Zevin Asset Management is an investment management firm that initiates advocacy efforts for left-of-center nonprofits through “shareholder activism.” ¹ Zevin Asset Management works with clients to create investment portfolios and judges the investments in companies based on their left-of-center priorities and activism.

Background

The firm was established in 1997 in Boston, Massachusetts under Robert Zevin to handle investment accounts for foundations and nonprofits. ² It was started to take new approaches in social investing for left-of-center causes. Zevin expects to make companies contribute to “sustainable outcomes in the environment”³ and claims that its work goes towards liberal organizations that “have been so badly misled and mistreated by the professional investment community.” ^{4 5}

Engagement

Zevin uses environmental, social, and governance (ESG) analysis. It directly engages portfolio companies to demand that they take stronger measures on climate change and avoid traditional energy methods through shareholder proposals. Companies such as Apple, Starbucks, UPS, CVS Health and Intel have been included on their list of engagements. ⁶ Other methods of engagement are held through meetings and letters that demand companies to report on their policy priorities and intended actions to uphold climate risk management.

Leadership

Robert Zevin formerly was an activist during the Vietnam War through his organization Resist and the South Africa Divestment movement. ⁷ He also is a member of Northstar Asset Management and contributor to organizations such as United States Servicemen’s Fund and the Haymarket Foundation. ⁸

Sonia Kowal is the president of Zevin Asset Management, LLC and handles research in environmental, social, and governance. ⁹ Her work also involves Zevin’s marketing, advising, and client relationships. She formerly was the head of the Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS) U.S. office and was also an investment research analyst at Baillie Gifford in Scotland.

Steven A. Dray is the chief investment officer and senior portfolio manager for Zevin. He handles the decisions related to macroeconomic, asset allocation, and security selection fields for all clients at Zevin. ¹⁰ He previously was a senior portfolio manager at AlphaOne Capitol.

Pat Miguel Tomaino is the director of socially responsible investing at Zevin. Pat works on creating coalitions with non-governmental organizations and updates for the firm on “emerging sustainability issues.” ¹¹ He formerly worked in research for left-wing political campaigns and the Service Employees International Union.

1. “What Socially Responsible Investing Means to Us.” Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://www.zevin.com/social-responsibility/overview.
2. “Zevin Asset Management, LLC.” Community. February 26, 2016. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://community-wealth.org/content/zevin-asset-management-llc-0.
3. Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Impact Report 2018. PDF file. September 2018. https://zevin.com/documents/ImpactReport2018.pdf
4. “Our Clients.” Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://www.zevin.com/who-we-are/our-clients.
5. Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Impact Report 2018. PDF file. September 2018. https://zevin.com/documents/ImpactReport2018.pdf
6. Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Impact Report 2018. PDF file. September 2018. https://zevin.com/documents/ImpactReport2018.pdf
7. Impactimpact. “Zevin.” Real Impact Tracker. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://realimpacttracker.com/certified-community/zevin/.
8. “Robert Zevin.” NorthStar. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://northstarasset.com/team/robert-zevin/.
9. “Sonia Kowal.” Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://www.zevin.com/who-we-are/our-people/sonia-kowal.
10. “Steven A. Dray, CFA, CFP®.” Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://www.zevin.com/who-we-are/our-people/steven-dray.
11. “Pat Miguel Tomaino.” Zevin Asset Management, LLC. Accessed July 10, 2019. https://www.zevin.com/who-we-are/our-people/pat-miguel-tomaino.