Use this resource to understand the "ROI" for corporate civic engagement and make the case for your company's investment in democracy — be it sharing election resources, encouraging participation, offering paid time to work at the polls, or other ways to engage.
Corporate Civic Engagement describes "How a company empowers people to participate in shaping the affairs of their community and nation through the democratic process. These company policies, practices, and communications—whether for employees or external audiences, and whether to encourage education or action—are conducted without regard to political party, platform, candidate, or outcome" (Civic Alliance).
You can also think of this concept as "Corporate Civic Responsibility (CCR)" — a dimension of the field of Corporate Social Responsibility: "At the core of CCR is the idea that civic health is vital to our future, just like our natural resources. In the same way that our communities need clean water to thrive, they also need politics to function well and allow them to implement public choices on important issues. So when a business seeks to improve the workings of politics itself, it is helping to preserve a vital public resource. This is civic engagement of the best possible kind. It is not about businesses using their political power to advance corporate interests; it is about businesses working with their employees, customers, and community stakeholders to strengthen our democracy." (Business For America).
Compared to a couple election cycles ago, companies will play a much bigger role in encouraging participation and providing resources to employees and customers.
As just one example, the membership of Time To Vote (an initiative to ensure workers have paid time to vote) grew by 400% since its founding in 2018 and now includes over 2000 companies.
Why are so many companies getting involved in democracy — be it sharing election resources, encouraging participation, offering paid time to work at the polls, or other ways to engage?
Businesses benefit from a stable economy and strong public institutions. 81% of business leaders think that businesses should act to protect democracy and ensure safe and fair elections, according to Morning Consult. The Civic Alliance finds its member companies outperformed their peers on the S&P 500, suggesting positive investor and market response to companies engaging on democracy issues.
It’s well established that Gen Z and Millennials prioritize social impact, and civic participation is no exception. Employees are looking to their employers for resources that help them get involved in their communities – and they want companies to walk the walk with actionable steps, not merely pay lip service. BIPAC’s latest survey finds a rise in demand among younger employees for election information.
Companies realize they can have an outsized impact on voter participation. While trust in institutions like media and government wanes, employers consistently rank highest on trust indexes. Unlike political campaigns, which target the voters most likely to vote for their candidate, companies reach broad audiences of less likely voters – like young people and historically disenfranchised groups. Companies also have built-in channels for communicating with employees, so they can break through the noise with encouragement and information.
Companies are drawing clear connections from democracy to their broader mission. For example, companies that care about sustainability know the impact of environmental policy and leadership on those efforts. Civic participation also positively impacts physical and mental health, making it a no-brainer for healthcare and wellness companies..
We've compiled some of the most compelling frames for getting your company involved in democracy. Select the ones that make the most sense for your leadership and broader mission.
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We partner with businesses, nonprofits and colleges to run evidence-based engagement programs that help people navigate voting and build civic habits.
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About Us
We partner with businesses, nonprofits and colleges to run evidence-based engagement programs that help people navigate voting and build civic habits.
Get In Touch
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