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Nearly 75% of Central Texas businesses supported local nonprofits in 2018.

Another statistic of note, from 2017-18, 43% of Central Texas businesses increased the portion of their budgets devoted to philanthropy and charitable giving.

Those results and more come from the Rodman Report, an annual survey conducted by Austin-based philanthropic advisers Rodman & Associates. This year’s report includes responses from more than 150 area organizations and explores a range of topics, from how companies give to why they give and what constitutes their criteria for support.

A press release quotes Rodman & Associates founder Lisa Rodman as saying the report benefits nonprofits and businesses.

“Every year, the Rodman Report provides new metrics that help companies understand how their giving compares to others in the community,” Rodman said in the release. “The insights are also critical, however, for nonprofits to see how their needs align with the giving priorities of Central Texas businesses.”

The release also states the results in the Rodman Report are drawn from the responses of 152 Central Texas companies that participated in an online survey between Jan. 28 and Feb. 28.

Results from the survey show most companies cited monetary donations and volunteer hours as their primary methods of giving at 86% and 79%, respectively, and the key drivers for public giving in 2018 were community support and public goodwill at 79% and 66%, respectively. Another result within the survey states 45% of respondents said their company provided assistance in 2018 to communities or individuals affected by damaging Central Texas flooding.

The release states Austin Mayor Steve Adler endorsed the report and encouraged local businesses to participate in the survey.

“Austin has a thriving business community,” Adler wrote in an email invitation, according to the release. “That in itself is a great thing, but it’s even better knowing that our local businesses are forces for good in our community.”

For a complete look at the report, click here.

Caption: More than 150 area organizations participated in a survey on philanthropy. (Courtesy BirdsiVideo)

In light of a growing list of regulations in Austin and Travis County, Round Rock and Williamson County are increasingly viewed as friendlier to do business, he said.

“My biggest concern with Austin is regulations,” Sprague said. “For every other metro in Texas, the entitlement process is measured in weeks. In Austin, it’s measured in years. That will continue to be a bigger and bigger issue.”

Nationwide, key indicators of the economy—including job growth and gross domestic product—remain strong, he said. In fact, the country is in the midst of its second-longest period of economic growth ever.

If trends continue—and Sprague said he believes they will—in six months, this could be the longest economic expansion in history.

“We will continue to see growth,” he said. “We’re ten years into this, and I’m telling you I think we have five more good years. We’re in a phenomenal place.”

In 2019, Sprague predicts employment growth in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area between 1 percent and 2 percent. Real estate sales will mirror or exceed 2018, he said, with home values continuing to rise.