Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

10 Years Later: The Evolution of Corporate Pro Bono and Our Opportunities for the Future

Mar 9, 2018 11:30 AM ET

The Taproot Foundation's Advisory Services team works closely with companies to help them develop strategies to engage their talent in pro bono service. Our advisory practice was founded 10 years ago by Lindsay Firestone Gruber, Taproot’s Chief Program Officer, who saw the potential for companies to be more strategic about how they engage their people to help nonprofits succeed. Back in 2008, corporate pro bono was largely nascent outside of law firms and professional services companies. A decade later, the landscape of corporate pro bono is thriving. Kim Gillman, National Director of Advisory Services, sat down with Lindsay to reflect on the decade and to explore what’s next for the field.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SWANA Announces 2018 Technical Division Award Winners

Mar 9, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Bristol-Myers Squibb Expands Parental Leave and Caregiver Benefits

Mar 9, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Employees at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) work passionately to advance science for patients with serious diseases, and now its U.S. employees are being given expanded paid time off for critical life events including caregiving for seriously ill family members and the care of newborn, foster or adoptive children. The new, generous, inclusive family-friendly benefits launched this year are part of the company’s commitment to meeting the needs of its diverse workforce through an innovative, market-leading approach.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

GRI Podcast March Edition: Why Should Investors Care About Sustainability Data?

Mar 9, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Investors don't always get the sustainability data they need from companies for effective decision-making. In the latest GRI podcast, this question was posed to Amanda Feldman from the Impact Management Project, who told us how corporate reporting should change so that even more investors could use this information. Listen to the full episode here.

Diversity & Inclusion

Merck Earns Place on 2018 List of Top Companies for Executive Women

Mar 9, 2018 9:25 AM ET

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) named Merck as one of its 2018 NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women. The award recognizes U.S. corporations where women have significant clout to make the decisions that affect their company’s future and its bottom line. The NAFE Top 70 Companies are featured in the April/May issue of Working Mother.

Social Impact & Volunteering

A Cross Sector Approach to Closing the Gender Gap

Mar 9, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Anyone who works in the nonprofit sector knows that women make up a significant part of its workforce and leadership – until you get to the top. Women currently account for 43 percent of the board seats among all nonprofits but only 33% of those seats at large nonprofits, defined as $25 million or greater in annual income.[1] At the staff level, this gap increases further -- women make up 45% of nonprofit CEOs but only 21% at large nonprofits, and they are compensated at 66% of their male CEO counterparts.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy: Sometimes Caring for Our Communities Requires Crossing State Lines

Mar 9, 2018 9:10 AM ET

More than 140 employees and contractors arrived in Pennsylvania on Tuesday afternoon to assist with restoration efforts after Nor'easter Storm Riley left nearly two million customers in the Northeast U.S. without power.

Green Infrastructure

Well Buildings Are Becoming More Than A Fad As Benefits Get Easier To Measure

Mar 9, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The evidence shows that this phenomenon is being led by tenants. In a survey of European occupiers, CBRE found that 72% either already had or wanted to have a building that promoted wellness.

Diversity & Inclusion

On International Women’s Day HP Invites Girls Everywhere to Tell Their Stories

Mar 9, 2018 8:35 AM ET

At a moment when the world is acknowledging the power of women’s voices, HP is inviting girls to reinvent their stories and reach for their dreams. In celebration of International Women’s Day, HP is releasing “Paro,” a short film shot in Kolkata, India that follows a girl’s journey as she discovers her passion for storytelling.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

iCause Is Joining Forces With the Extending a Hand Foundation

Mar 9, 2018 8:30 AM ET

Extending a Hand Foundation is a nonprofit whose mission is to increase awareness about the poor living conditions and the primary necessities of children and elderly in situations that include vulnerability, abandonment, sexual abuse, lack of affection, and the physical and psychological mistreatment.

Education

This Short Film About How Technology Empowers Girls Will Give You All the Feels

Mar 9, 2018 8:15 AM ET

In the last several months, the next generation of leaders have called for change in an unprecedented wave. They have used their voices to demand attention and change from the very highest echelons of power — and many of those voices have been female.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Box’s Culture of Engagement Gets a Boost With the VolunteerMatch Network

Mar 9, 2018 8:10 AM ET

Volunteerism has long been an integral part of Box’s epic corporate culture. The technology company, based out of Redwood City, CA, wanted the process of finding and signing up for volunteer opportunities to be as easy as possible for their employees. With VolunteerMatch’s Network Integration, they were able to consolidate their giving platforms and incorporate thousands of searchable, real-time volunteer opportunities.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Women in Kenya Improve Their Families’ Food Security Through Simple Land-Restoration Technology

Mar 9, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Employees Visit India with Nonprofit Partner Water For People

Mar 9, 2018 8:00 AM ET

This past November, a group of Xylem employees traveled to the North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts in India with one of Xylem’s global nonprofit partners, Water For People. The trip included visits to community water points and community toilets, piped water supply projects, and primary and high schools to learn about functionality issues around operation and maintenance of the safe water and sanitation resources from local community members and officials.

