By Jaclyn Walian
Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is something we love helping our clients with! As a reminder, CSR is when companies give back to the local community and there are a variety of ways to do so. They are such fun campaigns because it’s a win-win for everyone involved – the company gets to do something good for the community in which they operate while increasing employee morale and the non-profit or organization they partner with get support. And the media always loves a feel good, give back story!
Before deciding what kind of CSR campaign is right for you, there are a couple of questions you should ask. We always dive into these with our clients to help us better understand the goals in order for us to come up with ideas and partners that will be in alignment.
- Why do you want to engage in a CSR campaign?
- What are your goals?
- What is the intended outcome?
- What kind of causes are important to you, the company and the employees?
- What is your budget?
After you have answered the questions above, you can move onto determining the right type of CSR campaign for you.
Donate money or items
A simple but meaningful way to give back is to donate money or purchase items the organization needs. This can be included in part of your annual budget or perhaps you raise money through a company-wide fundraiser.
Donate time and resources
For small companies, donating financial resources isn’t always feasible. Providing support through manpower and time is equally as meaningful. Find out if the non-profit you want to partner with needs volunteers and allow your employees to help during work hours.
Create an event
This is our favorite option and will probably get you the most media coverage. We love brainstorming and coming up with creative and unique ideas a company can implement that usually combines the above two options. For example, in the past we helped organize and publicize a tree planting where the company purchased trees and partnered with an environmental non-profit to plant them in an area of San Diego that needed them. We’ve also had a client purchase supplies for homeless teens and spend the day making care packages. The opportunities are endless and you can really create something meaningful to your company.
Looking to create your next CSR campaign? Get in touch with us a info@olivecreativestrategies.com