We understand that there's an urgent need to help companies make crucial decisions about ways to bring their volunteer programs more in line with today's economic realities--and employees' needs and desires. This NEW research study from LBG Associates and LBG Research Institute is designed to provide you with that help, by answering the following questions:

• Are employees more driven to volunteer during this recession, or are they so depressed that they are in a state of inertia?
• Are employees afraid to use workday-based programs, such as skills-based, pro bono, or paid time off, for fear of losing/jeopardizing their jobs?
• Just what is inspiring employees to volunteer during these challenging economic times?

LBG's new research report is unique in that it includes both the voice of the employee volunteer manager AND the employee. By comparing research from both groups, this study provides a much-needed and robust view of today's volunteering landscape.

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This new report presents a wide range of research findings from the participating companies, addressing topics such as:

• Whether respondents believe being green is part of their corporate culture;
• What metrics are being used to measure companies’ environmental footprints;
• How product design and manufacture have been greened;
• How environmental practices vary among the Peridot, Jade, and Emerald companies;
• How charitable giving is affected by the green movement;
• Median green giving levels;
• The critical role employees play in promoting environmentalism;
• How companies are communicating their environmental activities.

 The Green Effect also includes more than 25 case studies showing how research participants are “walking the talk” and executing their environmental commitments—in both operations and community involvement activities.

With its landmark research findings, case studies, and proprietary self-diagnostic tool, The Green Effect: How Community Involvement Is Embracing Environmentalism is a much-needed, one-of-a-kind resource guide for the next step in community involvement: going green.

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The report examines the following topics in detail:

• The business case for corporate citizenship;
• Structure and governance of the CI department and the foundation;
• Charitable giving program types and budgets;
• Employee-directed giving;
• Employee volunteerism;
• Sponsorships, memberships, and signature programs;
• Disaster relief;
• Measurement and evaluation; and
• Communication.

Each section of this report comprises three sections:

• Overview: Provides a broad look at the topic and information about the section’s contents.
• Survey Results: Details the statistical findings derived from the responses to the survey questions for each topic area, including numerous charts and tables that can be easily used for benchmarking a company in very specific community involvement areas.
• Trends & Best Practices: Highlights the significant trends revealed by the survey participants’ responses, plus provides recommended best practices.

With its 130-plus pages of benchmarking data, trend analysis, and best practice guidelines, this report is more than a reflection of the state of community relations: It is a tool for companies looking to gauge their CI performance, and a reference that can help elevate community involvement/community relations activities to an even higher level.

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Global Community Involvement examines the global CI practices of more than 20 U.S. multinationals (MNCs), 40 of their overseas locations in 15 countries, and the practices of foreign companies. The study covers a number of community involvement areas and includes details on:

• The business case for community involvement;
• CI department structure;
• Charitable giving;
• Employee volunteerism;
• Sponsorships and signature programs;
• Disaster relief;
• Measurement and evaluation; and
• Communication.

In addition, more than 20 pages are devoted to detailing the current tax legislation and the philanthropic and volunteer activities in a number of countries--including Australia, China, India, Poland, and many others.

Global Community Involvement is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in building or sustaining a global CI program. The findings of this study have resulted in the development of a best-in-class paradigm for global giving that will help companies deal with the complex challenges involved in developing a global CI program. (140 pages)

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• Explains how CR/volunteer managers and senior executives define success and how they evaluate the success of their programs
• Outlines the “key components” necessary to build and maintain a successful corporate volunteer program
• Explores the intricacies of many of those “key components” and highlights what, specifically, about each contributes to the success of volunteer programs
• Identifies the value and benefits of corporate volunteerism, from the perspectives of CR/volunteer managers, senior executives and the nonprofit community
• Ultimately, Measuring Corporate Volunteerism identifies those variables or factors that are most likely to impact and predict the success of corporate volunteer programs 

The study will prove to be a significant benefit to community relations, public affairs and human resource professionals, as well as volunteer council/committee members, volunteer “champions” and coordinators. (182 pages)

More specifically, the report provides real-life examples on how leading companies and corporations are successfully and creatively:

• Marketing their programs and recruiting employee volunteers
• Generating senior management buy-in and support
• Tracking, measuring and evaluating volunteer events and activities
• Recognizing and rewarding employee volunteerism
• Developing national volunteer events and activities
• Encouraging corporate volunteerism on a global basis
• Utilizing volunteerism for teambuilding purposes and skills/leadership development
• Overcoming obstacles and challenges affecting volunteer programs

Furthermore, the report covers such topics as: the “key components” needed to build a successful volunteer program; developing effective volunteer guidelines and policies, including formal release-time and paid time-off policies; volunteer staffs and budgets; volunteer councils and committees; Dollars For Doers and other recognition programs; and developing employee- and family-friendly volunteer events and activities. (424 pages)

Specifically, this study: 

• Presents views from the public, private and nonprofit communities on Corporate America's role in domestic/U.S. disaster relief, from choosing nonprofit partners, to determining the level of assistance and budgeting for disaster relief
  
• Documents corporate community outreach programs and initiatives related to disaster response and recovery
  
• Highlights corporate philanthropic trends and practices covering cash, product and in-kind contributions, as well as employee giving and volunteerism
• Introduces some of the “lesser known” volunteer organizations active in disasters and their roles in the response and recovery processes
  
• Identifies the true needs of disaster relief and volunteer organizations
  
• Provides clear and distinct recommendations on how companies can be more proactive in their approach to disaster relief, especially through mitigation, preparedness and education (134 pages)

• Recruitment and retention
• Corporate community involvement
• Supplier diversity
• Marketing and customer relations
• Corporate communications
• Sponsorships and event marketing

Best Practices in External Corporate Diversity 2000 serves as a vital source of information for HR, community relations, and marketing professionals alike. (210 pages)