INTERSECTIONAL BY DESIGN
Our work doesn’t happen in silos. In fact, 98% of our engagements address more than one of our six pillars — and a third touch three or more. Whether we’re advancing Fair Chance Employment, challenging exploitative supply chains, or advocating for equal voting rights, we bring an intersectional lens to every engagement — because justice is interconnected — and so is our strategy.
Where Change Begins
corporate governance
Corporate Governance is our foundational pillar — because how decisions are made determines who benefits. Governance is where change begins. Board accountability, voting structures, and corporate policies influence every other issue a company touches. We push for systems that uphold the rights of all stakeholders — especially those most often excluded — ensuring corporate power serves people, not just shareholders.
racial Equity
We recognize that the U.S. economy was built on the exploitation of Black, Indigenous and other communities of color — and that this legacy persists today. We prioritize their voices, experiences and needs in our engagements, working to dismantle the structural racism embedded in corporate culture, employment and capital access.
economic equity
We know the financial system privileges the wealthy and marginalizes the rest. As public equity investors, we recognize our role and responsibility in challenging income and wealth gaps, especially those rooted in race, gender and class. We advocate for fair wages, equitable opportunity and structural reform.
Environmental Justice
We stand with communities — especially those of color and low-income — who are disproportionately harmed by environmental degradation and climate change. Our activism targets corporate pollution, resource extraction and water misuse, and advances solutions that are both sustainable and equitable.
AI is thirsty. Training one model can consume over 700,000 liters of water — straining supplies local communities depend on. NorthStar created a first-of-its-kind toolkit to help investors push tech companies to protect community supply.
gender equity
We advocate for equity across the gender spectrum, recognizing that corporate systems often fail to support women and gender-expansive people. From board representation to pay equity and workplace safety, we push companies to eliminate discrimination and foster inclusive environments where all genders can thrive.
Human rights
We believe no company should profit from human suffering. We hold companies accountable for violations in their supply chains — from prison and child labor to unsafe working conditions — and demand alignment with universal human rights, both in policy and in practice.
