Shareholder advocacy

Praxis engages directly with companies and encourages them to pursue business practices that support positive social change.

Table of cacao beans, powder and chocolate

How we do it

Aspiring for a better world

As shareholders, we are part owners of companies. This means we can talk to the companies we own, and ask them about their policies and practices. Praxis believes it is our responsibility to encourage companies toward responsible business behavior.
Sunlight shining through some treetops

Our focus

We are currently working with companies on issues of environmental sustainability, modern slavery – also known as human trafficking – and inequality.
Woman leading a board meeting

Magnifying our voice

By working together with like-minded organizations, such as the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, we show that many people are interested in the issue.
Two women having an engaging conversation

Meaningful action

Communication with executives, board members and governments happens through shareholder resolutions, direct dialogue and coalition work.

Current advocacy initiatives

We center our shareholder advocacy work around three main topics. We partner with organizations associated with ICCR and Ceres to form coalitions that give weight to the positions we urge companies toward.

Solar panels being installed on a roof

Environmental sustainability

We believe God calls us to be faithful stewards of all God has entrusted us. In this topic, we focus on climate change and toxic chemicals.

Table with cacao beans and chocolate

Modern slavery

Modern slavery is one way to describe the coercion and human trafficking of millions of people worldwide. We focus on human rights policies and ethical labor recruitment practices. 

Board diversity

Inequality

Inequality is a long-term problem and its roots can be traced to many sources. The effects of inequality can lead to distrust and even breakdown within societies. We are engaging companies in three areas of inequality: gender, race and economic. 

Download the shareholder advocacy quarterly progress report (PDF) to see the regular progress we’re making. Or take a look at the chart below for an overview of our work. 

Environmental sustainability

Company Issue Objective
ConocoPhillips Climate change - oil and gas companies Set stringent greenhouse gas reduction goals; integrate carbon asset risk into scenario planning; align environmental goals with public policy.
Noble Energy Climate change - oil and gas companies Set stringent greenhouse gas reduction goals; integrate carbon asset risk into scenario planning; align environmental goals with public policy.
American Electric Power Climate change - utilities
 Phase out coal burning generation plants; increase deployment of low-carbon electricity generation; create 2-degree scenario analyses; set net-zero carbon goals. 
Duke Energy Climate change - utilities Increase deployment of low-carbon electricity generation; create 2-degree scenario analyses; set net-zero carbon goals.
The Southern Company Climate change - utilities Increase deployment of low-carbon electricity generation; create 2-degree scenario analyses; set net-zero carbon goals; align public policy efforts with climate goals.
NiSource Climate change - utilities Implement coal phaseout plan; increase deployment of renewable electricity generation; set net-zero carbon goals. Learn more. 
AES Climate change - utilities Increase renewable electricity output; set long-term climate goals; deploy battery storage technology to decrease emissions and transition to low-carbon business model.
Hasbro Safe chemicals policy Participate in Chemical Footprint Project; identify and remove chemicals of concern from products. Learn more. 
CVS  Safe chemicals policy Identify and remove chemicals of concern from products.
Target Safe chemicals policy Identify and remove chemicals of concern from products.

Modern slavery

Company Issue Objective
Alphabet Human rights standards Develop robust human rights policies in relation to data privacy, freedom of expression and artificial intelligence. Learn more. 
Hershey Child labor in cocoa supply chain
 Address child labor concerns through farmer programs, certification schemes and government collaboration.
JPMorgan Chase Human rights standards Implement robust human rights policies; including ending the funding of private prison companies. Learn more. 
Kroger Human rights standards Develop and implement comprehensive human rights policies, including supply chain vendors. Learn more. 
Amazon  Human rights standards Develop and implement robust human rights policies.

Inequality

Company Issue Objective
NiSource Inequality - representation Increase board and executive diversity.
Whirlpool Inequality - representation Increase board and executive diversity. Learn more. 

To obtain holdings as of the most previous quarter, please visit the fund pages.

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