As companies pursue global business strategies and attempt to open up new markets, corporate philanthropy is following suit. In 2012, according to Giving in Numbers: 2013 Edition, a report by CECP in association with The Conference Board, the majority of companies surveyed (71 percent) directed, on average, 21 percent of their contributions budget to international end-recipients. Manufacturing companies have contributed a higher percentage of total giving internationally than Service companies in each of the past six years. Energy companies, many with global operations, are the largest international givers, directing 33 percent of their charitable donations outside of their domestic markets.

Why it matters

• Corporate giving officers have identified business strategy and employee presence as the strongest drivers of international giving expansion. These global giving strategies should be issues focused, outcome/impact oriented, and flexible enough to allow for local adaptation and implementation.
• International corporate contributions tend to be directed to neighbors and to emerging markets, in particular those such as India that have large growth potential.

For more information, download Giving in Numbers: 2013 Edition at www.conference-board.org/gin2013 or contact Matteo Tonello at matteo.tonello@conference-board.org. 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.

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