Companies Strengthen Social Investment Strategies

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In the largest, most robust, industry-leading and internationally-recognized research of corporate social engagement, CECP: The CEO Force for Good, in association with The Conference Board, found in their annual Giving in Numbers: 2017 Edition report that the world’s leading corporations are emphasizing strategy and outcomes more than ever with 60% of companies allocating more resources to programs that align with their strategic social cause area and 87% of companies measuring the impact of at least one grant. Additionally, median total giving among all companies increased by 2.3% between 2014 and 2016, with pharmaceutical companies seeing the greatest increases in societal investments. Support for the arts and cultural programs is also on the rise, with corporate cash giving growing 48% in the last three years.

The top 25% of companies—or top quartile--when measuring total giving, gave at least $53 million in 2016, or 1.70% of pre-tax profit. Median total giving in 2016 among all 258 respondents was $19 million (0.91% of pre-tax profit).

CECP, a coalition of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies with a combined annual revenue of more than $7 trillion, released, in association with The Conference Board, Giving in Numbers: 2017 Edition, a report on the largest social engagement survey of 258 of the world’s largest companies. Now in its 12th year, Giving in Numbers is the leading study on the funds, resources, and skills that companies invest globally to solve pressing societal challenges.

“This past year has been marked by unprecedented global challenges and widespread uncertainty, yet the business community has once again stepped up on critical issues,” said Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP. “Giving in Numbers shares vital data and trends on how leading companies are effectively addressing social issues, from the arts to social services, and plots a course for corporations playing a role in standing up for their varied stakeholders.”

Key findings from this year’s survey include:

• Total giving increased: Median total giving among all companies increased by 2.3% between 2014 and 2016.
• Companies are seeking deeper partnerships: Looking to increase the impact of their grants to organizations, companies are working with fewer partners and decreasing the total number of grants, while enlarging the remaining grants. Six out of ten companies are allocating their giving resources into the program area they consider their strategic/signature program.
• Measuring outcomes became a more widespread practice: Assessing societal impact or outcomes of corporate initiatives remains a prevalent practice among leading companies, and in 2016, 87% of companies measured the impact of at least one grant (up from 85% in 2014).
• Support for Culture and Arts is on the rise: Giving in Numbers data revealed that cash giving to Culture and Arts programs grew by 48% between 2014 and 2016, the most among all program areas. Multiple sources point to an increasing relevance of Culture and Arts among companies as a cause area, as well as the positive impact this program area has in the wellbeing of communities.
• The Health Care industry made a big impact on aggregate total giving: Companies in the facilities/medical equipment subindustry accounted for three quarters of the aggregate decrease in total giving. On the other side, pharmaceutical companies drove the largest proportion of the aggregate total giving increase across industries.

“The findings from this year’s survey, along with other primary research conducted by CECP, confirms that social investments made by leading companies are doing more and doing better to ensure community stability and well-being,” said Carmen Perez, Director, Data Insights, CECP. “For businesses looking to fine-tune, expand, or pursue effective social strategies, Giving in Numbers offers concise guidance and indispensable benchmarking.”

“A variety of recent events both natural and political have highlighted the importance of corporate giving,” said Jonathan Spector, CEO, The Conference Board. “It’s likely that importance will grow as climate change threatens more natural disasters and federal funding for important social causes, such as the arts, is put under a microscope. Although we’ve seen a slight increase in corporate giving in the past three years, data from the most recent 12 months suggests contributions are plateauing. Corporate giving teams need all the tools in their arsenal to advocate for higher budgets as nonprofits turn increasingly to companies for funding. Giving in Numbers is one of the most important tools available.”

About CECP: The CEO Force for Good

CECP is a CEO-led coalition that believes that a company’s social strategy—how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, customers, and investors—determines company success. Founded in 1999 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman to create a better world through business, CECP has grown to a movement of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies that represent $7 trillion in revenues, $18.6 billion in societal investment, 13 million employees, and $15 trillion in assets under management. CECP helps companies transform their social strategy by providing customized connections and networking, counsel and support, benchmarking and trends, and awareness building and recognition.

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world’s leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States.