CECP Insights Blog

July 15, 2015–Frank Bruni (The Sunny Side of Greed, 7/1/15) has identified an essential truth of modern commerce. As we move from the industrial age to the information age, the instant, transparent dynamics of commercial life have spawned a different generation of businesses, a sea change if you will. They are growing cultures infused with […]

May 14, 2015–In response to “Philanthropy Starts After Profits Are Tallied”(New York Times, May 12, 2015), the notion that companies must choose between philanthropy and the welfare of their stakeholders presents a false dichotomy. Leading CEOs have realized that they can align mission and market. Coca Cola and PepsiCo have campaigned against their own (short-term, […]

February 24, 2015– I have just read the second annual Giving Around the Globe report from CECP (I am a board member), a coalition of 150 global CEOs who are a force for good, on giving patterns of companies based in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Here are some of the most interesting […]

November 10, 2014–One of the keys to successful corporate social responsibility should be a strong connection to an organization’s mission or purpose. Purpose coupled with strong alignment to business priorities can deliver an impactful platform that supports both long-term growth and social change. At CVS Health, our programs and initiatives are deeply rooted in our […]

November 4, 2014–The October 26, 2013 article, Goldman Sachs, Buying Redemption, was a reminder that corporate societal engagement is changing quickly, yet public perception has not yet caught up. Current, and effective, incarnations of corporate-community investment include projects to solve some of society’s toughest challenges that are benefiting communities and the companies investing in them. […]

October 28, 2014–Our country would benefit tremendously if all young people served their country – not just in the military, but in all kinds of service. The challenges faced by our nation, and the obvious deterioration of many of the institutions and opportunities that have historically helped buttress citizenship, make this idea more important than […]

October 27, 2014–According to CECP’s recent research report, Giving in Numbers: 2014 Edition, companies had to give a minimum of about 2% of Pre-Tax Profits to be in the top quartile of corporate givers. Is that a lot? Depends who you ask! One potential comparison is to American individuals—a Chronicle of Philanthropy study found that […]

October 15, 2014–Allstate’s recent “Purple Purse” event, held at the Glass Houses in New York City, provides a glimpse into how one company uses its influence as a “Force for Good” to multiply its business and societal impact. Allstate CEO Tom Wilson, who will speak at CECP’s upcoming Board of Boards CEO event about his […]

July 29, 2014–We were pleased to see the New York Timespiece, “Motivating Corporations to Do Good’ (7/15/2014). At CECP, founded in 1999 by Paul Newman and leading CEOs to do exactly that, we work with a coalition of 150 CEOs who are leading businesses in an increasingly transparent climate. But what truly motivates companies to […]

July 2, 2014–The millennial generation is passionate about societal involvement, and companies are taking notice. At the 2014 CECP Board of Boards Roundtable, CEOs identified employees as the most influential stakeholder group in deciding whether to expand their companies’ community investment. CECP data show that 86% of companies match employee gifts, and that the median […]

June 04, 2014– On May 19-21, 250 leaders in corporate philanthropy and social responsibility convened in New York City for CECP’s signature event – the Giving Officer Summit. I had the opportunity to attend the summit along with SVCF’s President & CEO Dr. Emmett Carson. The summit provided dynamic and relevant content, many opportunities to […]

June 03, 2014– A hot topic at the CECP Summit this year was the role companies should play in collaborative efforts. In a jam-packed room, I had the pleasure of representing FSG on a lively panel discussing collective impact with Citi Foundation CEO Pam Flaherty moderated by CECP Executive Director Margaret Coady. Collective impact is […]

May 27, 2014– If CEOs of companies were asked if their companies should do good, all of them would say yes. “The issue is not whether or not they want to do good. It’s an issue of priority,” said Carly Fiorina, speaking at the CECP’s 2014 Summit held in New York City last week. Most […]

May 22, 2014— Imagine you’re eleven. You live in Rio. You absolutely love school. It’s a safe place where you are free to learn, engage with your peers, and grow. But suddenly you hear about plans to demolish the school building. In its place will be a parking lot for a local stadium.   What […]

May 22, 2014– This week, I had the privilege of participating in Redefining Returns: The Impact of an Emerging Investment Model, a session at CECP’s 2014 Summit: What Counts in New York for almost 300 corporate giving professionals. The session focused on impact investing, which Amy Bell, Executive Director and Head of Principal Investments at […]