We strive to help the communities in which we operate become vibrant places to live and work. We serve many communities around the world, and our employees' skills and ideas are a reflection of them. We are proud to be active participants in our local communities, and our ultimate goal is to bring tangible and sustainable benefits to the places in which we live and work around the world.

Measuring and reporting on progress

Our key performance indicators for local community involvement are measured through several quantitative methods, including:

• Charitable contributions
• Funds allocated by community involvement teams
• Eaton Charitable Fund total annual donations
• Meeting our goal for 100% of our major manufacturing and headquarters sites will have an active community engagement team by 2030

Through these indicators we can evaluate our performance over time, allowing us to make informed decisions about possible needed changes.

Giving back — contributing significant resources to enhance the communities we serve

When we support our local communities, we support our employees, customers and other stakeholders. We encourage community involvement, believing that doing so creates healthy, sustainable communities and business facilities. Some examples of our involvement include:

• Service on boards of nonprofit organizations
• Volunteer programs
• Financial support
• In-kind contributions

The talent, energy and skills that our employees donate to community projects hold significant value for us as well as the communities we serve. Our volunteers benefit from the satisfaction of accomplishing necessary work, expanding their social connections, learning creative problem-solving and increased well-being.

We find that employees who volunteer with local organizations are more committed to their community and feel more fulfilled at home and work. 

The talent, energy and skills that our employees donate to community projects hold significant value for us as well as the communities we serve. Our volunteers benefit from the satisfaction of accomplishing necessary work, expanding their social connections, learning creative problem solving and increased well-being.

Many of our facilities have created community involvement teams, which tailor site activities to the needs of their local communities. Comprised of cross-functional employees, their responsibilities include:

• Developing an annual community involvement plan and budget to support activities
• Conducting employee-giving campaigns
• Organizing volunteer activities
• Responding to community requests for donations

Our community involvement teams foster higher employee participation and a strong sense of pride. Their individual efforts and contributions directly benefit the places where they live and work.

Philanthropy and involvement in our local communities is a fundamental component of our identity. Our founder, Joseph O. Eaton, helped create the Cleveland Federation for Charity and Philanthropy in 1913. Inspired by his leadership, our giving strategy is intensely local by design. In the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, we commit to the United Way through an annual campaign. And for every dollar donated by an employee, Eaton contributes 50 cents.

Every year, we recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of employees who volunteer in their communities with the Stover Award for community service.  Any Eaton employee can nominate full-time employees who demonstrate leadership or service in community organizations.

The senior vice president within each business unit appoints a selection committee to review nominations. The committee chooses an award recipient based on the following criteria:

• Positive impact of the employee's involvement in both the organization and the community.
• Extent to which the nominee has demonstrated leadership or unwavering dedication to the organization.
• Importance of the activity or institution to an Eaton community, employees and their families.
• Volunteer service with other nonprofit community organizations.
• Letter(s) of commendation from the organization for which the employee volunteers.

Stover Volunteerism Award recipients each receive a commemorative award, a check for US$5,000 payable to the nonprofit organization of their choice, and special recognition by our chairman and CEO at a formal ceremony.

The Eaton Charitable Fund supports arts, education, culture and social service programs that improve the quality of life in our communities. The Fund gives primary consideration to requests from organizations where our employees serve on the Board. Eaton Charitable Fund grants are also made available to our sites, commensurate with facility size. Our approach helps ensure local employees decide how to allocate resources where they are needed most. Our employees take pride in determining where we invest our time and money.

Gifts made to education, arts, and cultural non-profit organizations in the United States by our employees, retirees, and directors are multiplied by Eaton's Matching Gift Program. Donations are matched $0.50 on the dollar to most 501(c)(3) non-profits, including arts, cultural, educational, and health & human services organizations. Donors receive a match of $5,000 per calendar year. Eaton employees in the United States are eligible to participate.

In 2017, we established the Eaton Qualified Disaster Relief Fund so that U.S. employees can donate tax-exempt funds to assist their colleagues who suffer catastrophic losses due to disasters. Employees expressed desire to help their colleagues who experienced tragic losses from hurricanes Harvey and Irma. We match contributions up to $5,000 annually dollar for dollar.