Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Our founders began their innovative work in socially responsible investment advising in 1985. For four decades, our firm has looked beyond simply turning a profit and has focused on using capital to create a just, equitable, and environmentally conscientious society by investing in people and communities of color and ecologically sound endeavors. We have long known that it is entirely natural to align our values with our financial choices and make a positive impact while generating financial returns.

As an original Certified B Corporation since 2007, Public Benefit LLC, and a purpose trust-owned business since 2023, Natural Investments continues to model its commitment to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through its ownership, operations, company culture, and investments. In active pursuit of our mission, Natural Investments continues an evolving, long-term commitment to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

We’re an increasingly diverse team called together by our shared commitment to our mission. We recognize that systemic racism and white supremacy permeate our industry and broader culture. We believe that discrimination and exclusion based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, faith and religion, sexual orientation, and other aspects of identity must be named and actively challenged. We seek to dismantle these harmful, deeply ingrained systems and intentionally cultivate conditions for shared success and thriving throughout our spheres of influence:

• Within our firm, by surfacing and mitigating our personal biases, and working to ensure that all team members have equitable support and resources to thrive in an inclusive environment.
• Within our field, by contributing to industry-wide efforts and openly sharing our continuous journey of learning.
• With our clients, by facilitating direct investments that create a more just and equitable reality.

WHAT JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION MEAN TO US

Justice

Removing barriers to financial well-being for identity groups who have been marginalized, via repair and reparations; supporting members of these groups as they seek opportunities to progress within our firm and the financial services industry.

Equity

Designating resources that create access to equitable economic opportunities for all people; treating team members, fellow investment professionals, and vendors fairly, with an understanding of the differences in our experiences and privileges.

Diversity

Recognizing and embracing individuals’ differences in identities, knowledge, and barriers faced within our team and when we connect with other investment professionals, clients, and those offering and supporting investment opportunities. We prioritize investments, organizations, and events that are committed to diversity in their leadership, management, events, and actions.

Inclusion

Calling in varied perspectives and thought leaders within our sphere of influence; building a welcoming team environment that promotes emotional safety and freedom of expression; engaging in learning opportunities that build our capacities to examine the impacts of our words and actions; and deepening our awareness of patterns of harm in order to facilitate accountability, understanding, behavioral change, and healing.

We recognize that our commitment to JEDI is an ever-evolving journey.

We document and share our ongoing efforts in this realm at least annually. To date, we’ve taken the following actions to more deeply ingrain JEDI values across our stakeholder groups.

2024

• Worked with Liberation Labs to establish Behavioral and Communication Guidelines for our team, including how we support and hold one another accountable in increasing our awareness and learning. Participated in professional development training about power dynamics, psychological safety, and healthy communication methods.
• Joined Freedom Economy to prepare the firm and others to defend the rights of social and racial justice investors against unwarranted attacks against those of us who are promoting equality, equity, and justice.
• Shared the story of our ownership conversion as a means to foster racial and gender equity with industry peers via an article in Impact Alpha, a webinar for the Racial Justice Investing Coalition, and as guests on the Next Economy Now and Financial Advisor Success podcasts. These can all be found on our website.
• Nicole Middleton-Holloway, Malaika Maphalala, and Michael Kramer participated in a webinar for the Racial Justice Investing Coalition on the racial equity innovation aspect of our ownership transition to a Perpetual Purpose Trust.

2023

• Transitioned Natural Investments’ ownership structure to a Perpetual Purpose Trust (PPT). Advisors and staff are now democratically elected to serve as Trust Stewards to ensure the mission and values of the firm carry on into perpetuity. This ownership transition resulted in the formal leadership of the firm changing from 17 percent to 43 percent women and 17 percent to 29 percent people of color.
• Committed to dedicating at least 50 percent of our firm’s ongoing charitable giving towards racial justice work. In 2023, 64 of our 76 contributions were to racial equity and justice organizations that center Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, organizational leaders, and communities, and focus on racial healing. A list of some of the charitable organizations we support can be found on our website.
• Continued to lead sessions addressing racial equity investment issues at conferences, including the ESG for Impact conference. Our goal beyond 2024 is to address these issues at multiple conferences.
• Nicole Middleton-Holloway hosted a webinar with scholar Dr. Travis Bristol focusing on Black equity and the implications of the recently published California Reparations Report.

2022

• Incorporated facilitators at yearly team retreats to foster opportunities for meaningful dialogue in which all feel safe to share. We’ve prioritized hiring women of color for this role.
• We achieved gender parity among advisors and continue to work on increasing the percentage of advisors of color, which as of this writing is currently 26 percent.

2021

• Created a paid Racial Equity Team within the firm to champion our internal efforts to foster a just, equitable, and safe workplace for all team members.
• Initiated monthly racial equity coaching for the white male partners, some of whom are now Trust Stewards.
• Completed the Adaway Group’s Whiteness at Work, an interactive training program in intersectional race and equity work, with 17 advisors.
• Engaged Every Level Leadership to conduct a racial equity assessment of the firm.
• Committed to including more consultants, vendors, and service providers of color in procurement (currently our editor, printer, retreat facilitator, due diligence consultant, Heart Rating analyst, and model portfolio analyst are all BIPOC).
• Nicole Middleton-Holloway participated in US SIF’s Racial Justice Task Force, which generated racial justice investing resources and also an Investor Statement of Solidarity to Address Systemic Racism and Call to Action.
• Tiffany Brown and Kate Poole led the webinar “Black Economic Self-Determination,” featuring historian and scholar Ed Whitfield, on the ongoing pursuit of Black economic liberation.

2020

• Reviewed hourly pay rates and ensured a minimum threshold for internal consultants (advisors and staff) paid directly by our firm.
• Malaika Maphalala, Tiffany Brown, and Kate Poole led the webinar “Invest in Black Economic Liberation.”
• Became a member of the Racial Justice Investing coalition and signed the “Investor Statement of Solidarity to Address Systemic Racism and Call to Action”. 

2018

• Prioritized adding advisors who are historically underrepresented in the financial services field and encouraged all our advisors to similarly prioritize this in their hiring.

2017

• Added our first partner of color and committed to creating gender parity among our advisors.