Socially Responsible Business

Featured Resources

Wesleyan students and alumni have full access to Vault.com’s online library through the Liberal Arts Career Network. In addition, you can download some of the Vault guides free of charge and get more in-depth job search information.

• STUDENTS: Click here to access WesVAULT through your student portfolio on the "Online Resources & Passwords" page (in the Beyond Campus section).
• ALUMNI: Click here to access WesVAULT through WesNet, the online alumni community, on the "CRC Resources & Passwords" page (in the Resources section).

CareerSearch is a highly searchable database of more than 2 million domestic organizations. Find companies/institutions in the social service industry and in your geographic region of interest, then read a little about them and get connected to their web sites.

General Resources

• Beyond Grey Pinstripes - A site that ranks MBA programs according to their commitment to teaching corporate/social responsibility.
• Co-op America - Excellent site to research socially responsible businesses as potential employers.
• CSRwire - The leading source of press releases, reports and information on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Issues include Diversity, Philanthropy, Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Environment, Human Rights, Workplace Issues, Business Ethics, Community Development and Corporate Governance.

• Fast Company - A list of the 25 organizations who won the Fast Company/Monitor Group’s Social Capitalists Awards for outstanding social entrepreneurship.

• KLD - Private, for-profit research and consulting firm providing socially responsible information relevant to business investment decisions.  Try the Resources section to find sites related to Socially Responsible Business (and to locate employment prospects).

• Natural Investing - An investment advisory firm specializing in socially responsible investments.  Explore the Resources section for links that can help identify socially responsible mutual funds and other organizations as potential employers.

• Social Investment Forum - Excellent site to research potential employers in finance with socially responsible missions and values.

• Win-Win Partners - a partnership of "companies and organizations achieving competitive advantage through community investment. God for researching potential employers.

• Socially Responsible Business - Information on SRB, plus list of SR companies under Illustrative Membership.

List of Socially Responsible Businesses

The following list provides a brief sample of companies that identify themselves as socially responsible. It is intended to help you broaden your employment options as you seek work that is compatible with your personal values.  Use the links found within the CCG section to identify additional SRB’s.

Finance

• Calvert Group, Ltd. (Bethesda, MD) — Investment firm dedicated to social responsibility. See “Socially Responsible Investing” section
• Citizens Global Equity Fund (Portsmouth, NH) — Socially responsible investment management company that will not invest in companies that produce tobacco, alcoholic beverages, nuclear power plants, weapons, gambling (as a main line of business), who lack diversity at the director or senior management levels, or who engage in animal testing
• Creative Investment Research, Inc. (Boston, MA; New York, NY; Minneapolis, MN) — Socially responsible, minority-owned investment management and research company
• Fannie Mae (Washington, DC headquarters) — Aims to provide access to affordable housing and increase homeownership for more Americans
• First Affirmative Financial Network (FAFN) (Colorado Springs, CO) — Independent investment advisory firm specializing in the sustainable and responsible investment industry
• Natural Investing (CA; CO; HI) — Investment advisory firm specializing in socially responsible investments.  Explore the “Resources” section for links that can help identify socially responsible mutual funds and other organizations as potential employers
• Pax World Mutual Funds (Portsmouth, NH) – The nation’s oldest socially responsible mutual fund company
• Wainwright Bank & Trust Company (Boston, MA) – One of the nation’s leading socially progressive banks
• Walden Asset Management (Boston, MA) – Firm that has engaged in socially responsible investing for over 30 years

Technology

• Canon Inc. (VA; Japan) – Camera company whose philosophy encompasses environmental preservation, cultural and educational aid, helping the disabled live as independently as possible, and disaster relief activities.  See “Environmental Activities” and “Social and Cultural Support Activities”
• Genentech, Inc. (San Francisco, CA) — Biotechnology company with a commitment to sustainability and community
• Osram Sylvania Inc. (Danvers, MA US headquarters) – Lighting manufacturer who has won Energy Star’s Excellence in Efficient Products award six years in a row

• Bergmann Associates (NY; PA; FL) — Environmentally-driven architectural firm
• Community Energy, Inc. (Radnor, PA corporate address; NYC; CT; IL; CO offices) — company whose mission is “to supply the demand for fuel-free energy through the construction of new wind farms”
• Comverge, Inc. (East Hanover, NJ; GA; CA) – Sells energy-management technologies that automatically turn power on and off when demand exceeds supply on the grid, resulting in enormous energy savings
• Fuel Tech (Stamford, CT) – Develops technology to enable more efficient and environmentally acceptable combustion of solid and liquid fuels used primarily in boilers and furnaces
• Greenbiz.com (Oakland, CA) — Branch of Greener World Media; online magazine focusing on how to align environmental responsibility with business success”
• Greenmaker Supply (Chicago, IL) – Building supply business that markets “energy intelligent, environmentally sensitive and healthy” materials

Retail

• Fair Trade Federation (Washington, DC) – organization whose members provide “fair wages, participatory workplaces, environmental sustainability, financial and technical support, consumer education, respect for cultural identity, and public accountability”
• Mountain Equipment Co-op (Vancouver, BC) – Outdoors outfitter dedicated to ethical sourcing and environmental sustainability
• SC Johnson (Racine and Milwaukee, WI; Chicago, IL) – Very socially and environmentally involved home care products company still owned by the founding family
• Ten Thousand Villages (Northeastern locations) – Chain of retail stores that sell exclusively free trade items, ranging from decorative plates to children’s toys, jewelry, and coasters
• Timberland (Stratham, NH) – Socially, managerially, and environmentally responsible boots, shoes, clothes, and gear company.  Employees are given up to 40 hours/year of paid time off to volunteer in the community, and after a year, employees can elect to take a long-term paid sabbatical to work for a non-profit organization.  See “About Timberland” section

Food

• Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. (VT; CA) – Company provides links to websites for social, environmental, and peace activism, and uses socially conscious ingredients in many of their ice cream flavors.  See “Our Values” section
• Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Waterbury, VT) – Coffee company who is active in environmental and social stewardship, and who offers employees the opportunity to take paid time off to volunteer in their communities.  See “Social & Environmental Responsibility”
• United Natural Foods (Dayville, CT corporate headquarters) – National distributor of nutritional supplements, personal care items and organic produce