CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIE(S)
Tags: Csr, Impact, Volunteering, Corporate Culture, Charitable Giving

Sidney Hargro — President of the Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, stated in the report How Employers Give: A Look at Philanthropy and Volunteerism in Philadelphia, that “when companies engage in the community and with the nonprofit sector, they help improve the social cohesion of our region.” This cohesion builds relationships between not only companies and the community, but it can also build loyalty and relationships between companies and their employees, and help define corporate social responsibility within their organizations.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the practice of creating socially accountable programs within an organization that engages itself, employees, and stakeholders with the community. This engagement creates opportunities to strengthen business while contributing to society at the same time. While CSR programs and goals vary between companies, there are several principles companies should focus on for success;

(S)upport from Employees for Corporate Priorities,

(S)ensitivity Around Employees’ Charitable Behaviors, and

(S)ocial Impact

Support from Employees for Corporate Priorities

When employees give to and volunteer with corporate-focused causes, the buy-in can be low and it can be difficult for genuine impact and relationship-building to be made. While one time donations and acts are valued, each year community organizations need to expend time and funds to rebuild those relationships and meet their goals.

How can Corporations gain support and make an impact?

Allow employees to vote on grants — set your focus and let employees have a voice on which nonprofit organizations receive funds.

— set your focus and let employees have a voice on which nonprofit organizations receive funds. Actively engage employees and build a community around philanthropic priorities outside of volunteer days and giving campaigns — build your CSR program to allow multiple opportunities for employees to engage and learn about nonprofit organizations

— build your CSR program to allow multiple opportunities for employees to engage and learn about nonprofit organizations Create engagement opportunities that build skill sets and leadership opportunities for employees — allow employees to volunteer their personal skills to nonprofits through administrative support and programmatic implementation. This will provide impact to those organizations, build-up the employee’s skills and allow them to gain experience that will benefit your organization as well.

Actively engaging employees in initiatives that build on core values and inspire employees, can lead to improved motivation, loyalty, and your ability to attract and retain talent.

Sensitivity Around Employees’ Charitable Behaviors

Employees are individuals who have personal and philanthropic priorities of their own. They live and work in the communities where companies operate, understanding the issues that everyday people face and the impact that needs to be made. Employees want to maintain and share their personal interests and if companies allow them to share them and have a bigger say in CSR efforts, it can improve employee productivity and retention.

How can companies align corporate priorities with employee interests?

Build your match-giving programs — promote opportunities to give to nonprofit through payroll and provide matching support. This will allow you to support your employees’ priorities and see where else your company impact can be made.

— promote opportunities to give to nonprofit through payroll and provide matching support. This will allow you to support your employees’ priorities and see where else your company impact can be made. Offer paid time off for volunteering — while corporate volunteer days get employees out and provide impact, allowing employees several hours to engage in causes they care about at times convenient for them and the nonprofit, offers a level of care that employees can appreciate and often not get anywhere else.

— while corporate volunteer days get employees out and provide impact, allowing employees several hours to engage in causes they care about at times convenient for them and the nonprofit, offers a level of care that employees can appreciate and often not get anywhere else. Allow employees to make sit on grant-making committees and drive volunteer programs — allow employees to define grant programs and where volunteer efforts should be focused. Allow them to have a voice in defining some of your CSR goals.

By allowing employees to bring their relationships and philanthropic priorities to their company, employees are satisfied and companies are making an impact.

Social Impact

Now that employees are driving efforts aligned to corporate priorities, how do you strengthen and align your impact?

Be Strategic — aligning company priorities, employees interests, and societal needs can be challenging. While CSR programs are being developed and implemented, companies must take into account their mission, services, and reputation while ensuring that they reinforce their values and build synergy between shareholders and stakeholders. Impact will not be fully realized overnight, set strategic goals and make a plan that will work for you and your company priorities.

— aligning company priorities, employees interests, and societal needs can be challenging. While CSR programs are being developed and implemented, companies must take into account their mission, services, and reputation while ensuring that they reinforce their values and build synergy between shareholders and stakeholders. Impact will not be fully realized overnight, set strategic goals and make a plan that will work for you and your company priorities. Deliver Benefits — from business growth and employee satisfaction, to strategic community engagement and support, your CSR program should focus on the benefits its offers to further your impact. Internally companies are beginning to provide paid time off for employees to engage in their communities and utilize their involvement as skills that are gauged for leadership advancement. Externally, companies are building partnerships and collaborations with other companies and nonprofits to invest in communities to work on issues collaboratively. Determine which benefits will work best for your company and employees. Get employees involved in the conversation and deliver something that will be impactful and work for everyone.

— from business growth and employee satisfaction, to strategic community engagement and support, your CSR program should focus on the benefits its offers to further your impact. Internally companies are beginning to provide paid time off for employees to engage in their communities and utilize their involvement as skills that are gauged for leadership advancement. Externally, companies are building partnerships and collaborations with other companies and nonprofits to invest in communities to work on issues collaboratively. Determine which benefits will work best for your company and employees. Get employees involved in the conversation and deliver something that will be impactful and work for everyone. Track Your Impact — by tracking dollars employees have given, matches made, volunteer hours worked, skills shared, and organizations served, companies can see and share how much and where impact has been made. Not all impact has to be made or be defined directly by the company, learn how those within your company community are making an impact and see your company as a whole is serving your community.

CSR is not one size fits all. However, when companies are thoughtful about their Corporate Social Responsibility, they will increase giving, employee involvement, impact, and the bottom-line, while building cohesion between their internal and external communities.