Introduction
1.1 Background to project
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs commissioned the Centre for Corporate Public Affairs to undertake research into the impact of the current economic downturn (2008-2009) on corporate community investment.
This follows three major Centre research projects on corporate community investment and community business partnerships in Australia (
Corporate Community Involvement: Establishing a Business Case 2000;
Corporate Community Investment in Australia 2007;
Relationship Matters: not-for-profit community organisations and corporate community investment 2008).
1.2 Project objectives
Our analysis focuses on how the economic downturn has impacted, or is likely to impact, corporate approaches to community investment, including relationships with not-for-profit (NFP) organisations.
This includes the nature and quantum of community investment budgets, the nature of support (cash, in-kind, volunteering, cause related marketing, brand related sponsorships), and whether or not shifts are taking place in the nature of support.
We also seek to better understand the characteristics in business and not-for-profit relationships that facilitate sustainability of programs through the business cycle.
1.3 Methodology
The study incorporates research from two sources - an online survey of 150 leading Australian listed companies, and small focus groups of senior public affairs/corporate affairs practitioners responsible for corporate community investment strategy, execution and NFP relationships.
Online survey
The Centre developed and managed an online survey of 150 leading companies in Australia. The survey responses were from senior public affairs/corporate affairs executives and executives responsible for corporate community investment in their companies. The online survey was open between 20 May and 12 June 2009, and generated 70 responses.
The provision of demographic information from the respondents was not required. Of the 49 companies that chose to supply demographic information, 41 per cent are publicly listed companies in Australia, and 31 per cent are publicly listed overseas (see Figure 1.1 ). The majority of these companies (96 per cent) employ more than 200 employees. The remaining 4 per cent employ between 21 and 200 employees.
[
top ]
Figure 1.1:Survey Participant Company Classification 
Source: Centre for Corporate Public Affairs, Survey of business executives 2009. N=49
Twenty-five per cent of the companies that provided industry classification are involved in mining, and 22 per cent in financial services (see Figure 1.2 ).
Figure 1.2:Survey Participant Industry Classification 
Source: Centre for Corporate Public Affairs, Survey of business executives 2009. N=41
Consultations with business executives
The Centre for Corporate Public Affairs convened small participant focus groups in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth and conducted additional interviews with senior executives. Thirty-six business executives participated in these discussions and interviews.
The discussions and insights from the focus groups and interviews are reported and cited in this study.