Corporate social responsibility is more than writing a cheque or shipping items to a local charity. These are good, but more and more businesses want to make a greater community impact. It’s all about the bigger picture: your business works in the community where your employees and their families live. Corporate social responsibility is community social responsibility. It is good business, which strengthens your business’ reputation, helps you market and recruit some of the best talent, highlights good intentions and provides a positive example for employees.

In 2007, our community sponsors:

• gave 397 corporate donations worth $2.6 million
• supported and organized 1,800 workplace campaigns
• loaned us 38 of their employees to our Loaned Representative program
• donated more than $1 million worth of goods and services in-kind through our Gifts in-Kind program
• made up a segment of our 14,000 volunteer force
• sponsored events, printed materials, signage and other types of collateral
  
  
They did so for various reasons:

• connect with others in the community
• reach a target demographic
• communicate or demonstrate their corporate social responsibility focus
• boost employee morale
• receive visibility in the community
• marketing purposes
• public relations

At United Way/Centraide, we can help you structure your corporate social responsibility investment in a manner that responds directly to the needs of your overall business strategy. Check out Sponsorship Opportunities at a Glance and Menu of Sponsorship Opportunities for more details on our many sponsorship opportunities, as well as how you can become a sponsor and make a difference in our community. Each of these opportunities can be tailored to meet your company’s specific needs.

Contact: sponsor@unitedwayottawa.ca.