The Financial Times defines corporate social responsibility (CSR) as “a business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.” In the time of COVID-19, the way an organization responds to the crisis will be remembered for years to come. Yet a recent Harvard Business Review piece states that “Coronavirus is putting CSR to the test.”
Companies can leverage corporate social responsibility tactics to cultivate awareness as a leader in the Las Vegas community, as well as drive new business. By giving back to the community, team members can have an outlet to work together towards a common goal and—more importantly—the company can help those in need. This can improve public perception, cultivate new and stronger relationships, and drive client loyalty. And even in these troubling times, a business can still have and execute a strong CSR strategy.
CSR Tactics for Consideration
Crafting a community outreach plan does not need to be a complete shift in strategy (or even a game-changer in this new normal), and it can be straightforward to implement and continuously execute. The below tactics can be part of any company’s CSR initiatives:
Pro-Bono: For professional services providers (like law firms), pro-bono services is one of the first things on the list. Can your company offer a value-added outcome to members of the community as a free service?
Non-Profit Board Membership: Do any of your employees participate as members of local boards of directors? If so, there are specific ways to highlight this involvement. Think of including in your social media content, as well as supporting those organizations as a team. (Some extra benefits? Your board member will feel the added support from your business, and your team will have a special connection to that non-profit.)
Volunteering: Your employees and their families most likely are already doing this on their own. Could you collect and document the number of hours spent volunteering each month or possibly consider an office-wide hour of volunteering each month?
Sponsorships: Consider selecting an organization or charitable field that your entire team can get behind. When asked for a donation or support, you can choose to only contribute to organizations in your determined area. Why not craft a named scholarship for university students in your industry, support a health-based organization (like American Heart Association), help survivors (via a community organization like the Rape Crisis Center), or utilize your business acumen (with a group like Junior Achievement)?
Inspire Innovation: Do you have a 3D printer or other capabilities to make products that can help in this pandemic? Many examples of individual and company ingenuity are cropping up daily. Encourage the creative minds on your team to come up with innovative ways to help the community.
Community Involvement: Programs like Leadership Las Vegas or Leadership Advance allow executives and younger leaders (respectively) to develop and become stronger community leaders. Would one of your team members find value and grow from such an experience? All Leadership Foundation programs from the Vegas Chamber help leaders and the organizations they represent become more entrenched in Southern Nevada.
As we navigate COVID-19, it will become increasingly imperative to support and lift up others in our community. Some of the above suggestions involve a budget line-item; others are more of a time-related nature. Now is the perfect opportunity to review—or create—community outreach strategies as we work together to create a thriving economic future. I send my wishes for good health and strong recovery for the Las Vegas that we all love.
This post was originally written by Shan Bates-Bundick for the Vegas Chamber’s May 2020 Business Voice magazine. Click here to view the original article.