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Corporate social responsibility – commonly abbreviated to CSR – is an increasingly well-established component of modern business strategy. While the ubiquity of the practice might be growing, many mistakenly assume that the benefits of CSR begin and end with positive “optics” – non-essential, but still nice to have.

CSR initiatives within the corporate environment are growing in prominence. As businesses wake up to the importance of a visible and effective corporate responsibility strategy, an increasing amount of attention and emphasis is being placed on CSR, from the boardroom to the commercial marketplace.

The case for corporate sustainability is mounting. An ever-increasing number of organisations are starting to step up and make changes when it comes to the environmental impact that their activities create. This is not just good news for the planet – increasingly, it’s becoming essential for the progression and success of businesses.

We’re rounding off the year here at KindLink with some good news – we’re delighted to officially announce our partnership with GoodBox. As we head into 2022, KindLink users will be able to leverage our wealth of experience within the online fundraising space, alongside GoodBox’s cutting-edge contactless payment technology. 

Christmas has come early here at KindLink – we’re delighted to announce that we’ve launched our latest feature: free individual fundraising pages!

You can now easily create online fundraising pages to raise money for causes you care about. Donations are safely collected and securely processed, with all funds reaching the charities that you support. That’s right, KindLink will make no charge for this service. Our gift to you, and the good causes you care about.

The concept of corporate philanthropy is nothing new. Businesses have been giving back to the communities around them in some form or another for as long as formalised trade has existed. The first CSR initiatives are thought to date back as far as 1700 BC in Ancient Mesopotamia.

If you’re looking to engage and motivate your workforce, a well-managed volunteering scheme represents a fantastic strategy. The benefits of offering the opportunity to volunteer within a corporate capacity are numerous – from better team cohesion to enhanced professional development. It’s a “win-win” situation for everyone involved.

Aided by a more digitally connected and easily mobilised society, the act of volunteering has experienced something of a revolution in recent times. The worldwide impact of Covid-19 certainly appeared to accelerate people’s desire to help their fellow humans, in a ‘wave of solidarity' that was experienced the world over – something of a surprise, perhaps, given the fact that we had never been more physically isolated from each other.

Even before the exaggerating influence of Covid-19, the importance of CSR for businesses was rising. An estimated 90% of companies on the S&P 500 index published a CSR report in 2019, up from just 20% in 2011. Today, CSR policies represent a key way of communicating and actioning core brand values – important for employee engagement, but also for recruitment and general public reputation.

With Virgin Money Giving announcing its closure, many charities are looking for alternative fundraising platforms. 

The clock is ticking. Non-profit organisations need to find cost-effective, user-friendly solutions ahead of the 30th November 2021 when Virigin Money Giving will cease to operate. Without a new platform, their fundraising efforts are at risk of being impacted, disadvantaged (or even grinding to a halt.)