The Business of Giving

Corporate contributions to charity rose 13% in 1996, to $2.3 billion, according to a national survey of 289 large and mid-size manufacturing and service companies by the Conference Board, a New York-based business research organization. Comparing the 196 companies that responded to surveys in 1995 and 1996, the Conference Board found their contributions increased 31%, to $1.8 billion, in 1996. The percentage of pretax income going to charity was 0.7%, unchanged from 1994. The growth in contributions has kept pace with growth in corporate profits, the group said.