CECP Insights Blog

As the wild ride of 2017 comes to an end, we reflect on a year that was replete with loss and pain, but also a year when leading corporations have stepped up on major social issues. Through CECP’s collaboration with 200+ companies, hundreds of monthly inquiries and discussions, proprietary surveys, and conversations with leading experts and on-the-ground […]

In Kaduna State, Nigeria, as in many parts of the developing world, post-harvest losses due to high levels of mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin, and other contaminants have plagued staple crops such as maize and soybean, making it much harder for small-holder farmers to earn a decent income. These mycotoxins also threaten the health and lives […]

Photo: Cardinal Health Choir, led by the Harmony Project’s David Brown, singing at the Community Shelter Board Rebuilding Lives luncheon October was National Arts and Humanities Month, a monthlong celebration of the role the arts and culture play in transforming Americas communities. To recognize the important role of the business community in advancing the arts, […]

In what has been an unforgettable year of natural disasters, companies have demonstrated that they intend to do their part to help devastated communities rebuild. The private sector has committed more than $300 million to date to relief efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and millions more in the aftermath of Mexico’s strongest earthquake […]

In his article “The False Prophet of Long Term Investing” James Mackintosh makes a nuanced argument about long-term investing versus short term trading. While he agrees that short-termism can lead to the wrong incentives for corporate management, a state of affairs he acknowledges large investors are working to correct, Mr. Mackintosh warns against blaming short-termism […]

Photo: UN Global Compact/Zef Nikolla. General Assembly week at the United Nations (UN) in New York City was a busy one, thanks to CECP’s second CEO Investor Forum and dozens of other events related to sustainable development.  As expected, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were front and center throughout. CECP Activities CEO Daryl Brewster joined […]

It’s no surprise that when students become fascinated by science, that enthusiasm can be contagious. From our survey with Change the Equation, we know students crave hands-on biology experiences that are often lacking in the classroom. The Amgen Foundation is on a mission to help more students catch the science bug, by introducing them to […]

Along with so many across the nation, CECP was shocked by the events in Charlottesville earlier this month and yet encouraged by the actions of the CEOs of many of world’s largest corporations – most affiliated with this CECP network – that demonstrated that the courage and conviction of business can and should be a […]

“We think of ourselves as social change strategists,” explained Gayatri Agnew, Director of Career Opportunity at the Walmart Foundation, distinguishing the aspirations for her role from those typically expected of corporate foundation program officers or grants administrators. Gayatri was speaking on CSR strategy at the 2017 CECP Summit in NYC, where we led a conversation […]

When it comes to public stands by corporations, issues in North Carolina and Indiana both drew significant attention over the past year. PayPal didn’t expand operations in North Carolina and Salesforce’s threat of reducing jobs in Indiana changed the tide of public policy. And for every success, there were also examples of consumer backlash. In […]

Brave Leaders, Bold Moves was the theme of this year’s CECP Summit. A fitting start was Carly Fiorina’s opening keynote on Brave Leaders. She recounted several stories including her story of starting as an assistant in a real estate firm as she had studied History in college and didn’t like Law School. At work, there […]

In 1962, Milton Friedman warned, corporations that accept a social responsibility other than to make as much money for their shareholders as possible could undermine a free society. Since then, there have been leaders who have been on a mission to prove otherwise, from CECP co-founder Paul Newman to The B Team leaders, who came […]

The surprise outcome of the November elections left many company leaders wondering what to do, but corporate responsibility and sustainability (CR&S) programs may be an even more important part of the arsenal of many companies. Here are a few suggestions for how to calibrate them in the age of Trump: (1) Invest in the “Forgotten […]

Please note: This blog post is authored by both Greg Hills, Managing Director, FSG and Elizabeth Hawkins, Senior Consultant, FSG.  If you lead your company’s corporate social responsibility or sustainability efforts, you are likely getting calls about the unpredictable political context in the U.S. and around the world. C-suite leadership, colleagues, employees, and partners are […]

Four years ago, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation—the nation’s largest health philanthropy—put a stake in the ground, setting a vision to build a Culture of Health in America that enables everyone to live the healthiest life possible. Bold? Absolutely. But we believe it’s possible and pledged to see it though. We often describe building a […]