A ROADMAP FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
Participation in The Civic 50®, survey serves as more than recognition — it provides valuable benchmarking insights, a proven self-assessment tool and a platform to showcase leadership in corporate citizenship among peers and stakeholders.
Local Host Partner Resources
The below resources are for local partner organizations to successfully launch and manage The Civic 50 program.
Survey Links & Questions
The survey workbook is designed to help you organize responses and data for completing The Civic 50® survey. Companies can use it as a central place to gather your information before entering answers into the online survey platform. Questions in the workbook that are marked with a star (★) will be scored. Applicants do not need to fill out auto-calculated fields as these will be generated in the benchmarking reports.
SurveyMonkey uses a cookie stored in the web browser on the device you use to start the survey. That cookie is what remembers your answers. If you switch devices or web browsers, or clear cookies, your responses may not be retained. Whenever possible, complete the survey in a single session. If you must pause, stay on the same device or browser and do not clear cookies.
Hampton Roads
- Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026-HamptonRoads-Civic50
- Survey Workbook: https://www.pointsoflight.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/The-Civic-50-Hampton-Roads_2026-Survey-Workbook_PDF-Form.pdf
Greater Philadelphia
- Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026-GreaterPhiladelphia-Civic50
- Survey Workbook: https://www.pointsoflight.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/The-Civic-50-Greater-Philadelphia_2026-Survey-Workbook.pdf
Orange County
Overview & Key Messaging
A ROADMAP FOR GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Participation in The Civic 50® survey serves as more than recognition — it provides valuable benchmarking insights, a proven self-assessment tool and a platform to showcase leadership in employee volunteering, community engagement and social impact strategy. The 2026 assessment features new, simplified questions that provide deeper insights to help your CSR team prove impact and drive improvement across the organization.
Value for Companies
The Civic 50® provides:
- A roadmap for CSR teams to evaluate, improve and scale their social impact programs.
- A platform for senior executives to showcase their company’s commitment to social and community issues.
- A tool for marketing and communications teams to highlight their company’s community impact.
- A resource for HR teams to attract, engage and retain purpose-driven talent.
- An opportunity for employees to celebrate their company’s community engagement work.
The Civic 50® is more than a survey – it’s a…
- Self -assessment and data benchmarking tool that measures your CSR performance and compares it to peer companies.
- Recognition program that honors leadership in corporate social impact.
- Go-to CSR source for effective practices, case studies, trends and standards of excellence.
- Practical roadmap for determining where to prioritize your effort and resources to strengthen and scale your social impact work.
Important Notes
- There is no cost to take the survey.
- Participation is confidential. Only the top 50 companies are made public.
- Each company that completes the survey receives a complimentary benchmarking scorecard report.
Survey Focus & Sections
The Civic 50® helps CSR teams focus on key social impact practices to more effectively support their communities , employees and company.
- Employee Volunteering: How a company mobilizes employees companywide to deliver meaningful, accessible volunteer experiences that meet community and nonprofit needs.
- Giving & Philanthropy: How a company leverages its financial and in-kind resources to drive social impact and strengthen nonprofit partnerships.
- Integration & Culture: How a company embeds community engagement into its culture and business systems to sustain and scale social impact.
- Planning & Evaluation: How a company strategically plans, measures and communicates its community engagement and social impact initiatives.
Email Templates & Content
RECRUITMENT EMAIL
We’re excited to invite your company to participate in The Civic 50® [REGION] survey, opening on [DATE]. The new and enhanced assessment features simplified questions and deeper benchmarking insights focused on employee volunteering, community investment and social impact strategy.
How to Participate:
- If your company plans to participate, please reply with the names and emails of 1–2 team contacts who should receive important updates and reminders.
- We encourage you to register for the informational webinar on [DATE] to learn about the changes and receive the first release of the new questions.
