For most of the modern era, corporate giving and individual passions have been mostly siloed, as employee programs focused more on encouraging people to give to charities chosen by the company. Now, companies are beginning to embrace “The Power of And,” which encompasses both vertical and horizontal engagement. That’s the scenario where the vertical pillars or specific charities in a company’s social responsibility strategy are complemented by a more horizontal or grassroots focus powered by the passions and interests of its people. Once you combine the two, it’s easy to see the powerful potential to engage your people more broadly AND boost awareness of your company’s positive role in society.
We are all part of a pioneering movement that has transformed the way organizations around the world identify, communicate and act on their sustainability impacts. Much has been achieved over the past 20 years, but as we enter a new era of sustainability, we must tackle the big challenges and the urgency needed to create a more sustainable economy and world in a fundamentally different way.