Natural Investing

Socially responsible financial planning.

 
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Using the Social Rating


Since 1992, the NI Social RatingSM (the Rating) has been the leading tool investors can use to get a snapshot of sustainable and responsible mutual funds' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. As there are no universal ESG standards, funds use varied criteria, formats, and language to describe their approach. Some may screen out only tobacco companies, some incorporate numerous avoidance and affirmative screens, while others engage in shareholder advocacy and community development investing. To address this diverse continuum, the Rating uses objective, standardized criteria to award funds heart to heartheartheartheartheart, similar to the Morningstar® rating that measures financial performance. The Rating provides an overview of the breadth and depth of social responsibility criteria applied by each fund, but it does not evaluate each holding within a fund, so investors are urged to consult a fund's website, quarterly reports, and annual reports to review its holdings.

The Rating methodology, based on a questionnaire and prospectus information, addresses avoidance and affirmative screening, shareholder advocacy, community investing, and the firm’s research process. The manager's application of each element is weighted and scored, and then the funds are ranked. Those in the lowest percentile group (0-20%) are awarded heart, those in the highest percentile group (81-100%) heartheartheartheartheart. It is not uncommon for funds to rate differently over time given changes in their social responsibility policies. The chart below lists funds in order of overall Rating, and also includes ratings of each of the underlying three categories so you can see where funds are strongest.

The Rating does NOT include any consideration of financial performance, so some sources for SRI fund performance data include www.socialfunds.com, www.ussif.org, and www.greenmoney.com. A fund could earn heartheartheartheartheart from NI and still have a poor financial track record, while a fund with a heart or heartheart rating that addresses a limited number of social issues may be a very desirable investment to build a diversified portfolio of SRI mutual funds, or it may address issues of special relevance to a particular investor, such as religious values. Investors would be wise to discuss these variables with a financial professional to assure that you have a good match for your personal social criteria, risk tolerance, and financial expectations.

 
Rating Criteria

 

Avoidance and Affirmative Screening. Some managers have absolute criteria that automatically trigger exclusion of a holding, while others use a best-in-class approach to select the best company in a given sector rather than omit the entire sector. Other funds proactively seek outstanding leaders in certain ESG areas or sectors. Best-in-class, while important, is not rated as highly as avoidance screening, which is not valued as highly as affirmative screening.  Conducting comprehensive analysis to select companies immersed in responsible and sustainable behaviors deserves special recognition, so affirmative screening practices are weighted more heavily in the Rating. ESG screening represents nearly 60% of the total score.

The Rating includes over 40 ESG criteria, categorized by theme: "vices" (alcohol, firearms, gambling and tobacco), environment, employment, corporate governance, product quality and safety, military contracting, animal rights, health issues, and community relations and international human rights.

Shareholder Advocacy. The use of shareholder dialogue and action is one of the most direct and powerful tools for bringing about changes in corporate behavior and policy with regards to the environment, employment practices and corporate governance.  Each fund is evaluated for its participation in dialogue with companies, drafting and supporting shareholder resolutions, and involvement in public policy efforts. Advocacy comprises 18% of the total score.

Community Investing. Funds are evaluated on the impact of their cash positions. Allocations to community develpment financial institutions, municipal bonds in low-income communities and non-insured targeted investments such as microcredit institutions in emerging markets are given high marks, while agency securities and corporate bonds score lower.  Community investing comprises 18% of the total score.

 
NI Social Rating
FUND NAME OVERALL HEART RATING SHAREHOLDER ADVOCACY COMMUNITY INVESTING ESG SCREENING  
Access Capital Community Investment not rated not rated heartheartheartheartheart not rated
CRA Qualified
Investment Fund  
not rated not rated heartheartheartheartheart not rated
Calvert Aggressive Allocation Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Balanced
Portfolio
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Bond
Portfolio
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Capital Accumulation Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Conservative Allocation Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Enhanced
Equity Portfolio
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Equity
Portfolio
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert International Equity Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert International Opportunities Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Moderate Allocation Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Small Cap Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Calvert Social Index Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Domini Social
BondFund
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Green Century
Balanced Fund
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Green Century
Equity Fund
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heart heartheartheartheartheart
New Alternatives
Fund
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheart heartheartheartheartheart
New Covenant Balanced Growth Fund* heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
New Covenant Balanced Income Fund* heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
New Covenant Growth Fund* heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
New Covenant Income Fund* heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
Pax World
Balanced Fund
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
Pax World High
Yield Bond Fund
heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
Praxis Core Stock Fund* heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
Praxis Growth Income Fund* heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart
Praxis Intermediate Income Fund*

