Corporate Responsibility

The movement is growing. Fast. 1,400+ B Corps worldwide. And, the community is partnering together in incredible ways.

America’s future depends on our ability to train future generations to fill necessary workforce positions, and to continue innovating so that American businesses can meet new challenges and open new sectors. Yet, our country is not producing enough college graduates to meet the growing demand – 16 million too few by 2025, according to the Kresge Foundation.

As key international climate negotiations near, 81 additional companies joined the White House-led American Business Act on Climate Pledge. Companies making the pledge have set significant greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy sourcing goals for 2020 and beyond, and are focusing on increasing energy efficiency, boosting low-carbon investing and making sustainability more accessible to low-income Americans.

Giving back is one of Morgan Stanley’s core values, and we are committed to making a positive impact in the communities in which we operate. 2015 marked the 10th Anniversary of Global Volunteer Month, a dedicated month of volunteering around the world.

To address environmental, social, and governance issues effectively, CSR professionals today must look beyond their own operations and deep into their supply chain. How and where are materials sourced? How are the components of products developed? What are the environmental and human rights ramifications of those processes? Issues as serious as child labor, conflict minerals, and climate change can only be effectively tackled when a company’s commitments to corporate citizenship and reporting are adopted by their suppliers and partners.

Today, KeyBank announced it will provide $13.8 million to support the development of Bascom Village Phase I, a 53-unit affordable housing complex sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVDP) in Eugene, Oregon. The loan will support underserved families working to get ahead in a volatile labor market, and highlights the importance of quality housing options during Housing America Month this October.

Employee engagement is key to company performance, leading to positive effects such as higher productivity, improved work quality, and decreased job turnover. Employees want to be involved in their work, enthusiastic about the organization they work for, and committed to their fellow workers. Yet less than a third of U.S. workers were engaged in their jobs in 2014, according to Gallup.

The 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study gives an inside look into the unique attitudes, perceptions and behaviors of different Millennial segments when it comes to engaging with companies around social and environmental issues.