After her clients expressed concern about investing in defense contractors, tobacco firms, and other types of companies, stockbroker Amy Domini realized the opportunity and importance of screening firms for environmental, social, and ethical concerns. It was the early 1980s and, at the time, there was only a small group of professionals and investors dedicated to this area. In 1984, Domini coauthored Ethical Investing, one of the first books to summarize and popularize the strategies for linking values and beliefs with investment portfolios. More than two decades later, Domini's name is synonymous with socially responsible investing. Time magazine named Domini one of 2005's 100 most influential people.

In 1989, Domini, Peter Kinder, and Steve Lydenberg launched the Domini 400 Social Index, a market capitalization–weighted common stock index. ...