• Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Mail
Culture Works
  • What We Do
    • Our Services
    • Fractional HR: Culture Operations
      • Basic
      • Full Integration
    • Recruiting
    • Consulting
      • Learning & Development
      • B2B Coaching
      • Assessments
  • Who We Are
    • Our Awesome Team
    • Our Purpose
    • Our Values
  • Connect With Us
    • Applicants
    • Partners
  • Free Sh*t
    • Blog
    • Wellness Resources
    • Educational Videos
    • Infographics
  • Menu Menu

How to Create a CSR Roadmap

Uncategorized
CSR Roadmap

Does your business have a sustainable CSR program?

Today, the world of business is competitive, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs need to go beyond just “donating money.” In order to be effective and admirable, your CSR roadmap needs to be strategically aligned with your business model. But don’t worry—we’re here to help.

Below, we discuss the basics of CSR, including:

  • What is CSR?
  • Why is it important?
  • Some fun CSR examples
  • How to create a CSR roadmap in your business

Let’s get started.

What is CSR?

CSR stands for Corporate Social Responsibility, which is the impact an organization makes on:

  • Society
  • The environment
  • The economy

According to Investopedia, CSR is a “self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable.” Not only to itself but also to its stakeholders and the public.

Prioritizing corporate social responsibility means positively impacting society, the environment, and the economy in its ordinary course of business.

Sometimes, CSR is referred to as ‘corporate citizenship.’

Why is CSR Important?

CSR has gained traction over the past few years especially. Today, more than ever, consumers and clients look to see where companies sit in terms of their CSR efforts.

Katie Schmidt, founder and lead designer of Passion Lilie, puts it best. In an interview with Business News Daily, she said, “What the public thinks of your company is critical to its success… By building a positive image that you believe in, you can make a name for your company as being socially conscious.”

Business News Daily continues. “It is becoming increasingly important to have a socially conscious image. Consumers, employees and stakeholders prioritize CSR when choosing a brand or company, and they are holding corporations accountable for effecting social change with their business beliefs, practices and profits.”

Still don’t understand the impact? Here are some statistics that demonstrate just how important CSR initiatives are to the people you serve.

  • More than half of Americans believe it’s important for companies to take a stand on key social, environmental, and political issues.
  • 70% of Americans believe it’s “somewhat” or “very important” for companies to make the world a better place.
  • “Many Americans claim ‘zero tolerance’ when it comes to infractions of ethical corporate codes,” including 25% of consumers and 22% of investors.
  • According to the ECDC, 93% of CEOs insist that sustainability is the key to success.

Fun CSR Examples!

Did you know that Starbucks and Ben and Jerry’s are considered leaders in the CSR space? Here, you can find a list of socially responsible causes that Ben and Jerry’s has advocated for since 1988. And here, a 23-page report from Starbucks detailing the global environmental and social impact they had in 2020.

Of course, we also have TOMS, whose company mission is to donate a pair of shoes for every pair they sell, Johnson & Johnson has focused on reducing its impact on the planet for three decades, and even Google! Did you know that Google’s data center now uses 50% less energy than others in the world and has committed over $1 billion to renewable energy projects? Wow!

There are so many inspiring examples of CSR programs in corporate America that we at Culture Works believe exemplify purpose alignment. 

How to Create a CSR Roadmap

So, now we know what corporate social responsibility is, why it’s important, and have even pinpointed some of our favorite CSR leaders, let’s now talk high-level about some tangible action steps in creating a CSR roadmap for your business.

Let’s get into it.

Assess Current Efforts

It’s time to get honest. Where do your current CSR efforts stand? Do you have any at all? If the answer is ‘no,’ don’t be ashamed. You’ll be a CSR pro before you know it.

The steps to assessing your current efforts require you to:

  • Collaborate with key internal stakeholders
  • Seek potential emerging issues
  • Conduct oversight to ensure compliance with existing goals and practices

Really THINK About Your Strategy

While donating to XYZ charity down the road might sound great (and easy enough) in theory, it’s best to strategically select the causes your business wants to support. This includes identifying what your business already does well to maximize the effectiveness of your CSR strategy.

What Issues Are Important to Your Clients and Prospects?

Let’s not just throw money at the wall and see what sticks. When creating your CSR strategy, it is absolutely essential to ask yourself: ‘What issues are important to my clients and prospects?’

And why’s that? Well, 87% of consumers would purchase a product based on a company supporting a social or environmental issue the consumer cares about, according to a Cone Communications CSR Study.

Use this to your advantage.

What Issues Are Important to Your Employees?

Additionally, when it comes to CSR, you want to support causes that make your employees (and future employees) proud, too.

According to GlobalGiving, strategic companies use “CSR programs to protect and grow their biggest asset—their employees.”

In fact, 76% “of millennials consider a company’s social and environmental commitments when deciding where to work and 64% would not take a job if a potential employer didn’t have strong corporate social responsibility practices in place.”

Broadcast Positive Impact

Once all of the kinks have been ironed out, it’s time to go public. This means spreading the positive impact that your CSR efforts have made on:

  • Social media
  • Your website (i.e. blog content)
  • Calendars
  • Community publications
  • Monthly or quarterly newsletters
  • Handbooks
  • Brochures

Shout it from the rooftops!

Tying CSR to Your Purpose and Culture Accountability

At Culture Works, we’re all about purpose. When it comes to an effective CSR strategy, it’s a no-brainer that your company’s purpose should aligned with your CSR initiatives.

At Culture Works, when we’re working with a client to identify and create company values, we tie their values to their purpose (which is then later tied to culture operations through performance accountability, your hiring process, culture accountability, and L&D—more information on these awesome topics can be found on our blog).

We know that developing an effective CSR strategy is hard work, but the benefit pays off tenfold. Interested in a similar topic? Read on for more information on why your company culture is defined by your purpose.

Tags: corporate social responsibility, CSR, CSR initiatives, CSR roadmap
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://www.cultureworkshr.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/How-to-Create-a-CSR-Roadmap-1.png 628 1200 Amanda Rogers https://www.cultureworkshr.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Cultureworks_Brand-Identity_Logo-RGB_Signature_Horizontal-1030x276.png Amanda Rogers2022-02-27 07:00:002022-02-18 10:17:19How to Create a CSR Roadmap

Search

Categories

Latest News

  • stay awake in zoom meetingsYOUR GUIDE TO STAYING AWAKE DURING ZOOM MEETINGS (and all meetings!)September 5, 2021 - 7:00 am
  • A Letter from our CEOA Letter from our CEO, Kristi PastoreSeptember 2, 2021 - 12:01 pm
  • The World's Opening Up — What Are Our Employees Going to Do?The World’s Opening Up — What Are Our Employees Going to Do?June 27, 2021 - 1:39 pm

Facebook

Count me in!

Practical steps you can take to make your company culture (and yourself) even better.

Signup for our newsletter below to stay up-to-date on our latest HR news & insights!

LINKS

Privacy Policy

FAQs

CONTACT

(760) 334-4094

info@cultureworkshr.com

24630 Washington Ave Suite 202
Murrieta, CA 92562

HOURS

Mon-Fri: 8:00-6:00
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

CONNECT WITH US!

© 2021 Culture Works – all rights reserved

site design by digitalstoryteller.io

© 2021 Culture Works – all rights reserved
site design by digitalstoryteller.io

How to ensure successful culture integration post-M&AHow to ensure successful culture integration post-M&Aman and woman shaking handsTips for Attracting and Retaining Great Talent Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Accept settings

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Accept settings