Individual Social Responsibility (ISR)

Social Stock Exchanges could improve the impact of your giving

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 03:52:00 +0000

Social Stock Exchanges can become an important platform where impact investors and non-profits exist on the same digital platform. As India joins half a dozen other countries that have Social Stock Exchanges, it could provide optimist for the non-profit/social enterprise sectors that have pathbreaking ideas waiting to be funded. More details in the video below.

ESG Primer in a 5 minute Video

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:47:00 +0000

Bridge India has produced a 5 minute video that provides information relevant for corporations and non-profit sector on ESG- Environmental Social and Governance framework. More on the video below.

Working on environmental social and governance issues is every individual's responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 06:26:00 +0000

As we know that companies have been working on harmonising their environmental social and governance (ESG) aspects with the belief that they create better value in doing so. In fact it is every individual's responsibility to be compliant with her actions that impact environment, social and overall governance of families and community around. The latest Bridge India's E-magazine edition focuses on environmental and ESG issues aptly. Read on.... #ESG #Environment #EnvironmentalAction #ClimateChange #CSR #ISR

Government's should not use philanthropic funds to plug budgetary gaps

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 08:03:00 +0000

The Cool Giving, a short humorous video on donating wisely

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 12:27:00 +0000

The Ethical Spies for Fundraising deals non-profit sustainability in a fun way!

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:07:00 +0000

The newly released short film 'The Overhead' deals with non-profits costs

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 07:05:00 +0000

The newly released short film The Overhead deals with the often questioned issue of costs incurred by NGOs and non-profits in a theatrical manner. The central character is a non-profit worker who is being tracked by two spies (Detectives Black & Orange) since she has been on a 'spending spree'. The 'spending spree' when properly observed by the two snoops surprises them and changes their perceptions for ever.

Watch it now, share with your friends and also leave your comment below.

The newly released short film 'The Overhead' deals with non-profits costs

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 07:05:00 +0000

2 days Workshop on Fundraising for NGOs in Bangalore

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Tata companies in the top and bottom of top companies spending on CSR

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Wed, 29 May 2013 07:09:00 +0000

The recently developed CSR 10 India Index 2012 analyses how top 10 private sector profit earning companies fair in terms of CSR spend. Interestingly the salt to steel conglomerate- TATA, has a company topping and tailing the Index.

Click on the CSR 10 India Index 2012 link to download your copy.

CSR 10 India Index 2012 from anuptiwari

Book on Philanthropy with Contributions Around the Globe

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:15:00 +0000

To fill an important gap in non-profit fundraising information, Penelope Cagney and Bernard Ross, went about compiling and editing pieces contributed by leading fundraisers across the world. The result is "Global Fundraising: How the World is Changing the Rules of Philanthropy", published by AFP and Wiley.

The book covers fundraising across countries, regions and continents. Each chapter highly derives on local contributions from fundraisers in respective geographies. In other words, it is collective wisdom, which is not very often available publically in the field of fundraising.

To order copy of this must have publication, please click http://www.amazon.com/Global-Fundraising-Changing-Philanthropy-Development/dp/1118370708#_

Ratan Tata's audacious philanthropic retirement plans

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 09:20:00 +0000

The way to go. India head quartered Tata Group's (globally better known as owners of iconic Jaguar Land Rover) outgoing Chairperson Ratan Tata has audacious philanthropic retirement plans. This despite the existing track record as below.

In 2010 alone, the Tata trusts disbursed Rs 500 crore ($80 million at current exchange rates) to various causes and institutions. In dollar terms, this number would have been higher if the rupee hadn't devalued as much since then. The Rockefeller Foundation, one of the most generous in the world now, disburses $180 million each year. Experts say the Tata trusts are easily among the 10 most generous in the world.

Read more on the link below

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ratan-tatas-audacious-philanthropic-retirement-plans/284136-55.html

Smiling Hospital Foundation India at "Rendezvous with Yourself " - Max Cancer Centre- Max Hospital Saket, New Delhi

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:43:00 +0000

Smiling Hospital Foundation India was yet again at its mission of spreading happiness. This time it was at Max Cancer Centre, Max Healthcare, at their event , “Rendezvous with Yourself” on the 22nd of March, 2012 for cancer survivors.Max Cancer Centre is a comprehensive cancer care centre, providing holistic care for its patients. “Back to Life” is how their experts visualize and define cancer care. Therefore, the underlying principle of holding such an event was to help them rejoice and infuse ‘that’ spark to live in them. The survivors ranged from 5-15 years of age and were too happy to be a part of the event . Their smiles and the zest to live life rubbed on to all present .

Scholarships in Fundraising for Grass Root NGOs

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:10:00 +0000

Very few scholarships are now available

for the very unique

Certificate Course in Fundraising and Communication

conducted by

SAFRG Institute of Fundraising

& Care and Concern Foundation.

Do not miss this opportunity. Call Ph: +91 11 25185110; Mob: (0)9540057641 (Vandana). Or send an email tocourse@safrg.org urgently. Scholarships available to deserving candidates registering within next 7 days only.

