Mailchimp - 1792 Exchange

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

High Risk

Summary:

Mailchimp has terminated business with Christian and conservative groups for a wide array of alleged offenses based on its broad and vague terms and conditions, even though the company provides viewpoint protections for its employees. Mailchimp has suspended political groups, faith-based groups, and the Babylon Bee, a conservative-leaning satirical news organization. Mailchimp has opposed state-level legislation deemed to be anti-LGBTQ by the HRC and funded the Black Lives Matter organization. The company has a charitable discount for nonprofits, but it is unclear if religious groups are eligible. For these reasons, Mailchimp receives a High Risk rating.

Criteria

Risk Level

Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level

Rationale

Mailchimp temporarily suspended The Babylon Bee for “violating our standard terms of use and acceptable use policy.” Mailchimp later claimed it was a mistake, but the Babylon Bee switched platforms regardless to avoid potential further cancellation (1). Mailchimp also terminated the account of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a 2nd Amendment support group (2). Mailchimp de-platformed the Northern Virginia Tea Party (3). Mailchimp de-platformed the group, Russian Faith, from using its emailing services without any warning or explanation (4). In May 2023, Mailchimp suspended an account linked to Senator J.D. Vance after Donald Trump announced his support for Sen. Vance’s Railway Safety Act (5).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level

Rationale

Mailchimp offers a nonprofit discount; however, it is unclear if the company has any restrictions on eligibility (1). Mailchimp allegedly matches employee donations to charity; however, its eligibility criteria are not public (2).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level

Rationale

Mailchimp protects its employees against religious and political affiliation discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level

Rationale

Mailchimp has opposed various state-level laws deemed by the HRC to be “anti-LGBTQ,” including a measure intended to protect the integrity of women’s sports (1)(2). Mailchimp specifically boosted voting registration efforts in Georgia, later denouncing the state’s efforts to secure the electoral process, and advocated for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (3)(4)(5). Mailchimp requires unconscious bias trainings for its employees (6). Mailchimp’s CEO Ben Chestnut is a signatory of CEOs For Gun Safety (7).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level

Rationale

Mailchimp has donated to the Black Lives Matter organization (1). Mailchimp partnered with an advocacy group to fund hormone replacement therapy and “gender-affirming products and treatments,” though it is unclear whether these services were to be extended to youths under the age of 18 (2)

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level

Rationale

Mailchimp does not have its own PAC. Mailchimp’s parent company, Intuit Inc., has a record of giving in a bipartisan manner consistent with business interests without ideological prejudice (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
August 11, 2023

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