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Explaining the corporate social responsibility movement

This concept is by no means new. One can attest to this by what Charles Dickens wrote in his story, “A Christmas Carol”, in 1843. Everyone is familiar with the plot of this story and it ends with the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, who decides to use his financial position . to promote goodwill in your community, rather than spreading negativity, so to speak.

I think that maybe since you are reading this, you too are in a position to try to make a difference in the lives of others. Maybe you want to be more aware of your purchases? Maybe you are a new company looking to add a positive aspect to your business model? Maybe you are an established business? Maybe you were visiting three ghosts last night and they told you to look for me, maybe not. If they did, I don’t want to know. Either way, I want you to know that this is a very cloudy area right now. Well, at least right now it does. As of February 2016, the time period in which I am writing this, the following is what I am witnessing.

• Until a few years ago, American companies could talk all day about how they were “helping others.” Just take a look at any corporate website and you can see items like “Community Support” and “Social Investing”. However, there was never a real third-party standard that a company adhered to that actually demonstrated that they were walking with the entire company, not just talking, so to speak. For example: It makes no sense to say that you give X amount of profit to charities, when you are simultaneously inadvertently poisoning a community’s water supply by making your product. Right? So as we sat with our heads in our hands and got frustrated with these kinds of circumstances, someone took notice. So lo and behold, as the response to a bat signal, there was actually something that companies can adhere to, which can show that they are an all-encompassing, profitable entity as well as being a benefit to others. and the planet. Which brings me to my next point …

• That being said, there are two main movements that I see gaining traction. The first move is called becoming a “Profit Corporation.” It was a movement that was spearheaded a few years ago by a nonprofit called “The B Lab,” and this idea is going global. It’s cool and I’m completely in love with the concept. It is basically a process that a company can go through that will promote transparency and contribute to the common good, while still making a profit. He adheres to what is known in the accounting world as “the triple bottom line.” This means that people and the planet are given the same consideration as benefits. I also know of some very large companies that have joined this movement, such as Ben and Jerry’s and Etsy. However, know that at this time, not all 50 states recognize a profit corporation as a real legal entity. Other states have approved a kind of hybrid that resembles a profit corporation, but is not called that. But, if your state does not recognize this type of legal entity, you can still participate in the B Lab certification process if you wish. This concept is also known as “Corporate Responsibility” or “Ethical Capitalism”. As of April 2015, there are more than 1,200 certified B corporations in 41 industries in 121 countries. If you want a more detailed explanation of what a B corporation really is, feel free to watch this YOUTUBE VIDEO.

• The second movement is a host of platform-based initiatives that are happening. These methods actually use a third-party process that has the ultimate goal of creating a positive impact on society. This is essentially when a business sector, a non-profit sector, a government and / or an individual acts as an investor in a company that intends to improve this world. Each mix has its own crazy method when it comes to investing for social impact and measuring your effort. This concept is known as “Impact Investing” or “Social Impact Investing”. According to the Global Impact Investing Network, also known as GIIN (pronounced JEN), there is approximately $ 60 billion invested globally for this specific move, and like ice cream, there is not just one flavor. Feel free to visit their website at: www.thegiin.org for more information. Again, it’s a pretty good thing.

Confused yet?

Do not be. Think of all of this as a really cool Van Gough painting where all the colors stand out but nonetheless complement each other and are connected in some way. Up close, it looks like a mess. But when you step back and look at everything, it takes your breath away.

For the sake of giving you more information, here is another YOUTUBE VIDEO explaining CSR from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Do I think any of these stated ideals will fix everything? No. I can see how some of these methods need to be modified and some may even fail.

I also know that there are many critics at heart who express their opinions on social enterprise.

But you know what? I liken all these concepts to a rage against the death of light in this crazy world we live in. This is a step in the right direction and God bless those who have honest intentions with some of this and are really trying to make a difference. That concept, ladies and gentlemen, makes me feel a little better, and it should do the same for you, too. If that makes me a naive little Pollyanna, so be it.