Advocacy & Public Policy

The purpose of the Advocacy and Public Policy Program is to:

• Facilitate communication among members, provide research, and coordinate advocacy on public policy issues for US SIF and its members.
• Provide a platform for US SIF members and colleagues to share information and collaborate on shareholder proposals, social investing and corporate social responsibility issues.

Our work has achieved a number of major successes, from the 1997 defeat of an SEC effort that would have greatly weakened the shareholder resolution process with companies, to our 2003 SEC victory requiring mutual funds and registered investment advisors to publicly disclose their proxy voting guidelines and the votes they actually cast on behalf of their clients. In 2007, we challenged what could be the most serious threat to the shareholder resolution process in a decade.

The Advocacy & Public Policy Program implements its goals by providing information, recommending action and creating opportunities to collaborate for sustainable and responsible investing professionals, and by conducting media and public education campaigns on issues relevant to sustainable and responsible investing.