Philanthropy in the Workplace: How a Financial Institution Communicates Charitable Giving Values

Abstract

As corporations increasingly support America's philanthropic projects, employees are more likely to receive employer-constructed messages touting the importance of giving and volunteering. This case study employs qualitative methods, including interviews, focus groups, and archival data, to examine how one financial institution communicated its philanthropic values to employees. Findings reveal that the employer communicated giving values through repetition and consistency of philanthropic discourse and actions. As a result, employees viewed charitableness as an integral part of the organization's overall value system and used charitable values to make sense of other company practices, even those outside the conventional notions of corporate philanthropy.

Acknowledgments

This research is based on the first author's doctoral dissertation. A previous version of this manuscript was presented at the 2008 National Communication Association Convention in San Diego, CA.

Notes

A complete interview guide is available upon request from the first author.

A complete focus group guide is available upon request from the first author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer Mize Smith

Jennifer Mize Smith, Purdue University; Jennifer Mize Smith is now at Western Kentucky University.

Beverly Davenport Sypher

Beverly Davenport Sypher, Purdue University.