ConocoPhillips’ charitable giving is often accompanied by the voluntary efforts of employees who give their personal time and talents to benefit the communities where they work and live.

Annually ConocoPhillips engages in a number of corporate signature volunteer events as well as regional volunteer events. ConocoPhillips’ employees at our Houston headquarters volunteer once a quarter in partnership with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center to encourage employees to sign up to donate blood and Commit for Life.

More than 1,200 employees, families and friends volunteer for the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run. In partnership with The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, this event raises scholarship funds for Texas youth. In addition, the week before the race, volunteers clean up a section of the race course that passes through a Houston community in need. The volunteer crew clears the course of trash and debris, mows and trims the landscape and helps to beautify the neighborhood for its residents.

ConocoPhillips employee volunteers also enjoy participating in the Junior Achievement program. By volunteering time and knowledge to provide K-5 students with hands-on experiences, our volunteer consultants help students understand the economics of life and help them reach their full potential as citizens.

ConocoPhillips is a key supporter of the United Way. A big part of this fundraising effort is the creativity of our employee volunteers. Each year, they generate funds by fostering friendly competition and participating in games, food festivals, auctions and team-building events. For several years, employees in Alaska have donated more funds than any other company in the state.

In addition to these signature volunteer events, the company supports employee volunteer efforts and involvement in community projects through the Employee Volunteer Grant Program. U.S. employees and retirees can apply for up to two individual grants of $500 for every 20 hours volunteered with an eligible 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  In 2011, approximately $1.3 millioin was awarded to charitable organizations through employee volunteer grants.

In 2006, the Employee Volunteer Grant Program was introduced in China, where volunteer activities include tree planting, orphanage visits and interactive teaching in elementary schools. In Beijing, the company matched money raised by employees for the Light and Love School for children of the city’s migrant workers.

ConocoPhillips’ Canada employees help teach reading at Connaught Community School in Calgary. They also participate in the national Commuter Challenge, an event that encourages people to commute to work on foot, or via bicycle, public transport or carpools. 

ConocoPhillips employees in Australia continue to raise money for the Cancer Council of Western Australia. This initiative was directed by motivated employees who set up a steering committee and organized a number of breast cancer research fundraising activities, including purchasing Pink Ribbon Day merchandise and organizing guessing games, interoffice competitions and an auction with items donated by employees and outside parties.

In addition to numerous volunteer programs, the company’s Matching Gift Plan is available to employees who wish to support their communities by making contributions to accredited educational institutions. Eligible contributions from employees are matched dollar-for-dollar to an annual maximum of $15,000 per employee. Eligible retiree contributions are matched to an annual maximum of $7,500 per retiree. In 2011, the company matched a total of $6.5 million of program participants’ contributions.