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

Praxis International Index Fund*

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

Praxis Small Cap Fund*

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

Praxis Value Index Fund*

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

heartheartheartheartheart

Walden Balanced Fund heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Appleseed Fund
 
heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheartheart
Boston Common International Fund heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart
Domini International Social Equity Fund heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart 
Domini Social
Equity Fund
heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart 
Eventide Gilead Fund*

heartheartheartheart

heartheartheart

heartheartheartheart

Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive  heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart  heartheart heartheartheartheart 
Parnassus Equity
Income Fund 
heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart  heartheart  heartheartheart 
Parnassus Fixed
Income Fund
heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart  heartheart heartheartheart 
Parnassus Fund
 
heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart heartheart  heartheartheart
Parnassus
Mid-Cap Fund
heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart  heartheart  heartheartheart 
Parnassus Small
Cap Fund
heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart  heartheart heartheartheart 
Parnassus Workplace Fund heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart  heartheart  heartheartheart
Pax World Global
Green Fund
heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheartheart heartheart heartheartheartheartheart 
Pax World Growth
Fund
heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheartheart  heartheart heartheartheartheartheart 
Pax World
International Fund
heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheartheart heartheart  heartheartheartheartheart 
Pax World Small
Cap Fund
heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheartheart  heartheart  heartheartheartheartheart
Portfolio 21
 
heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart  heartheartheart 
Walden Equity Fund heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart 
Walden Mid-Cap Fund heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart 
Walden Small Cap Innovations Fund heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheart 
Winslow Green
Growth Fund
heartheartheartheart  heartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart 
Calvert Alternative Energy Fund  heartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart  heartheart 
Calvert Global
Water Fund
heartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heartheart 
Epiphany FFV Fund*

heartheartheart

heartheartheartheart

heartheartheart

Epiphany FFV Latin America Fund*

heartheartheart

heartheartheartheart

heartheartheart

Epiphany FFV Strategic Income Fund*

heartheartheart

heartheartheartheart

heartheartheart

Epiphany Large Cap Core Fund*

heartheartheart

heartheartheartheart

heartheartheart

Gabelli SRI Green Fund heartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheart 
Legg Mason Social Awareness Fund  heartheartheart heartheart  heartheart  heartheartheart
Northern Global Sustainability Index Fund heartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heart
Pax World Global Women's Equality Fund heartheartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart  heartheart 
Sentinel Growth Opportunities Fund heartheartheart heartheartheartheart heart heartheart 
Sentinel Sustainable
Core Opportunities 
heartheartheart heartheartheartheart heart  heartheart
Amana Developing World Fund*

heartheart

heartheart

Amana Growth Fund*

heartheart 

heartheart

Amana Income Fund* 

heartheart

heartheart

Ariel Appreciation Fund heartheart heartheartheartheart  heart 
Ariel Discovery Fund heartheart heartheartheartheart heart
Ariel Focus Fund
 
heartheart  heartheartheartheart heart 
Ariel Fund
 
heartheart heartheartheartheart heart 
Ariel Global Equity
Fund
heartheart heartheartheartheart heart 
Ariel International
Equity Fund
heartheart heartheartheartheart  heart 
Azzad Ethical Fund*

heartheart

heartheart

heartheart

Azzad Wise Capital Funds*

heartheart

heartheart

heartheart

Calvert Equity Income Fund heartheart heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heart 
Calvert Large Cap
Value Fund
heartheart  heartheartheartheartheart heartheartheart heart 
CNI Charter Socially Responsible Equity heartheart  heartheart
DFA US Social Core
Equity 2 Portfolio
heartheart heartheart  heartheart 
DFA US Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio heartheart  heartheart heartheart 
LKCM Aquinas Growth Fund*

heartheart

heartheart

heart

LKCM Aquinas Small Cap Fund*

heartheart

heartheart

heart

LKCM Aquinas Value Fund*

heartheart

heartheart

heart

Schroder Emerging Market Equity Fund heartheart heartheartheartheartheart
TIAA-CREF Social
Choice
heartheart  heartheart 
Vanguard FTSE Social Index heartheart heartheart 
Alger Green Fund
 
heart  heart
American Trust
Allegiance Fund 
heart  heart
Ave Maria Bond Fund*

heart

heart

Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund*

heart

heart

Ave Maria Growth Fund*

heart

heart

Ave Maria Opportunity Fund*

heart

heart

Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund*

heart

heart

Ave Maria World Equity Fund*

heart

heart

Dreyfus Third Century Fund  heart  heart
DWS GNMA Fund heart  heartheart  heart
Flex Utilities & Infrastructure Fund  heart heart 
Integrity Growth & Income Fund heart heart
Pimco Low Duration
Fund
heart  heartheart  heart 
Timothy Aggressive Growth*

heart

heart

Timothy Conservative Growth*

heart

heart

Timothy Defensive Strategies Fund*

heart

heart

Timothy Fixed Income*

heart

heart

Timothy High Yield Bond*

heart

heart

Timothy International *

heart

heart

Timothy Israel Common Values Fund*

heart

heart

Timothy Large/Mid Cap Growth*

heart

heart

Timothy Large/Mid Cap Value*

heart

heart

Timothy Small Cap Growth*

heart

heart

Timothy Strategic Growth*

heart

heart

Touchstone Premium Yield Equity heart heart
USAA First Start
Growth Fund
heart heart 

 

* Funds with an asterisk use additional faith-based criteria that are not part of this Rating; see the fund's prospectus for ESG information.

For individual fund performance, visit the mutual fund performance center at socialfunds.com

Copyright Natural Investments, LLC 2013

Publication or Reproduction without written permission of Natural Investments, LLC,
P.O. Box 747, Paonia, CO  81428 is prohibited.
______________________________

The information available on this website is posted for informational purposes only. Links to other Internet sites are included as a convenience. Natural Investments, LLC is not responsible for and assume no liability for its content since the parties are unrelated. In addition, Natural Investments, LLC does not review the website and does not make any representation as to the accuracy of the content.

 


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