Survey Results

The following benchmarking research focuses on healthcare companies, in particular hospital or facility management companies, and companies that have been nationally ranked in one of the top CSR rankings. Initial research was conducted online on each of the companies’ websites. However, since many of the companies do not discuss or promote their CSR initiatives online, further research was required. The researcher conducted formal interviews on the phone with 8 companies. An additional company was interviewed by email due to the representative’s lack of availability. Best practices gleaned from this research helped inform the researcher's CSR strategy and plan.

Company A

Company A is a healthcare company based in Nashville that focuses on improving health in urban communities throughout the country. With a robust CSR program, the company carries out most of its community intiatives through its Foundation. The Foundation is focused on supporting Middle TN through grants to nonprofit organizations that address health and well being, childhood and youth development, and the arts. The Foundation also supports nonprofit exercise events by matching employee contributions.

Company A also supports the community through corporate sponsorships and donations. Additionally, the company has a matching gift program that matches employee donations to organizations dollar-for-dollar up to $500.

Company A offers employees 24 hours of paid volunteer time per year plus an additional day to volunteer with their colleagues at local nonprofits on community days.

Lastly, company A has a few core competency programs including a collective impact partnership with Lipscomb University and The Center for Nonprofit Management, an IT event to solve nonprofit challenges, and a partnership with a Metro Nashville public school academy.

Company B

Company B is a healthcare company based in Nashville, TN, that focuses on improving the behavior health in communities throughout the country. The company and its employees financially support two national organizations, the American Heart Association and the Jason Foundation. Employees also participate in the annual American Heart Association Walk event, but do not have volunteer paid time off.

Company B also provides sponsorships and donations to area organizations. Without a formal application or review process, the CEO makes decisions on organizations to fund each year.

Company C

Company C is a healthcare company based in Nashville, TN, that focuses on geriatrics.

With two foundations, the company supports communities and education programs all over the country. One foundation supports the communities and geriatric education programs where their facilities are based. Funds are raised through community events such as golf tournaments or a songwriter’s night. Half of the money funds community organizations and the other half funds geriatric education programs.

The other foundation is funded through proceeds from stocks and bonds, donations from appreciative donors, and employee gifts. These funds are used to help employees and partners pay for continued geriatric education (materials, books, etc.).

Company C also has an employee assistance fund to support employees going through tough times.

Company C stays true to its mission and focuses its charitable giving on geriatric education. It financially supports two national organizations, the American Heart Association and the Alzheimer’s Association. The company is the largest supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Tennessee.

Outside of the company's donations and foundations, employees participate in walks and occasional community service projects the company organizes. However, there is no formal volunteer program or volunteer paid time off policy.

Company D

Company D is a healthcare company based in Nashville, TN, that focuses on geriatrics.

This company has an employee assistance fund that supports associates in times of financial need due to extraordinary circumstances. It also has a PTO Donation Program, which allows associates to donate earned paid time off time to coworkers in need.

Company D focuses on resource conservation and have reduced their water and energy usage as well as significantly decreased the amount of paper and technology waste. Over the past few years the company has focused on measuring the impact of these solutions and plans to release a sustainability report in 2016.

For the community, the company focuses on supporting the Alzheimer’s Association. The company rallies its associates around the cause around the country. Both associates and residents participate in fundraising activities, including the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. In 2014 only, the company raised one million dollars in support of the association.

Company E

Company E is a healthcare company based in Nashville, TN, that focuses on improving healthcare in non-urban markets.

Company E does not have a foundation, but does provide contributions and sponsorships to local organizations through its corporate office. The company financially supports two national organizations, the American Heart Association and United Way.

Aside from company giving, the company recently implemented a volunteer paid time off policy for its employees. Each employee gets 2 days of paid time off to volunteer. Company E does not currently have a company matching program but is looking into it for future implementation.

Company F

Company F is a healthcare company based in Nashville, TN, that owns acute care hospitals as well as a behavioral hospital.

Company F has a foundation that provides healthcare services, supplies, and training to disadvantaged regions around the world. It also supports its communities where the company's hospitals are based and provides monetary assistance to its employees affected by natural disasters.

Company G

Company G is health benefit plan company dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles.

The company has moved from transactional relationships with organizations toward long-term partnerships. The company requires long-term partners to have a willingness to collaborate and the ability to make an impact, and to be good stewards of the resources it provides. The key giving arms include two foundations, corporate sponsorships, and employee volunteerism.

Foundation 1 (a 501(c)3 organization) places an emphasis on healthcare workforce needs, health disparities in at-risk populations, infant mortality, childhood obesity, and improving patient safety and quality

Foundation 2 (a 501(c)4 public welfare organization) supports access to care, supporting the uninsured, prevention and early detection of disease, disparities and diversity, and education and community investments.

Company G also supports communities across TN through sponsorships and donations.

The company also supports the communities throughout TN through an employee volunteer program. The company has implemented a policy which encourages staff to volunteer for organizations that address health and wellness issues. The organization provides a list of almost 400 approved agencies in TN from which employees can choose. To be an official part of the volunteer team, one must complete the company's annual volunteer survey, join its intranet community, and volunteer at least four hours at an organization per year.

Company H

Company H is nonprofit healthcare company focused on advancing the work of nonprofit organizations by providing health services to vulnerable populations in Middle TN.

Company H is another healthcare company that has shifted to a more strategic philanthropy approach focused on greater impact. It has six grant programs: advocacy, education, operations, specific programs, partnerships, and small organizations.

Company H also sponsors events that promote healthcare, enhance the education of healthcare providers, and/or that provide community education around health topics. The company also has an employee match program. For each employee, the organization has a 2 to 1 match up to $500.

