Advancing Finance Solutions | Building Local Capacity | Serving Communities
The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Maryland advances finance solutions to environmental challenges. With more than 25 years of experience, we work with communities to protect natural resources by strengthening the capacity of decision makers to assess needs, develop effective financing methods, and catalyze action.
Through direct technical assistance, policy analysis, and research, the EFC equips communities with the knowledge and tools they need to create more sustainable environments, more resilient societies, and more robust economies.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH | FACILITATION
The EFC works directly with local government staff to engage stakeholders, build consensus and identify shared priorities. Our services include designing comprehensive outreach campaigns, facilitating focus groups, conducting community surveys, and crafting strategies to finance project implementation.
EDUCATION | TRAINING | TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The EFC delivers customized assistance to local governments on topics such as green infrastructure, resilience, climate and energy, and stormwater finance.
Municipal staff can participate in our Sustainable Maryland leadership trainings and utilize the range of educational resources offered through our Municipal Online Stormwater Training (MOST) Center.
RESEARCH | POLICY ANALYSIS | FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT
To foster data-driven decisions, the EFC works with communities to assess programs and policies, analyze budgets, develop financing strategies, conduct energy audits, and create decision-support tools.
*EFC is certified through the UMD Green Office Program housed at the Office of Sustainability. EFC faculty and staff utilize natural light whenever possible in our office space, use compostable kitchen supplies, share office equipment, recycle ink and toner cartridges, calculate our commuter carbon footprint, turn off office and hall lights at day's end, utilize Terrapin Trader for surplus equipment, and generally strive to create a sustainable workplace environment.