Corporate Citizenship Briefs

How does one of India's largest conglomerates, operating around the world, take care of citizens in its immediate community? The Aditya Birla Group has developed a model village in the neighborhood surrounding its Ultra Tech Cement Works Plant in Kotputli, providing vital facilities and infrastructure to residents, including education for women and children, a medical clinic, a farming program, and clean, fresh water.

Are you giving your grantees the right attention to help them succeed long term? To advance effective philanthropy, grantmakers must be as concerned with the entire grantee workforce as they are with grantee leadership. That means looking at the nonprofit through a workforce rather than a leadership lens and building relationships across the organization through surveys, site visits, and one-on-one conversations.

Is the philanthropy industry on its way to solving its diversity and inclusion problem? New research from the Women's Philanthropy institute identifies ways that donors differ across race and ways they appear to behave in a relatively similar fashion, pointing to the fact that philanthropy is growing more aware of its diversity and funders and nonprofits would do well to find ways to maximize engagement with donors of all backgrounds.

What do you think of when you hear "Los Angeles"? For many, it's Hollywood, beaches, and palm trees. But the booming metropolis faces a large homeless population, is on the frontline of the immigration issue, and has a troubled school district and aging infrastructure. Companies can help solve some of these issues by collaborating with the local government and nonprofits delivering innovative solutions.

India is the first country in the world to make corporate social responsibility (CSR) mandatory, following an amendment to the Companies Act, which requires companies with a net worth above Rs 5 billion, revenues above Rs 10 billion, or net profits of Rs 50 million or more to spend 2 percent of net profits on CSR initiatives. The country has countless priorities that companies can look to for guidance on CSR initiatives.

The term “natural disaster” is a misnomer. Natural ecosystems often require disturbances such as fires and floods to remain healthy. They have an inherent resilience to the occasional battering. Crises created by destructive natural events might be more aptly referred to as “social disasters,” because of the toll of life and economic damage left in their wake. Framing such events as social disasters places them in a different light, shifting the burden on all sectors of society to proactively ma

The Conference Board has launched an expanded initiative to track and benchmark societal investments, and their resulting impact, extending the organization’s 75 years of leadership in corporate citizenship research.

Seventy-four percent of employees who do not serve on nonprofit boards are interested in doing so. This is a great opportunity for talent development of millennials and employees from diverse backgrounds, two groups underrepresented on boards. Companies can make board work happen for their employees by helping them find suitable matches in the nonprofit sector, by training them in the legal and oversight responsibilities they will need, and by supporting and recognizing them for their work.

Despite research suggesting most consumers feel that businesses should take an active role in driving social and environmental changes, in 2019 companies are likely to tone down their public advocacy. As companies plan for 2019 with a divided government in Washington, it could be important to navigate new policies and regulations with dialogue on the issues.

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help to address significant societal challenges, including those identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For organizations that seek to use such technology for social good, an understanding of the existing use cases and potential for social impact should be considered within the context of a heightened regulatory framework that might stifle successes.