October 27, 2016 – On October 5th, the Paris Climate agreement reached in December 2015 officially came into force. In Paris, 195 countries committed to a long term goal of limiting the increase in global average temperatures to less than 2 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels. These countries also agreed to create greater transparency, build resilience, and work to reduce carbon emissions to minimize prospective damage globally. The U.S. pledged a 28% reduction from 2005 greenhouse gas emission levels, which will require substantial redirection of investment, both from fossil-fuel based energy to renewable energy and toward improving climate resilience and adaptation. …

On October 13, 2016, Trillium Asset Management filed a shareholder resolution with BlackRock asking the company to issue a report discussing its proxy voting on workplace LGBT non-discrimination policy shareholder resolutions. Below is a press release regarding the filing. PRESS RELEASE October 18, 2016 // Boston, MA – Based on an analysis of mutual fund voting, it has been discovered that funds managed by BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) voted against the majority of recent shareholder resolutions requesting companies to add sexual orientation and gender identity to their corporate equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies – to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees that …

Boston, MA // October 11, 2016 – Trillium Asset Management filed a shareholder resolution with Visa, Inc. (NYSE: V) asking the company to prepare a diversity report available to investors to include: “A chart identifying employees according to gender and race in major EEOC-defined job categories, listing numbers or percentages in each category A description of policies/programs focused on increasing gender and racial diversity in the workplace.” Currently, Visa does not disclose workforce data or results related to its diversity initiatives. As a result, shareholders lack sufficient information to determine if the company has a diverse workforce or has effectively expanded …

PRESS RELEASE  Investing in Equality: Integrating LGBT Issues into Total Portfolio Activation A group of investors has released a new white paper, Investing in Equality: Integrating LGBT Issues into Total Portfolio Activation. The paper was prepared by Croatan Institute with the guidance of the Social Justice Fund Northwest, Out Leadership, and Trillium Asset Management. Microsoft Corporation is profiled for its history of leadership in advancing LGBT rights. The paper provides a framework to help impact investors expand the scope of investing in LGBT issues across asset classes. It is the first effort to structure a total portfolio approach thematically around …

NYC Comptroller, Trillium Asset Management, and Croatan Institute organize investors calling for a full repeal of the state’s anti-LGBT law SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 // RALEIGH, NC: In a statement organized by Trillium Asset Management, Croatan Institute and the New York City Comptroller, investors representing $2.1 Trillion in collective assets under management are calling for a full repeal of North Carolina’s notorious House Bill 2. The bill overturns municipal non-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and prohibits transgender people from using restrooms consistent with their gender identity. Not only does the bill invalidate the human rights of …

Boston, MA // September 16, 2016 – On Monday, Vice President of Shareholder Advocacy, Brianna Murphy, completed a 5-day, 390-mile ride from Bar Harbor, ME to Boston, MA  as part of this year’s 2016 Northeast Climate Ride. Riding as a member of “Team Ceres”, Brianna and her fellow team members raised over $12k to fund Ceres’ work towards advancing a sustainable global economy. Trillium is proud to support the riders and more than 150 beneficiaries who are making an impact in sustainability, renewable energy, and similar environmental causes.  For thirty-four years, Trillium’s shareholder advocacy group has been a leader on …