Putnam Consulting Group, Inc.’s Post

Philanthropy often lacks common sense. I spoke with a previous client at a conference a couple of years ago, and I remember them telling me they were struggling to find key staff people, mainly finance 💲 and technology 💻 staff. They were not able to find many candidates because they refused to allow remote employment. They were chasing the dream of creating buzz and excitement around the office again, but, let me be honest, this foundation does not have a lot of buzz and excitement. They had people in offices doing amazing work, but it’s not buzz and excitement. Would you rather have finance and technology staff doing really good work from home, or an office with buzz and excitement that doesn’t really exist? Philanthropists, family offices, family foundations, community foundations, corporate giving programs, and nonprofit organizations: What tightly held beliefs can you let go of to innovate, improve, and leverage change for greater social impact? #ChangeTheWorld #CommunityFoundations #DelusionalAltruism

What if smaller nonprofits had access to the same marketing, tech, and human capital as large corporations? That's the question we tried to answer while launching the PIMCO Pro Bono Corps (PPBC) in partnership with Taproot Foundation back in 2016. With the PPBC, we harnessed not only corporate giving dollars but the goodwill and expertise of employees. Project teams in Orange County and New York worked together over 3 months to scope, research, and manage projects solving a nonprofit's organizational challenge. Teams of employee volunteers worked on target market messaging and outreach strategy projects, strategic planning prep projects, IT-related projects, and more at organizations like Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County (CASA OC), Casa Teresa, and Human Options, Inc.. Over time, many of these employee volunteers became donors and joined boards…there were so many long lasting positive connections and effects! I chose to focus my consulting on corporate giving and volunteering because companies can have an outsized impact. It's not just about the checks you write, but the time and talent your employees can give and the influence and voice your company can lend to a cause. So why don't companies invest in CSR and employee volunteerism? They're afraid: ❌ It will take away from employees' "real work." ❌ That they're too small to make a difference.  ❌ That the projects will become overwhelming, or fail. But listen -- if you let these fears get in the way, you're missing out on creating a special culture at your company. This is the magic piece that’ll help you connect with your community -- and your employees connect with each other and their own changemaking capacity. Just start small. Looking for support or ideas? Reach out, let’s talk. #employeegiving #corporatesocialresponsibility #corporatefoundation #probono #employeevolunteerism

CSR people are in tough positions. Most WANT to do good work...but are navigating the limitations of leadership and company constraints. (That’s why I’m still so grateful to Melinda Bostwick for creating a peer-support group for us back in 2018!) Like any other human being, we’re prone to “checking off the box” instead of getting creative and pushing hard for real connection and impact. Let’s say you want to place a finance executive on a nonprofit’s board...do you know if that organization can effectively use them in that volunteer capacity? Your institutional giving policies require a multiple-page grant report from each nonprofit partner...are you asking that nonprofit to jump through way too many hoops for a $10,000 check? You’ve got a group of 50 volunteers ready to paint a wall on Tuesday...but does that organization really need another beautification project? How many walls do they even have? Instead, here are 3 questions CSR professionals like you can ask your nonprofit partners to spark curiosity and innovation (instead of going through the motions): ➡ “What's the root cause of the issue you're tackling? Can we help you go upstream to address it more comprehensively?” ➡ “What's crucial for you to accomplish your mission? Let's dig deep into your real needs.” ➡ “How can we collaborate to create something meaningful together?” The social impact sector tackles deep-rooted problems. Some needles are moving, and others are stuck. Change isn’t quick or easy. So CSR folks, how have you infused creativity and curiosity into your work? Are there any other questions you’re asking nonprofit partners? Share your advice below!  #corporatesocialresponsibility #corporatefoundation #corporategiving #corporatecitizenship #consciouscapitalism

Great post by Sarah Vagley Middleton with 3 questions CSR professionals can ask onprofit partners to spark curiosity and innovation (instead of going through the motions). Check out the comments on this post too - some great insight from other CSR professtionals.

