A. Purposes of the LBG
The LBG USA exists to:
1. Support members in using the LBG framework for corporate community involvement in the US in five key areas, management practices, valuation, performance measurement, benchmarking and reporting.
2. Build awareness in the US on the LBG model as a best-practice measurement standard for corporate community involvement that can be used locally, regionally and internationally.
3. As a member of the LBG International network, LBG USA will feed its best practice and lessons learned to the International network, thereby contributing to the development of the LBG model and its implementation as an emerging global standard.
4. Support skills development of CCI managers and practitioners and develop best practices in corporate community involvement.
5. Benchmark and share information. Companies work together to apply the model, sharing information about data collection practices.
B. LBG USA Participation
In the drive to improve the quality of implementation, members of the LBG agree to meet ten main expectations of membership:
1. Respect the confidentiality of discussion and comments made during all meetings of the LBG USA and of materials posted on the members only section of the LBG USA website;
2. Endorse the five purposes of the group and agree to participate in group discussions;
3. Follow the broad principles underlying the LBG approach to the evaluation of community contributions;
4. Support benchmarking and learning on their overall group-wide community contribution (‘inputs’), to the extent practical, for internal circulation among LBG USA members;
5. Share examples of output and impact assessment for case study project(s), if available, within the group;
6. Have their valuation methodology checked and any necessary qualifications added, before such input and output/impact data are circulated within the group;
7. Not to claim either to be a member of the LBG USA or to have used its model without adhering to this Charter.
8. Engage and be an active LBG USA participant to help develop best practices in the US
9. Be an LBG USA Ambassador to educate the wider CCI community about the LBG USA Group and the LBG model;
10. Support an ‘open door’ policy to companies interested in LBG membership throughout the Founding Member Program and beyond.
Governance and Management
1. Participants of the LBG USA drive the development of the LBG model forward through their participation. They agree on significant policy matters as they arise.
2. LBG USA is a membership driven initiative, as part of the LBG USA Founding Member Program, the participants will be actively involved in determining the governance structure of LBG USA after the Founding Member Program.
3. As the LBG model develops further, all participants within the LBG USA community aim to reach consensus. Where this is not possible, decisions will be based upon majority. If a participant is not present at the time of discussion, their views will be polled and incorporated into any final decision.
4. Participants act on behalf of the whole community, in order to maintain and enhance quality and consistency in the application of the LBG model to their community activities in the US and abroad.
5. LBG USA is an initiative managed by The Corporate Citizenship Company.
6. LBG USA is apart of the LBG International Network, which is managed by the Corporate Citizenship Company. LBG International is a network of companies applying the LBG model at the national level. LBG Groups exists through out the world, including Canada, Australia/New Zealand, and the Czech Republic.