25 Insights from the 2018 Corporate Philanthropy Conference

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25 Insights from the 2018 Corporate Philanthropy Conference

January 25, 2019 | Article

“You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripple for change.”

Tim Cook, Apple Inc., CEO

Engagement in an Age of Activism and Outrage

Getting involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs goes beyond just doing the right thing. It can also help restore trust in business, improve diversity and inclusion, and help attract, retain, engage, and train employees. As a result, corporate philanthropy and HR are becoming more closely intertwined, especially as organizations increase pro bono volunteer projects, immersive service learning programs, and service corps. Of course, getting employees involved in your CSR programs is much easier than it used to be, especially with millennials, who want to work for a company with purpose.

When 101 practitioners and experts met to talk about corporate philanthropy, we took notes. Here are the highlights:

Here are a few best practices for launching or improving a CSR program.

Multiple business functions, including HR, communications, marketing, operations, legal, sales, IT, and governance all need to work together to accomplish the organization’s CSR goals. Where the CSR function lies on the organizational chart varies by company—it could be part of operations, corporate communications, governance, or HR depending on the organization.
Many organizations have both flagship initiatives, such as planting trees in Haiti, promoting historic preservation, and increasing STEM education and smaller programs, such as volunteering at the local animal shelter. Just make sure that mission drift doesn’t become a problem.
There can be a sense that some companies are not really trying to make a difference. To make sure others perceive your efforts as authentic, support causes tha