Get Engaged with Companies That Care
Center for Companies That Care is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. By channeling the power of Chicagoland businesses to live their values and address tenacious social issues facing our communities today, we improve the lives of individuals, families and communities, and help ensure social sustainability. Our focus is on Education, Workforce Development and Literacy.
Center for Companies That Care, with our member companies, strives to:
- Increase college graduation rates for at-risk youth and people who have neurobehavioral and mental health disorders, and learning disabilities;
- Prepare underprivileged students for professional roles in the workforce;
- Promote full reading literacy by 3rd grade;
- Cultivate inclusive workplaces; and
- Expand the resources dedicated to these efforts.
What We Do
Center for Companies That Care supplements employers’ internal Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Resources efforts by making it easy for them to be socially responsible. Local employers become members of Center for Companies That Care in order to participate in impactful community initiatives, access resources and expertise, and to visibly demonstrate that they are a Company That Cares. Center for Companies That Care is uniquely positioned to ensure the needs of communities and businesses are both met.
Impactful Community Initiatives
To foster social sustainability, Center for Companies That Care has developed a variety of initiatives to help at-risk youth rise out of poverty, complete a college education, pursue careers, and give-back as citizens. These initiatives are tightly focused on helping to develop the workforce of the future by:
- Ensuring college completion for at-risk youth and people with neurobehavioral and mental health disorders, and learning disabilities
- Cultivating communication and professional skills
- Developing STEM skills
Businesses engage in the various community initiatives in a variety of ways, including leadership, financial support and direct service.
The icons located next to each program description show how an organization can engage with this initiative.
AIM High
AIM High is a long-term, structured, more-than-mentoring program dedicated to dramatically improving college graduation rates among underserved urban youth and preparing them for careers. Member companies commit to providing mentoring teams of 3-5 employees for each high school student in the program, starting in the 9th grade through college graduation.
Invisible Differences
Invisible Differences helps teens and young adults with neurobehavioral challenges, learning disabilities and mental health disorders complete their education and enter fulfilling careers. Family members, caregivers, schools and employers are also supported by the program.
Terrific Tales
Terrific Tales is an annual fundraising or book-raising initiative to put high quality classroom libraries in low-income schools. Reading, as well as being read to, is the building block of literacy.
March to College
March to College is an annual College Fair and 5K run/walk dedicated to increasing college graduation rates among at-risk youths and students with disabilities. Community members and K-12 students on field trips receive “College Bound” t-shirts, attend the only college fair in the country for K-12 students, and participate in a 5K run/walk.
Fast Track through College: A College Simulation
College Simulation is a fast-paced, interactive, competitive workshop that prepares high school seniors for the social, financial and academic realities of college. In half a day, students experience many of the situations and challenges they will encounter during college and participate in a comprehensive debrief led by college-age facilitators.
Summer Stretch & STEM Institute
In response to summer learning loss, Summer Stretch & STEM Institute is a summer enrichment program for at-risk teens and college students. Students complete courses and receive certificates in STEM topics, professional skills, college readiness, and Microsoft Office. Students are also offered academic classes for college credit and Career Awareness internships.
Resources and Expertise
Center for Companies That Care helps each member be a Company That Cares by providing a variety of resources and expertise, including:
Executive Leadership Forum
A networking opportunity for executives (VP and above) of member companies to discuss relevant business issues and benefit from the expertise and advice from like-minded, socially responsible executives.
Educational Programs
Line managers, Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility professionals at member companies are offered a variety of educational seminars, including:
- Best Practices Roadshow
- Stepping Stones Seminar Series
- Poverty Simulation (for line managers)
- Annual Community Leadership Symposium
Consulting Services
Center for Companies That Care has seasoned consulting staff with decades of experience consulting to businesses. Our services focus on designing and implementing social responsibility initiatives and building a culture in which employees thrive. Member companies utilize our expertise for their unique situation and challenges, all at nonprofit rates.
Employee Survey
This online survey assesses employee attitudes about the organization’s culture and internal and external practices as a company that cares The results can be a launching pad for a company’s ongoing corporate social responsibility and employee engagement efforts.
Employee Benefits
Employees of member companies and their children may be eligible to participate in our community initiatives. Employees who have or whose children have neurobehavioral challenges, mental health disorders or learning disabilities may receive services from Invisible Differences. At-risk children of employees may receive services from AIM High.
Services for your underprivileged youth
Member companies who support underprivileged youth through non-Companies That Care programs (such as a partnership with a school) may include their at-risk students in Companies That Care events such as March to College and the College Simulation. Center for Companies That Care will also Track Outcomes for all youth who participate in Companies That Care initiatives.
