Robert Morris University announced the creation of the Covestro Center for Community Engagement thanks to a $400,000 grant from the global manufacturer of high-performance polymers. The center will provide social purpose training programs to corporations and nonprofits throughout Southwest Pennsylvania.

For corporate employees, the center will offer innovative training programs designed to increase employee engagement and productivity through social purpose service work at local nonprofits serving the region. On the nonprofit side, the center affords instruction in how these organizations can work more effectively with corporate volunteers to leverage their business expertise.

The center will offer three training programs, including SkillShare, a skills-based volunteering program that uses business expertise to solve nonprofit business challenges, and BoardsWork!, which is designed to encourage business professionals’ informed participation in nonprofit and corporate governing boards. The third is the Executive Service Corps, which offers nonprofits a stable of highly trained volunteer project managers, facilitators, and consultants from the corporate world.

“These kinds of partnerships are a key component of the RMU 100 strategic plan, which calls on RMU to be the preferred strategic partner for corporations, organizations, and professionals in the Pittsburgh region and beyond,” said Derya Jacobs, vice president for corporate relations and senior vice provost at RMU.

“When Covestro first began this work, we understood that people need purpose in their lives and to be able to contribute to the greater good,’ said Rebecca Lucore, head of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at Covestro LLC.

The latest grant brings to $750,000 the amount Covestro has invested with the university since 2015 to help build bonds between corporations and local nonprofit service organizations. The new center replaces the Covestro Institute for Engagement begun at RMU in 2015.