The Investors for Racial Equity Project is pleased to launch two new resources to help move racial equity from aspiration to action:
Together, these tools will help both asset owners and asset managers strengthen their commitments to racial equity in every aspect of their decision-making – from internal hiring practices to shareholder engagement strategies.
Why Racial Equity? Why Now?
Racial equity isn’t a niche issue or a “nice to have” – it’s a pathway to stronger economies, enhanced corporate performance, and more resilient long-term investment outcomes. By incorporating racial equity considerations into their decision-making and engagement practices, investors can mitigate the systemic risks associated with inequality while fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities.
As key intermediaries in capital allocation, asset managers are uniquely positioned to drive change. How they hire, who they invest in, and what they ask of portfolio companies shapes outcomes in the real economy. These new resources aim to support asset owners and their managers in raising the bar on racial equity.
How Can Investors Use These New Tools?
Asset Manager Evaluation Tool
Created in partnership with the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) with input from racial equity partners, the Evaluation Tool helps asset owners evaluate how their managers are embedding racial equity into:
- Organizational culture
- External influence and leadership
- Investment and stewardship practices
It offers a clear set of questions to use in asset manager selection and monitoring, moving beyond vague commitments to measurable action.
Advancing Racial Equity: A Guide for Asset Managers
The companion guide provides a roadmap for asset managers to assess their performance, benchmark against peers, and communicate their racial equity efforts transparently with clients and stakeholders. It provides concrete actions firms can take to:
- Build inclusive governance and workplace cultures
- Set and track equity goals
- Influence the broader investment ecosystem
- Integrate racial equity into investment and stewardship policies and practices
It also provides practical examples and resource links to support implementation, enabling firms to translate ideas into meaningful action.
A Call to Action
Embedding racial equity in investment management isn’t about ticking boxes – it’s about making tangible commitments and transforming how capital is stewarded and how risk is understood.
We invite institutional investors and asset managers to use these resources to review their racial equity commitments, ask questions, and take action.
For more information, please contact:
Riya Sirkhell, Senior Program Officer, Inclusive Economy, Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE) E: rsirkhell@share.ca
