Press Release

For Further Information
Cheryl Kiser
kiserch@bc.edu
617/552-8948
617/552-4545

October 3, 2000

Small Companies Say Corporate Citizenship Good for Business
But Many Don't Invest in Their Communities

Half of manufacturing executives say corporate citizenship will become more important in the next three to five years and 95 percent agree that a positive reputation in the community will help them achieve business objectives, according to a joint survey of small companies.

The survey by the Boston College Center for Corporate Community Relations and Industry Week magazine looked at executive attitudes toward the responsibility of companies to serve their communities in philanthropic ways.

Survey respondents agree that companies should organize volunteer programs, give grants to nonprofit organizations, and help to solve society's problems. Despite their good intentions, however, some 70 percent of survey respondents admit they fail to consider community goals in business unit plans.

"The public’s expectations of corporate behavior has changed, but business is not necessarily keeping up," said Steve Rochlin, director of research and policy development at the Center for Corporate Community Relations. "Those companies that do invest in building relationships with the community find they are less vulnerable to things like labor unrest and regulatory snafus."

The survey queried 255 high-level business executives. Over 85% of respondents employ fewer than 500 people, and 15% employ more than 500.

For more information about the Corporate Citizenship survey, please contact Cheryl Kiser at The Center.

The Boston College Center for Corporate Community Relations is an international membership organization that provides research, executive education, consultation and convenings on issues of corporate citizenship.