The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Corporate Volunteer Council Transition to the Chamber

With support from the Philadelphia Foundation, the Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia Corporate Volunteer Council celebrate regional CSR impact and achievements

For Immediate Release:  January 24, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Today, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia (the Chamber) and the Philadelphia Foundation announced that the Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Corporate Volunteer Council (GPCVC) will transition to be led by the Chamber through its foundation. The Philadelphia Foundation will continue to be a lead sponsor while housing the Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia at the Chamber. This strategic change will empower Greater Philadelphia’s business community and allow these initiatives to grow to their fullest potential.

“The Chamber is well positioned to support, sustain and grow the Civic 50 by providing tools and data resources for Greater Philadelphia’s business community to advance their work in corporate social responsibility, creating a greater impact for participating organizations and the community at-large,” said Chellie Cameron, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber.

The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia recognizes civic-minded businesses that are using time, talent and resources to drive social impact in their communities. This regional initiative is an outgrowth of the national Civic 50, led by globally recognized nonprofit Points of Light.

The GPCVC is a community of practitioners in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) space representing the City of Philadelphia, six regional chambers of commerce and local higher education institutions. Through the GPCVC, CSR leaders convene to leverage their organizations’ programs and initiatives and amplify regional engagement opportunities.

“I’m proud of the leadership role the Philadelphia Foundation played in bringing the GPCVC and Civic 50 to Greater Philadelphia,” stated Pedro A. Ramos, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Foundation .  “This initiative showcases how local companies of all sizes are moving social impact, civic engagement and community to the center of their business.  The Philadelphia Foundation recognizes the important role the business community plays in the health and well-being of our community overall and we are excited by the potential for this program to grow at the chamber.”

Since 2011, The Civic 50 has provided a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and has showcased how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to drive social impact in their business and community. The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia looks at an organization’s volunteerism, monetary contributions, in-kind goods and services, and public leadership and advocacy to evaluate and benchmark the community impact of local organizations.

“Philadelphia Foundation and our partners have invested three years in launching, incubating and growing two successful initiatives for our region, the Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia and the GPCVC,” said Diane Melley, Former IBM VP Global Citizenship Initiatives. “With a 35% increase in participation and adoption of the data-driven Civic 50 framework year over year, the Civic 50 movement has deep roots while continually gaining momentum and is well positioned for future growth. ”

The Civic 50 Greater Philadelphia will begin accepting submissions in March. Participating organizations can be ranked among the top 50 civic-oriented businesses in the region. The no-cost Civic 50 self-assessment and benchmarking tool gives participants key insights into their own community engagement efforts, along with a deeper understanding of how these activities align with best practices in the field and those undertaken by similar organizations.

###

About the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia

The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia works together with members, investors, and stakeholders, to realize our bold vision: Greater Philadelphia is a top global destination for business and a leader in inclusive growth. As the metro-regional chamber of commerce serving the 11-county, tri-state Greater Philadelphia region, we are the premier organization to convene and connect business, government and civic leaders to drive economic growth and prosperity for all.  The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s Regional Foundation was created to support the educational, cultural and economic development of the Greater Philadelphia Region.

About Philadelphia Foundation

Founded in 1918, Philadelphia Foundation strengthens the economic, social and civic vitality of Greater Philadelphia. Philadelphia Foundation grows effective philanthropic investment, connects individuals and institutions across sectors and geography, and advances civic initiatives through partnerships and collaboration. A publicly supported foundation, the Philadelphia Foundation manages more than 1,000 charitable funds established by its donors and makes over 1,000 grants and scholarship awards each year. To learn more visit www.philafound.org.