I knew it! But it’s nice to know that 10,000 consumers in 10 countries confirm my belief: Companies have a responsibility to promote social good and consumers will support those who do.

Book Shows Businesses How Social Responsibility Can Improve Profits

by Geri Stengel on Nov 29, 2011 - 12:20am

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Despite what Gordon Gekko of Wall Street fame said, greed isn’t good. Not for the planet, not for communities, and not for the corporate bottom line.

Five Reasons To Be Optimistic About Corporate Social Responsibility

by Geri Stengel on Jul 7, 2011 - 12:12am

corporate governance corporate social responsibility corporate volunteerism impact investing Social Responsibility

When a report comes out advising big corporations to ignore social responsibility and focus only on profit, I could get depressed.

The report argues that creating jobs is all the social responsibility that businesses need do; everything else will take care of itself if people have jobs. The report does not mention living wages or health benefits but that’s another issue.

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Social Responsibility Leads To Bigger Profits

by Geri Stengel on Jun 7, 2011 - 12:11am

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I think they got it! Two items this week give me confidence that there’s been a sea change in corporate thinking: The planet and the customer now count. It’s a business model that small businesses can profit from as well.

Back in ‘05 or so, Walmart got on the green bandwagon, designing greener packaging, cleaning up its supply chain, and generally opting for sustainability. It did not do this to help the environment; it wanted to improve its bottom line. And it succeeded.

5 Steps to Greater Profitability ... Starting at the Bottom

by Geri Stengel on May 27, 2010 - 9:45am

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I've always been an advocate of treating all employees well and now the research is in that supports my contention.

Profit at the Bottom of the Ladder found that there is a link – unexpected by the researchers – between improved conditions for bottom-rung employees and profit. They expected to find that companies could provide good benefits to low-level employees and still be profitable. But they found much more. They found that well-treated low-level employees increased company profits.

10 Tips for Sourcing Ethical Suppliers in Developing Countries

by Geri Stengel on Apr 27, 2010 - 10:45am

corporate social responsibility ethical sourcing quality control small business owner social audit social enterprise Social Entrepreneurship workplace conditions

You want to be socially responsible, to buy from suppliers who treat their workers well and provide quality products. Very nice. But the practice is more complicated than the vision.

According to a study by the Chinese government and reported by Asia Inspections, nearly 80% of private Chinese firms violate employee rights and have not signed contracts with their employees.

6 Simple Ways for Nonprofits, Funders to Make A Big Change

by Geri Stengel on Mar 23, 2010 - 10:00am

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"Catalyze" is a great word, a great concept: to bring about or inspire change. It implies that a small action will cause other, bigger things to happen.

That's why the "6 Ways to Catalyze Change" list caught my eye. It was put together by the NASSCOM Foundation, an organization based in India that uses information technology to improve people's lives. It reminds us all that simple things can make a big difference.

Competency Doesn't Mean Heartlessness: Businesses Can Be Profitable and Compassionate

by Geri Stengel on Mar 11, 2010 - 11:45am

corporate social responsibility entrepreneur ethics Small Business small business owners Social Responsibility socially responsible

I've said my piece about the competency of nonprofits – they are competent! – but now I have to speak up for businesses – they can be trustworthy, compassionate, and ethical.

That is not the perception of businesses in the survey recently published by Stanford University. The study indicated that nonprofits are viewed as trustworthy and incompetent. It found that corporations are viewed as competent but not trustworthy or "moral."

You Can't Be Socially Responsible Without Ethical Standards

by Geri Stengel on Jan 24, 2010 - 5:09pm

business ethics corporate social responsibility entrepreneurs social enterprise social entrepreneurs Social Responsibility social responsibility

A strong sense of ethics is essential to social enterprises, corporate social responsibility, and any business, small or large, that wants the respect and loyalty of their customers. Ethics is an important part of doing well while doing good, so Ventureneer has joined forces with Business Ethics, the Magazine of Corporate Responsibility.

The Definition of Social Responsibility Needs to Encompass Both Our Business and Personal Side

by Geri Stengel on Jan 3, 2010 - 5:21pm

Commentary / Opinion corporate social responsibility definition of social responsibility How To personal social responsibility social enterprises Social Responsibility socially responsible

The general term "social responsibility" is defined as the obligation corporations, organizations, and individuals have to society.

These days, the definition of social responsibility seems to include everything from personal health choices so you don't add to the country's health care burden to providing health care benefits to employees.

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