CECP Insights Blog

Many corporate citizenship programs involve initiatives that reflect immediate problems (such as apprenticeship programs to fill near-term openings), the nature of their company (such as financial literacy), or local community needs (arts, athletics, etc.). In addition, though, some business leaders and corporations are addressing a social goal that is outside their business expertise and far […]

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 […]

The blog post was co-authored by André Solórzano, Manager, Data Insights, CECP and Daniel Vitaletti, Data Insights Intern, CECP What Companies Need to Know: The Latest from CECP’s ESG Corporate Scorecard. A myth has long lingered in the private sector- the bottom line can only be driven by company-centered investments and business strategy.  Today, however, the conversation has […]

“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 […]

Corporate social investment in Brazil has similarities and differences with practices in the United States. Comunitas has been leading a cross-sector collaboration called Juntos to bring together corporate and public sector actors to drive important changes in major cities in Brazil. Also, for many years Comunitas, has tracked corporate social investments in Brazil. Our findings […]

For someone seeking to build a more sustainable, inclusive and just world, working at a Fortune 500 company — in the cosmetics industry no less — may seem like an unusual choice. Yet The Estée Lauder Companies is no ordinary company. And, by any measure, these are not ordinary times. No single entity or sector […]

Is there a case for CEOs “mixing in politics”? You betcha. But like the many other tough decisions CEOs have to make, this commitment takes smarts, discretion, judgement and, often, courage. Key considerations: CEOs are the stewards of companies, their brands, and their people. They manifest the ultimate responsibility for success or failure of their […]

Hilton Senior Vice President, Industry Relations & Events Rob Scypinski reflects on the power of Hilton’s partnership with Rise Against Hunger. I’ve always been committed to creating experiences for our customers that carry Hilton’s commitment to hospitality to new heights, and when I came across Rise Against Hunger, I remember thinking that we would make […]

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 […]