Module 13: The Community and the Corporation

Community

A business organization's local physical or operational area of influence[cite: 14, 15, 21].

Virtual Community

Online social media networks, followers, and digital consumers connected to a business[cite: 14, 15, 21].

Site Community

The immediate geographic location hosting a company's physical plant, offices, or facilities[cite: 14, 15, 21].

Fence-line Community

The immediate residential neighbors bordering a corporate physical facility[cite: 14, 15, 21].

Social Capital

The social networks, norms, and mutual trust that enable collective civic action and enhance community quality of life[cite: 14, 15, 21].

Community Relations Department

Corporate unit organizing employee volunteerism, local giving, stakeholder engagement, and community programs[cite: 14, 15, 21].

Four Community Concerns Addressed

Local economic development, neighborhood housing, support for minority/women enterprises, and disaster relief[cite: 14, 15, 21].

Corporate Philanthropy

Voluntary and unconditional gifts of cash, products, or service time by private businesses for public causes[cite: 15, 32].

10 Percent US Tax Rule

Federal tax law permitting companies to deduct charitable contributions up to 10% of pre-tax income[cite: 32].

Skills-Based Volunteerism

Matching specialized professional skills of corporate employees directly to community organizational needs[cite: 32].

Strategic Philanthropy

Directly aligning corporate charitable contributions with business strategies, core values, and competencies[cite: 32].

Return on Social Investment Metrics

Evaluating philanthropic inputs (resources), outputs (activity count), impacts (societal benefit), and value creation (business gains)[cite: 32].

Collaborative Partnerships

Cross-sector voluntary agreements between businesses, public agencies, and non-profits to solve complex social problems[cite: 32].