Download our 2004 Social Impact Updates (PDF Format).

1st Quarter '04

2nd Quarter '04

3rd Quarter '04

4th Quarter '04

As a shareholder in the Domini Funds, you make a difference in the world. Listed below are highlights of how you made a difference in 2004.

Corporate Engagement

Global Labor Standards:  In May 2004, Gap Inc. released its first Social Responsibility Report, after two years of dialogue between the company and a coalition of socially responsible investors including Domini Social Investments. This report, which focuses largely on labor standards in the factories that make Gap products, set new standards of transparency for the apparel industry. Even Gap’s critics praised the company for its frank discussion of factory work conditions. The company plans to update the report annually in the future.

Global Poverty and Trade:  From 1974 through 2004, developing countries benefited from quotason exports to developed countries under an international treaty called the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA). The expiration of the treaty could create a significant humanitarian crisis. We wrote to 20 companies in our portfolio, asking how they plan to respond to the new quota-free environment, and urging them to consider the human effects of their decisions.

Diversity:  Masco, OGE Energy, and NiSource agreed to amend their corporate policies to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Corporate Political Contributions: TimeWarner and Tribune agreed to disclose information on their websites regarding their political contributions. Time Warner’s website also includes its positions on public policy issues.

Fair Trade Coffee: Procter & Gamble began to sell Fair Trade Certified® coffee in supermarkets across the United States. P&G began selling Fair Trade Certified coffee online in 2003, after an intensive dialogue co-led by Domini.

Public Policy

Proxy Voting Transparency:  In 2004, every U.S. mutual fund was required to reveal its complete proxy voting record for the previous year, under a rule that Domini petitioned for.

Human Rights:  Domini signed a Supreme Court brief in support of the Alien Tort Claims Act, an important tool for holding human rights violators accountable (the brief was filed by the International Labor Rights Fund).