Allstate: A Force for Good by Strengthening Communities

Large companies have the power and reach to touch the lives of the people they serve. The company’s employees, associates and partners can strive to make communities stronger by giving their time and resources to support causes and organizations.

On that point, Allstate recently issued its latest Sustainability Report, which highlights the company’s achievements in various areas, including its efforts to build strong communities. According to the company, Allstate employees and agents can use its various community platforms to support people in times of need and empower communities and nonprofits that serve them.

Local Involvement

Allstate says it is committed to leading from the front in local communities. The company’s philanthropic efforts and charitable grants, insists the writers of this report, help foster a culture of caring. Allstate and its foundation’s community programs are touted as offering employees, agents and financial specialists the opportunities to give back and work with organizations that address causes that are close to their heart.

The company claims it also empowers agency owners by providing rewarding opportunities to own a small business, while extending them professional support to enable them succeed as trusted neighborhood leaders.

Philanthropic Support

During 2017, Allstate reportedly distributed more than $41 million to communities. These funds are aimed at supporting strategic initiatives such as the Allstate Officer Nonprofit Board Program and the Helping Hands employee volunteer program.

In 2017, the company’s employees and agency owners and staff together raised $7.3 million as part of the Allstate Giving Campaign. For every dollar donated, the company says it was matched with $0.15 donation and contributed an additional five cents to local United Way organizations. The 2017 Giving Campaign donations were distributed to over 8,000 nonprofits across the country.

Volunteerism

The report also reviews Allstate’s Helping Hands volunteer program, which involves an employee network of 114 committees. Allstate says that local volunteer leaders work with co-workers and community partners to find meaningful opportunities to give back. In 2017, the company’s employees and agency owners reported 258,800 hours of community service.

Allstate also insists that the company helps position agency owners as local leaders and provides programs and resources to enable them engage with communities around empowering youth, financially empowering survivors of domestic violence, volunteerism, disaster preparedness and safe driving.

Allstate concluded that during 2017, more than 8,000 agency owners leveraged local presence programming, and reported a 72 percent satisfaction rate with the effectiveness of the tools, resources and programs provided by the company.

Strengthening the Nonprofit Community

Allstate also explains in this report that not only does the company support its nonprofit partners in the community financially, but also lends expertise and creativity. The company believes that giving time and talent is as impactful as donating money, with the result that it helps create opportunities for employees to foster deeper connections within local neighborhoods.

Through the Allstate Officer Nonprofit Board Program, the company says it supports various officers join the boards of nonprofits that are engaged in work that advances the company’s social impact areas. In 2017, 78 officers from the company served on the boards of 96 organizations.

Furthermore, Allstate officers personally support these organizations with their skills, expertise, time and charitable giving. In addition, the company says it diverts part of its philanthropic funds to these various nonprofits and community foundations.

“We believe sustainable businesses create profits, provide meaningful work for employees and are a force for good in their local communities,” said Tom Wilson, Allstate’s Chairman, President and CEO in his letter to stakeholder. “These responsibilities, embedded in Our Shared Purpose, serve as guideposts throughout the organization,” he said.

Image credit: Allstate