Here at Northwestern Mutual, we are fully committed to doing what’s right for our employees, financial advisors, financial representatives, clients, and the communities we serve. Every aspect of our business focuses on delivering the results our stakeholders expect today and building a better tomorrow.
Integrating sustainability principles and social impact practices across our business is a natural fit for the long-term outlook of a 167-year-old company with clients who stay for decades. Our focus on strengthening our culture of belonging, investing in our communities, delivering financial solutions and expanding financial access, and reducing our environmental footprint is one more way we drive positive, lasting outcomes for generations to come.
Strengthening Our Culture of Belonging
The culture here at Northwestern Mutual is a unique driver of our long-term success. A focus of that success includes ensuring a diverse and inclusive environment to maintain our relevance, competitiveness and long-term policyowner value. Back in 2012, we laid out a 15-year diversity and inclusion roadmap specifying priorities, behaviors, and initiatives to be woven throughout our operations. This roadmap demonstrates our commitment to creating community through inclusion, building a diverse talent pipeline, and empowering employees to develop their full potential.
77% of employees say Northwestern Mutual is making progress in diversity and inclusion
1,800+ field members participated in our the 2023 Multicultural and Women’s Affinity Summits
Building financial solutions for our clients and maintaining industry-leading financial strength requires a workforce with different experiences, backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives—reflecting the communities we serve. Across our field offices nationwide, we work to attract, retain, develop, and advance a diversity of talent. We routinely review the diversity of our employees and field network of financial advisors and financial representatives to check on the progress we’re making toward better reflecting our communities. We’re proud to share that in 2023, Northwestern Mutual is more diverse than ever at all levels of the business.
Investing in Our Communities
Investing in our communities is a leading priority at Northwestern Mutual. Through the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, we allocated $23.5 million in 2023 to drive transformational and sustainable community outcomes. In addition to financial contributions, our support includes community partnerships, advocacy, and volunteerism in the areas where our employees, financial advisors, financial representatives, and policyowners live and work.
We’re also committed to accelerating the search for better treatments and cures for childhood cancer. We work nationally to fund clinical research and support families during and after treatment, helping advance better quality-of-life-outcomes.
$50M+ donated to fight childhood cancer and support children and families since 2012
600,000+ hours of research funded since 2012
$15.4M raised by our field network for Alex’s Lemonade Stand since 2013
In our hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we’re helping expand access to quality education, revitalize underserved neighborhoods, increase opportunities for homeownership, and support premier cultural attractions—investing in a healthy, economically vibrant city for today and tomorrow.
Supporting education for Milwaukee’s youth has been a Northwestern Mutual priority for more than 25 years. As one of the Milwaukee area’s largest employers, we believe in creating access to quality education for all students, from all backgrounds. By investing in students, we’re creating the foundation for Milwaukee’s future leaders and professionals. We firmly believe when everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential, we all succeed.
$60M+ invested in Milwaukee-area students over 25 years
$5.8M committed to support 40 Milwaukee-based education nonprofits and schools
4,600+ students mentored in 2023 by Northwestern Mutual employees
Delivering Financial Solutions and Expanding Financial Access
Driven by our mission to improve lives through financial security, we’ve helped millions of Americans reduce financial vulnerability by planning and managing for a lifetime of financial needs and goals. We recognize that financial security is often hindered in underserved communities, which is why we’re taking bold steps to increase financial knowledge, improve access to capital for small businesses, and advance the ability to build generational wealth. We believe accelerating economic empowerment delivers the growth and returns our stakeholders expect.
$20M goal for investing in women entrepreneurs through Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures
$175M Impact Investment Fund, which has invested in 64 business owners from underserved communities nationwide since 2021, creating 525 jobs
$91.1M in total economic impact with Milwaukee-area small and diverse businesses
Another aspect of our efforts focuses directly on advancing multicultural and women-run businesses. We are committed to specific initiatives to support change in underserved communities. Our goal is to reduce barriers to financial equity by supporting entrepreneurs who have been historically underserved. One way we address this is through our Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator® program, which provides up to 10 entrepreneurs with a $100,000 investment, plus an intensive 12-week business training program and ongoing mentoring.
Reducing Our Environmental Impact
Since our start in 1857, Northwestern Mutual has been committed to doing what’s right—working to deliver positive, transformative results for generations to come. The value we place on both today and tomorrow requires a commitment to environmental sustainability.
We work to be good stewards for our policyowners, clients, people, and communities. That’s why we manage our day-to-day facility operations to reduce our climate impact through energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and a continued focus on our carbon footprint. We also recognize the importance of the relationship between spaces and the people who will use them, from our corporate employees and financial advisors and financial representatives to members of the public enjoying our campus. Our environmental sustainability commitment carries through to our investment strategy and to the investment products we offer consumers.
Goal to divert 75% of construction waste from our updated North Office Building from landfills
$24.8B in socially and environmentally responsible investments without compromising returns
34,000 square feet of rooftop plantings divert 500,000+ gallons of stormwater runoff a year
Every aspect of our building design, construction, and operation at Northwestern Mutual considers the environment as well as people’s health and well-being. We’ve built to sustainability standards such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), focused on environmental impact and sustainability, and the WELL Building Standard, focused on people’s health and wellness. We have 3.27 million square feet of corporate office space across three campuses—and more than 40% of that office space is LEED Gold certified.
Earning Trust Through Corporate Governance and Accountability
Trust is Northwestern Mutual’s most valued currency. Our governance and accountability policies and procedures are designed to maintain that trust, furthering the reputation we’ve built since 1857. We make it a top priority to demonstrate the most principled professional and ethical behaviors, complying with all applicable regulations and company policies. Our corporate offices, financial advisors, and financial representatives partner closely to ensure that we act in the best interests of our clients.
Highest ratings for financial strength from A.M. Best, Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P1
$7.3B in record-setting dividends to policyowners expected in 2024 2,3
5M+ Americans served
111 Fortune 500® Rank
Across these lines, we strive for consistency while staying on top of changing regulations—managing the complexity that comes with offering a wide array of financial products and services. Our financial advisors and financial representatives work directly with policyowners and clients, dedicated to keeping the promises Northwestern Mutual makes.
Learn more about the impact we’re dedicated to in our full Social and Sustainability Impact Report.
