I have discussed the role that volunteer work and philanthropy can play in an organization, enabling entrepreneurs and their staff members to pursue causes near to their hearts while providing the added benefit of boosting the companies' image. However, sometimes charity runs and volunteer days are not enough to make a sustainable difference. Michael Porter, a professor at the Harvard [...]
In past posts, I have discussed the importance of entrepreneurs and businesses giving back to their communities through their time, talent or treasure. These socially minded activities work not only to serve your stakeholders, improve the lives of others and allow you to focus on causes near to your heart, but also provide opportunities for networking and even marketing your business. I [...]
Having too narrow a view of what constitutes a commitment to the community can prevent your business from getting involved in corporate philanthropy. Yet it's possible to contribute to nonprofits not only through monetary donations, but with the gift of your time and/or your talents. A firm may not have the extra revenue to write a check in support of a cause or local charity, but [...]
Although the News of the World phone-hacking scandal came to a head more than one year ago, the story continues to serve as a prime example of what can go wrong when a business' operations become too far removed from its core values. The incident also sparked debates about internal and external governance, media ethics and corporate responsibility. A lack of oversight and a failure to drill the [...]
When you are focused on building your business, offering services for free may sound like it should be at the top of your What Not To Do list. After all, why give away what you can charge for? However, while pro bono work does not bring in money, it can have a plethora of other important benefits that should not be overlooked. "Pro bono" is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "pro bono [...]