Why Participate:
Companies use The Civic 50® [REGION] as a planning and evaluation tool, andas a premier form of recognition to show their commitment to community impact. The program offers:
- A roadmap for CSR teams to evaluate, improve and scale their social impact programs.
- A platform for senior executives to showcase their company’s commitment to social and community issues.
- A tool for marketing and communications teams to highlight your company’s community impact.
- A resource for HR teams to attract, engage and retain purpose-driven talent.
- An opportunity for employees to celebrate their company’s community engagement work.
SURVEY LAUNCH EMAIL
We’re excited to share that The Civic 50® [REGION] survey is now officially open and companies have until [DATE] to complete their submission! The enhanced assessment now includes simplified questions and deeper benchmarking insights focused on employee volunteering, community investment and social impact strategy.
How to Participate
- Eligibility & Cost: Public and private companies with operations in [REGION] and at least five (5) employees are eligible to participate, and there is no cost to complete the survey.
- Survey Contacts: If your company plans to participate and you have not already notified Points of Light, please reply with one or two team contacts who should receive important updates and reminders.
- Survey Workbook: We encourage companies to download the survey workbook (editable PDF) to organize your responses and award nominations before entering your submission online.
- Additional Support: View the applicant information page for additional details and information. If you need additional support or have questions, please email [CONTACT] or book time during our office hours to discuss.
Why Participate
Companies use The Civic 50® [REGION] as a planning and evaluation tool,and as a premier form of recognition to show their commitment to community impact. Participation provides:
- A roadmap for CSR teams to evaluate, improve, and scale their social impact programs.
- A platform for senior leaders to showcase their company’s commitment to community and social issues.
- A tool for marketing and communications teams to highlight your company’s community impact.
- A resource for HR teams to attract, engage, and retain purpose-driven talent.
- An opportunity for employees to celebrate their company’s community engagement work.
Survey FAQ
Is there a cost to take The Civic 50® survey?
There is no cost to take the survey, and all applicants receive a complimentary benchmarking scorecard report.
What organizations are eligible to participate in The Civic 50®?
Companies with operations, at least five (5) employees and community engagement programs in the designated local survey region are eligible to participate. Not all companies have the same level of resources or engagement in all the activities measured by the survey. Therefore, scoring and awards will be based on the number of employees (small: 5-99, mid-size: 100-499 and large: 500+), and similarly-sized companies will be measured within their peer group and compared only on their community engagement programs inside the survey region. Small- and medium-sized companies are encouraged to apply and not be intimidated by the depth of the questions asked. It is not expected that they will be engaged in all the activities included in the survey.
What information and data will be made public?
Points of Light does not publicly disclose any company-specific data. The insights report features only aggregate benchmarking data from the 50 honorees. The list of honorees, presented alphabetically, and award recipients, are the only public-facing elements. Companies that do not qualify as honorees or sector leaders remain confidential.
How much time will it take to complete the survey?
We estimate it will take five to ten staff hours to complete data collection and responses for The Civic 50® survey, not including your internal approval process. We strongly recommend applicants use the provided survey workbook to collect their data offline before submitting responses through the online survey.
How should donations to national organizations be counted?
If your company or office makes a contribution to an organization outside of your survey region (e.g., a donation to a national nonprofit headquartered in another state), you are permitted to estimate the portion that would benefit your survey region. For example, if your company made a $10,000 donation to a national organization with 100 chapters throughout the U.S., 10 of which are located in your survey region, you could count $1,000 of that contribution. If you cannot make this estimation with reasonable confidence, then the contribution should not be counted.
How are the 50 honorees determined with the small, medium and large business categories?
The 16-highest scoring companies from each of the three categories will be named honorees. The remaining two spots (since 16 x 3 = 48, two less than 50) will go to the next two highest scoring companies in different size categories. If a category does not have 16 eligible applicants, its un-designated spots will be distributed evenly to the other categories.
How should companies respond to questions where they are unable to segment national data at the local level?
