Partnering businesses with charities can unlock 'intellectual assets' and empower employees
Klara Kozlov, Head of Corporate Clients at CAF, responds to Lord Hodgson's article on the rights and responsibilities in the corporate sector.
Lord Hodgson is right to point out that businesses can hugely benefit from working with charities and that the most valuable support they have to offer is not always financial but can be the unlocking of its intellectual assets and the power of its people.
Business can be a valued and important partner when it comes to tackling key social issues and working towards creating a better society. Increasingly businesses recognise a need to act responsibly and fulfil a number of environmental and social agendas, in which they can make a measurable and sustained impact.
There is huge appetite among businesses to work with charities. Last week’s #givingtuesday saw hundreds of UK firms including retailers, banks and media companies uniting to support good causes. But, as CAF’s research shows, the public often significantly underestimates companies commitment to charitable giving and good causes. To improve perceptions of corporate giving, it is vital that businesses work even harder to be transparent, and regularly report on how they fulfil their charitable commitments and deploy their assets to deliver sustained social change.
