I am a big fan of global accounting giant Deloitte LLC, a professional services company that takes corporate philanthropy and social responsibility very seriously.
Deloitte LLC CEO Barry Salzberg (photo h/t Washington Post)
According to Deloitte CEO Barry Salzberg, the role of corporate philanthropy is going through some big changes.
Deloitte certainly writes a lot of checks for the benefit of non-profit organizations; it is one of the-most philanthropic companies in the U.S. and the globe.
But company-culture is about ”getting (your) hands dirty;” through skill-based volunteerism, Deloitte leverages the talent of thousands – its accountants, consultants, and executive-management – to help non-profit organizations “run better businesses.” As a result, communities improve and people in need are empowered by developing the skills necessary to get well-paying jobs and better manage their personal finances.
Salzberg has posted a terrific piece in the online edition of today’s Washington Post. Here he discusses how the role of corporate philanthropy has changed:
What I find so exciting in this shift is the blurring of roles — non-profits and social entrepreneurs behave more like businesses, and for businesses, there is a sweet spot where social mission merges with the organization’s strategic interests.
Corporate Social Responsibility is an essential part of the triple-bottom-line: profit, people, planet. By going beyond “cutting checks” Deloitte connects its talent to the communities it serves, and helps make life better for millions of people in need.
