According to the most recent Giving USA Foundation report, charitable contributions in the U.S. grew 4.4 percent in 2013 yet still haven’t rebounded to peak levels achieved before the economic recession.

But one of the most disappointing aspects of the report involves corporate philanthropy.  Last year, corporate giving fell by nearly 2%, to $17.9 billion.

The drop in corporate giving is troubling for all parties involved.  Nonprofits lean heavily on corporations for giving, and when numbers are down they must scramble for alternative sources of funding.  And companies are playing with their own bottom lines when they skimp on corporate philanthropy.  Now more than ever, employees are paying close attention to the philanthropic behavior of corporations and evaluating them accordingly.

So, listen up, Corporate America: it’s time to rev your philanthropy engines to a higher gear.  Keep these insightful quotes handy as you accelerate to the fast lane:

Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged.  Philanthropy, to me, is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting people and yourself really involved and doing things that haven’t been done before. – Eli Broad

Philanthropy is all about making a positive difference in the world by devoting your resources and your time to causes you believe in.  In my case, I like to support causes where “a lot of good comes from a little bit of good,” or, in other words, where the positive social returns vastly exceed the amount of time and money invested. – Jeff Skoll

Billions are wasted on ineffective philanthropy.  Philanthropy is decades behind business in applying rigorous thinking to the use of money.  – Michael Porter

Philanthropy without scale and sustainability is like any other bad business that will simply wither and die on the vine. – Naveen Jain

Philanthropy is activism. – Eli Broad

Philanthropy should be voluntary. – Bill Gates

Philanthropy is involved with basic innovations that transform society, not simply maintaining the status quo or filling basic social needs that were formerly the province of the public sector. -David Rockefeller.

Philanthropy is not about giving money but about solving problems.  While well-meaning, the idea of writing a check and calling it ‘philanthropy’ is extremely short-sighted and, unfortunately, extremely pervasive. – Naveen Jain

I truly believe that philanthropy and commerce can work together. – Donna Karan

My theme for philanthropy is the same approach I used with technoogy: to find a need and fill it. – An Wang

Being innovative in your philantropy allows you to stride forward in your giving journey; you can marry your mind and heart to turn charity into lasting impact; and you can become more ambitious in your giving. – Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen

Philanthropy is no longer about writing a check for $10,000 to the opera. – Jacqueline Novogratz

I’ve never been one who enjoys maintaining the status quo.  I’m always pushing for new ideas, whether it’s in business or philanthropy. - Eli Broad

In the same way that you’re driven in your business to keep innovating – Facebook is a wonderful example of constant innovation – think about doing that in philanthropy. – Pierre Omidyar

Changing the world doesn’t require much money. Again, think in terms of empowerment and not charity. How much were Gandhi’s teachers paid? How much did it cost to give Dr. Martin Luther King the books that catalyzed his mind and actions? – Tim Ferriss

One of the great movements in my lifetime among educated people is the need to commit themselves to action. Most people are not satisfied with giving money; we also feel we need to work. - Peter Drucker 

Earlier in this century, philanthropy often flowed from the wills of dead industrialists. In recent decades, it’s as likely to have come from a very alive business leader, entertainer, artist or sports star. The most effective of these patrons begin the process of giving by asking what they care about passionately. – Michael Milken 

I don’t think you ever stop giving. I really don’t. I think it’s an ongoing process. And it’s not just about being able to write a check. It’s being able to touch somebody’s life. – Oprah Winfrey 

Engaging in social business is beneficial to a company because it leverages on business competencies to address social issues, involves one-time investment with sustainable results, and produces other positive effects such as employee motivation and improved organizational culture. – Muhammad Yunas

Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity – the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires. – Bill Gates