Employer contributions for volunteerism

Shipmates,

Many large employers, and some small ones, contribute money to charitable organizations based on the volunteer hours contributed by their employees. My employer, Symantec, has a program that gives $15/hr. up to $1,000 per year. A thousand dollars can go a long way to assist with Flotilla programs.

These programs allow the companies to support employee efforts, align their giving with employee interests, and encourage employee volunteerism. There are a number of studies that show the value of volunteering in terms of health, well being, opportunities for skill development, and opportunities for leadership development -- all of which are good for employers and employees. These benefits are fairly cheap for employers since the contributions are tax deductible.

I encourage each of you still in the workforce to explore your company policy on contributions related to your volunteer activity. Your HR team is a great place to start. If you work for a company without a program it may be worth talking to your employer.

Thank you for your service,

Daren

Here is a list of some companies that have "Dollars for Doers" programs:

• AAA of CA, NV, UT
• Adobe Systems Inc.
• Advanced Micro Devices
• American Electric Power
• Aetna
• Allstate
• Altria
• American Century
• American Express
• Ameritech
• AMP, Inc.
• ARAMARK
• Aspect Telecomm
• AT&T Wireless
• Bank of America
• Bank of Tokyo-Mistubishi, Ltd.
• Baxter Allegiance
• Bay Networks Inc./Nortel
• Becton Dickinson
• BellSouth
• Binney and Smith, Inc.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Boeing Company
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• BP
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions
• Bristol-Myers Squibb
• Butler Manufacturing
• C & S Wholesalers Campbell Soup
• Cargill
• Champion International
• Charles-Schwab
• Chase
• Chevron Texaco
• Chicago Tribune
• Cinergy Foundation
• Cisco Systems
• Citigroup
• Clorox
• ConocoPhillips
• Cooper Industries
• CUNA Mutual Group
• CVS/pharmacy
• Dayton-Hudson
• Deluxe Corp
• Dreyer’s Ice Cream
• Duke Energy
• Eastman Kodak
• Easton Corp.
• Eat N Park Hospitality
• Eli Lily Company
• ExxonMobil
• Fannie Mae
• Federated Department Stores
• Fireman’s Fund
• First Union Corp
• FMC Technologies
• Freddie Mac Foundation
• GA Natural Gas
• Gap
• GEICO
• General Motors
• Genzyme Corp.
• Gillette
• GTECH
• Guidant Foundation
• Halliburton
• HB Fuller
• Hoffman LaRoche
• Honeywell Aerospace
• Hospital Corporation of America, Inc.
• HSBC NA
• IBM
• ING
• International Paper
• JCPenney
• JM Family Enterprises
• Jostens Company
• JP Morgan Chase
• Kimberly-Clark
• Kindmark
• Kodak
• KPMG
• Land O’ Lakes
• LBG Associates
• LCRA Energy
• Levi-Strauss
• Lincoln Financial Group
• Marathon Ashland
• Maritime Life
• Mastercard
• Mattel
• McCormick
• McGraw-Hill
• Mead
• Medtronic, Inc.
• Memorial Healthcare System
• Mercury Marine
• MGM Mirage Voice
• Microsoft
• Millimore Foundation
• Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance
• Mobil Oil
• Monsanto Company
• MONY
• Morgan Stanley
• Motorola
• National Semiconductor Corp.
• New York Life Insurance
• Nike
• Northwestern Energy
• People Energy Corp
• PepsiCo
• Pfizer
• Pillsbury
• Pioneer Investments
• Pitney Bowes
• PNC Financial Services Group
• Portland General Electric
• PPG Industries Foundation
• Prevea Health Care
• Procter and Gamble
• Providian Financial
• Prudential
• PSE & G
• Quaker Foods
• Qwest
• RR Donnelley and Sons
• Readers Digest Foundation
• Reliant Energy
• Reliastar Financial Corp.
• Residential Peoples Energy
• Reynolds & Reynolds
• Rodel
• Rohm and Haas Company
• Rouse Company
• Safeco Insurance
• Sallie Mae
• Sam’s Club
• SC Johnson
• Shell Oil Company Foundation
• Siemens
• Sprint
• StanCorp Financial
• Standard Insurance
• Starbucks
• State Farm Insurance
• St. Paul Travelers
• Sun Microsystems
• Symantec Corp
• The Star Tribune
• TGS Nopec
• 3M
• T. Rowe Price
• TELUS
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
• Timberland, Inc.
• Time Warner
• Tyco
• United Defense
• UNUM Corp.
• Verizon
• Virginia Power/North Carolina Power
• Wachovia
• Wal-Mart
• Walt Disney
• Washington Mutual
• Weyerhauser Co.
• Whirlpool
• Wisconsin Public Service Corp.
• World Bank Group
• Zebco/Motorguide Corp