Lighting Fires

Building Bridges
ESV and Corporate Civic Engagement
Tracy Chambers

What?
Civic Engagement
Individual and collective actions designed to identify
and address issues of public concern.
Individual volunteerism, organizational involvement,
electoral participation
Corporate Social Responsibility
commitment to operating in an economically,
socially and environmentally sustainable manner

ESV
Definition:
Employees perform work in the community
with some form of support and/or
encouragement from their employer to do
so.
Action step or implementation for CSR
programs.

Whats in it for- Employer?

Enhanced Reputation
Attract Employees
Improved ROI
Appreciation for
benefits
Strengthens Value
Chain

Customer Loyalty
Retain Employees
Employee Skill
upgrades
Leadership
Development

Whats in it for- Employee?

Skill upgrades:
Planning/Budgeting
Organizational/Time
People, negotiating
Leadership
Accountability

Self-Esteem
Stress Management
Communication
Creative Decision
Making
Team Work

Whats in it for- NPO?

Skilled Volunteers
Reliable Source of Volunteers
Strategic Community Partner
Internal Capacity Building
Individuals who volunteer are more likely to
contribute $.

Methodology:
Literature Review- research
On-line Survey- non-profits
Interviews- non-profits & business
Virtual Brainstorming- stakeholders

Findings: Research
ESV growing component of CSR
National Programs
1%
National Corp Challenge

Disconnected Stakeholders
Quantitative benefits

Findings: Executives
Personal belief- right thing to do
Volunteers Personally, passion
Majority of Companies do not reflect this
Unaware of Best Practices
Unaware of Tangible Benefits of ESV
Unaware of National Programs

Findings: Companies
Corporate Civic Engagement is Ad Hoc
Contribute if asked(>1%)
Not linked
Strategic plan
Value chain

Not leveraging skills or opportunities.

Best Practices:
Link ESV:
Value Chain
Strategic Plan/ Competitive Advantage

Strategic Partnerships with NPO

Engage all levels of Organization
Flexible, reflective of culture.

Main Findings:
Perceived Fragmentation of Stakeholders
Internally Motivated Business Sector, ad hoc
in practice
Strong business case for implementation

So who wouldnt?
Internally Motivated Executives
Furthers strategic direction
Personally volunteer

Increased ROI
Leadership Development

Upgraded skill sets

RIGHT thing to do

Builds Capacity of NPOs

Increased Customer Loyalty

Self Esteem
Increased Retention

Strengthens competitive advantage

Scalable Best Practices

Attracts new employees

Where Now?

Lighting Fires:
Pilot Project
Round Table
Stakeholders; NPO, Business, NGO,
Government, Community, etc.
How can we work together?
Spreading the flame- invite others in.

What Next?

Building Bridges
Mid-Sized Business needs to:
First Adopter Advantage
Scale ESV programs
Economic Advantages
Learn from Big Guys.
Think BIG or go home

ESV, Corporate Civic Engagement

Good for the bottom line
Good for the individual
Good for society
Questions?