BY GILL ROBINSON HICKMAN
I first became interested in what I call "organizations of hope" in the 1970s. Organizations of hope are companies that engage in social action through employee-volunteering and other action-oriented programs. Their involvement in social responsibility differs from monetary contributions alone, though they make monetary contributions, too. Their employee-volunteering programs and partnerships with nonprofit organizations offer hope for a better society by giving person-to-person and employee-to-community contributions of time, expertise, and commitment.
Still, they must meet their business mission, handle continuous change, and answer to stockholders, corporate boards, and multiple stakeholders.
But companies are proving that they can accomplish all these missions.
Economists and business experts argue employee volunteer programs, especially on company time, are antithetical to the purpose and well-being of business. Yet, internationally volunteer programs continue to increase. Why? Because companies see their future as linked with the community's future. And, because today's stakeholders expect companies to demonstrate responsibility and contribute to the collective good of society beyond their traditional role of job creation. Continue reading Organizations of Hope: Businesses run volunteer programs that build social capital and meet community and business needs