Shareholder resolutions in 2025: An essential element for faith-consistent investing

The evolving landscape of corporate engagement

So far in the 2025 proxy season there have been significant developments that faith-based investors should be aware of. Notably, there has been a meaningful decline in the number of shareholder resolutions filed, with only 355 environmental, social, and governance (ESG) proposals submitted by February. This is a significant drop from the 536 filed during the same period in 2024, (Ross Kerber, Reuters, Shareholder activists dial back on resolutions, April 3, 2025).

This decline doesn't necessarily signal reduced investor interest in corporate responsibility, but it does reflect a changing regulatory environment, with adaptations made by both companies and shareholders: in February 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission revised its guidance, and now gives corporations more flexibility to exclude shareholder resolutions from proxy statements. This has created new hurdles for ESG-focused resolutions.

Why this matters for faith-based investors

For faith-based asset owners, these changes highlight the importance of proxy voting as a key element of faith-consistent investment programs. Proxy voting is one of the most influential ways that investors can change corporate business policies and ensure alignment with their spiritual values and ethical principles.

Despite this overall decrease in resolutions, important ESG issues continue to receive attention from shareholders. Climate-related proposals dominate the 2025 agenda, with organizations like ShareAction identifying them as priority resolutions. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices also remain significant, though they are increasingly contentious, and we’ve noted that some companies have scaled back these initiatives as investors have demanded greater transparency about these decisions.

The shifting dynamics of corporate engagement

What's most noteworthy is the way companies have responded to shareholder concerns. Many corporations now appear more willing to proactively make changes to their business polices and practices to avoid public confrontations. Andrew Behar of As You Sow observed that companies are increasingly 'more willing to have things not escalate' by addressing investor concerns before formal resolutions reach a vote, (Ross Kerber, Reuters, Shareholder activists dial back on resolutions, April 3, 2025).

This shift highlights the importance of direct engagement between shareholders and companies. Faith-based investors that aspire for their investment activity to be transformative, should engage with companies directly, through investor coalitions, and/or through their asset manager to achieve meaningful corporate policy changes.

A multi-faceted approach to shareholder engagement

FaithInvest has long advocated that effective stewardship requires a comprehensive approach:

1. Attentive proxy voting based on religious values and ethical frameworks

2. Direct engagement with companies on issues of concern

3. Coalition-building with like-minded investors to amplify impact

4. Policy advocacy that connects corporate governance to broader social and environmental concerns

   
   

As these methods evolve, investments can increasingly reflect and advance faith-based values across environmental stewardship, social justice, and ethical governance.

Call to action: Developing your proxy voting policy

The changing landscape of shareholder advocacy makes it more important than ever for faith-based asset owners to develop clear, values-aligned proxy voting policies. These policies should:

1. Articulate specific faith principles that guide voting decisions

2. Identify priority issues that reflect your faith community's core concerns

3. Establish clear guidelines for how votes should be cast on common resolution types

4. Create accountability mechanisms to ensure implementation

Dedicated organisations exist to support these efforts, notably the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR).

Once developed, discuss these policies with your asset managers. Too often, faith-based values are diluted when voting decisions are delegated without clear guidance. By providing explicit instructions, you ensure your investments truly reflect your spiritual and ethical commitments.

Remember that proxy voting isn't just an administrative function—it's an expression of your values in the marketplace. In a world where corporate influence shapes social and environmental outcomes, how you vote your shares is a meaningful act of faithful stewardship.

We encourage all faith-based investors to develop, implement, and regularly review proxy voting policies that embody your community's deepest values and aspirations for a just and sustainable world.