50 Top Community-Minded Corporations Unveiled

IBM and AT&T headlined the 50 corporations that were the most active in their communities, according to a list released by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC), Points of Light (PoL), and Bloomberg LP.

The inaugural edition of The Civic 50, which will be posted in full on Bloomberg’s Business Week website, represents a comprehensive ranking of S&P 500 companies that best use their time to help communities. The list ranks companies on seven specific metrics: Leadership, measurement and strategy, design, employee civic growth, community partnerships, cause alignment, and transparency.

“NCoC is proud to be part of The Civic 50 launch," said Ilir Zherka, executive director of NCoC, via a press release. "The Civic 50 demonstrates that the best companies in America are deeply committed to strengthening their respective communities. Leaders of these companies are aligning the expertise of their companies and people with the needs of their communities, and then measuring the impact of their programs. NCoC hopes The Civic 50 will spur companies throughout our country to do the same.”

More than two-thirds of the top 50 companies “frequently” or “always” used the professional skills of their workforce to address social issues and real community challenges. In addition, 66 percent of the corporations had “mission-level” alignment with community partners, working with them not just on individual programs or events, but also on the highest strategic level.

With the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy still looming large, Jackie Norris, executive director of the PoL Corporate Institute, it’s even more important to see businesses pitching in to help their communities. “In times of disaster and in relative calm, The Civic 50’s work is transformative, innovative and critically important,” she said in a statement.

The top five companies in The Civic 50 – IBM, Citigroup, AT&T, Aetna, and Capital One Financial Corporation – contributed $1.5 billion in grant support to community organizations, 17.5 million volunteer hours valued at more than $375 million, and $150 million in matching donations.

You can view the full Civic 50 list by visiting www.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/civic_50_2012.html