AIDSbuzz

For companies wishing to support staff volunteering and giving

Most companies now accept that it is not enough to simply give money to Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs). Both communities and the government are looking to businesses, large and small, to help solve the devastating problems arising from the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Corporate Social Investment (CSI) is all about using the extensive expertise and skills of business, in combination with financial assistance, to help the government and non-profit sector become more effective at service delivery and social upliftment. More and more companies in South Africa are actively supporting community programmes, not only as public relations and marketing exercises, but to also promote a particular corporate vision.

Involving employees in choosing and helping to implement different community initiatives has many additional benefits:

• Increases employee skills through working on and solving very different types of challenges.
• Improves staff morale and job satisfaction, enhancing company loyalty.
• Improves interpersonal staff relations, thereby doubling as an excellent team-building exercise.
• Widens awareness of community problems and helps to break down social and cultural barriers that exist both within business and the wider community.
• Improves the public’s perception of the company and its values. This not only promotes brand loyalty but has the additional benefit of attracting high-calibre recruits.

The non-profit sector in turn benefits by accessing teams of skilled and well-resourced volunteers.