Brown-Forman has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies. This is the third consecutive year that the company has received the recognition.

“We have built a strong ethical foundation since our founding in 1870 and everyday we lean into our core values of integrity, respect, trust, teamwork and excellence in our interactions with our consumers, employees, and business partners,” Lawson Whiting, President and CEO, Brown-Forman Corporation, said in a news release.

“It’s always inspiring to recognize the World’s Most Ethical Companies,” Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere’s Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair, said. “Through the rigorous review process, we see the dedication of these organizations to continually improving their ethics, compliance, and governance practices to the benefit of all stakeholders. Companies that elevate best-in-class cultures of ethics and integrity set a standard for corporate citizenship for their peers and competitors to follow. Congratulations to Brown-Forman for achieving this honor and demonstrating that strong ethics is good business.”

The World’s Most Ethical Companies assessment is grounded in Ethisphere’s proprietary Ethics Quotient, an extensive questionnaire that requires companies to provide over 240 different proof points on their culture of ethics; environmental, social, and governance practices; ethics and compliance program; diversity, equity, & inclusion; and initiatives that support a strong value chain.

That data undergoes further qualitative analysis by our panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating each year’s group of applicants. This process serves as an operating framework to capture and codify truly best-in-class ethics and compliance practices from organizations across industries and from around the world.

To view the full list of this year’s honorees, please visit the World’s Most Ethical Companies website, at worldsmostethicalcompanies.com/honorees.

Committing $22.5 Million to Community Impact

Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BFA, BFB) also announced a commitment of $22.5 million to support the efforts of the Brown-Forman Foundation and Dendrifund. The commitment will be funded from a portion of the proceeds from the company’s recent sale of Finlandia vodka.

“This planned contribution supports the Brown-Forman Foundation’s vision of transformative community impact and Dendrifund’s collaborations to renew wood, water, and grain ecosystems,” Whiting said. “The funding will strengthen these two organizations, enabling them to further their important and impactful work alongside their many partners.”

The Brown-Forman Foundation will receive a $20 million donation. The Foundation partners with organizations focused on three key areas: promoting responsible and sustainable living, ensuring essential living standards, and enriching arts and cultural experiences in Brown-Forman’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

Additionally, the Dendrifund, a nonprofit sustainability seed fund jointly created by Brown-Forman and the Brown family, will receive a $2.5 million donation. Dendrifund serves as a catalyst for collaborative efforts aimed at advancing sustainability within the whiskey industry. This contribution will empower Dendrifund to progress its mission, focusing on crucial natural resources essential for whiskey distillation and aging: grains, water, and wood.

Brown-Forman’s commitment to the Brown-Forman Foundation continues the company’s legacy of philanthropy and community engagement. Likewise, the ongoing support of Dendrifund underscores the importance the company places on sustainability and innovation within the spirits industry.

For more information, visit https://www.brown-forman.com/.