Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility

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The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is a coalition of 275 faith-based institutional investors. Founded in 1973, the organization advocates for corporate social responsibility and files shareholder resolutions and engages in dialogue with corporate management on issues such as global warming, human rights, corporate governance, and other social and environmental concerns. When it was founded in the 1970s, ICCR was considered the leader of the socially responsible investing (SRI) movement. Now it is one of the more prominent of dozens of organizations pursuing SRI. [1]

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[edit] Members of ICCR

ICCR members are faith-based institutions such as the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Catholic Healthcare West. Most of the members are orders of Catholic religious women (nuns). However, secular organizations such as Domini Social Investments and the Service Employees International Union also participate.

[edit] Corporate Targets

In any given year, members of ICCR file shareholder resolutions at hundreds of American corporations. The most prominent companies include Wal-Mart[2], Coca-Cola, Pfizer, and Gap.

It also sponsors the EthVest database on shareowner resolutions.[3]

In the 1980s, ICCR was prominent in the disinvestment from South Africa campaign in protest of Apartheid.

[edit] Issues of Concern

Shareholder resolutions span a wide range of issues. In recent years, the most active issues have included executive compensation [4] (21 resolutions in 2003), corporate political contributions [5], and global warming [6] (42 resolutions in 2007).

[edit] References

  1. ^ The New Capitalists: How Citizen Investors Are Reshaping the Corporate Agenda, page 179
  2. ^ See the 2007 Wal-Mart proxy statement for examples of shareholder resolutions filed by ICCR. []
  3. ^ Institutional Shareowner, October 04, 2005 - ICCR Online Database Eases Access to Information on Shareowner Resolutions, by William Baue
  4. ^ USA Today, 5/19/2003, Nuns, priests join crusade against sky-high exec pay
  5. ^ Roll Call, Industry Giants Opening Up On Politics
  6. ^ Corporate Shareholders Vote on Rising Number of Climate Resolutions, May 11, 2007, Environment News Service

[edit] External links