Top CSR Companies That “Walk the Walk” in 2017 By Amy Moynihan, GroundFloor Media

As the year wraps up it is time to look at the top CSR companies that “walk the walk” not just “talk the talk” when it comes to putting socially responsible practices into action. These are the companies that demonstrate a commitment to their local and global community. Here are a few companies leading the way:

Bosch Group: For the Bosch Group, a German multinational engineering and electronics company, sustainability means securing the company’s long-term success while at the same time helping protect the environment for current and future generations. The company continues to operate by the values of founder Robert Bosch, who said, “I have always acted according to the principle that it is better to lose money than trust.”

• Program Highlight:  Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch, which spends dividends exclusively on charitable initiatives. At the same time, the Bosch Group’s corporate

  

IKEA: The IKEA Foundation focuses on the Circle of Prosperity — funding home, health, education, and sustainable income for communities in need. Founder Ingvar Kamprad, said: “We all share basic needs: a secure home, good health, a regular income, a desire to keep our children safe, to see them get a good education and succeed in life.”

• Campaign Highlight: Their Good Cause campaigns in IKEA stores gives co-workers and customers an opportunity to engage with our partners’ work directly. Their latest campaign Let’s Play has children’s right to play and develop at its heart.

Salesforce: Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce sums up corporate social responsibility as, “The business of business is improving the state of the world.” Salesforce has adopted an integrated philanthropic approach called the 1-1-1model (one percent of the company’s equity is set aside for grants in communities where employees live and work, one percent of the company’s product is donated to non-profit organizations, and one percent of each employee’s time is donated to community initiatives).

• Nonprofit Client Highlight: Mile High United Way. Mile High began by adopting Sales Cloud to manage all of their constituent data in one place, including employment history, past giving, issues they care about, volunteer activity and events they’ve attended.

Starbucks: As a company established in the 1970s, Starbucks has always operated with a sensitivity to social responsibility — committed to sustainability and strengthening communities. “One person, one cup, one neighborhood at a time.”

• Sustainable Solutions Highlight: As a company that relies on agricultural products, Starbucks has long been aware that the planet is their most important business partner. To learn more, see their programs on bringing their stores to LEED® building standards and using greener energy, shrinking their environmental footprint with recycling, and pursuing strategies to climate change.

Local CSR HighlightsThere are many companies in Colorado putting CSR programs into practice, but here are two top examples:DanoneWave: This company produces healthful foods that create economic and social value and nurture natural ecosystems through sustainable agriculture. Their website touts: “Every time we eat and drink, we vote for the world we want. As the largest public benefit corporation in the US, DanoneWave is taking bold steps for social good in North America. We’re creating an Alimentation Revolution which means we aim to nourish people, communities, and the world.”

• Nonprofit Partner Highlight: Locally, DanoneWave partners with Community Food Share, a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate hunger in Boulder and Broomfield counties. This partnership aligns shared values so perfectly in finding new ways to ensure food security. Danowave provides volunteers, food donations, marketing programs and funding. They also sponsor/underwriter segment on Colorado Public Radio touting their partnership.

Noble Energy* (*currently a GFM client): Their purpose – Energizing the World, Bettering People Lives ® – is about “producing energy to fuel Coloradans’ lifestyles and improving the lives of those around us.” With this in mind, Noble Energy’s approach to community giving and sponsorships is to focus their investments on three key areas that the company believes are important to the stability and quality of life in their local communities: education and youth leadership, environmental stewardship and health and wellness.