November 30, 2000 | Read Time: 1 minute
By NICOLE WALLACE
Investors who want to know if the companies in which they own stock are good corporate citizens can turn to a new online resource.
The Corporate Social Research Center rates 1,000 companies on their commitment to fair labor practices, the environment, product quality and safety, and the communities in which they are located. Among the measures used to gauge local commitment: the amount companies give to charity.
Visitors to the Web site can also find out whether the companies derive substantial portions of their profits from the sale of firearms, tobacco, or other controversial products, and learn about pending shareholder resolutions that deal with social-responsibility issues.
In addition, the site provides news articles and links to lists compiled by other groups that assess companies’ corporate citizenship, such as Fortune magazine’s list of the 50 best companies for minority employees and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ list of companies that test consumer products on animals.
The Corporate Social Research Center is part of SocialFunds.com, a Web site that provides financial information for socially responsible investors, and is operated by the SRI World Group, in Williamsville, Vt.
To get there: Go to http://www.socialfunds.com/csr.
