June 2018 Newsletter

Community Investment Has a Key Role to Play in a Diversity & Inclusion Strategy

Diversity & Inclusion is of growing importance to employers all over the world. At the November 2017 LBG Canada conference we explored the role of volunteering as a tool for new employee experiences and broadening personal horizons. But what is the role of community investment?

Former TD Bank Group CEO, Ed Clark, said it best. TD Bank Group’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ agenda wasn’t believed internally until it was communicated externally. Demonstrating commitment to LGBTQ+ employees resonated when TD expressed that commitment publically, outside of the walls of the bank. A true example for all companies and employers to follow. No matter where you choose to action to embrace diversity across your organization, your actions will be more visible to employees when they’re supported by strong, genuine, expressions of that same commitment outwardly, i.e. in community.

Thank you for your participation on June 5th. Conference resources and background reading can be found here if you were unable to join us. And please click here and tell us about your experience!

We look forward to seeing how your community investment actions are contributing to the Diversity & Inclusion agenda.

Community Investment Has a Key Role to Play in ReconciliACTION

At the LBG Canada Western Conference Kelly Lendsay, President and CEO of Indigenous Works, spoke to the top 10 concrete actions that community investment professionals within companies dedicated to the reconciliation agenda can take to make progress using their community investment strategy.

1. Think internal first – What new initiative have you done to improve your cultural awareness/competence among your staff, throughout your organization?
2. Community priorities – Get to know the community socio-economic priorities to increase your knowledge and understanding
3. Design and build your community partnership strategy as part of your community investment plan
4. Programs and services
5. Institutional development
6. Innovation and research
7. Be inclusive, ie. two-spirited
8. How are you communicating your community investment strategy and programs to the Indigenous community?
9. Seek support and commitment internally and externally, ie. resources group or network? – What new ideas have your employee network offered to build your Indigenous employment strategy. How do they connect with community and support your community investment strategies?
10. Tell your story – Communicating your community investment strategy, goals and achievements.

For more information on Kelly and the expertise he brought to the conference, please click here.

What is Community Investment’s Role in the Social & Human Protocol

The Social and Human Capital Protocol is now open for public consultation. As the practice of measuring social impact evolves and gains momentum, companies are increasingly calling for a harmonized approach to measure and value their interactions with people and society.

The Protocol was initially developed by WBCSD with aims to help business measure and value intangible assets such as skills, competencies, consumer trust and the importance of establishing closer relationships with regulators and local communities. At present, the role of community investment, employee volunteering and giving strategies are not reflected in the protocol document, and yet we know these activities can play an important role in strengthening and enabling human and social capital to flourish around an employer, when implemented strategically.

Interested in the protocol’s development? Click here. Contribute to the consultation process, they want to hear from you. While the first consultation will be closing soon, the process is intended to be one of ongoing development.

It’s Reporting Season!

May and June are always interesting as CSR, Sustainability, Community Investment and Integrated reports are released. Let’s look at some new and excellent examples of community, volunteering and social reporting.

LoyaltyOne Case Study – The use of the LBG Impact Measurement Framework to encourage companies to establish metrics early on and measure depth of impact over time.

Upcoming Dates

June 19^th, 2018 – Review of 2018 Benchmarking Results (Community Investment)

June 21^st, 2018 – Review of 2018 Benchmarking Results (EV&EG)

June 28^th, 2018 – Using Your A&B Report for Planning and Performance

International Corner – Australian Businesses Changing the World Through Collaboration by Simon Robinson, Director LBG Australia and New Zealand

Simon Robinson, Director of LBG Australia and New Zealand explores how the UN Sustainable Development Goals present a blueprint to fix the world, but can only be achieved through collaboration between government, NGOs and business. Click here to read Simon’s guiding principles of collaborating for SDG success.