Are Corporations Getting A Bad Rap?
Corporate Greed. A politically correct buzzword used by various groups to make you feel like a victim. The haves vs. the have-nots.
They have it – you don’t.
The deck is stacked against you and the corporate fat cats in the corner offices are just out for a quick buck at your expense while giving nothing back.
Who could like such a nefarious group of unprincipled individuals? Why don’t they step up to the plate and share the wealth a little bit?
How Much Is Too Much?
If you ask the average person on the street how much corporations do for the under privileged or the poor you would expect a very small amount of help.
Most of us have no idea how much or what kinds of help corporations provide to local communities across America and around the world.
Double-Donation.Com has made a study of corporations and their philanthropy. Here are some of their findings:
- Corporations gave over $17.7 billion to charities last year, a 13.7% year-over-year increase.
- An estimated $6-$10 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed per year.
- Walmart is the largest corporate philanthropist, giving over $300 million annually in cash donations, plus over $1 billion in additional in-kind support.
General Matching Gift Statistics
- 65% of Fortune 500 companies offer matching gift programs
- Source: Double the Donation’s Review of Fortune 500 Companies’ Employee Giving Programs
- Over 18 million individuals work for companies with matching gift programs
- Source: Analysis of employment figures for companies in Double the Donation’s matching gift database
- An estimated $2-3 billion is donated through matching gift programs annually
- Source: Double the Donation’s estimate based on company reported match figures and analysis of surveys
- An estimated $6-$10 billion in matching gift funds goes unclaimed per year
- The median employee participation rate for matching gift programs is 9%
- Mentioning matching gifts in fundraising appeals results in a 71% increase in the response rate and a 51% increase in the average donation amount (and that’s prior to receiving matching gift funds)
- Source: Tech Soup: Which Fundraising Strategies Work?
- 84% of survey participants revealed they’re more likely to donate if a match was offered.
- Source: The Big-Give Research Initiative
- When a match is offered, one in three donors indicates they gave a larger gift because matching was applied to their donation
- Source: The Big-Give Research Initiative
- Match-funding is the most likely factor to make donors give more. Match-funding even scored higher than emergency appeals.
- Source: The Big-Give Research Initiative
- 12.3% of total corporate cash contributions went through corporate matching gift programs
- Technology companies gave the highest proportion of matching-gift contributions as a percentage of total cash gifts at 17.3%
- Source: 2014 CECP Giving in Numbers Report
Some Final Thoughts
Following Hurricane Katrina, Walmart alone donated $20 million in cash, 1,500 truckloads of free merchandise, 100,000 meals and a guaranteed job for every one of its workers that were displaced by the hurricane.
A segment of society is always ready to accuse corporations of not doing more, not paying their fair share.
We could all do more when it comes to taking care of others. However, I use the airplane rule — secure your own mask before assisting others with theirs.
Do all you can after you and your families are secure.
Corporations do the same thing. Honor the obligations you made to employees, stockholders and those dependent on you after your company is secure.
Anything left is your fair share.
Comments below
More From KMMS-KPRK 1450 AM
