By Livi Kerszenbaum, Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not a practice reserved for large corporations; it is a vital thread that strengthens the bonds between businesses and the people they serve. For small businesses, CSR is a worthwhile opportunity to factor into resource allocation as a way to demonstrate that the size of a company does not limit the size of its heart or the reach of its care.

As leaders and entrepreneurs, we are continuously presented with opportunities to make a difference. However, these may also come with their own set of challenges. Here are some common hurdles small businesses may face:

1. Resource Allocation: Small businesses often operate with limited resources, both in terms of finances and workforce. Allocating funds and employees to CSR initiatives can be challenging when the primary focus is on maintaining profitability and daily operations.
2. Lack of a Clear Framework: Unlike other business activities, there is no established framework for CSR. This means small businesses must create their own strategies and methods for implementing CSR initiatives, which can be a complex and time-consuming process.
3. Balancing Business Goals with Social Goals: Small businesses must find a way to align their CSR initiatives with their business objectives. This balance is crucial to ensure that the CSR efforts contribute positively to the business’ bottom line while also making a social impact.
4. Community Engagement: While small businesses are often more connected to their local communities, they may face difficulties in engaging these communities in their CSR efforts. Building partnerships and gaining community support require time and effort.

By being aware of these challenges and planning accordingly, small businesses can successfully integrate CSR into their business models and make a positive impact on society and the environment.

And the great news is you don’t have to do it alone! Orange County United Way has been partnering with local small businesses to help build and implement highly effective CSR strategies for years.

Hear from Amy Mathieson, President, FirstService Residential, on how Orange County United Way can help implement and elevate CSR for your company like it did for hers.

Orange County United Way is not simply another nonprofit investing in community impact; we are also a business solution for small and medium-sized businesses in the area of social impact.

Think of us as part of your resources and team. Let us do some of the heavy CSR lift.

Our CSR and engagement experts can help you solve the above challenges AND effectively turn those solutions into action. By utilizing our team’s skills and expertise, you can:

1. Prioritize CSR initiatives that align with your business’ core values and capabilities. Consider partnerships with local nonprofits or other businesses to share resources and maximize impact.
   • Here at Orange County United Way, we believe in the power of partnership. Together, we can tackle large and systemic social issues. We also know the players in Orange County and can certainly make the right introductions and connections.
2. Outline your CSR goals, strategies, and metrics. This framework should be flexible enough to evolve with your business’ resource allocation and the community’s needs.
   • At Orange County United Way, we call it an Annual Purpose Plan. But whatever you wish to call it, we can help you identify the strategy and plan out your impact.
3. Establish clear communication channels to report on CSR activities and outcomes. Engage with stakeholders.  Involve them in the decision-making process and offer regular updates.
   • We can provide examples of the many distribution channels and communication styles that best share your impact stories and build your brand value.
4. Build strong relationships with the community by understanding their needs and how your business can serve them. This can lead to more effective and impactful CSR initiatives, as well as even more business partnerships.
   • With 100 years of community impact experience, we have valuable data, reports, and on-the-ground information to help paint the clear pictures.
5. Encourage employee participation in CSR activities. This can increase engagement, boost workforce morale, improve company culture, and provide valuable insights into potential CSR initiatives.
   • Let our Employee Engagement team create and host impactful activities for you that are easy to implement, fun to complete, meaningful to participate in, and that leave a lasting impression on the community and each participant.

We are honored to work with so many small businesses here in Orange County, and have seen first-hand how companies of any size can successfully implement CSR and make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.

Struggling with resource allocation challenges or facing other obstacles in your philanthropic and social impact endeavors?

To learn more about how Orange County United Way can support your small business foster effective Corporate Social Responsibility, reach out to: Livi Kerszenbaum, Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility at LiviK@UnitedWayOC.org