Awards Recognize Outstanding Corporate Social Investment
Deadline: October 3, 2007
The Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy is accepting applications for the Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Awards, which are presented annually to companies demonstrating outstanding CEO leadership, innovation, dedication to measurement, and partnership in corporate philanthropy. The awards are presented to two corporations - one in the large company category (revenues exceeding $3 billion) and one in the small company category (revenues of $3 billion or less).
In addition, the Directors Award recognizes a nonprofit organization that has distinguished itself by building an effective partnership with a company in its community.
Here are some suggestions to ensure your CECP Excellence Award submission shines:
* Show concrete evidence of the impact your company has achieved. Financial investment and volunteerism hours are just the beginning. Proof of social change is a critical ingredient in a winning application.
* Describe the investment of company skills and resources that leverages the organization's specialized capabilities and relationships.
* Explain strategies that sustain commitment to the issue. Show how the program undergoes a continuous cycle of work, measurement, stakeholder feedback, and improvement.
* Detail clearly how philanthropy is integrated across your organization, discussing its role in areas such as overall business strategy, new product and market development, R&D, human resources, corporate reputation, and government relations.
* Highlight innovative solutions to daunting problems. Show that your company has found a better way to meet community needs.
* Demonstrate authentic CEO engagement beyond speeches and board positions to tangible leadership on the issue.
* Answer every question and craft responses that directly answer each question instead of relying on recycled message points.
* Use an experienced writer to convey your message eloquently. Underscore authentic activities and outcomes, humanize results where possible, and clearly describe how your company's social investment resonates with its values, products, practices, and goals.
Related Resources:
Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy
Corporate Award application
Nonprofit Award application
