Vice President of Facilities Operations, said. “These upgrades will give us building-level visibility into how energy is being used across campus, allowing us to identify opportunities, improve system performance, and make more informed decisions about future investments. The data and automation capabilities created through this project will provide a foundation for decades of energy and operational improvements.” 

Once fully implemented, the project’s intelligent building management systems are expected to generate nearly $200,000 in annual utility savings while reducing campus emissions by approximately 450 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. 

Beyond its operational benefits, the GRF will support Butler’s commitment to experiential learning, such as a new business sustainability curriculum, also funded through a grant from the McKinney Family Foundation. Data generated through GRF-supported projects will be integrated into sustainability coursework and research opportunities, allowing students to analyze real-world energy performance, evaluate investment outcomes, and develop recommendations for future improvements. 

The University also plans to utilize a public-facing dashboard to track and share the environmental and financial performance of GRF projects, providing transparency while demonstrating the impact of sustainability investments. 

As the Green Revolving Fund grows, Butler welcomes additional partners who share its commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative investment. Individuals, organizations, and businesses interested in supporting the fund can contact Julia Angstmann, Executive Director of Sustainability, at jangstma@butler.edu to learn more about partnership and philanthropic opportunities.