As the devastation in Haiti has caused us all to examine what’s important in our personal lives, it has also caused us to look for ways we can use our core business skills and practices to help those in need. Commonly referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), evolving a business focus so it simultaneously supports public interest is a booming trend across the business community.
Some will disagree, but I believe it is up to all of us to leave our community and the world better than we found it. And more times than not, it is our business savvy and resources that allow us all to do so.
Take for instance the way the wireless industry has banded together to allow customers to text “Haiti” to 90999 in order to donate directly to the American Red Cross. The adoption of mobile giving has raised nearly $30 million in relief funds for Haiti. Many wireless carriers have provided this service free of charge, because it’s a simple way they can use business infrastructure to serve a common goal.
And beyond providing services that enhance a greater cause, CSR is also about taking responsibility for a business’ impact on society. We all leave a mark somehow, so it’s important to find a way to repair the damage we cause, often through sustainability practices.
But don’t assume CSR comes at the cost of successful business – at its core a good CSR policy should bolster your bottom line and the community at once. Yes, there are critics of this type of business practice, but at the end of the day if any person or company is striving to better our community then I’m all about it.
Business schools are teaching it, global enterprises are adopting it. To learn more about CSR I recommend visiting the CSRwire and reading the 2009 Year in Review.