Our Work
Corporate Advocacy
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JCIR Mission
The Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility (JCIR) advocates for corporate behavior consistent with Catholic social teaching, through dialogues with corporations, shareholder resolutions and proxy voting.
Our Strategy
The Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility (JCIR) promotes social change in corporate practices through shareholder engagement. Faith-informed socially responsible investment (SRI) is a work of structural justice (GC 35, D 3, n 28). In light of Jesuit apostolic preferences, the JCIR identifies social and economic justice priorities and collaborates with other religious institutional investors to advocate for corporate social responsibility. We strive to support internationally recognized norms for community and economic sustainability, environmental justice and human rights, and we present the fiduciary case that Catholic social teaching principles (such as respect for human life, environmental stewardship, sustainable development, rights of workers and communities) best serve the interest of all stakeholders and therefore preserve shareholder value. JCIR respectfully engages selected companies on issues in which we have proficiency, interest and capacity. Faith-informed socially responsible investment (SRI) is a work of structural justice. The JCIR seeks to increase the participation, prayerful solidarity and awareness of SRI at Jesuit-sponsored institutions and among our friends and public. As active shareholders, the JCIR expresses to corporations the concerns and experiences of Jesuits and religious communities who witness the social impacts of multinational corporations both here and abroad.
Program Objectives
The primary purpose of the Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility (JCIR) is to advocate for and effect change in corporate behavior by coordinating shareholder advocacy initiatives at both the province and national levels. JCIR province representatives collaborate to identify economic justice priorities and to work together to promote corporate social responsibility consistent with just sustainability in the community, the environment, and the economy. The JCIR works to expand awareness of socially responsible investment in Jesuit-related institutions; to organize and incorporate the resources of as many provinces as possible and to involve Jesuits in broad collaborative efforts with other members of the faith community committed to socially responsible investment.Socially responsible investment (SRI) is, for Jesuits, the work of structural justice. It involves using the investment portfolios of the ten U.S. Jesuit provinces as well as the the English Canada Province to influence corporate policy decisions that determine corporate operation in this country, and throughout the world. Jesuits also have the opportunity to make investments in places where traditional investment moneys do not flow, such as in community development loan funds which help develop the human capital, economic infrastructure and affordable housing stock in underserved, undercapitalized areas.
Our Priorities
Water Sustainability
Communities, businesses and ecosystems throughout the world depend on clean freshwater to survive and prosper. Yet, as global demand for freshwater continues to grow, rising pollution and depletion levels are causing many water sources to show signs of stress. The United Nations warns that in the coming decades, over half the world will live in water scarce regions. Freshwater availability, quality, and affordability are critical problems that require faithful engagement to find solutions to the global crisis of water sustainability.
Promoting Human Rights
Oil, gas, and other mining companies often operate in places of extreme poverty, repressive governments, civil conflict, weak rule of law, endemic corruption, or poor labor and environmental standards. The World Bank reports that globally the extractive industries are important for the economies of over 50 developing countries where up to 1.5 billion people live on less than $2 per day. Extractive industries have been linked to human rights abuses and civil conflict in a number of countries.
Special Interests of Provinces
In addition to Promoting Human Rights and Water Sustainability, provinces from time to time also engage companies on issues that are particular to their apostolic endeavor or geographic presence. For example, the New Orleans province has identified the growing number of detention centers, particularly those owned by publicly-held companies, as one of the most critical migration issues in the region. The province is seeking to protect the human rights of inmates and detainees by engaging two of the proprietary prison industry’s largest companies. Predatory Lending Practices and Global Warming are among the issues engaged by other provinces.
The primary purpose of the Jesuit Committee on Investment Responsibility (JCIR) is to advocate for and effect change in corporate behavior by coordinating shareholder advocacy initiatives at both the province and national levels. JCIR province representatives collaborate to identify economic justice priorities and to work together to promote corporate social responsibility consistent with just sustainability in the community, the environment, and the economy.
The JCIR works to expand awareness of socially responsible investment in Jesuit-related institutions; to organize and incorporate the resources of as many provinces as possible and to involve Jesuits in broad collaborative efforts with other members of the faith community committed to socially responsible investment.
Socially responsible investment (SRI) is, for Jesuits, the work of structural justice. It involves using the investment portfolios of the seven U.S. Jesuit provinces as well as the two Canada Jesuit provinces to influence corporate policy decisions that determine corporate operation in this country, and throughout the world. Jesuits also have the opportunity to make investments in places where traditional investment moneys do not flow, such as in community development loan funds which help develop the human capital, economic infrastructure and affordable housing stock in underserved, undercapitalized areas.