Madewell's parent company J. Crew scored a 70 on the 2023 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. By complying with the HRC’s controversial demands, the company increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company covers transgender-related medical costs for its employees and their children and provides specific sexual orientation and gender identity-based benefits. It also uses sex and gender ideology criteria in employee recruitment, vendor selection, and philanthropic support. Madewell does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company has publicly advocated for looser abortion laws and implemented mandatory diversity trainings for its employees. J. Crew Group partners with the Black Lives Matter organization and the ACLU, and Madewell donates to Black Lives Matter, the Human Rights Campaign, and the National Network of Abortion Funds. The company is a member of the "Don't Ban Equality" business coalition. For these reasons, Madewell earns a High Risk rating.