Stamford, CT. - February 1, 2008 - Trends & Best Practices in Corporate Community Involvement, a new corporate citizenship research study published by philanthropic consultancy LBG Associates and nonprofit LBG Research Institute, has uncovered 76 major trends that reflect the state of community involvement (CI) today.

"Through our research, we found 76 key trends-activities, tendencies, and specific statistical benchmarks-that reflect how CI programs have progressed in the nine years since our 1998 research study, Best Practices in Corporate Community Relations," says LBG Associates President Linda Gornitsky, Ph.D.

The Trends & Best Practices in Corporate Community Involvement study is based on detailed responses to a comprehensive 250-question survey. Thirty-five major companies participated in the study.

Some examples of the trends revealed by the survey responses include the following:

• All the companies believe they are good corporate citizens.

• Top management expects a strategic approach to community involvement, in which CI is tied to the company’s business model and mission.

• CEOs are supportive of CI initiatives, but need to increase their personal involvement.

• The most popular charitable giving structure is a foundation.

• CI managers tend to be relatively senior (vice presidents, directors, senior directors), but most do not have direct access to top management.

• The median contributions rate is 0.85% of pretax net income, in line with other research findings.

• More companies are allowing employees to volunteer during the workday-82% in this study vs. 70% of respondents in LBG Associates' 2001 study, Corporate Volunteerism: Innovative Practices for the 21st Century.

• Service on boards is on the upswing: Almost all companies surveyed encourage their executives to serve on nonprofit boards-and 10% require such service.

• Dollars for Doers programs are becoming more popular.

• There is widespread recognition of the value of signature programs, with almost 80% of the survey sample saying they either have one in place or are considering one.

• Even after the recent series of natural disasters, the events of September 11, and the escalating threat of terrorism, companies remain reactive rather than proactive on disaster relief.

• There is a growing acknowledgment that employees' opinions and needs are critical when developing a community involvement strategy.
  
  
• Companies are using a variety of communication methods to tell their community outreach stories to external and internal audiences.

Trends & Best Practices in Corporate Community Involvement reflects the current landscape of CI, as well as the 76 trends that are shaping its continuing evolution. "This is the most definitive study of CI out there today," says Dr. Gornitsky. 'The breadth and depth of this research make it a necessity for anyone involved in corporate citizenship."

For an interview with Dr. Gornitsky, please call 203-325-3154; or e-mail her at LBGAssoc@aol.com.

Copies of the Trends & Best Practices in Corporate Community Involvement can be purchased online at www.lbg-associates.com or by calling 203-325-3154.

About LBG Associates
LBG Associates is a woman-owned consulting firm focused on designing, implementing, and managing corporate citizenship and community outreach programs and initiatives. Founded in 1993 by Dr. Linda Gornitsky, LBG Associates drives social change through expert advice; implementation of strategies, programs, policies, and procedures; and training that equips practitioners with the knowledge and skills to grow and advance in the field of corporate community involvement. Find more information at: www.lbg-associates.com.

About LBG Research Institute
LBG Research Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing companies, foundations, and nonprofits with the most current information on trends and best practices in corporate community involvement in the United States and abroad. By providing timely and quality research on myriad issues, LBG is helping companies and foundations improve their corporate citizenship programs, resulting in greater benefits to the communities they serve. Find more information at: www.lbgresearch.org.

LBG Associates

LBG Associates

LBG Associates is a woman-owned consulting firm focused on designing, implementing, and managing corporate citizenship and community outreach programs and initiatives. Founded in 1993 by Dr. Linda Gornitsky, LBG Associates drives social change through expert advice; cutting-edge research; implementation of strategies, programs, policies, and procedures; and training that equips practitioners with the knowledge and skills to grow and advance in the field of corporate community involvement. Find more information at: www.lbg-associates.com.

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