🚀 Support your nonprofit team for sustained success! 🚀 Nonprofit work can be incredibly demanding, but strong leadership and social support are key to keeping employees engaged and motivated. In this snippet, Jack Slingluff and Patti Brownsord discuss our findings on how meaningful social interactions can reduce stress and enhance employee commitment. 📽️ Watch the full video to discover how Grounded With Data can help your nonprofit thrive: https://lnkd.in/evSrcSMe #NonprofitLeadership #EmployeeWellbeing #StressManagement #GroundedWithData

Check this out: Want to know a not-so-secret secret? Employees excel when they're emotionally invested in their work beyond just the routine. Getting involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, like volunteering at local shelters or supporting fundraising events, adds richness and meaning to their roles. It's more than just being happy with a job; it's about feeling like you're part of something bigger. It means stepping outside the office walls to see a vibrant community, a direct outcome of everyone's combined dedication. Read more about how to increase employee retention and morale through our newest blog: https://hubs.ly/Q02pYJvQ0 #EmployeeRetention #Employees #EmployeeMorale #CorporateProject #CSR #CorporateSocialResponsibility #IMPACTParks

Society/community that benefits from a successful company also works for the company to succeed. This part I remember I came across somewhere recently. Let’s talk about how some companies steer to success in whatever they are doing. There could be two equally capable companies with almost the same product or service and yet we see one going to a far greater degree of success than the other. It is not always for the marketing or financial muscles but something more social./benevolent even.  It is what they give back to the community/country/society. Giving back or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is generally left to the HR departments. And some of them do a good job at this and for some it is just some annual ritual for cleaning the streets or visiting an old age home and spending time with the residents there. More of a photo op. Like we say "charity starts at home" Why don’t we start with making the workplace healthier and happy place where people are happy to go to and spend their 8 hours of the day. Imagine a workplace where businesses hire talented employees who give their best for eight hours each day. It's a place where every employee enjoys their daily work, not because it needs to be done but because they love doing it and staying focused on work instead of FB/IG because they genuinely happy to do what they do."

🤝 Building Lasting Partnerships: Stronger Corporate Partnerships 🏢 As individuals seek purpose in their work lives and corporations strive to align themselves with social justice issues, stronger corporate partnerships are on the rise. Giving USA predicts an increase in corporations aligning with related organizations, especially when targeting Gen Z and Millennials. While individual giving remains significant, the benefits of corporate partnerships go beyond financial contributions. Workplace volunteer programs gain importance as employees seek employers with shared values. Remote work environments have created opportunities for nonprofits to provide group-based volunteer activities, fostering team-building among corporate teams. Furthermore, corporate donation matching programs play a vital role in enticing employees to support causes that matter to their employers. Let's ride the wave of stronger corporate partnerships and create meaningful collaborations that make a lasting impact. #CorporatePartnerships #EmployeeEngagement #SocialImpact

Story time! 📚 I had a previous client approach me saying they were struggling to employ finance and technology staff. They were requiring the positions to be in-person and were not willing to hire remote workers because they missed the "buzz and excitement" of a full office. Let's be honest, this foundation was not a happening, exciting place to be—full or not so full. So let’s think about this. 🤔 The idea of having a “buzzing” office full of people was keeping this foundation from hiring key staff people. By embracing the idea of remote positions, they would open up a whole new 🌎 world of candidates able to provide great finance and tech work to support their cause. This is a prime example of delusional altruism. I wrote a whole book on this topic and how to transform your giving by opening your mind and rethinking your systems. If you want ideas on how to improve your efficacy, give it a read. https://lnkd.in/eJRFFpd #DelusionalAltruism #TransformationalGiving #Philanthropy

🚀 Support your nonprofit team for sustained success! 🚀 Nonprofit work can be incredibly demanding, but strong leadership and social support are key to keeping employees engaged and motivated. In this snippet, Jack Slingluff and Patti Brownsord discuss our findings on how meaningful social interactions can reduce stress and enhance employee commitment. 📽️ Watch the full video to discover how Grounded With Data can help your nonprofit thrive: https://lnkd.in/evSrcSMe #NonprofitLeadership #EmployeeWellbeing #StressManagement #GroundedWithData