Corporate responsibility has become a key driver in securing stakeholder interest, consumer trust, and employee loyalty, and many corporations are stepping up accordingly to demonstrate their leadership and investment in civic engagement. Many firms actively promote and provide opportunities for their employees to share time, treasure, and talent to improve the civic health of their communities. Many make significant philanthropic commitments to strengthen institutions in local communities. Still others join in partnership with the private, public and nonprofit sectors to advance social causes.

Spurred by the “Business Strengthening America” campaign of more than 1,000 companies in the months after 9/11, the Summit of Corporate Volunteerism convened by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in February 2008, and the ServiceNation Summit in September 2008, many organizations are moving in impressive ways to commit both the financial and human capital needed to advance corporate America’s role in supporting civic participation and engagement.

Their efforts are showing double bottom-line results in employee loyalty and revenue:

• Members on the 2009 Corporate Responsibility Officer’s 100 best corporate citizens list reported a 2.37 percent return shareholder value over three years, while the 30 “worst” corporate citizens experienced a negative 7.38 percent return.

• A Cone study found nearly eight of ten Millennials (those born 1980 and after) want to work for a company that contributes to society, while more than half say they would refuse to work for an “irresponsible corporation.”

• A 2010 CSR Perception Survey conducted by Penn Schoen Berland found 40 percent of respondents said they would take a pay cut to work at a socially responsible company, and 72 percent would sacrifice spending or salary to support corporate social responsibility initiatives.

• The same survey found 75 percent of consumers say corporate responsibility is important to them, and they are more likely to purchase products or services from a company after reading its responsibility agenda.


NCoC plans to spend the next few weeks highlighting some innovative ways corporations are engaging employees, giving back to communities, and integrating civically responsible business practices into their operations.

Stephen Jordan, Executive Director of the Business Civic Leadership Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has provided some interesting historical context and trends on corporate citizenship practices. Read his thoughts and provide your insights on the “movement.”

We want to hear from you: what are some corporate civic engagement models and practices you have found to be effective, engaging, and sustainable?