Chart of the Week: charitable contributions
By Thomas Singer, Researcher, The Conference Board
Data from Sustainability Practices: 2013 Edition finds that U.S. companies remain the most generous, but they are not prone to disclosure of charitable giving. An analysis of disclosure by S&P Global 1200 companies shows that 42 percent reported their total giving to charity, compared to just over one-quarter of S&P 500 companies.
However, companies in the U.S. index showed median contributions of more than $17 million, almost twice the median amount in the global index. By sector, telecommunication services stands out as reporting the highest median, with nearly $43 million given to philanthropic causes.
The geographic analysis shows that the median amount of charitable contributions reported by companies in Asia-Pacific was significantly below the levels of companies in other regions, and it was roughly half of the median amount reported by companies in North America and Europe.
Why it matters
- Businesses increasingly understand the importance of stakeholder relations to the bottom line. In addition to being a form of corporate responsibility and citizenship, philanthropy supports the business strategy and should be adequately communicated to the market.
- Companies are becoming increasingly conscious about the need for monitoring the effectiveness of their giving programs, supporting organizations and targeting issues that align with donors’ core competencies. By measuring the true social impact of partnering with not for profits, companies can improve the results of their charitable contributions.
For more information on this and over 70 other sustainability metrics, download Sustainability Practices: 2013 Edition or contact Matteo Tonello at [email protected]
Chart of the Week is a series that highlights key findings from our portfolio of benchmarking research on corporate governance, proxy voting, corporate sustainability, and citizenship. Click here for a downloadable copy of this chart, or here to find out more about the series.
About the author:
Thomas Singer
Researcher
The Conference Board
Thomas Singer is a researcher in corporate leadership at The Conference Board. His research focuses on corporate social responsibility and sustainability issues. In addition to his work at The Conference Board, Singer serves as an independent consultant advising on corporate sustainability strategy.
