Beyond cash – how are businesses giving back?

Companies are increasingly taking a proactive approach to supporting their communities, with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives now a core part of many business’ operations. Whether it be through investing time, resources or finances, companies offer a wealth of opportunities that charities can tap into. In DSC’s latest Guide to UK Company Giving, we explore the giving behaviours of over 400 companies. 

When you think of charitable support, cash donations likely come to mind. Monetary donations do play a significant part in corporate giving, however, determining exactly how much is given is challenging. Whilst many companies report their donations, the transparency and consistency of reporting vary greatly. However, what we do know is that, based on the available figures for 224 of the companies featured in our latest guide, they contributed more than £570 million in cash and in-kind donations across the UK.  

In-kind support makes up a significant portion of corporate giving, though it is often hard to quantify. In-kind contributions can include the donation of services, resources and employee-led initiatives. This type of support is invaluable as it offers charities access to resources they might not have otherwise. 

One of the most common ways for a company to give back is through employee-led support. This includes offering paid time off for volunteering, or matching employee fundraising efforts to maximise impact. In our latest guide, just under 70% of the companies reported supporting employee volunteering, with some offering up to three days of paid leave a year. Occasionally, where a company has a specific charity partner, employees are often encouraged to volunteer with them. In addition, nearly 25% of the companies in the guide reported having matched giving schemes and around 17% facilitated payroll giving, which allows employees to make donations to charitable causes straight from their salary. 

Another way in which companies can make an impact is by utilising their employees’ professional skills by providing pro bono services. This could be accountants providing business support, tech companies providing IT expertise or financial professionals offering free advice. Law firms are particularly known for offering this type of support. In fact, 100% of the law firms featured in our guide provide pro bono legal services. 

Companies can also contribute to charitable causes by offering resources, such as office space, products or services that directly benefit those in need. Product donations were a less common form of support among the companies in our guide. However, unsurprisingly, we found that nearly half of those providing these donations were manufacturers, including food, tech and clothing companies, and pharmaceutical companies. 

These examples highlight how the world of corporate giving extends far beyond cash donations, with businesses using a variety of initiatives to give back to their communities. It’s important to note that we could only assess data on in-kind support where it was reported, so it’s likely that many others are also engaged in these practices. Nevertheless, we hope this offers a valuable glimpse into the many ways companies make a positive impact. For even more insights into company giving, the latest edition of The Guide to UK Company Giving offers information on over 400 companies and 168 corporate grant-making charities. Check it out here.