Companies with strong reputations as corporate citizens are respected for providing value to society in a comprehensive way – through their products and services, their operational excellence, and their support of the community.

As companies face increasing pressure from stakeholders to address complex societal issues, many are developing programs and initiatives with ambitious social impact goals, but often, without the requisite structure to ensure the programs are effective.

Based on interviews with seven companies exhibiting best practices, client experiences, knowledge of the sector, and TCC’s corporate citizenship framework, we’ve identified four key structural elements that can effectively guide a company in the development of their corporate citizenship structure:

  1. The Engagement of the CEO
  2. The Process of Engaging Senior Leaders
  3. The Role of the Corporate Citizenship Department
  4. The Staffing of the Corporate Citizenship Department and Functions

As companies develop their corporate citizenship approach to align with their purpose and meet increasing stakeholder expectations, their structure should also be improved to ensure effective development and delivery. Commitment by the CEO and senior leadership to integrate corporate citizenship into the operations of the company is essential.

Read the full article about corporate social responsibility by Tom Knowlton at TCC Group.