As You Sow

What it reported doing in 2024

Climate change, environmental health, and circular economy: as you sow is working to accelerate a market transformation toward a clean energy economy to mitigate the effects of climate change on the world's populations, ecosystems, and economies. Our climate and energy program exposes the financial and environmental risks of companies involved in coal, oil & gas, and methane; the banks and insurance companies that fund and underwrite these extractive industries; and major polluters including long-haul trucking, global shipping, and concrete and steel production. Our goal is for every company to develop and implement a paris-compliant emissions reduction plan. To do this, we work with investors around the globe to analyze systemic risk and engage corporate leaders to develop better, climate responsive business plans. In these engagements we point out material risks of biodiversity loss and how continued investment in coal, oil, and gas harm the global economy and the companies doing the polluting. We also point out the benefits and opportunities of clean technologies. We research and write original reports, develop financial transparency tools, engage management at major corporations in direct dialogue, maintain a website disclosing fossil fuel companies held in mutual funds, and utilize shareholder advocacy to help companies address these business risks and take advantage of opportunities for long-term sustainable growth. We also work with companies across many sectors to identify, analyze, and reduce climate risk in their supply chains and operations. Our environmental health program addresses antibiotics overuse in factory farms, industrial-scale pesticide use, benefits of regenerative agriculture, and pfas risk. Our circular economy program focuses on sustainability in packaging across fast food, beverage, and consumer products companies, and the impact of single use plastics on ocean ecosystems. For both programs we research and write original reports, engage major manufacturers in dialogue, and employ shareholder advocacy to present risks and opportunities to corporate leaders. These programs help companies reduce material risk by adopting systemic policies for increased responsibility and stewardship toward all stakeholders including employees, customers, shareholders, and the global commons.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 78.2%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $3.44 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -66.7%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.33; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 22.9%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.4% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 20.8% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings