ICCR is a coalition of faith- and values-based investors who view shareholder engagement with corporations as a powerful catalyst for change. Our statement, “inspired by faith, committed to action” sets forth our pledge to be active owners, and to engage meaningfully with the companies in our portfolios through the process of shareholder engagement that we pioneered more than 50 years ago.
Our guiding principle as shareholders is that sustainable corporations must look beyond the next earnings report to account for the full impact of their businesses on society, and must view the well-being of all of their stakeholders ― including their workers and the communities where they operate — as integral to their long-term value.
ICCR has always been at the vanguard of the shareholder advocacy movement in both the issues we bring to corporations and the strategies we employ to hold them accountable. What motivates us to lead is our connection to communities most impacted by corporate practices and the clear evidence of progress made as a result of our interventions. While our membership comprises a broad range of organizations both religious and secular, our members make common cause through our persistent focus on social and environmental justice and our collective commitment to bring these concerns to companies through direct, collaborative engagement.
Over the years ICCR has developed a growing network of NGOs and civil society groups which serves as an early warning system in identifying and understanding the impacts of corporate practices on the ground and ensures that our corporate engagement strategies are informed by their perspectives. These partnerships are unique among investor coalitions and serve to keep our work grounded and authentic while allowing us to amplify our voice through collective action.
Moreover, because so many of the issues we address are systemic in nature, ICCR members believe that investor engagement in public policy debates is critical in advancing social justice and environmental sustainability. Unique to our coalition is the human rights lens through which we view all our initiatives – whether climate, water, food, worker rights, health, or corporate governance – and our persistent focus on the impact of corporate practices on people and communities. The U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide key frameworks for our corporate engagements.