A BRIEF HISTORY OF EFFORTS WITH TIAA-CREF FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR INVESTING AND POLICIES
 

 

1984-1989: Successful effort (Clean up TIAA-CREF) to get their socially responsible fund started (Social Choice Account-SCA) 

1989-1996: some quiet campaign time and some informal talking with TIAA-CREF folks about trying to get the SCA to take a more pro-active/positive approach (positive screens as well as its exclusionary screens, social venture capital, community investing)

 

1996-present:  

·         New campaign (Social Choice for Social Change) to bring about what was talked about quietly in early 90's. Starting about 2000, bringing together the "Make TIAA-CREF Ethical Coalition, which seeks the above positive approach for SCA, plus the exclusion of certain companies from all TIAA-CREF portfolios (or TIAA influencing those companies to make changes in their policies regarding six particular companies and World Bank bonds). 

·         TIAA-CREF, over this time, adds positive screens to the SCA. And adds shareholder advocacy to the SCA (another component lobbied for as well). TIAA-CREF strongly exploring community investment. TIAA-CREF adds a Director of Social Investing; certainly due to our keeping SRI priorities always in front of them. 

·         Still lobbying for "divest/influence" concerns of the Coalition. And still pushing for Community Investing and Social Venture Capital (with CDFI type of community Investing-- and in more than just SCA) .

·         TIAA-CREF establishes a new Department of Social and Community Investing that focuses on issues of community investing, new socially responsible investment products, screening, and shareholder advocacy.