Points of Light Releases 2026 Civic 50 Benchmark & Insights Report
New resource turns data from leading companies into practical benchmarks for employee volunteering, philanthropy, and corporate social impact.
ATLANTA, Sept. 22, 2026 – Points of Light has released The 2026 Civic 50 Benchmark & Insights Report, a practical resource that helps companies across the U.S. evaluate their social impact practices, identify opportunities for improvement, and make more informed program and investment decisions.
Drawing on data from the nation’s 50 most community-minded companies, the report expands The Civic 50 beyond recognition. It gives companies at every stage a year-round benchmarking tool for strengthening employee volunteering, community investment, workplace culture, and impact measurement.
Key findings include:
- 45% of employees participated in company-sponsored volunteering, compared with the 25% U.S. company average.
- 74% of companies offer formal volunteer time off and 24% of employees use the benefit, on average, among companies that track participation.
- 88% work with nonprofit partners to identify and track meaningful outcomes.
- 42% describe CSR and HR as strategic partners, yet only 38% integrate volunteer participation into HR systems.
- 80% of CSR teams cite limited staffing capacity, while 66% are navigating shifting political or regulatory environments.
The report also examines skills-based service, nonprofit board programs, volunteer ambassadors, matching gifts, volunteer grants, trust-based philanthropy, employee listening, and emerging uses of artificial intelligence. Throughout, the findings are paired with practical implications and examples companies can apply to their own strategies.
The data points indicate a clear next step for the field: move from providing access to driving meaningful participation and sustained impact. Companies can begin by listening to employees and communities, removing barriers to service, equipping volunteer ambassadors, strengthening nonprofit partnerships, and using benchmark data to focus resources where they matter most.
Points of Light is also hosting a webinar at noon ET on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to explore the findings and their implications for corporate practitioners.
To download the report, please complete the brief form on our Civic 50 page.
Now in its 14th year, The Civic 50 is the nation’s premier corporate social impact recognition program. Points of Light partners with True Impact to analyze survey results and provide participating companies with complimentary benchmarking scorecards and consultations. Participation is free and open to U.S. public and private companies with annual revenues of $1 billion or more.
About Points of Light
Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips, and mobilizes millions of people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement. Through work with nonprofits, companies, and social impact leaders, the organization galvanizes volunteers to meet critical needs in communities. As the world’s largest organization dedicated to increasing volunteer service, Points of Light engages more than 3.8 million volunteers across 32 countries. Learn more at pointsoflight.org.