We know that good corporate citizenship helps us to attract and retain good employees. We also recognize that our people can develop useful skills outside the workplace. And we believe that encouraging engagement in our local communities reinforces employees' engagement in our company. For all these reasons, we encourage employees to get involved as volunteers and supporters of community organizations.

Match funding for employee contributions
We encourage employees to make charitable donations, and we support their efforts by matching their contributions to eligible charities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. We conduct annual giving campaigns and allow employees to contribute through payroll deduction. We match their contributions to eligible charities 100 percent.

Global grants for volunteerism
We provide grants to nonprofit organizations in recognition of the hours individual employees contribute, and to cover the costs of supplies and materials needed for team volunteer projects. Our recognition grants start at $125 for 25 hours of service and progress up to $500 per year per employee for 100 hours or more of volunteering. Our team project grants support the volunteer activities of groups of three or more employees.

Volunteering that supports personal development
In keeping with our philanthropic focus, we offer employees structured volunteering opportunities linked to literacy and education initiatives. At the same time, we see volunteer service as an opportunity for employees to develop their skills, and we provide employees with guidelines that map core competencies against specific volunteer opportunities.

Nonprofit board service program
We encourage employees to serve on local committees and nonprofit boards. We work with grantee organizations and other charities whose missions support our philanthropic goals to identify volunteer leadership opportunities, and our Corporate Philanthropy and Human Resources teams work together internally to match employees' personal development goals with the opportunities available. We also recognize outstanding volunteer initiatives through our company's highest employee honor, the Pitney Bowes Impact Award.


Disaster relief
The Pitney Bowes Relief Fund, U.S. 501(c)(3) charity, was established in 1992 to provide for colleagues and others whose lives are disrupted by natural disasters or personal misfortune. Financed by employee contributions and a Foundation match, the Relief Fund gives recipients access to food, shelter, clothing and medical care in catastrophic situations. Pitney Bowes bears the Relief Fund's administrative costs and the Salvation Army manages its operations, ensuring that all donations directly benefit those who need assistance and leverage community-based resources. So far the Relief Fund has distributed nearly $2.6 million in assistance. In addition, the Pitney Bowes Foundation launches special matching appeals following natural disasters that impact Pitney Bowes employees, customers and communities. In 2010, these efforts led to contributions of nearly $70,000 following the January earthquake in Haiti. In 2011, we launched a similar effort in the wake of the earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand. As a result, $37,000 in donations and matching funds were distributed to the Red Cross, AmeriCares, International Rescue Committee and Save the Children

Collaborating Around the World
Everywhere Pitney Bowes operates, we encourage employees at every level to contribute to the life of their communities. Here are some of their achievements in 2010.


PBBI helps in Australian flood relief
Early in 2011, flooding in northeastern Australia devastated an area the size of France and Germany combined, causing the loss of 30 lives as well as thousands of homes and businesses. By mid-January, Pitney Bowes Business Insight had responded with an offer of technical assistance and support services at no charge to affected businesses. It also instituted a company match to employees' individual charitable contributions in support of the relief effort.


Reading Corner at Ontario’s Mississauga Waterfront Festival
For four years in a row, Pitney Bowes Canada has hosted a Reading Corner at this popular Toronto-area summer festival. A team of Pitney Bowes volunteers reads classic stories to children from the ages of two to eight. In addition, each child receives a goody bag with a gently used book, balloon, bookmark and bracelet with a message celebrating literacy.




Holiday Mail for Heroes
For the fourth year in a row, Pitney Bowes teamed up with the American Red Cross to deliver hundreds of thousands of holiday cards to U.S. service members and veterans in the U.S. and abroad. Pitney Bowes employee volunteers contributed more than 470 hours creating hand-crafted cards and heartfelt wishes in eight events at Pitney Bowes locations in Appleton, WI, Troy, NY, Irving, TX, and Fairfield County, CT. Meanwhile, the company contributed free screening, packaging and shipping of cards to more than 200 Red Cross locations for distribution.