Return to site

Building a CSR Program in 5 Steps

Mark Alexopoulos explains how to build a CSR Program

· Business,Leadership,Mark Alexopoulos

Millennials are taking over the workforce, and within the next few years, the majority of the workplace will consist of this age group. In a previous blog, I discussed how and why corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the best millennial recruitment tool. Millennials, in particular, are interested in what a company stands for, how it promotes change, and how it gives back. Having a successful CSR program will help recruit both millennial employees and customers. Building a CSR plan may seem like a challenging task, but here are my five tips to develop a CSR program.

1. DEVELOP A VISION

Who do you want to help? Do you want to support one or more causes? When building a CSR program, it is necessary to consider the company’s business strategy, core beliefs, and model of success. Once you decide what initiatives fit your company’s culture, you can start to choose which CSR program(s) fit well with your company.

2. EMPOWER YOUR EMPLOYEES

When planning a CSR program, be sure to empower your employees to pursue their own passions. Your team may already be connected with giving back, and the business could continue their movement. If you want your employees to be actively involved, it is critical to consider what, where, and who they want to help. An organization may also choose to pursue a combination of both: support one primary company project as well as supporting individual employee projects.

3. BUILD A PLAN

Once you decide what the focus of your CSR program is, you must choose who is accountable for implementing and tracking the program. Furthermore, this is the time to plan the little aspects of the program, including who, how, when the CSR program is taking place. It is also crucial to determine how you will gauge the success and effectiveness of the program.

4. COMMUNICATE

Implementing a CSR program should be reported both internally and externally. Let your team of employees know what you are doing because many will want to get involved. Not only does a CSR program generate value for employees, but it also builds rapport with investors, customers, and the community. Highlighting the program’s achievement and engagement can immensely strengthen your company.

5. SUSTAIN

Businesses should track their CSR programs with both quantitative and qualitative data. Not only will a sustainability report build value for your employees, but it can also be an effective tool for investors and other stakeholders.

Every business will have a different CSR program, but these five steps will help you start your initiative. Successful CSR programs will help with millennial recruitment. Since millennials will soon be the majority of the workplace, it is essential to business to start building a CSR program now, so your company is not behind.

Mark Alexopoulos is a leading entrepreneur and technology expert in the automotive remarketing industry. Check out his automotive blog or follow him on Twitter!

This article was orginally published on Mark Alexopoulos' Leadership Blog