To enable peer-comparisons and benchmarking, The Conference Board offers a portfolio of data and analyses on corporate governance, proxy voting, sustainability, citizenship and philanthropy, and communications and public relations.
Board Practices
An analysis of more than 150 corporate governance data points, segmented by company size (measurable by revenue and asset value) and 20 industrial sectors. Covered practices include board composition and leadership, director nomination and election, anti-takeover measures, board-shareholder engagement, and strategy and risk oversight. A collaboration with NASDAQ OMX and NYSE Euronext.
Director Compensation
Benchmarks on director compensation elements, including cash retainer, meeting fees, full value shares, stock options, retainer for chairmanship and committee membership, and perquisites. A collaboration with NASDAQ OMX and NYSE Euronext.
CEO and Executive Compensation Practices
The review of total compensation, base salaries, equity-based incentives, and the mix of compensation elements for the CEO and other named executives of U.S. companies in the Russell 3000. A collaboration with Arthur J. Gallagher and MylogIQ.
Shareholder Activism and Proxy Voting
In collaboration with FactSet, The Conference Board publishes Proxy Voting Analytics, a post-season review of data on shareholder proposals, management proposals, and investor activism (including proxy contests) in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500. The analysis is organized by subject (corporate governance, executive compensation, social and environmental policy, and other issues) and includes volume, sponsorship, and voting results. Also read the latest Proxy Voting Fact Sheet, for updates on the current season, and access FactSet’s Activist Surveillance (SharkWatch) tool for a special price for Conference Board members.
CEO Succession
Statistics on succession events regarding chief executive officers (CEOs) of S&P 500 companies. In addition to updates on historical trends, this report features a series of notable case studies and a detailed review of shareholder activism requesting more rigorous succession planning and disclosure practices.
Corporate Sustainability
An analysis of more than 70 environmental and social practices at U.S. and non-U.S. companies in the S&P Global 1200 index —encompassing atmospheric emissions, water consumption, biodiversity policies, labor standards, human rights practices, and charitable and political contributions. Segmentation includes the S&P 500 and Russell 1000 as well as 11 business sectors and four corporate revenue groups. This report is accompanied by a complementary web-based tool, the Sustainability Practices Dashboard. The dashboard presents data from the report in an interactive online format, allowing users to easily select, view, and export the most relevant benchmarking data.
Corporate Citizenship, Philanthropy, and Social Impact
Produced by CECP in association with The Conference Board, the Giving in Numbers series analyzes trends in corporate philanthropic allocations by large U.S.-based corporations and corporate foundations, including a majority of the Fortune 100. Also widely used as a reference by nonprofit organizations seeking potential funders, this complimentary data offers insight into what types of partners the world’s largest companies are seeking.
Published by The Conference Board and Americans for the Arts, the annual Business Contributions to the Arts report analyzes trends in how companies of all sizes contribute to the arts. Although generally delivered through philanthropic budgets, arts support also comes from marketing and sponsorship budgets, as well as specific budgets, such as a CEO/Chairman/President budget. The data is used by both companies to strategize and by arts nonprofits to help understand corporate funding patterns.
In the wake of the devastating hurricane season in the fall of 2017, The Conference Board began to look at how corporate members strategize and execute disaster philanthropy programs. The research has become particularly relevant as climate change threatens to increase the number and intensity of future disasters. Data includes information on corproate decision-making practices, funding sources, contribution types, and priorities along the disaster philanthropy spectrum.
(Forthcoming)
In collaboration with Mission Measurement, The Conference Board publishes an annual study that analyzes social outcomes across a range of social issues. The project draws on the comprehensive outcomes data collected by Mission Measurement through its Impact Genome Project® and The Conference Board’s expert analysis to deliver insights including: the outcomes that are most commonly funded by companies; total overall impact generated by corporations; and the companies that are moving the needle the most on which outcomes
(Forthcoming)
Corporate Communications and Public Relations
The Conference Board reviews organizational and leadership practices on public relations and employee communications. Comparative data include CCOs’ professional background, reporting relationships, functions and responsibilities, budgetary resources, performance measurement standards, outsourcing policies, and the use of social media.