Companies are permitted to use estimations for their responses if they have reasonable confidence in their accuracy. For example, a reasonable estimate might be based on a proportional allocation of revenue for your locality. Otherwise, they should indicate “N/A” in the response field.
Logos & Brand Guidelines
If you have any questions about marketing assets or The Civic 50® brand guidelines, please email [email protected].
The Civic 50® in Text
When referring to The Civic 50®, it is necessary to capitalize and include – “The.” “Civic 50” should not be used as a standalone phrase.
Logo Badges
SOCIAL MEDIA
Whenever possible, please use the #TheCivic50 hashtag and tag (@) Points of Light in your social media posts (LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram) to help us track and share your content.
Survey Promotion
Strong communities start with strong corporate leadership. The Civic 50® [REGION], in partnership with @Points-of-Light, is opening soon and it’s more than a recognition program! It’s a proven self-assessment and benchmarking tool that helps companies evaluate, strengthen and scale their social impact efforts, from employee volunteering to community investment.
With a refreshed 2026 survey featuring simplified questions and deeper insights, now is the time to get ready. Learn more about #TheCivic50 and register for upcoming info sessions to prepare your team for participation. [link]
Survey Launch
The Civic 50® [REGION] survey, in partnership with @Points-of-Light, is officially open!
Companies across [REGION] are invited to take part in this confidential, no-cost assessment that offers valuable benchmarking insights and a practical roadmap for stronger community engagement. Every participating company receives a complimentary scorecard, with only the top 50 publicly recognized.
Whether you’re measuring impact, engaging employees or strengthening your CSR strategy, #TheCivic50 helps you see where you stand and where you can grow.
👉 Download the Survey Workbook and start your submission today: [link]
Honoree Announcement
We’re proud to celebrate the companies named to The Civic 50® [REGION], in partnership with @Points-of-Light. These organizations are setting the standard for employee engagement, community investment and social impact leadership.
The honorees represent what’s possible when business commits to purpose and community. Follow along to learn from this year’s honorees and plan to participate in the next Civic 50 survey. [link]
Survey Links & Workbook
Survey Links & Questions
The survey workbook is designed to help you organize responses and data for completing The Civic 50® survey. Companies can use it as a central place to gather your information before entering answers into the online survey platform. Questions in the workbook that are marked with a star (★) will be scored. Applicants do not need to fill out auto-calculated fields as these will be generated in the benchmarking reports.
SurveyMonkey uses a cookie stored in the web browser on the device you use to start the survey. That cookie is what remembers your answers. If you switch devices or web browsers, or clear cookies, your responses may not be retained. Whenever possible, complete the survey in a single session. If you must pause, stay on the same device or browser and do not clear cookies.
Hampton Roads
- Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026-HamptonRoads-Civic50
- Survey Workbook: https://www.pointsoflight.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/The-Civic-50-Hampton-Roads_2026-Survey-Workbook_PDF-Form.pdf
Greater Philadelphia
- Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026-GreaterPhiladelphia-Civic50
- Survey Workbook: https://www.pointsoflight.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/The-Civic-50-Greater-Philadelphia_2026-Survey-Workbook.pdf
Orange County
Overview & Key Messaging
Overview & Key Messaging
A ROADMAP FOR GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Participation in The Civic 50® survey serves as more than recognition — it provides valuable benchmarking insights, a proven self-assessment tool and a platform to showcase leadership in employee volunteering, community engagement and social impact strategy. The 2026 assessment features new, simplified questions that provide deeper insights to help your CSR team prove impact and drive improvement across the organization.
Value for Companies
The Civic 50® provides:
- A roadmap for CSR teams to evaluate, improve and scale their social impact programs.
- A platform for senior executives to showcase their company’s commitment to social and community issues.
- A tool for marketing and communications teams to highlight their company’s community impact.
- A resource for HR teams to attract, engage and retain purpose-driven talent.
