History

1928  GE president Gerard Swope founds The Electrical Fund (Elfun) as a social club for GE leadership, to encourage participation in the stock investment programme. Swope was a great philanthropist and his name is still attached to an award made for exceptional community contributions

1981  Jack Welch challenges Elfun to re-examine its social and fraternal role. Elfun’s mission is changed to include volunteerism. Membership is still restricted to leadership who pay a membership fee or “dues”

1992  First chapter established outside the US in Tokyo, followed by London and Singapore in 1993

1999  Even though Elfun remains a separate entity to GE, it changes its name to GE Elfun

2000  GE Elfun now open to all regardless of their status as long as they are committed to the mission of volunteering

2001  Elfun Community Foundation founded as a charity providing a tax-deductible (in the US) vehicle for employee contributiions to support volunteering

2003  GE Elfun becomes GE Elfun Volunteers and has over 140 councils in 33 countries around the world

2004  Jeff Immelt becomes CEO of GE 

2005  GE volunteers organisation is created to encompass the breadth of volunteer activites in GE communities worldwide

2006   Elfun  returns to its original social mission. The Elfun Community Foundation becomes the  GE Volunteers Foundation

Now GE employees give over one million hours every year to the communities where they live and work, with significant funding from the GE Volunteers Foundation.