CA’s Community Affairs Program It’s All About Partnerships

Tuesday, 08 September 2009 15:48

Corporate Philanthropy is about more than just money for CA’s Community Affairs Program, explains Anne Marie Agnelli who leads the philanthropic arm of the Long Island-based high technology giant.

“When we have major partnerships, we try to make it not only a financial contribution but also to involve our employees,” she says. “Employee Anne Marie Agnelli volunteerism at CA is a very important component of our overall citizenship program. We like them to get out and get to know and work with our nonprofit partners.”

This approach is particularly important locally. CA was founded on Long Island in 1976. “We are very fortunate that at our headquarters in Islandia, we have over 2,000 employees we can mobilize,” says Agnelli. “CA has been a part of New York for 30 years and, from both a financial and employee time and talent perspective, the company is very committed to supporting the community, whether it be on Long Island or in New York City. I think that shows in our work locally.

“Our main focus area is in the area of education -- improving the quality of education and access to education for underprivileged students,” she continues. “We are also involved in the areas of health and human services, as well as arts and culture.”

Agnelli can point to a host of partnerships with both community-based organizations through the region and local affiliates of national

organizations.

“One of our major partners is Boys and Girls Clubs of America. They do a lot of work in New York City and Long Island,” says Agnelli. “It is a $4.6 million, three-year commitment. Most of that is security software for clubs around the country but in addition, we do a number of volunteer programs with local chapters. Our CEO was also honored at the Boys and Girls Club of New York dinner.”

PENCIL, which matches corporate leaders with New York City public schools, offers an interesting perspective on how CA’s partnership with nonprofits can evolve.

“They got involved with us during the 2007-2008 school year,” says PENCIL CEO Michael Haberman.

“We adopted a school -- the Talented and Gifted School – in Manhattan,” says Agnelli.

“They brought a variety of people from the organization to get involved with the school,” says Haberman. “Their top sales people have been involved and so has their presIdent and COO Michael Christenson.”

Once CA had gotten to see the program in operation, the relationship moved to a new level. “We approached them about funding and they agreed to become one of our corporate underwriters,” says Haberman. “They understood what our programs were about because they had been involved. It is a great example of what corporate philanthropy can be all about.”

Earlier this year, the relationship expanded again when Christenson joined PENCIL’s board. “I just spent four hours with him this morning at a meeting of our finance committee,” says Haberman. “It’s a real commitment.”

YearUp, a program which helps at-risk students get their education and lives back on track, is another example. “We had three of our sales people go and talk to the kids. They got to learn about the program first hand and from there it has grown into a full partnership, including financial contributions,” says Agnelli.

Several other ongoing partnerships with local nonprofits have grown out of CA’s Together in Action program, which seeks volunteer opportunities for teams of employees during the month of October.

“We offer volunteer team projects around the world,” says Agnelli. “The idea is to get our employees at all levels – including our executive leadership -- out into the communities where we live and work. Our goal is to offer a wide array of opportunities. If employees are interested in hunger, the elderly, animals or children, we want to have opportunities that suit their interest.”

Agnelli points to ongoing relationships with groups like Island Harvest, Education and Assistance Corp, and Habitat for Humanity that have grown out of these initial volunteer engagements. “They were so successful that it just became clear we would need to increase our work with them,” she explains. “EAC is now one of our major partners on Long Island. With Habitat for Humanity, this year CA will actually be building its own house. Not only will we be paying for the house but our employees will be building it from start to finish.” In addition, CA has also just expanded its relationship with Habitat for Humanity to New York City where its employees recently participated in a build in the Bronx.

Agnelli is still open to proposals for new CA Together in Action volunteer opportunities this October. “We have about four opportunities in Manhattan and a number on Long Island but we are certainly looking for additional organizations that need volunteers.” (Send your volunteer opportunity proposals to annemarie.agnelli@ca.com.)

However, Agnelli cautions nonprofits not to expect that a volunteer relationship with CA will automatically lead to financial support. Despite giving away approximately $5.3 million globally each year, CA’s philanthropic budget is currently fully committed. And, says Agnelli, next year should be no different. “I expect our current partnerships to continue. I don’t want to waste nonprofits’ time preparing grant proposals,” she says.

Nevertheless, developing relationships with CA and its employees can be extremely valuable for organizations in need of committed volunteer support. “We offer employees three non-consecutive business days off to volunteer with a nonprofit that does not come out of their personal or vacation time,” says Agnelli.

CA employees who know your program also can leverage their contributions through a corporate matching program. “We match one-to-one up to $5,000 per year per employee,” says Agnelli.

And, once CA gets involved, you never know what can happen. “We always want to know who the nonprofits are that are doing good work,” says Agnelli.

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