Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a business framework that promises a sustainable outcome for the society it operates in. Businesses that align with CSR best practices operate in an economically, socially, and environmentally conscious way.
Generally, those practices can include reducing carbon emissions, supporting diversity and inclusion, and engaging in fair labor practices, as well as contributing to local communities and charitable organizations who are making a difference in the world.
The goal of any business that aligns with CSR best practices is to balance the interests of the company with those of the society and environment as a whole.
In recent years, there has been a large growth in the popularity of the number of companies that operate in a socially responsible manner. From this growing trend emerged a handful of programs that resonated especially well with both leaders and employees.
Here are 7 trending corporate social responsibility programs for 2023 that modern companies should consider:
Enabling a workplace giving program is the easiest, most time-effective way to launch a campaign that aligns with corporate social responsibility best practices.
A good workplace giving program decentralizes corporate philanthropy and empowers employees to support the causes that mean the most to them, leading to a much more diverse and equitable workplace.
Building a workplace culture around giving often starts with a workplace giving program, making this a popular option for corporations who want to inject strong values into their company workforce.
Learn more about a workplace giving program
Companies can partner with a nonprofit aligned with broader CSR goals as a way of making a social impact in their local community. As companies grow, their impact on local nonprofits gets larger.
Some companies, like Patagonia, start their own nonprofit to tackle the issues that directly affect their business.
Partnering with local causes is a great way to outsource the duties that come with social responsibility. One downside with partnering with local organizations is the limitations on the causes it supports and the diversity that comes with not only acknowledging but also supporting employee interests.
Clothing drives, food drives, and other donation campaigns are amazing opportunities for employees to make an impact in someone’s life directly by giving those less fortunate the things they need to survive.
Food drives are perfect campaigns during the seasons people are in most need of aid, such as during winter.
While the popularity of these campaigns often goes up during holiday seasons, food drives and donation campaigns can be held at any time throughout the year.
Just like with Apple Inc.’s recycling campaign that we mentioned earlier, companies that find a way to recycle and repurpose used materials often serve the secondary purpose of aligning themselves with a great corporate social responsibility program.
Recycling campaigns and programs not only help the environment, it can help a business’s bottom line, too.
Programs that focus on preserving earth’s natural resources are excellent options for building a CSR campaign around. That’s because environmental issues affect everyone.
Companies making an effort to defend nature are making earth a better place for future generations to do business.
Causes that include fighting homelessness, offering aid to the less fortunate, or making an impact in the local community all fall under “social impact.”
These initiatives focus on helping people in one way or another, whether that’s by providing support through longer-term programs around education, job readiness, mentorship, etc, for people in need of immediate aid or assistance, through food banks, shelteres, and medical clinics.
Volunteer programs are a great way to improve employee morale while providing a public service.
Volunteer programs have historically seen much more participation rates when compared to other CSR programs.
The WSJ reports “targeted do-good efforts such as volunteering attracts nearly triple the participation rate compared to activities without such incentives.”
Read why corporate donating is often the better choice instead of volunteering.
If you’re looking for a way to become more socially responsible as a company, consider one of these seven trending corporate social responsibility programs options.
Groundswell is an affordable workplace giving program built for the modern business. We give organizations the infrastructure and tools to make it easy to empower employees to support the causes they care about during moments that matter most.
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