Doing good is good for business

The non-profit sector is arguably the single most important force for bettering the regional community many of our businesses serve as well as the social and cultural fabric we, as a society, all share.

Many companies, including CMA, make corporate responsibility a focus year round. If your business is contributing a good deed in the spirit of the upcoming season of giving, even if it’s as simple as a food drive, why not leverage print and electronic public relations to let the community know?

Your press release and an accompanying photo won’t likely end up on the front page or the top of the landing page, but most media provide recognition for high-profile corporate citizenship or high-impact charitable donations. Corporate commitment to making a difference helps differentiate your business from competitors and casts your company in a favorable light in the minds of consumers and employees.

In fact, a recent report from the Council on Foundations noted that 83% of Americans have a more positive image of companies who support causes they care about or perceive to be beneficial to the common good. The report also states that 87% of employees at companies with corporate giving programs feel a stronger sense of loyalty to their employers.

No wonder that, even in a time of economic turbulence, an IBM study released this year found over 1, 000 CEOs plan to increase their corporate giving by 25% or more.

A regular and organized corporate social responsibility program not only burnishes your brand, but builds a reservoir of public good will that can prove resilient in times of crisis.

Ultimately it pays to embrace the spirit of giving, not just at this altruistic time of year, but on a planned and budgeted basis annually. Corporate philanthropy is good—both for business and the nonprofits whose missions are advanced. Doing well by doing good should be business as usual.

Jeff Barnhart
President & CEO
jbarnhart@cmasolutions.com