CORPORATIONS/FOUNDATIONS

CONTENTS:

• Fortune -- Corporate Responsibility Survey
• The Myth of CSR -- Stanford Social Innovation Review
• Timberland -- Funding for Alternative Energy Resources
• PND News -- Hurricane Relief

FORTUNE -- CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SURVEY

Fortune's 2005 Accountability Rating list is out, ranking the Fortune 100 by their effectiveness as managers of corporate social-responsibility issues. The accountability rating doesn't look at social, environmental or ethical impact, but at whether a company's management is accountable for its actions. It shouldn't be read as an index of how much "good" the company does. Without that understanding, a company's place on this list might be misinterpreted.

If it's surprising that oil and chemical companies have the highest average rating of all industry groups, it's because (in the case of No. 1 ranked BP), the company's in-depth, candid reporting wins points for accountability. Even though unrelated to this survey, it should be mentioned that BP has increased its contribution to $10 million for relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina and will provide the state of Louisiana with 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/global500/accountability

THE MYTH OF CSR -- STANFORD SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW

According to author Deborah Doane, the problem with assuming that companies can do well while also doing good is that markets don't really work that way. There are serious limitations that the market imposes on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives. In addition, legal obligations of corporations to their shareholders may restrict CSR's potential to help solve social and environmental problems.

http://www.ssireview.com/

TIMBERLAND

Timberland's grant program focuses on two areas: environmental responsibility and volunteerism. The company is committed to supporting organizations that are actively engaged with the ecosystem and those that work to increase the understanding of environmental sustainability -- primarily those whose innovative practices support the exploration and development of alternative energy resources. Cheers for Timberland!

http://www.timberland.com/timberlandserve/content.jsp?
pageName=timberlandserve_inform_community_investments_guidelines

PND NEWS -- HURRICANE RELIEF

The Foundation Center is keeping a running tally of contributions to hurricane disaster relief. Foundation and corporate donors are listed separately. For related news articles and a list of organizations providing assistance, look for links in the right margin.

http://www.fdncenter.org/pnd/hurricane/foundations.jhtml

http://www.fdncenter.org/pnd/hurricane/corporations.jhtml

Beverly Goodwin

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