Archive for March, 2007

Most Charitable Industries

Saturday, March 10th, 2007

The Conference Board surveyed 211 of the largest companies and corporate foundations, and found that they gave $9.78 billion in 2005, up more than 18% from the previous year. However, the findings indicate that this doesn’t necessarily mean companies have become more generous; they’re simply making more money.

Other findings included:

  • As a percentage of pretax income, companies in the survey actually gave less to American charities in 2005–1% of their U.S. earnings, compared with 1.6% the year before.
  • Most of that money was spent in the U.S, with only $2 billion going overseas.
  • More than half of all donations were products, rather than cash.
  • The top priority for corporate givers was health care and human services, which accounted for 44% of all contributions. Education was a distant second, attracting 12% of the money. And arts, community and environmental organizations all received less than 10%.
    Industry Contributions as a % of worldwide sales Contributions per employee
    Pharmaceuticals 1.51% $5,585
    Printing, publishing and media 0.65% $1,549
    Food, beverage and tobacco 0.19% $367
    Banks 0.18% $713
    Precision instruments 0.12% $258
    Computers and technology 0.11% $339
    Telecommunications 0.10% $329
    Utilities 0.08% $629
    Paper and allied products 0.08% $216

    For more information, please go to:Forbes or The Rocky Mountain News.

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