Return on Inclusion | December 15, 2020

Adasina launches ETF of public equities screened for social justice values

Dennis Price
ImpactAlpha Editor

Dennis Price

ImpactAlpha, Dec. 15 – Financial activism firm Adasina Social Capital has launched the Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF (NYSE: JSTC) on the New York Stock Exchange. The exchange-traded fund tracks the Adasina Social Justice Index of public equities screened for indicators of social justice.

At time of publication, the ETF’s largest holding is Visa, followed by Anthem, ASML, Nvidia and Allianz. Adobe and Grainger are also among the top 10 holdings.

Adasina developed the screening criteria by working with social justice activists to identify the issues most affecting their communities. Among the categories are fair lending practices, clean air and water, animal welfare and human safety.

“This approach gives us a data advantage relative to other solutions,” said Adasina’s Rachel Robasciotti. By sourcing data directly from social justice leaders in impacted communities, she says, “we have the unprecedented ability to direct investor capital to the issues most critical to long-term change.”

Other ETFs are levering growing interest from socially engaged investors. Impact Shares, a non-profit investment manager based in Dallas, partnered with the NAACP to create an ETF that screens for company commitments to minority employees and communities, and with the YWCA to launch a women-focused ETF.