How disaster-ready are you as a CSR leader?

Australian businesses have the capability and responsibility to support communities during all stages of a disaster, write Good2Give and corporate2community ahead of their upcoming Corporate Disaster Philanthropy event.

Every year, Australian communities face catastrophic impacts of disasters – both natural and human-induced. Sadly, the prevalence of bushfires, flooding and drought occurring are certain to increase – with predictions alluding to disasters becoming more frequent, more destructive and compounding. And, as we so recently witnessed close to our own backyard, the threat and impact of terror is very, very real.

Such events mean that now more than ever, communities are relying on support from more than the government and not-for-profit sectors – from the private sector too.

Australian businesses have the capability and responsibility to support communities during all stages of a disaster. There is a real opportunity for businesses – and their corporate social responsibility leaders within them – to step up, raise their hands and prepare the community to build resilience and leadership so that when their time of disaster-impact comes, they will not just survive, but thrive.

Join us at our upcoming event on 15 May to see how you can play your part.

Your community is waiting for you. The latest Edelman Trust Barometer showed that 71 per cent of Australian employees believe it is critically important for employers to respond in challenging times.

The 2019 Australian Communities Trends Report shows that Australians are increasingly “need responders” with two in five (40 per cent) more likely to give when they hear about a need or issue. This highlights the increasing need for corporates to have a plan in place as we are seeing a key giving trend for our Australian donors to give during disasters.

Currently, a majority don’t have an effective plan as to how they will support Australian communities before, during and/or after a disaster. Their support is ad-hoc or misses the mark on what the community truly needs. Without a strategy, it becomes “support for support’s sake” and we have the opportunity to make our donors funds go further and deliver a greater impact.

So, how do businesses determine what their role should be when a disaster strikes?

Part of this process is considering the “who” that they want to support. This can be achieved when CSR leaders determine the “why”. While many businesses and donors give generously during disasters, most don’t question why they are giving in the first place. Is it to be a good corporate citizen, to be at the forefront to your competitors, or because the charitable organisations that you’ve had a long-term relationship with needed some extra support?

Irrespective of what your motive is, if a business has a Community Disaster Support Plan – the answers are right there before anything has even happened. In the aftermath of a disaster, one of the biggest challenges is understanding the needs of the impacted community and finding the best and fastest way to assist them. The only way a business can determine how to support a community is by knowing what they need and what you can offer before the disaster occurs. Being prepared to support is the best support you can offer and will ensure less economic and social recovery post-disaster.

If you are a corporate social responsibility leader and would like to know how you can better support Australian communities before, during and after disasters, then come and join the Corporate Disaster Philanthropy event in Sydney on 15 May 2019.

The event hosts, Good2Give and corporate2community, welcome all CSR leaders to the half-day workshop on Corporate Disaster Philanthropy.

During the workshop, corporate2community director and founder Renae Hanvin will challenge attendees on their current strategic approach to supporting communities before, during and/or after disasters.

A special guest speaker Wayne Thomson, from Rural Aid, will share some real-time issues that are impacting Australian communities, and Kerry Brooker from Good2Give will share innovative tools and techniques to support your giving strategies.

The event details are:

Date: Wednesday May 15, 2019

Booking: Essential. Click here to secure your spot.