Diversity & Inclusion

For International Women’s Day, I’m Inviting Guys to the Table

Mar 9, 2018 8:00 AM ET

A sad reality: we all know hardworking, high performing women who don’t necessarily get ahead. Why? Research shows that when it comes to getting career-accelerating assignments, making influential connections and landing key promotions, women are often overlooked. In corporate America, for example, women are underrepresented at every level, despite earning more college degrees than men for the past 30 years.

Diversity & Inclusion

Barclays HeForShe Ambassador Srishti Warman on Promoting Gender Equality in India

Mar 9, 2018 7:40 AM ET

On International Women’s Day, we talk to Barclays Business Analyst Srishti Warman about her work promoting gender equality in India – and how her commitment to “making a difference” began as a child.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Freeport-McMoRan’s Greenlee County Community Investment Fund Grants $250,000 to Arizona Communities

Mar 9, 2018 7:05 AM ET

The Greenlee County Community Investment Fund (CIF) awarded grants totaling $250,000 to the Greenlee County community in Arizona.

Diversity & Inclusion

Finding My Voice This International Women’s Day

Mar 8, 2018 11:45 PM ET

Today is International Women’s Day and some of you may be asking yourself questions like “What can I do to get involved?” “Why do we need this and why is it being talked about?” “Is it a celebration or is it a somber occasion?” Chelsey Cole, Charity Relations Specialist at Benevity, believes it’s both.

Diversity & Inclusion

Building a Diverse Workplace

Mar 8, 2018 6:15 PM ET

Our vision is to ensure our workforce reflects the communities where we live and work, and make sure everyone is respected and able to contribute to their full potential. In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, hear from one of our strong female leaders as she reflects on her dynamic career at TransCanada.

Sustainable Development Goals

Over 60 Stock Exchanges Around the World to Ring the Bell for Gender Equality

Mar 8, 2018 5:10 PM ET

In celebration of International Women’s Day, over 60 stock exchanges around the world are joining the United Nations Global Compact, Global Compact Local Networks and their partners to host bell ringing ceremonies in support of gender equality. Held throughout March, these bell-ringing events aim to raise awareness about the business case for women’s economic empowerment and underscore opportunities for the private sector to advance gender equality and sustainable development.

Media & Communications

Carolyn S. Berkowitz Appointed New President and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals

Mar 8, 2018 4:45 PM ET

The Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) has announced the appointment of Carolyn S. Berkowitz as their new President and CEO. Ms. Berkowitz will assume responsibilities on July 2, 2018 and will succeed Mark W. Shamley, who had served as President and CEO since August of 2007.

Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart's Sourcing From Women-Owned Suppliers Drives Business

Mar 8, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Even with the growth in women-owned businesses, these suppliers are having difficulty competing for corporate and government contracts and earning less than 1% of the money spent by the organizations, according to Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and co-founder of WEConnect International, who helped create the corporate-led global nonprofit to educate and connect WOB with qualified buyers dedicated to diversifying their supply chains.

Events, Media & Communications

GM Reaffirms Path to an All-Electric, Zero Emissions Future

Mar 8, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Speaking at the annual CERAWeek energy conference in Houston on Wed., March 7, 2018, General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra reaffirmed the company’s strategy for a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.

Diversity & Inclusion

VIDEO | Insights From Alliance Data's Female Leaders This International Women's Day

Mar 8, 2018 3:00 PM ET

International Women’s Day shines a light on everyone’s talent. The day highlights the strengths and the ability that women have to lead us and help us be more successful. With more than 55% of our associate population comprised of women here at Alliance Data, we are recognizing this day not only for our female associates, but similarly for the 9,000 men who also make Alliance Data a best place to work.

Diversity & Inclusion

217 Years to Women’s Equality? Not on Viacom’s Watch

Mar 8, 2018 2:40 PM ET

The World Economic Forum is concerned that, if nothing changes, full global gender parity is likely 217 years away.

Viacom thinks that we should start closing that gap today.

Today, March 8, is a good day for it: it’s International Women’s Day (IWD), an annual celebration of change-makers fighting for gender equality. Viacom, along with other media companies, nonprofit organizations, charities, politicians, entrepreneurs and activists around the globe, will celebrate women in a tradition dating back to the suffrage movements of the early 20th century.