Corporate Social Responsibility Section

Join the discussion on the PRSA International Conference Blog

Click here

The CSR Section is designed to provide members with:
• Resources and a forum to promote the growing importance of corporate social responsibility
• Networking opportunities with leaders in the field to learn of success stories at all types of businesses
• Outreach to other purveyors of corporate and nonprofit business ethics, and
• Thoughtful discussion of how public relations can serve as the wellspring for corporate social responsibility programs.

Specific benefits of being a member of this new Section are growing and many new ideas are under development. Current offerings include:
• An online directory of PRSA members current working in CSR
• Section-sponsored workshop at the annual PRSA International Conference
• Section-sponsored networking dinner for CSR members, guests and prospective members at the International Conference
• Teleseminars throughout the year, many of which are co-sponsored with other PRSA professional development sections
• A virtual library of CSR resources
• Opportunities to become a member of the CSR leadership team

The Corporate Social Responsibility story
Corporate Social Responsibility – or simply CSR – is a management model that encourages ethical values and practices for all sizes of businesses and nonprofits by creating a public relations platform to promote these practices to stakeholders.

The Enron collapse and other corporate ethics failures have underscored the value and viability of ethical corporate practices, although the concept of corporate social responsibility predates these high-profile failures. The controversial failures only raised the temperature of the public debate about the need for corporate financial and management transparency – demands made from many sectors: public interest groups, watchdog organizations, shareholder groups, environmentalists, the media, government and other powerful associations in our society.

Socially responsible practices, for instance, can involve large-scale operations of companies having an impact on world environmental protection or a small business dedicating itself to helping a local youth organization. CSR is a concept that reaches across all businesses and nonprofits large and small.

Benefits of an CSR program
Organizations with successful CSR programs benefit in many ways by:
• Building brand loyalty
• Attracting and retaining high quality employees
• Strengthening partnerships with stakeholders
• Enhancing credibility with various “publics”
• Burnishing the organization’s public image

CSR helps organizations build a bank of good will within their business community – whether it’s the world or small-town America – which can provide credible support not only for business advancement but also to aid in the event of a crisis.

A recent survey of 1,100 CEOs worldwide conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, found more than two-thirds of the CEOs surveyed believe corporate social responsibility is important to profitability and can help prevent the loss of customers, shareholders and employees.

Become part of the newest professional development field in public relations. Learn how to guide your company, clients and career into this growing sphere of professional activity. Join the Corporate Social Responsibility Section today and begin building your future! Sign-up using our convenient online form.