Business Corps: One Year Review

Business Corps: A New Approach to International Volunteerism

That was exactly the idea behind the Business Corps when it was announced in October 2011 by a consortium of nine member companies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC), and Executives Without Borders. Together they created a program to catalyze skilled business professionals and deploy their talents to solve societal challenges in emerging markets.

Through the Business Corps, corporate volunteers from member companies are matched with highly-effective, local NGOs or small businesses that will benefit from the business acumen, technical knowledge, and proven methodologies that the volunteers and their companies provide. This company-led initiative impacts strategically selected growth markets and its collective impact approach helps mitigate the risks of operating a global community development program.

Volunteers participating in Business Corps benefit as well. The intensive, skills-based experience offered through this program can be life changing while building up the skills of each individual. Business Corps offers a powerful way of extending the impact of corporate volunteerism in the delivery of social good and advancing the health of the local economy.

The Business Corps launched its pilot program in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a growing economy and community racing to get its infrastructure and social services upgraded in anticipation of hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.