The majority of leading U.S. corporations publicly disclose their citizenship activities, yet there is a significant number that do not. Furthermore, those that do report could enhance the quality of their reporting. These findings are part of a recent study by The Conference Board, which delves into who is reporting, the significance of such reporting and strategies for enhancing what is reported.

According to a press release issued by The Conference Board, the study titled "Current Practices in Measuring and Reporting on Corporate Citizenship," reveals that 98% of the top 100 U.S. companies report on their charitable contributions. Just over 60% of companies listed on the S&P 500 index report on charitable contributions, while only 25% on the Russell 3000 index do so. Among the activities most frequently included in corporate reports are disaster response (66%), racial equality (65%), local community needs (60%), and education (46%).

Despite robust corporate citizenship reporting, many corporations aim to improve their practices, according to The Conference Board's press release. The study cites a survey of corporate citizenship executives revealing that only 40% are satisfied with their current reporting methods and an overwhelming 81% anticipate reporting to become more challenging in future.

The Conference Board's press release also indicates areas where corporations can make improvements. Over half of top firms report on the "outputs" of their activities, such as the number of people served, but only 21% report on outcomes. Return on investment (ROI) receives even less attention with a mere 3% of companies reporting on it. The Conference Board emphasized in its press release that "reporting on outcomes and ROI can both help to assess the effectiveness of programs while building support among key constituencies like boards, senior management, and investors."