Corporate stakeholders are a diverse group. From consumers, suppliers and community members to civil society representatives and policymakers, each are uniquely impacted by a company’s operations and contribute to the company’s growth. The level and type of investment varies among these groups. But the SRI, or “Sustainable, Responsible and Impact” is unique in its interest and influence. 

An SRI investment philosophy is built on equal parts fiscal responsibility and social advocacy. Through active cause- or issue-based investment, the SRI community seeks to influence company decision-making to advance goals in specific areas of concern collectively termed ESG (“Environment, Social Justice and Corporate Governance”). 

Engagement with such active, long-road investors presents a particular set of challenges for companies. At what point in the relationship–and how often–should you engage? Are these collaborative or confrontational investors? Who do they represent, and do your fiscal and operational goals align? 

When done right, engaging the SRI community can lead to invaluable opportunities to assert industry leadership on key issues. These stakeholders can give companies an “around-the-curve” perspective on emerging sustainability challenges, enabling them to mitigate future conflicts with other influential stakeholders, both internal and external. 

As specialists in stakeholder engagement, the Future 500 team regularly help companies forge more effective relationships with the SRI community around a range of issues. It’s a complex space to navigate; with input from our network of SRI authorities, opinion leaders at major investment firms, and our own in-house engagement experts, we’ve compiled a “cheat sheet” companies can use to develop healthy, proactive relationships with their SRI stakeholders.

Read the full article on Triple Pundit.

Matt Stites is a former Future 500 team member. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

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