In Search of the Most Community-Minded Companies in the Nation, Points of Light Launches Survey for the 2018 Civic 50

WASHINGTON, December 14, 2017 /3BL Media/ - This week, Points of Light opened the survey for the 2018 Civic 50, an annual initiative that recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation each year. Now in its sixth year, the Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.

In today’s changing times, research has shown 63 percent of consumers want corporations to drive social change and be responsible leaders in the community and beyond. Civic 50 honorees are operating ahead of the curve by integrating community engagement practices, volunteerism, and social impact strategies into their business model. Other findings from the 2017 survey include:

• Multi-faceted investment is on the rise. Nearly 45 percent of grants from Civic 50 companies provide additional support through volunteers, in-kind goods or multi-year pledges, an increase from 38 percent in 2016.
• Nearly 65 percent of Civic 50 companies measure the business impact of their community engagement work on diversity and inclusion.
• 64 percent of Civic 50 companies offer employees volunteer time off to support their service to the community.

“In this digital and global environment, we are witnessing a shift in what corporate citizenship means and what it looks like. By understanding the new and emerging trends, we can ignite a new wave of civic culture in the business community,” said Natalye Paquin, CEO of Points of Light. “Civic 50 companies exemplify what it means to be a ‘point of light’ by putting communities and employees at the center of their business."

Companies that are prioritizing community-building, putting corporate citizenship, and building robust and innovative employee volunteer programs are invited to apply for the 2018 Civic 50. Participation in the Civic 50 survey is open to companies with revenue of $1 billion or more, and applications will be accepted through March 1, 2018. The survey is powered by True Impact, a web-based measurement tool and benchmarking network for the charitable sector.

Results will be announced at the Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service, which will take place in Atlanta, June 18-20, 2017.

The Civic 50 for 2017, in alphabetical order, are:

• AbbVie
• Adobe Systems Inc.
• Aetna
• Allstate
• Altria Group Inc.
• AT&T*
• Baker Hughes Inc.
• Banfield Pet Hospital
• Baxter International Inc.
• Caesars Entertainment*
• Capital One
• Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.
• Citigroup, Inc.
• Comcast NBCUniversal
• Comerica Incorporated
• CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer
• CVS Health
• Dell
• Deloitte
• Dr Pepper Snapple Group
• Ecolab
• Entergy Corporation
• Exelon Corporation
• FedEx Corporation
• Food Lion
• Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
• General Mills
• Hasbro Inc.
• Health Care Service Corporation
• The Hershey Company
• The Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company
• IBM Corporation
• KeyBank
• KPMG LLP
• MGM Resorts International
• Motorola Solutions Inc.
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company
• PIMCO
• Prudential Financial Inc.
• Raytheon Company*
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
• Steelcase
• Symantec Corporation
• Tata Consultancy Services
• Toyota Financial Services
• TSYS
• UnitedHealth Group
• UPS
• Valero Energy Corporation
• WellCare Health Plans Inc.*

* Indicates sector leader.

Applicants are invited to register for a Points of Light webinar offering additional insights and technical assistance for the 2018 Civic 50 survey. To take the survey, learn more about the initiative, or register for an upcoming informational webinar about Civic 50, visit Civic50.org.

Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

True Impact provides web-based tools and consulting support to help organizations measure the social, financial and environmental return on investment (ROI) of their programs and operations. For more information, visit www.TrueImpact.com.