In this long-term, on-going series, we will highlight corporate social responsibility initiatives from all businesses.
For our first post in this series, ColoradoBiz released its Top 250 Private Businesses in Colorado in its November/December 2014 issue ranking businesses by their 2013 gross revenues. We thought it would be interesting to examine five different companies on the list from five different industries to find out what, if any, corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices they implement.
The business descriptions, years in business, and number of employees information is from the ColoradoBiz rankings.
249. 10 til 2
Business Description: Part-time staffing
Years in Business: 11
Number of Employees: 5
CSR Initiatives: 10 til 2 has several initiatives listed on their site that many other small businesses can look at for some easy ideas. 10 til 2 acts as a drop off site of professional attire for the nonprofit, Dress for Success. The choice to work with Dress for Success makes sense and fits well with the 10 til 2 brand as both are achieving a similar goal of getting people jobs. 10 til 2 also includes links to foundations and causes they support on their site, but the depth of these relationships and overall impacts 10 til 2 has on these charities are not listed.
205. Magic Rabbit Car Wash, Detail & Lube Co.
Business Description: Car wash
Years in Business: 9
Number of Employees: 23
CSR Initiatives: This business has locations in Highlands Ranch and Parker. They do not list their community initiatives on their website. However, through some digging, an article from 2010 shows that Magic Rabbit allows the senior class from one of the local high schools to work the day at the car wash and receive a percentage of profits. This type of CSR initiative by Magic Rabbit shows other businesses that no matter what type of good or service offered, there are ways to connect and involve the community. Magic Rabbit also donates items for silent auctions and offers discounts for Douglas County School District Employees and active duty military personnel.
For our first post in this series, ColoradoBiz released its Top 250 Private Businesses in Colorado in its November/December 2014 issue ranking businesses by their 2013 gross revenues. We thought it would be interesting to examine five different companies on the list from five different industries to find out what, if any, corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices they implement.
The business descriptions, years in business, and number of employees information is from the ColoradoBiz rankings.
249. 10 til 2
Business Description: Part-time staffing
Years in Business: 11
Number of Employees: 5
CSR Initiatives: 10 til 2 has several initiatives listed on their site that many other small businesses can look at for some easy ideas. 10 til 2 acts as a drop off site of professional attire for the nonprofit, Dress for Success. The choice to work with Dress for Success makes sense and fits well with the 10 til 2 brand as both are achieving a similar goal of getting people jobs. 10 til 2 also includes links to foundations and causes they support on their site, but the depth of these relationships and overall impacts 10 til 2 has on these charities are not listed.
205. Magic Rabbit Car Wash, Detail & Lube Co.
Business Description: Car wash
Years in Business: 9
Number of Employees: 23
CSR Initiatives: This business has locations in Highlands Ranch and Parker. They do not list their community initiatives on their website. However, through some digging, an article from 2010 shows that Magic Rabbit allows the senior class from one of the local high schools to work the day at the car wash and receive a percentage of profits. This type of CSR initiative by Magic Rabbit shows other businesses that no matter what type of good or service offered, there are ways to connect and involve the community. Magic Rabbit also donates items for silent auctions and offers discounts for Douglas County School District Employees and active duty military personnel.
159. SummitCove.com
Business Description: Property manager for vacation rentals
Years in Business: 10
Number of Employees: 50
CSR Initiatives: Like Magic Rabbit, SummitCove.com does not list their CSR initiatives directly on their website. However, SummitCove.com uses their blog to promote the community efforts. One example is from a post on August 28 of this year, where they posted about the Oktoberfest at Keystone and the new Das Bier Burner 5k Fun Run which benefitted the nonprofit SOS Outreach. This is important as SOS Outreach received free exposure to SummitCove.com customers about the charity and hopefully the run will get more of SummitCove.com visitors to participate while they stay in Keystone. Other businesses can see this simple CSR promotion practice as a way to utilize any resources (SummitCove.com's website and event sponsorship) to help charities gain awareness.
63. R.A. Nelson LLC
Business Description: Construction
Years in Business: 38
Number of Employees: 67
CSR Initiatives: Directly on their landing page is a "Sustainability Projects" link to their work on the Walking Mountains Science Center and several other projects. When clicking on these projects, they detail all the energy, water, and waste reduction measures they have taken. As sustainability is a major facet of CSR and with construction being one of the major industries to have to focus on material usage, it is important for all groups to show how they are not only meeting government standards, but exceeding them.
Business Description: Property manager for vacation rentals
Years in Business: 10
Number of Employees: 50
CSR Initiatives: Like Magic Rabbit, SummitCove.com does not list their CSR initiatives directly on their website. However, SummitCove.com uses their blog to promote the community efforts. One example is from a post on August 28 of this year, where they posted about the Oktoberfest at Keystone and the new Das Bier Burner 5k Fun Run which benefitted the nonprofit SOS Outreach. This is important as SOS Outreach received free exposure to SummitCove.com customers about the charity and hopefully the run will get more of SummitCove.com visitors to participate while they stay in Keystone. Other businesses can see this simple CSR promotion practice as a way to utilize any resources (SummitCove.com's website and event sponsorship) to help charities gain awareness.
63. R.A. Nelson LLC
Business Description: Construction
Years in Business: 38
Number of Employees: 67
CSR Initiatives: Directly on their landing page is a "Sustainability Projects" link to their work on the Walking Mountains Science Center and several other projects. When clicking on these projects, they detail all the energy, water, and waste reduction measures they have taken. As sustainability is a major facet of CSR and with construction being one of the major industries to have to focus on material usage, it is important for all groups to show how they are not only meeting government standards, but exceeding them.
| 1. DCP Midstream LLC Business Description: Natural gas processor Years in Business: 14 Number of Employees: 3,300 CSR Initiatives: Of course we wanted to look at the top private company, DCP Midstream. Like R.A. Nelson LLC, DCP Midstream puts several of the CSR initiatives right on their landing page. As a energy company, they need to focus on their sustainability and how their business operations affect the environment. On the main page is a link to their "Footprint" tracker that allows users to see their assets from around the country. They also have several community initiatives that reinforce their values on safety, sustainability, and people. For example, they are helping returning veterans with their Operation Next program which provides counseling and job training. |   |
What have we learned?
Although we have not researched every company on the list from ColoradoBiz, there are several easy, unique CSR initiatives businesses are using to becoming a good corporate citizenship.
It also reinforces that CSR is for all businesses. It does not matter what size your business is, how long you have been around, what industry you are in, or how many employees you have. The five businesses we observed are in all different fields providing all different goods or services and finding a way to positively interact with the community.
Although we have not researched every company on the list from ColoradoBiz, there are several easy, unique CSR initiatives businesses are using to becoming a good corporate citizenship.
It also reinforces that CSR is for all businesses. It does not matter what size your business is, how long you have been around, what industry you are in, or how many employees you have. The five businesses we observed are in all different fields providing all different goods or services and finding a way to positively interact with the community.
About the Author
Brian Phipps is the Founder and a Strategist at Confluence in Denver, Colorado that consults small and mid-size businesses to increase their positive impacts and community connections in their corporate giving and social responsibility practices. To find out more go to www.ConfluenceLLC.com.
Brian Phipps is the Founder and a Strategist at Confluence in Denver, Colorado that consults small and mid-size businesses to increase their positive impacts and community connections in their corporate giving and social responsibility practices. To find out more go to www.ConfluenceLLC.com.
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