Robert W. Baird

Wisconsin
Diversified Financials

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

Robert W. Baird, a financial services company, advocates for ESG investing. The company vets vendors for their LGBTQ and ESG policies. Baird uses its corporate reputation to advance ESG principles and advance LGBTQ causes. The Baird Foundation does not discriminate against religious organizations. Baird Financial Services does not protect against viewpoint discrimination. For these reasons, Baird receives a Medium Risk.

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

Robert W. Baird received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign. Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (1). Baird advocates for Socially Responsible Investing (SRIs) which outlines investing in causes that meet ESG Criteria (2)(3). The company claims that ESG investing is a choice and that it does not force customers into ESG funds or principles (4). 

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

The Baird Foundation does not discriminate against religious organizations (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Baird Financial Services does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (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

Baird advocates for ESG investing and uses its reputation to support LGBTQ causes (1). Baird Advisors held Baird’s inaugural Sustainability Conference to advocate for ESG practices and published an ESG investing guide (2)(3)(4). Baird is a signatory of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investing (5)

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Baird does not corporately donate to ideological causes or organizations. 

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Robert W Baird & Co does not operate a PAC (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 23, 2023

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