The company also provides gifts to the following: programs for caregivers; award programs; the Center for Nonprofit Management to fund nonprofit strategic planning; and the Community Foundation to support nonprofit employee emergency needs

Company H does not have a formal volunteer policy, but allows employees to volunteer together or individually one day per quarter.

Company I

Company I is a global power leader that designs, manufactures, sells, and services diesel engines around the world. This company was nationally ranked in CSR by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Corporate responsibility is one of Company I's core values. It is focused on making responsible business decisions, helping its communities, and engaging its workforce in addressing community issues. The company takes a very strategic approach to CSR and ensures it is part of the culture at all its locations around the world. This company is focused on the following issues: education, environment, and social justice.

Company I takes a top-down bottom-up approach in which top leadership are extremely involved in the company’s CSR strategy, but they also listen to their CSR leaders on the ground level who are closer to the community and know its needs.

In the past few years, the company decided to move away from sponsorships and donations and towards larger impact grants and strategic employee involvement. Local business budgets can still opt to fund sponsorships, but the corporate office focuses on bigger impact.

The company's U.S. Foundation funds four grants:

The company supports community partners in the communities where it does business.
The Foundation matches on a 1-to-1 basis employee giving through the company’s annual United Way campaign.
Grants are given to employee projects, focused on water conservation or energy efficiency, that involve technology applications or the use of technical skills to solve environmental problems in the communities where it does business.
The Foundation funds architectural projects where the headquarters is located.

Company I also has an employee volunteer program. Each employee is given the opportunity to contribute at least 4 hours of volunteering on company time. Employees are allowed more volunteer time at the discretion of their manager. At each location, CSR leaders create a strategic plan on how best to utilize their employees’ strengths and skills for community good.

Company J

Company J is a healthcare company that serves the markets for health benefits and services worldwide. It was also nationally ranked in CSR by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Company J has two foundations that help people live healthier lives. The company also has an annual giving campaign in which the company matches employee contributions to organizations that improve health and wellness around the world. During the company's 2014 Giving Campaign, employee donations combined with the Foundation match totaled more than $20 million.

The company’s employee volunteer program was first created by analyzing its employees’ skills and volunteer needs. Then, the company created a strategic program that offered opportunities for all of its employees. Employees utilize VolunteerMatch to find volunteer opportunities and the company tracks their volunteer hours. For employees that volunteer 30 hours per year, the company donates $200 on behalf of the employee to the organization of their choice.

Additionally, employees engage in “micro-volunteering,” by solving challenges posted online by nonprofits around the world. Employees are able to dedicate short spurts of time during breaks, at lunch, or outside of work, allowing them the flexibility to donate their unique skillset.

Company K

Company K is a healthcare company based in Nashville, TN, focused on improving health and wellness in communities around the country.

The company's hospitals offer uncompensated care for those who qualify, serve as the largest generator of jobs in their local communities, sustain local municipalities by paying taxes, and support local residents through hosting health fairs, screenings, and educational programs. Additionally, the hospitals sponsor community events and volunteers with local programs.

Additionally, the company allocates funds from its annual operating budget for charitable contributions and sponsorships in the local community. The foundation matches donations from the company's corporate officers and occasionally matches employee gifts for specific fundraising campaigns.

Company K has a foundation which supports organizations focused on health and well being. The company also has an employee assistance fund, which includes both financial and other types of support based on need.

Company K does not have a formal employee paid time off policy or program. However, employees participate in volunteer projects with management support.

The company publishes a comprehensive sustainability report that discusses in depth its belief system, environmental initiatives including the energy efficiency of its buildings, water management and conservation, waste, equipment purchasing, medical device refurbishment, patient safety and satisfaction, employee safety and development, community engagement, employee volunteerism, etc.

Company L

Company L is a insurance company based in Michigan that has recently implemented a robust CSR program.

The company believes in a philosophy of “employee-led giving” and supports organizations about which employees care most. With a focus on organizations, programs, and events dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and the elderly, the company partners with organizations including Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Boys and Girls Club.

Company L allows employees one paid volunteer day a year, and in 2013, 350 employees from the company’s Nashville office alone completed over 1,500 hours of service. According to Independent Sector research (2013), a volunteer hour is worth $22.14, meaning the company donated over $33,210 in service.

The company offers employees a 2:1 match up to $10,000.

Company M

Company M is a healthcare company that owns and operates acute-care hopsitals and outpatient centers.

With a dormant foundation, Company M does most of its corporate giving through sponsorships and donations. It focuses on programs and initiatives that complement its business, such as the March of Dimes, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, etc.

The corporate office only gives to charities in places where its hospitals operate. Additionally, each company-owned hospital has its own community relations budget and the autonomy to support causes in its own community.

One initiative that the entire company does together is the American Heart Walk. Company M has the second largest heart walk team in the country with most of its hospitals participating at a local level. The company and its employees contribute to an annual campaign to raise awareness and funds to support the Association.

There is no formal matching gifts program for employees. Likewise, the corporate office participates in volunteer opportunities periodically but has no formal employee volunteer program with paid time off.

Company M has two employee assistance funds to support employees in need due to natural disasters, crises, etc.

Company N

Company N is a healthcare company that focuses on improving improving health in rural areas around the country.

Company N has a foundation that supports its hospital communities around the country. The company's corporate office also supports local nonprofits through sponsorships and donations, but does not currently have a formal structure in place.

The company informally participates in volunteer projects throughout the year, and does not have a volunteer paid time off policy.

The company supports its employees through an employee assistance fund to which both the foundation and employees contribute. There is no formal matching gifts program for employees.