ICCR’s Mission and Approach to Corporate Responsibility

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is a coalition of 275 faith-based institutional investors in North America. Their mission is to promote shareholder resolutions that challenge unjust or harmful corporate policies and practices. By 2003, the combined portfolio of ICCR member organizations was estimated at approximately $110 billion.

ICCR members evaluate the social and environmental performance of the companies they invest in. Rather than selling shares in companies with harmful practices, they use their financial influence to press for positive change. Through shareholder activism, ICCR members leverage their holdings to encourage companies to adopt more responsible policies and practices.

Using Shareholder Resolutions to Drive Change

As shareholders, ICCR members place resolutions on social issues on company ballots to be voted on at annual meetings. For instance, in 2002, nine ICCR-affiliated institutions co-filed a shareholder resolution with Amalgamated Bank and others, urging Unocal to adopt policies based on the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Unocal’s image had suffered due to questionable practices in its Burmese pipeline project, discouraging investment. The resolution received record-high support for a human and labor rights proposal, capturing the attention of Unocal’s board and top management. By 2003, Unocal adopted policies aligned with the ILO declaration. Similarly, in 2004, after ICCR members filed a resolution, Occidental Petroleum agreed to adopt a comprehensive human rights policy.

ICCR’s Impact on Corporate Responsibility and Future Goals

ICCR publishes an annual Proxy Resolutions Book, which lists the year’s shareholder resolutions. This resource allows managers to make informed proxy voting decisions and helps investors track corporate responsibility trends. Each year, ICCR-member institutions submit over 100 resolutions on social and environmental issues. These resolutions often lead to discussions between religious investors and company executives, opening doors for negotiations and advancing corporate responsibility. Through these efforts, ICCR continues to influence business practices, promoting ethical standards and a commitment to human rights.