Research, Reports & Publications

Corporate Social Responsibility Survey Reveals C-Suite Expectations of CSR Rising but Resourcing Lags

Jun 14, 2022 7:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2022 /3BL Media/ – Results from 3rd annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Insights survey highlights that CSR teams do not have the staff and budget to meet the rising demands and expectations of corporate stakeholders and leadership.

The survey of more than 100 companies conducted by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) and Rocket Social Impact, a CSR consulting agency, further identified a gap in knowledge about the company’s social impact strategy among its top leaders.

Key Findings include:

  • 80% indicated company leadership demands of the CSR function have increased since 2021, representing a continued trend.
  • Only 20% believe they have sufficient staff
  • Only 25% believe they have sufficient budget
  • In greatest demand are more integration with ESG (44%), more data on impact (39%), and more integration with DEI (36%).
  • Only 33% consider their leadership’s understanding of CSR strategy to be high

“The time is now for corporate leaders to replace words of support with impactful actions that remove barriers and challenges that hinder the full impact of corporate social responsibility,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, CEO of ACCP.

The data noted CSR professionals need more than financial resources to meet leadership and stakeholder expectations. 50% identified a need for greater alignment between business and social goals, 42% seek enhanced ESG expertise on their teams, and 40% seek greater leadership support and buy-in for their work on behalf of the company.

“The question for corporate leaders is a simple one--are you committed?” said Rich Maiore, President of Rocket Social Impact. “Impactful CSR, where companies generate better business and greater good, can’t be achieved with half-measures and empty gestures.”

Research Methodology

The survey was open to all corporate social impact professionals; Rocket Social Impact and ACCP conducted outreach to more than 2000 corporate social responsibility professionals and encouraged participation from Director level or higher representative overseeing CSR at the company. One survey response per company was requested.

The full report, 3rd Annual CSR Insights Survey, is available here.

The Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) advances the effectiveness of corporate social impact professionals by sharing knowledge, fostering solutions, and cultivating inclusive peer communities. Learn more at https://accp.org/.

Rocket Social Impact is a national consultancy solely focused on CSR strategy, implementation, and communication to help companies go further, faster on their CSR journey. Learn more at https://rocketsocialimpact.com

Media Contact:
Jennifer Robinson
Rocket Social Impact
jennifer@rocketsocialimpact.com

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