Corporate Social Responsibility

Triple bottom line, corporate sustainability, corporate citizenship, corporate social responsibility; many phrases are used to describe the growing focus of business on aligning their practices with the greater good. Doing business today is as much about profit as it is ensuring that day to day business practices not only are ethical but positively impact the communities in which companies operate.

With the increasing focus on the needs of communities, cutbacks in traditional funding and an increased demand for services, an opportunity exists for partnerships between for-profit and non-profit organizations. It is recognized that in order for a business to be successful, the community around it needs to be healthy and thriving.

For more information, read our discussion paper.

 

Business Benefits

• Staff engagement – less turnover and deeper commitment
• Staff recruitment – attracts strong candidates
• Market position – sets you apart from your competition
• Brand building – the right relationships enhance your brand
• Investment – builds new relationships
• Profit – all of the above leads to greater profitability

Non-profit Organization Benefits

• Funding – less reliance on shrinking government funding
• Sustainability – building a strong foundation for the future
• Impact – greater participant service levels
• Awareness – bringing forward greater understanding of social issues
• Relationships – opening new opportunities and partnerships

CSR Pilot Project in 2012

Kelowna Community Resources began working with selected businesses and non-profit organizations with the goal of developing new strategic, sustainable relationships.

A business focused workshop provided tools to assist business leaders in outlining their corporate social responsibility action plan. Non-profit organizations received instruction and support in crafting their mission, vision, services and need into a succinct three-minute videos.

Both groups were brought together for a facilitated, networking event where the non-profit groups pitched their organizations and businesses viewed these presentations through the lens of their newly created corporate social responsibility plans.

- Watch the video clips of 3 min-pitch presentations from nine local nonprofits on our Community Services Facebook page.

The final step will be to assist both groups in finalizing relationships, measuring impacts for those that the non-profit groups service as well as the impacts for business.

Funding for this pilot project was provided by a private foundation.

Agur Lake

Arion Therapeutic Farm

Braintrust

Canadian Mental Health Association

Canadian Institute for the Blind

Multiple Sclerosis Society

Now Canada

Project Literacy

The Bridge

 

In the Media

Dawn Wilkinson had an article published in the ‘Certified Management Accountants BC Summer 2012 Update’ magazine on ‘The Strategic Advantage of Social Responsibility’.

Dawn Wilkinson had an article published in the ‘Certified Management Accountants BC Fall 2012 Update’ magazine on ‘The 5 Levels of Corporate Social Responsibility’.

Also, view our articles from the Daily Courier and Kelowna Capital News.

 

Next Steps

Kelowna Community Resources wants to partner with a sponsor to continue working with both business and non-profit organizations towards building sustainable relationships through Corporate Social Responsibility.