We’re excited to share innovations, opinions & and happenings from across the civic engagement ecosystem. This is a guest post by the Civic Alliance.

 

Our democracy is only as strong as our commitment to participate in it. And at the Civic Alliance, we believe that businesses have a unique opportunity to use their platforms and influence to educate, activate, and inspire Americans to participate. 

According to the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer, business is once again reported as the most trusted institution in our society today – ahead of nonprofit organizations, government, and the media.

And with 74% of respondents in the U.S. saying that they trust their own employer, the relationship between businesses and their employees is incredibly powerful and more important than ever. 

 

 

 

With this trust as a foundation, the Civic Alliance activates corporate America year-round to create a dynamic culture of civic participation.

The Civic Alliance’s first-of-its-kind resource, the Corporate Civic Playbook, outlines why democracy is good for business.

And research shows that Civic Alliance members involved in civic engagement had 6.5% higher gross margins, over 2% revenue growth higher than their peers, and the Price/ Book Value was 6x higher than the rest of the S&P 500.

So not only does corporate civic engagement enhance a company’s performance and rewards its investors, it creates purpose and deepens employee engagement, drives brand and customer loyalty, and supports and builds equitable communities. 

 

Businesses really do have the power to motivate voters to get out and make their voices heard.

The key is to start with creating a plan that removes barriers to voting. The Corporate Civic Playbook serves as a helpful guide for businesses to follow when starting civic efforts or assessing their existing civic engagement plans.

Companies can start with providing time off to vote – a common obstacle employees face during election season.

This can look different for each company, but whether you’re offering the full day off, flexible civic hours, or a no meetings day, it’s a simple way to encourage civic participation internally.

And incorporating civic tools, like Motivote, into your engagement plan that provide accurate, nonpartisan information is a great way to educate and inspire your audiences to make a plan to get out and vote. 

As we know, and are continually reminded, a prosperous and peaceful civic landscape is where businesses thrive – meaning that businesses have a unique interest in creating a healthy democracy where everyone gets the chance to participate. 

The Civic Alliance encourages companies to consider these benefits and opportunities, and  their employees and audiences in this year’s midterm elections. The Civic Alliance is free to join, and offers the tools and resources companies may need to build civic programs.

 

About the Civic Alliance 

The Civic Alliance is America’s premier nonpartisan coalition of businesses united by a commitment to our democracy, which we believe depends upon active participation in safe, accessible, and trusted elections. Founded by Democracy Works and the CAA Foundation, the Civic Alliance supports its member companies as they inspire their employees and consumers to engage in civic life and their communities. Join us at civicalliance.com. 

The Civic Alliance, whose 1,250 member companies include Microsoft, the NBA, Starbucks, and The Estée Lauder Companies, was created in 2020 to provide guidance and strategy to companies looking to strengthen our democracy in nonpartisan ways. Following an election that saw unprecedented corporate civic engagement – and record voter turnout – the Civic Alliance created the Corporate Civic Playbook to offer concrete tips for corporate civic engagement and proof of how it can enhance a company’s culture, business strategy, and bottom line.Â