Workplace giving experienced a resurgence in Australia and New Zealand last year, with almost $237 million donated to the community after a major slump in 2012.
The LBG Annual Benchmark Review, now in its eighth year, found a total of $236,668,759 was donated by its members in 2013 – an increase of 16% on the $203,891,926 given the previous year.
However, it is still lower than the figure recorded in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Members of LBG Australia and New Zealand are part of a global network of companies that use an international standard for measuring corporate community investment. Local members include some of Australia’s largest banks, retailers and football clubs.
The report found the average contribution per employee last year was $420 – up from $354 in 2012. The majority of members – 30% – supported causes related to education and young people, while 19% donated to social welfare causes and 17% to health causes.
Economic development and the environment was supported by 6% of employees each, while 4% supported arts and culture and 2% supported emergency relief.
The report noted that the education and youth sectors had represented the largest proportion of contributions across all reporting years, while the decrease in contributions towards health had resulted in its lowest level as a percentage of the total reported since 2007.
A total of 56% of members contributed through community investment, 27% through charitable donations and 17% through commercial initiatives. Members on average contributed 0.59% of pre-tax profit to the community last year and 0.09% of their total revenue.
"Community contributions as a percentage of profit and revenue both increased [in 2013], bucking the downward trend of the previous three years," the review said.
"This is despite actual revenue and profit totals both dropping [in 2013].
"The average ‘contribution per employee’ also increased, with the highest figure reported since LBG started in the region, with the exception of 2009 which saw a huge spike due to the Victorian bushfires."
The average employee contribution coinciding with Black Saturday in 2009 was $653.
In terms of sectors, the retail and wholesale sector made up the largest proportion of contributions with a total of 37%. "This is a remarkable shift in trends as the financial services sector has historically made up the largest proportion of contributions," the report said.
The report found the number of employees who volunteered increased last year but the number of hours they contributed was less than the previous year.
"More people gave less time with the average number of hours given per employee volunteer dropping from 16 to 14," it said.
"Volunteering remains the most significant opportunity for companies to increase their community contributions."
The review found the impacts of community initiatives on businesses included increased customer awareness, improved retention, positive media coverage, improved relationships with governments and regulators, increased brand profile and improved employee satisfaction.
For employees, the benefits included positive behavioural change, improved personal effectiveness and increased job skills, it found.