- An opportunity for employees to celebrate their company’s community engagement work.
The Civic 50® is more than a survey – it’s a…
- Self -assessment and data benchmarking tool that measures your CSR performance and compares it to peer companies.
- Recognition program that honors leadership in corporate social impact.
- Go-to CSR source for effective practices, case studies, trends and standards of excellence.
- Practical roadmap for determining where to prioritize your effort and resources to strengthen and scale your social impact work.
Important Notes
- There is no cost to take the survey.
- Participation is confidential. Only the top 50 companies are made public.
- Each company that completes the survey receives a complimentary benchmarking scorecard report.
Survey Focus & Sections
The Civic 50® helps CSR teams focus on key social impact practices to more effectively support their communities , employees and company.
- Employee Volunteering: How a company mobilizes employees companywide to deliver meaningful, accessible volunteer experiences that meet community and nonprofit needs.
- Giving & Philanthropy: How a company leverages its financial and in-kind resources to drive social impact and strengthen nonprofit partnerships.
- Integration & Culture: How a company embeds community engagement into its culture and business systems to sustain and scale social impact.
- Planning & Evaluation: How a company strategically plans, measures and communicates its community engagement and social impact initiatives.
Sample Outreach Messages
Email Templates & Content
RECRUITMENT EMAIL
We’re excited to invite your company to participate in The Civic 50® [REGION] survey, opening on [DATE]. The new and enhanced assessment features simplified questions and deeper benchmarking insights focused on employee volunteering, community investment and social impact strategy.
How to Participate:
- If your company plans to participate, please reply with the names and emails of 1–2 team contacts who should receive important updates and reminders.
- We encourage you to register for the informational webinar on [DATE] to learn about the changes and receive the first release of the new questions.
Why Participate:
Companies use The Civic 50® [REGION] as a planning and evaluation tool, andas a premier form of recognition to show their commitment to community impact. The program offers:
- A roadmap for CSR teams to evaluate, improve and scale their social impact programs.
- A platform for senior executives to showcase their company’s commitment to social and community issues.
- A tool for marketing and communications teams to highlight your company’s community impact.
- A resource for HR teams to attract, engage and retain purpose-driven talent.
- An opportunity for employees to celebrate their company’s community engagement work.
SURVEY LAUNCH EMAIL
We’re excited to share that The Civic 50® [REGION] survey is now officially open and companies have until [DATE] to complete their submission! The enhanced assessment now includes simplified questions and deeper benchmarking insights focused on employee volunteering, community investment and social impact strategy.
How to Participate
- Eligibility & Cost: Public and private companies with operations in [REGION] and at least five (5) employees are eligible to participate, and there is no cost to complete the survey.
- Survey Contacts: If your company plans to participate and you have not already notified Points of Light, please reply with one or two team contacts who should receive important updates and reminders.
- Survey Workbook: We encourage companies to download the survey workbook (editable PDF) to organize your responses and award nominations before entering your submission online.
- Additional Support: View the applicant information page for additional details and information. If you need additional support or have questions, please email [CONTACT] or book time during our office hours to discuss.
Why Participate
Companies use The Civic 50® [REGION] as a planning and evaluation tool,and as a premier form of recognition to show their commitment to community impact. Participation provides:
- A roadmap for CSR teams to evaluate, improve, and scale their social impact programs.
- A platform for senior leaders to showcase their company’s commitment to community and social issues.
- A tool for marketing and communications teams to highlight your company’s community impact.
- A resource for HR teams to attract, engage, and retain purpose-driven talent.
- An opportunity for employees to celebrate their company’s community engagement work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Survey FAQ
Is there a cost to take The Civic 50® survey?
There is no cost to take the survey, and all applicants receive a complimentary benchmarking scorecard report.
What organizations are eligible to participate in The Civic 50®?
