Social Investing Timeline

Quakers are credited as being the first group of investors to apply social criteria to investing standards based on their beliefs in human equality and nonviolence.

As a result of the United States Supreme Court Dartmouth College Case, the role of the state was no longer that of a sovereign over the corporation, but that of a partner in a private contract.

In a unanimous United States Supreme Court decision it was declared that a corporation is considered a “natural person” thereby granting corporations rights under the 14th amendment.

Pioneer Fund is established to meet the needs of church group investors who did not want to invest in “sin” such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling activities.

Ralph Nader launches campaign GM and submits 9 shareholder resolutions on consumer rights and minority hiring and representation on GM’s board.

ICCR, as it is most commonly referred, is a coalition of almost 300 groups of religious investors who sponsor shareholder resolutions on social issues in order to affect corporate policies and practices.

Pax World Fund is the first mutual fund to adopt broad socially responsible standards for its investments, thus pioneering the idea of a mutual fund with a conscience. Pax World Fund includes companies with fair employment practices and sound environmental policies.

The Episcopal Church is the first religious group to file a shareholder resolution, which asked General Motors to withdraw from South Africa.

Pax World Fund is the first mutual fund to adopt broad socially responsible standards for its investments, thus pioneering the idea of a mutual fund with a conscience. Pax World Fund includes companies with fair employment practices and sound environmental policies.

South Shore Bank is the country's oldest and largest community development bank focusing on improving the economic health of the neighborhoods served, while at the same time addressing the individual financial concerns of consumers, businesses, and religious and community organizations.

The nine principles drafted under the codes of conduct established by Leon Sullivan is a critical document, which begins to shift how business decisions are made to involve ethical and human rights concerns.

South Shore Bank is the first bank to offer bank accounts to social investors with development deposit options for funds to go directly towards rebuilding urban communities.

The Calvert Social Investment Fund was the first in a series of socially responsible investment products now offered by the Calvert Group. Calvert manages the largest family of socially screened mutual funds.

In addition to being the first mutual fund to take a stand against apartheid in South Africa, CSIF was the first mutual fund to sponsor a shareholder resolution on social issues.

The MacBride Principles outline nine employment and affirmative action principles for companies operating in Northern Ireland. The principles were created as a result of decades of discrimination against Catholics specifically regarding employment. To date, 44 companies have endorsed the MacBride Principles.

The Social Investment Forum is a national nonprofit membership association dedicated to promoting the concept and practice of socially responsible investing. The Forum is made up of over 600 financial professionals and institutions. Membership is open to any organization or professional participating in the socially responsible investing field.

The turning point for socially responsible investors came during the campaign to eliminate the institutionalized racial discrimination of Apartheid in South Africa.

Also known as the Valdez Principles. CERES principles are first endorsed in 1992 by The Body Shop, Ben & Jerry’s, Seventh Generation, and Aveda. These companies are the first to agree to report on their environmental activities.

Kinder, Lydenberg, Domini & Co., Inc. (KLD) created the Domini 400 Social Index (DSI) and launched it in May 1990. It is created to track the performance of a universe of companies that pass multiple, broad-based social screens. The DSI attempts to reflect the market as it exists for most socially responsible investors. This means that it attempts to reflect the behavior of stocks of companies that the socially responsible investor might purchase.

World Values and Global Equity Fund I is the first socially responsible global fund. The fund avoids companies with poor environmental compliance records, labor rights policies, and that fail to meet international standards. The multi-national portfolio now has $295 million in assets.

Not only is Sunoco the first within the energy industry, but the first fortune 500 company to publicly support the environmental codes of conduct and agree to public reporting of their practices.

Students for Responsible Business, now called Net Impact, is a network of more than 1,500 graduate students nation-wide working together to promote socially responsible business.

The Pro Conscience Women’s Equity Fund is the first fund to invest in companies with a specific view towards supporting women’s issues.

The Myers Pride Value Fund is the first fund to target the gay and lesbian investment community.

This world fund proactively invests in companies developing products for a sustainable world.

This fund is the first socially responsible junk bond fund.

The European index fund that evaluates investment opportunities with broad-based social criteria.

The DJGSI is the first index that incorporates social, environmental, and financial analysis into a comprehensive rating system. This system evaluates a company’s ability to compete in a global economy focused on sustainability.