Giving Compass' Take:

• The author provides a list of alternative ways to promote CSR initiatives that include donating time at business events, volunteer programs, and sharing stories about employee volunteering. 

• How can companies bolster CSR programs through strategic partnerships with other corporations? 

• Read about the new era of corporate social responsibility. 

Companies large and small have come to understand the public wants businesses to take a leadership role in positively impacting society, because the global community has said that we can eradicate societal challenges that have plagued humans for millennia.

But philanthropic support for an organization does not have to be limited to just money. SMEs can make a social impact in the schools, nonprofits or civic groups in their community in other ways. The following approaches can help your company try out a new CSR relationship or even complement any fundraising you may be doing for a nonprofit in your area.

  • Speaker's Bureau: When you agree to serve as a member of the speaker's bureau for a nonprofit organization, you're providing them even more credibility since you're viewed as a business leader.
  • Business Events: Many SMEs are members of their local chamber of commerce or other business groups, which hold many events throughout the year.
  • Volunteer Programs: Depending on the size of your SME, an excellent way to get to know a nonprofit group better is by allowing your team members to participate in a few hours of community service work, or even a full day of service.
  • Media: If your business is supporting a program or event at your favorite cause, publishing a press release and reaching out to local media groups helps promote the organization, which leads to more donors.
  • Sharing Stories: Finally, an excellent way to demonstrate that you understand the importance of CSR is to share stories about what you do to support a cause in your marketing.

Read the full article about ways to promote CSR by Wayne Elsey at Forbes