Companies with operations, at least five (5) employees and community engagement programs in the designated local survey region are eligible to participate. Not all companies have the same level of resources or engagement in all the activities measured by the survey. Therefore, scoring and awards will be based on the number of employees (small: 5-99, mid-size: 100-499 and large: 500+), and similarly-sized companies will be measured within their peer group and compared only on their community engagement programs inside the survey region. Small- and medium-sized companies are encouraged to apply and not be intimidated by the depth of the questions asked. It is not expected that they will be engaged in all the activities included in the survey.
What information and data will be made public?
Points of Light does not publicly disclose any company-specific data. The insights report features only aggregate benchmarking data from the 50 honorees. The list of honorees, presented alphabetically, and award recipients, are the only public-facing elements. Companies that do not qualify as honorees or sector leaders remain confidential.
How much time will it take to complete the survey?
We estimate it will take five to ten staff hours to complete data collection and responses for The Civic 50® survey, not including your internal approval process. We strongly recommend applicants use the provided survey workbook to collect their data offline before submitting responses through the online survey.
How should donations to national organizations be counted?
If your company or office makes a contribution to an organization outside of your survey region (e.g., a donation to a national nonprofit headquartered in another state), you are permitted to estimate the portion that would benefit your survey region. For example, if your company made a $10,000 donation to a national organization with 100 chapters throughout the U.S., 10 of which are located in your survey region, you could count $1,000 of that contribution. If you cannot make this estimation with reasonable confidence, then the contribution should not be counted.
How are the 50 honorees determined with the small, medium and large business categories?
The 16-highest scoring companies from each of the three categories will be named honorees. The remaining two spots (since 16 x 3 = 48, two less than 50) will go to the next two highest scoring companies in different size categories. If a category does not have 16 eligible applicants, its un-designated spots will be distributed evenly to the other categories.
How should companies respond to questions where they are unable to segment national data at the local level?
Companies are permitted to use estimations for their responses if they have reasonable confidence in their accuracy. For example, a reasonable estimate might be based on a proportional allocation of revenue for your locality. Otherwise, they should indicate “N/A” in the response field.
Logos & Brand Guidelines
Logos & Brand Guidelines
If you have any questions about marketing assets or The Civic 50® brand guidelines, please email [email protected].
The Civic 50® in Text
When referring to The Civic 50®, it is necessary to capitalize and include – “The.” “Civic 50” should not be used as a standalone phrase.
Logo Badges
Social Media
SOCIAL MEDIA
Whenever possible, please use the #TheCivic50 hashtag and tag (@) Points of Light in your social media posts (LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram) to help us track and share your content.
Survey Promotion
Strong communities start with strong corporate leadership. The Civic 50® [REGION], in partnership with @Points-of-Light, is opening soon and it’s more than a recognition program! It’s a proven self-assessment and benchmarking tool that helps companies evaluate, strengthen and scale their social impact efforts, from employee volunteering to community investment.
With a refreshed 2026 survey featuring simplified questions and deeper insights, now is the time to get ready. Learn more about #TheCivic50 and register for upcoming info sessions to prepare your team for participation. [link]
Survey Launch
The Civic 50® [REGION] survey, in partnership with @Points-of-Light, is officially open!
Companies across [REGION] are invited to take part in this confidential, no-cost assessment that offers valuable benchmarking insights and a practical roadmap for stronger community engagement. Every participating company receives a complimentary scorecard, with only the top 50 publicly recognized.
Whether you’re measuring impact, engaging employees or strengthening your CSR strategy, #TheCivic50 helps you see where you stand and where you can grow.
👉 Download the Survey Workbook and start your submission today: [link]
Honoree Announcement
We’re proud to celebrate the companies named to The Civic 50® [REGION], in partnership with @Points-of-Light. These organizations are setting the standard for employee engagement, community investment and social impact leadership.
The honorees represent what’s possible when business commits to purpose and community. Follow along to learn from this year’s honorees and plan to participate in the next Civic 50 survey. [link]