CSR Consultant and CEO Chris Hammond On the Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility Done Well
Corporate Giving Connection CEO and CSR consultant Chris Hammond was interviewed for the article “Aerospace and Defense Companies Making a Difference in Their Communities” by Edward Goldstein for the Summer 2017 issue of the Aerospace Industries Association Executive Report. The following is an excerpt from that interview with a link to read the entire article on the magazine’s website.
Aerospace and defense companies not only create great products, but they also contribute to U.S. leadership in the global economy through inventive corporate social responsibility projects that strengthen communities and improve conditions in their backyards and around the planet. And if done strategically, corporate social responsibility activities can help create a positive company brand with their customers, and provide employees an opportunity for personal and professional growth in new areas through volunteer activities.
This is the thinking that motivated Chris Hammond, the CEO of Corporate Giving Connection, to start a consultancy for companies who want to upgrade their community relations activities. “One of the key services that we focus on is working with companies on their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs,” says Hammond. “We believe that Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Accenture, Northrop Grumman, and companies like them, do an incredible job not just giving back to the community, but also giving their employees an opportunity to engage with the community. These companies are communicating their CSR efforts properly, and it has had a positive impact on retaining top talent, attracting millennial talent and increasing profitability.”
Hammond adds, “While there are many aerospace and defense companies giving back, several of these companies aren’t leveraging strategic communications around their charitable giving campaigns. At Corporate Giving Connection, we believe that corporate social responsibility and community engagement can be an opportunity for aerospace and defense companies to make a positive impact in their community while attracting top young talent. It’s important in today’s climate and with the now dominant presence of the millennial generation to show that your company is responsible and cares about the community it serves. According to findings from the 2015 Cone Communications Millennial CSR Study, millennials say they are prepared to make personal sacrifices to make an impact on issues they care about, whether that’s paying more for a product—70 percent— or taking a pay cut to work for a responsible company—62 percent.” Read the full article.