The forthcoming 2015 Community Involvement Survey illustrates that many companies are addressing relevant social issues, with a prominent focus on K-12 education. The survey shows that nearly 55 percent of companies include education among their top issues for attention and investment.
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.
Over the past year, the debate about what actions should be taken to halt climate change has continued in earnest. Involvement from experts, religious leaders, companies, activists, and consumers has reached a fever pitch, and governments have responded.
When CSVNet approached IBM we were already aware of IBM’s On Demand Community program and of the company’s long tradition of commitment to addressing societal issues. So it was quite simple to start a conversation with IBM’s Corporate Citizenship team in Italy in order to set a common framework on which to build a partnership.
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.
Climate change is again trending as a topic within corporate citizenship and the larger business community. The release of Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si” (Be Praised), which highlights the impact developed economies are having on our planet and our responsibilities to act, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan, and the upcoming COP21—the 21st Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—are creating a buzz.
Our forthcoming Community Involvement survey finds that among companies that measure, more than 90% of companies with employee volunteer programs see higher employee engagement.
