Shareholder Action

Shareholder action, also known as shareholder advocacy or shareholder activism, is an assortment of activities designed to change corporate policies or practices. These activities may include:  

• filing of shareholder resolutions;
• dialogues with corporate management;
• outreach to other shareholders, investment advisors, and consumers;
• media campaigns;
• divestiture (selling the stock); and
• corporate boycotts.

A Powerful Tool for Change
Shareholder action is a powerful tool for encouraging corporations to improve their social and environmental records and is one three main strategies of socially responsible investing (the other two being screening and community investing).