“All human beings are my neighbors. We share the same planet.”
Today more than ever, people insist on working with businesses that reflect their core values. This can mean many different things to different people, and we are happy to customize several aspects of our clients’ investment strategies and investor experience to accommodate individual preferences.
Socially Screened Investments
Sometimes referred to as SRI (Socially Responsible Investing) or ESG (Environmental & Social Governance), investing in a way that reflects your values has become a notable part of the industry landscape. At Upleft, we have the ability to invest in a way that excludes any of the following industries or activities
Environment
Firearms
Bioethics/Stem Cell
Fossil Fuel
Abortion and Abortifacients
Gambling
Military
Tobacco
Adult Entertainment
Nuclear Power
Alcohol
Contraceptives
Faith-Based Investments
For those who wish to invest in a way that reflects the doctrine of certain faiths, we also offer the following pre-constructed combinations of social screens.
Baptist Values - Investments would exclude companies with significant involvement in the following issues: adult entertainment, alcohol, gambling, life/choice, and tobacco.
Catholic Values - Based on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops investment guidelines, this approach screens out companies involved in the following issues: abortion, adult entertainment, affordable housing/banking, bioethics/stem cell & human cloning, contraceptives, defense & weapons, and racial & gender discrimination.
Sharia Values - Based on the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions’ Sharia standards, this approach screens out companies with significant involvement in the following issues: alcohol, adult entertainment, defense, gambling, pork products, and tobacco. Companies within the following industries will also be screened out: cinema/broadcasting, conventional financial services, conventional insurance companies, hotels, interest income, and music.
Upleft as a Social Enterprise
Being a good neighbor means more than having an office in the neighborhood.
While we may not agree with the social and ethical preferences of all of our investors, we respect their right to support the businesses that align with their individual values. We do not feel that it is our place to make judgments on such issues. In our offices, however, you may notice several ways in which we express our own values and beliefs.
Community Support
Discounted fees for non-profit clients
Paid volunteer time as an employee benefit
Sponsorship and support of local organizations and their efforts
Reduced Paper Waste
Option for paperless onboarding using E-Signatures
Option for electronic statement delivery
Paperless processing of common administrative tasks
We make coffee with no paper filters
No paper towels in the office (we use cloth napkins and hand towels)
Reduced Plastic Waste
Our printers do not use disposable plastic ink cartridges.
We make coffee with no disposable K-Cups or pods.
Reusable ceramic drinkware from local artisan.
Supporting Human Rights/Dignity
Fair Trade Coffee
Fair Trade Tea
Fair Trade Chocolates
https://equalexchange.coop
https://equalexchange.coop