Blog

Maximizing Impact While Maintaining CSI Spend (part I)

In the face of a challenging economic landscape, many companies find themselves confronted with tough decisions regarding their Corporate Social Investment (CSI) or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budgets. As belts tighten and resources become scarce, it may be tempting to cut back on such expenditures. However, a strategic shift in...

How to Plan a Successful Fundraising Strategy

Philanthropy fundraising is an essential part of many non-profit organizations and plays a critical role in supporting their mission. Creating a successful fundraising strategy in South Africa requires creativity, patience, and persistence. However, it can be challenging to come up with effective fundraising strategies. So where do you begin? How...

Charity is Not Always Admirable

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company's obligation to contribute to the well-being of society. Companies all over the world have implemented CSR programs, and South Africa is no exception. However, there is concern that the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing electricity blackouts, and the Russian invasion have decimated South...

Ignoring the Care Work African Women Do: How CSR Initiatives Geared Towards African Female Entrepreneurship may be Missing the Mark

“Supporting women entrepreneurs is just good business”. These are the words of the Senior Vice President and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa, Aida Diarra. And while many companies would agree, are they doing enough? According to the 2019/2020 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the African continent has seen the largest rise in female entrepreneurs across...

The Key Lesson from the Royal Dutch Shell Seismic Survey Saga

The renowned Dutch oil company, Shell, recently expressed an interest in exploring potential hydrocarbon reserves beneath the seabed along South Africa’s Wild Coast. Royal Dutch Shell Plc had initially received the go ahead from the department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the South African High Court to conduct a seismic survey along South Africa’s...

Greenwashing: Corporate Social Responsibility Gone Wrong.

“Organic”, “Environmentally friendly”, and “Sustainable” are just a few of the buzz words that have dominated the business and CSR space in the last few years. Consumers are increasingly attentive to the environmental and social issues that plague society today, and companies are required to engage in corporate social responsibility...

A Social Impact Assessment is imperative for sustainable investments.

Over the last few years education has become a key focal point for the private sector’s CSR in South Africa. As a result, several deserving learners and students have been the lucky recipients of bursaries and scholarships allocated by large corporates. Many of these bursary recipients have gone on to become sought-after professionals with...

CSI Doesn’t End When the Product Leaves the Store

Retail fashion giant H&M introduced an initiative called "The Garment Collection Programme" that encourages the recycling of textiles. Customers are encouraged to drop off a bag of unwanted items of clothing at H&M stores around the globe. The textiles are then sent to recycling plants where they are sorted for...