Organizations and Initiatives We Support

Research

Allstate supports research groups and other organizations that provide unbiased information that is used to shape public policy debate and inform consumers and businesses about key issues affecting insurance consumers, including the role that insurance plays in our daily lives.

Our support is largely focused on safety on our roads and in our homes. Further, we are involved in other noteworthy research that is not captured in this report. For example, for the past several years, we have partnered with the National Journal to publish the Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll series, which measures the attitudes and feelings of citizens on important economic issues. This poll has been referenced in several publications. In 2012, Allstate provided nearly $7.3 million to research organizations.

Coalitions

Allstate partners with advocacy organizations and other coalitions throughout the country to promote various public policy positions.

We continue to work to better prepare and protect America from natural catastrophes. Recent storms and earthquakes have reminded us all that no place in the country is immune from the tragic death and devastation caused by severe weather. Further, events such as Hurricane Katrina and Super Stormstorm Sandy and the large unfunded state government insurance pools have created financial exposure for insurance customers, companies, and the American taxpayer. America needs to be better prepared for these catastrophes and needs to strengthen its financial infrastructure to protect itself from these events. Allstate has joined others in a coalition known as ProtectingAmerica.org to build a more effective catastrophe management system that will better prepare and protect America from major catastrophes.

Throughout our history, we have endeavored to make roads safer for all drivers. We were pioneers in the advocacy of mandatory seat belts and airbags in cars. Today, many of our employees and agents devote significant time every day promoting safer driving and working with community groups, parents, teen drivers, schools, and national organizations. Allstate provides significant human and financial resources to organizations that save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce losses caused by crashes on the nation’s highways. For example, Allstate supports the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a champion in the effort to save teen drivers. In 2012, Allstate provided slightly more than $2 million to coalitions, with almost $638,000 (32 percent) attributed to lobbying efforts.

National and State Trade Associations

We are also working to build a better insurance regulatory system.

The insurance industry currently operates under a different set of regulations in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This patchwork system makes it difficult and expensive to develop innovative products for our customers and for our exclusive agents to operate as efficiently as possible. Allstate supports business organizations that assist our 11,200 agency owners and exclusive financial representatives, who operate small businesses located on main streets across the country. We believe it is imperative to modernize and improve the regulatory system for insurance companies and consumers. Thus, the company supports organizations working for reforms that will create more uniformity and consistency in the system.

Allstate also supports reforms to our civil justice system to keep pace with changes in technology and address lawsuit abuse. This advocacy includes changes to deal with electronic document discovery, new ways that litigation is being financed by third parties, and state-specific challenges that deal with so-called bad faith. Further, Allstate advocates against theories of civil recovery that cost our customers too much money. That’s why Allstate supports a court system that is fair for everyone. As part of this effort, Allstate contributes to groups that advocate meaningful change for insurance consumers nationally and in individual states. In 2012, Allstate provided almost $3.7 million to national trade associations, with $2 million (56 percent) attributed to lobbying efforts and slightly more than $2.1 million to state trade associations, with approximately $610,000 (27 percent) attributed to lobbying efforts.

Below is a list of the major organizations, and their mission, within the categories described above that Allstate supported in 2012.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Advocate for STANDUP Act, which is a common sense approach to graduated driver licensing laws and measures designed to reduce distracted driving and protect those most important to us - our children More >

American Council of Life Insurers

Represent more than 300 legal reserve life insurer and fraternal benefit society member companies operating in United States

Association of National Advertisers

Representative body for the US marketing community

Certified Automotive Parts Association

Improve marketplace for consumers through certification and advocacy of quality replacement auto parts

Financial Services Forum

Pursue policies that encourage savings and investment, promote an open and competitive global marketplace, and ensure people everywhere opportunity to participate fully and productively in 21st-century global economy

Financial Services Roundtable

Protect and promote economic vitality and integrity of its members and United States financial system

Fix the Debt Coalitioin

Non-partisan movement to put America on a better fiscal and economic path

Florida Chamber of Commerce

Represent the interests of more than 139,000 members in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

Insurance Information Institute

Improve public understanding of insurance - what it does and how it works; recognized by media, governments, regulatory organizations, universities and the public as a primary source of information and analysis concerning insurance

Insurance Information Network of California

Enhance consumers’ understanding of insurance and safety issues

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

Dedicated to reducing social and economic effects of natural disasters, with a unique, state-of-the-art, multi-risk applied research and training facility

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Premier research facility for improving motor vehicle safety

Insurance Research Council

Provide timely and reliable information based upon extensive data collection and analysis, examining important public policy matters that affect insurers, customers, and the general public

Life Insurance Council of New York

Create and maintain a legislative, regulatory, and judicial environment in the State of New York that encourages insurers to grow their life insurance businesses

National Insurance Crime Bureau

Lead a united effort of insurers, law enforcement agencies, and representatives of the public to prevent and combat insurance fraud and crime through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness

Personal Insurance Federation of California

Keep personal insurance affordable and available for California consumers through state government advocacy and political action

Personal Insurance Federation of Florida

Keep personal insurance affordable and available for Florida consumers through state government advocacy and political action

ProtectingAmerica.org

Establish a comprehensive, integrated national catastrophe management solution More >

Quality Parts Coalition

Develop and secure a permanent legislative change to U.S. design patent law to preserve competition and to ensure the availability of quality, lower-cost alternative collision repair parts for consumers

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Represent interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions and advocate for pro-business policies that create jobs and grow our economy