Giving in Numbers 2019 Edition, by CEO-led coalition Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, offers a global benchmark of corporate social investments. The report indicates that international giving in on the rise – it grew by 9% in 2018 – and six out of ten companies increased total giving in the past three years.
There are many benefits to corporates supporting philanthropy. Not only does this support create a positive image around the business, it allows the organisation to ‘give back’ to the community, while also creating an empathetic workplace that boosts the morale of employees. To this end, many organisations put corporate programmes in place that encourage staff involvement in the form of making donations and volunteering for non-profits.
Examples of corporate programmes include:
- Matching gifts, where the company matches the amount donated by the employee;
- Volunteer grants, where the corporate makes a financial donation to match every hour that a staff-member volunteers for a non-profit
- Payroll deductions, which allow employees to donate a portion of their pre-tax salary, and
- Corporate Sponsorship where financial support is provided to a specific non-profit.