July 24, 2019 | Read Time: 1 minute
Having a business presence in an area affected by a natural disaster is the factor that most often influences companies to get involved in relief efforts, according to a new study.
Fifty-nine percent of companies surveyed for the study said proximity to the disaster prompted their response, followed by 21 percent that said the human toll of the disaster made them want to help. To a lesser degree, the economic impact or conditions of the disaster pushed them.
The survey was published by the Conference Board, a membership-based think tank for corporations.
The study also said the American Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies were the most frequently cited corporate partners, at 30 percent combined. They were followed by Save the Children, Feeding America, CARE, and a few other well-known organizations.
Here are other highlights from the report:
- 66 percent of companies plan to update their disaster-response practices to handle multiple disasters in a short period of time. Researchers suggest this means corporations are embracing the idea that disasters will continue to be more frequent and potentially more damaging to the communities that house their companies.
- Just 11.6 percent of companies seek direction from local community foundations when looking to identify relief efforts.
- Companies are much less inclined to give to disaster preparedness. Their focus has typically been on cash gifts for relief, but some suggested that they want to invest more in preparedness.
- Although companies give to international humanitarian groups, 66 percent don’t give directly to foreign-based nonprofits.
- Just 3 percent of companies surveyed said seeing other companies get involved encouraged them to follow.