Visibly Demonstrate Values
Member companies are driven by their values to care about their community and their employees. Center for Companies That Care publicly validates that the employer aligns its actions with its values by providing:
Company That Cares Seal
The Company That Cares Seal can be used in your daily internal emails, external marketing materials, and other business communications to convey that your organization is a company that cares to employees, customers, suppliers and all your stakeholders.
Named Sponsor of Programs and Events
Membership includes being named as a sponsor for many of our events and programs. This enables your organization to demonstrate support with and receive appropriate recognition for your organization.
Publicized Best Practices
We create visibility for socially responsible practices utilized by member companies by listing them on our website and driving other member companies to our website.
Recognized on Companies That Care Day
We promote member companies as a “Company That Cares” on our annual recognition day.
Our Impact
By leveraging the synergies of like-minded organizations, Center for Companies That Care’s turnkey community initiatives help member companies create greater community impact, enhance employee engagement, and develop a diverse talent pipeline for the future. We measure our impact in two ways:
- College Graduation: In 2006, according to the University of Chicago, less than 6% of Chicago Public School students graduated from a four-year college by the time they reached 25. Today, 100% of the AIM High students are persisting in college.
- Employer Engagement: In 2002, when Center for Companies That Care opened its doors, we served 6 companies. Today, we serve more than 50 companies who together have more than 300,000 employees.
Center for Companies That Care is changing the trajectory and improving the lives of individuals and families every day.
Membership
We all have an active role to play in building and sustaining Chicagoland. Data has shown that those employers that are involved in their communities and highly value their employees have greater employee engagement and superior business results. Employers who are looking to take their business to the next level should join Center for Companies That Care.
Companies That Care members believe:
- Employers must participate in solving social problems
- Creating value for society goes hand in hand with creating value for stakeholders
- Success should be measured by more than profits
- Corporate culture should value employees and support community involvement
Value to Members
Center for Companies That Care understands how to develop impactful community initiatives without sacrificing business priorities. Through their membership, employers can:
Enable Social Responsibility
Whether your business is already socially responsible or aspires to be, Companies That Care’s staff has the expertise to support and expand your efforts to take you to the next level. Companies That Care helps you save money and time by doing all the legwork for you, while still achieving your social responsibility goals.
Build the Future Workforce
Most jobs require a college degree, but currently, only 3% of minorities are graduating from college. The talent pipeline is not diverse. Companies That Care’s community initiatives are focused on increasing college graduation rates among minorities and people with neurobehavioral and learning disabilities, and preparing them to be highly productive employees. Center for Companies That Care is the rare nonprofit that follows at-risk students through college graduation.
Act with Impact
Members participate in proven community initiatives that both simplify and amplify their community impact. Companies That Care measures outcomes for you, which enables businesses to know their ROI and be recognized for it.
Enhance Network Effect
Collaborative efforts accomplish more than individual companies can accomplish on their own, which generates enthusiasm and pride among employees. Connections among like-minded employers serve business goals as well.
Walk the Walk
Membership is a visible reinforcement of the organizations’ values and brands businesses as a Company That Cares about its community and employees. Both employees and customers want to work with businesses that care about more than just profits.
Membership Benefits
Membership benefits are designed to make it easy for businesses to participate in community initiatives, develop their corporate social responsibility efforts, and provide an employee-centric culture, while being recognized as a Company That Cares. There are three levels of membership: Partner, Steward and Luminary.
Each membership level offers benefits in the following categories:
- Community Initiatives and Volunteer Opportunities
- Resources and Expertise
- Visibility and Branding
Employers select their level of membership based on the benefits that are valuable to them. Membership Benefits include:
Community Initiatives and Volunteer Opportunities
Guest mentors at AIM High Touchpoint Event
AIM High teams
Terrific Tales
Guide youth through March to College Fair
Bring underserved students to March to College Fair
Runners participate in March to College 5K
Career Awareness Internship location during Summer Stretch & STEM Institute
Host students for Job Shadowing Day
Conduct board member training and place executives on non-profit boards
Bring at-risk college-bound Seniors to College Simulation
Train to be Peer Mentors and/or College Coaches for Students with Invisible Differences
Resources and Expertise
Consulting Services
Tickets to annual Community Symposium
Executive Leadership Forum (Tickets)
Employee Engagement Survey
Management Presentation
Employee Benefits
• Invisible Differences Parent Resource Group
• College counseling for employees’ children with Invisible Differences
• Transitions to College workshop for employees whose children have Invisible Differences
• Resource and Referral for parents of children with Invisible Differences
• Job and/or College Coach for employees with Invisible Differences
• College Simulation for employees’ college-bound children
Track outcomes through college for “your” at-risk youth
Visibility
Companies That Care seal for website and print materials
Best practices listed on Companies That Care website
Recognized as Sponsor for Program and/or Event
Recognized on Companies That Care Day
Featured case study in press materials/interviews
This chart shows the specific benefits at each membership level.