Friends Fiduciary Corporation

In April, Ethan Birchard began as Friends Fiduciary’s new executive director, succeeding Jeffery Perkins, who served in the role for nearly 13 years. A lifelong Quaker, Birchard brings experience in and knowledge of the financial industry, business development, and marketing, as well as strong leadership and management skills.

Friends Fiduciary Corporation (FFC) continues to witness to Quaker values in the companies the firm holds, engaging on environmental, social, and governance issues. During the 2023-2024 proxy season, FFC engaged 40 companies on more than 20 different issue areas.

Friends Fiduciary asks companies to disclose quantitative workforce diversity data and establish inclusive board refreshment policies. The investment corporation also continues to engage pharmaceutical companies on fair drug pricing to promote health equity, and it has urged companies to disclose lobbying and political contributions.

Regarding climate issues, FFC works with other faith-based and institutional investors to hold companies to account on goals such as setting science-based decarbonization targets, developing climate transition plans, and supporting a just transition for workers and communities.

FFC has also continued its work engaging semiconductor companies on greater human rights due diligence of the end use of their products, as they continue to be found in Russian weapons recovered in Ukraine.

In philanthropic news, charitable gift annuity rates are at their highest since 2007, resulting in a spike in giving among Quaker donors.

friendsfiduciary.org

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maximum of 400 words or 2000 characters.

Comments on Friendsjournal.org may be used in the Forum of the print magazine and may be edited for length and clarity.