Cara and Corporate Social Responsibility

As a nonprofit organization whose mission is dedicated to serving and elevating our community, it is no surprise that we strongly believe in corporate social responsibility.

Why organizations should strive to make a positive impact in their communities

The Cara community is full of people affected by poverty, motivated to unlock their power and purpose to achieve real and lasting success. By working with a network of partners and supporters who similarly agree that corporate social responsibility matters, we lift community members up and help them adapt to the changing job market—providing opportunities for growth and stability. But we could not meet this mission without our organization’s and our partners’ dedication to improving the world. Here’s why this matters.

What is Corporate Social Responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility refers to a theory that organizations should “conduct their business in a way that is ethical, society friendly and beneficial to the community in terms of development,” according to the Journal of International Social Research. This theory says that, just like individuals, businesses should work toward the common good instead of focusing solely on profits.

However, the meaning of the term has evolved over the years. Previously, an organization showed social responsibility by simply donating to causes they believed in—the act was distant and passive. But today, corporate social responsibility permeates organizations. Companies practice corporative citizenship in every area of the business, including materials sourcing, hiring practices, client relationships, and more. Because of today’s focus on active participation to better the world and communities we share, organizations often put a lot of thought into exercising this responsibility. 

Benefits of Being Socially Responsible

We aren’t the only ones who value socially responsible organizations: consumers also want to support companies whose brand purpose aligns with their beliefs, according to research by Accenture. Companies stand to gain from demonstrating corporate social responsibility—from growing consumer support and strengthening the community around them to attracting and retaining talent. A survey found that 75 percent of employees ages 18 to 34 expect their employer to take a stand on important issues. Moreover, when employees are able to get involved in their employer’s corporate responsibility program, their morale, motivation and commitment increase. 

In our work, we proudly boast about the relationships we’ve developed with organizations in the community. When aligning ourselves with organizations and strategic partners, we look for businesses that want to affect positive change and participate in responsible hiring practices. By supporting the greater community, Cara partners also foster community and purpose within their own organizations as well.

How to Be Socially Responsible with Cara

Improving your local community offers some of the best returns on charitable giving and donations. When people are employed, their lives improve. The income they earn and the confidence they gain allows them to save money, stabilize their housing, reunite their families, and do their part to better the community for everyone. 

And when we say that employed people’s lives improve, we have the numbers to back it up. Our Employee Impact looks at the jobs secured each year by Cara participants. In 2019, we helped participants secure 679 transitional short-term jobs to gain experience and 271 permanent and long-term placements. For those permanent and long-term placements, 71 percent of participants remained in those positions after one year. 

Cara partners feel these benefits. Through our concierge-level service, our candidates are handpicked for your organization to match their professional skill-set and personal values to the characteristics you are looking for in an employee. With this rigor combined with our retention rates, Cara candidates are known as “the ones who stay” for a reason. 

Do you want to improve your corporate social responsibility impact? Contact us to see how we can work together.