The USDA announced it was awarding $39 million in grants to American business owners in order to increase access to domestic biofuels.
Ready Response: Member Meetups, CSR Strategy, and more
COVID-19 is disrupting business operations and ESG programs across the world. To support your efforts in this time of disruption, we’re rounding up relevant Center resources, news, company best practices, and research and gathering it in one place at Resource(ful).
Blog: Corporate citizenship in times of economic contraction
Different contexts require different strategies. By taking a closer look at CSR strategies during similar contexts, we can determine how to make the most of opportunities to create business and social value. READ MORE
Connect through the Center: BCCCC Member Meetups
To augment the dynamic discussions going on within our Online Member Community, the Center will host live BCCCC Member Meetups beginning the weeks of April 13 and April 20. Open only to Center members, these Zoom meetups will explore topics that are top-of-mind for members right now.
Register now to hear from your peers and ask questions on the following topics:
Disaster relief/employee crises funds
Tuesday April 14; 3 pm EDT/Tuesday April 21; 12 pm EDT | Whether you are updating disaster relief polices or employee crises procedures or creating entirely new processes, you are likely encountering a lot of questions and could benefit from hearing how others are developing next steps. LEARN MORE
Virtual volunteering & employee support
Wednesday April 15; 3pm EDT/Wednesday April 22; 12pm EDT | Share how you’re shifting to digital shared experiences: from online gatherings, to virtual volunteering, to innovative engagement, and hear how your peers are overcoming similar obstacles. LEARN MORE
Changing your grant making focus and easing grant restrictions
Thursday April 16; 3 pm EDT/Thursday April 23; 12 pm EDT | Come with your questions about how best to navigate conversations with your grantees, how to loosen or remove restrictions on your active grants, and how to help your partners accelerate their work. LEARN MORE
Infographic: The Employee Effect
Research finds thatstrategic corporate citizenship efforts play a role in increasing employee engagement: When employees perceive a company to have strong CSR performance, they have greater commitment and pride—and ultimately stronger job performance. Employee, community, and environmental dimensions—as well as visible communication—have the strongest relationship with performance. VIEW INFOGRAPHIC
Members in Action
Check out our ongoing list of how companies are responding to COVID-19.
Charles Schwab & Co. has donated thousands of N95 masks and nitrile gloves from their emergency kits to local health care facilities across the country. Charles Schwab Foundation has committed $1.25 million in philanthropic contributions for a variety of relief efforts, including food banks and community funds in their 10 main employee centers, the CDC Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Emergency Response Fund. The organization has also launched a special 2:1 employee match program to support more than 1,100 organizations who are responding to a variety of community needs, up to $250,000.
Exelon Corporation has contributed $5.7 million to support nonprofit organizations involved in COVID-19 response efforts, focusing on hunger relief and basic necessities, financial hardship, and health. The company is also encouraging its employees to support response efforts through their Matching Gifts program (dollar-for-dollar match up to $5,000) and volunteerism, with a focus on donating blood, supporting food banks, and virtual opportunities.
The Hartford has announced that it will donate $1 million to the CDC Foundation Emergency Response Fund, CDP COVID Response Fund, HFPG COVID-19 Community Fund, and Feeding America to assist these organizations as they continue their hard work of helping those who need it most.
How is your company responding to COVID-19? Let us know by contacting us at ccc@bc.edu
Relevant Research
In emerging economies, corporate citizenship improves local reputation, leads to increased economic value
Companies with more strategic corporate citizenship—i.e., central to firm mission, specific, proactive, visible, and voluntary—are more likely to increase economic business value and corporate reputation in emerging economies where they have subsidiary locations. READ MORE
For the general public, your company’s reputation isn’t built on financial performance, but good public reputation can increase financial value
In the eyes of the general public, a firm’s reputation is built on nonfinancial factors, such as whether it’s likeable and identifiable. Firms with strong performance in these areas have superior stock market performance. READ MORE
News You Can Use
Early coronavirus job losses hitting minorities, women, teens hard
Minority workers, teens and, in many cases, women, are losing jobs at a higher pace than other groups, primarily because the sectors in which they typically work is more affected by current lockdown policies in much of the country. CNN
Sustainable funds a safer harbor in coronavirus market meltdown
Funds focused on buying stocks that score well on environmental, social and governance-related metrics proved a safer harbor for investors during the coronavirus-fuelled market rout last month, Morningstar data shows. Reuters
Join the discussion in our member community.
Related Content
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency announced the approval of antimicrobial treatment for pre-harvest agricultural water.
Beginning November 21st, 2024, Massachusetts workers will be covered for reproductive loss events under the Earned Sick Time Law
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the extension of telemedicine flexibilities until December 31st, 2025.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an expanded inspection guidance for the meat industry.
WEBINAR: Corporate citizenship leaders from Dow and Thermo Fisher Scientific explain how supplier diversity can generate serious gains in workforce inclusiveness, innovative products, improved services, job growth, community impact, and even supporting decarbonization goals.
Your company may be doing a lot to live up to its corporate citizenship commitments. But how well do those efforts represent all your employees? Get the notes from our latest meetup on this topic.
The EPA has announced a product label that indicates “safer use” products for outdoor use, including pet care products, fire defense products, and car, boat, or grill cleaners.