Highlights:

You do actual fundraising for leading NGOs in India. Therefore you leave the course with practical fundraising experience.
Course conducted by leading fundraisers who have raised funds for CRY, HelpAge, UNICEF, SOS Children's Villages, Charities Aid Foundation, Plan, Sight Savers and many other NGOs.
Leading CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) practitioners would tell you what they look for in an NGO.
You get the SAFRG certificate that is valued well within the NGO sector.
For people wanting to start a career in fundraising there could be job opportunities
Economical Paying Guest facility for outstation candidates

Course details:

Duration- 20 days, Sept. 5-27, 2011, Mon-Sat, 9 am to 5 pm
Course Fee: INR 27,000 (scholarships available for deserving candidates)
Address of the Campus: J-1, Udyog Nagar, Peeragarhi, New Delhi – 110041, INDIA (near Peeraghari Metro Station, easily accessible by Merto from all parts of Delhi)

"SAFRG is a think-tank on NGO sustainability. In the last 20 years thousands of people have benefited from courses conducted by it".

Smiling Hospital Foundation Of India

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Is happiness only about buying a new dress, going to an exotic location, splurging on material things? Take a pause …..there’s more to life …..happiness also comes from the smiling faces of these lovely , not so blessed , sick children . Thank God for the little mercies and the opportunity to put a smile on their sad faces . Thanks to Smiling Hospital Foundation of India for the magic show put up at Safdurjung Hospital , Delhi on 11^th June , 2011. ( Smiling Hospital Foundation of India) .

SHAREHOLDERS APPROVAL FOR CSR ACTIVITIES

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Wed, 25 May 2011 06:04:00 +0000

To check ad hocism and get more transparency in the system , companies may have to take approval from the shareholders for their philanthropic aspirations.The government has already initiated the process and the New Companies Bill may soon include this condition.

Follow the link below to know more on this

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/05/25/ArticleHtmls/Shareholder-approval-key-for-CSR-activities-25052011703002.shtml?Mode=1

Philanthropy in a Big Way

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Wed, 11 May 2011 05:47:00 +0000

One more Indian has joined the big league of Philontropists. Indian born Vinod Khosla and his wife Neeru have pledged half of their vast fortunes estimated at $1.4 billion (Rs 6,300 crore) to charity .The 56-year-old Khosla is Silicon Valley’s most prominent “green” venture capitalist and a dominant personality in the cleantech community. Follow the link to know more about this this link http://www.hindustantimes.com/Vinod-Khosla-pledges-half-his-1-4-bn-fortune-to-charity/Article1-695443.aspx

Giving Is Growing

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Wed, 11 May 2011 05:12:00 +0000

Indians since time immemorial have believed in giving , be it in kind or in terms of financial assistance. People have come up a long way moving from charity to philanthropy. Families and individuals are moving from a more traditional model, from large-scale gifts to schools, colleges and hospitals, to a more hands-on model of giving. It is more planned and done in a more professional way now . The mindset of leaving all behind for the next generation is also changing . Now the entrepreneurs are building trusts and happily pledging part of their wealth to charity. The movement is on and the day when India will be a super power in terms of both economic and philanthropic en devours is not very far. As per a 2010 study philanthropic donations in India amount to 0.6% of GDP vis-a vis 2.2% of GDP in U.S. To know more about this go on to the following link.

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleBlog.aspx?art=11_05_2011_010_013&mode=1&PublicationID=47

Corporations also recognise ISR

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Appeejay Surendra Group, an Indian business house has created an ISR- Individual Social Responsibility Portal. The portal mainly focusses on employee volunteering. Here take a look by clicking on the link http://isr.apeejaygroup.com/

Volunteering & Individual Social Responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:31:00 +0000

Piece contributed by Archi Basu, Coordinator Volunteer Management, Udayan Care.

When 17-year-old Ruby opens a letter from her 'big' friend Zuleikha Gupta, 25, she is all smiles. Ruby, whose family income is barely Rs 7000 a month, has known Zuleikha, who works for Sesame Street, for mor e than six months now.
Zuleikha, Ruby, Akshay and Sanju, along with other 40 volunteers are part of the Big Friends Little Friends Programme in India that began in March 2010. The long term accompaniment programme was introduced by Udayan Care, a Delhi-based NGO in partnership with New Path Foundation, USA. The programme gives a young person (little friend) between age 12-17 years the opportunity to gain the friendship of a sincere adult (big friend) who is at least 6 years elder to the little friend.
“We are not telling them about what is right or what is wrong, we don't teach them either but we are just there to help them and at times they are there for us as well,” says a volunteer and big friend Nandini Sharma. Her little friend is 17-year old Manisha. When Manisha's elder sister was sick, Nandini was there to support the teenager.
Udayan Care, since 1994, have been supporting disadvantaged children women and adults reach their true potential and lead a life of dignity and self reliance. We nurture relationships that transform orphaned children in our long-term foster homes, disadvantaged girls in our education scholarships, underserved youth and adults in our IT & Vocational training centres, and children affected by HIV in our outreach programme. We have served more than 7500 people in 8 cities and advocate for children's rights and protection.
“12 to 17 years is a crucial age in a child’s life when they need proper guidance. Friendship and the sense of belongingness play a major role in that process. The adolescents find friends in the young professionals where both experience the true joy of sharing and a sense of contentment that comes with the bonding. Thus through this friendship both the big and the little friend brings positive change in each other’s life”, says Avik Swarnakar, Director volunteer Management with Udayan Care.
The programme is based on a long term one-on-one volunteer service. It is a voluntary and altruistic work without material payback. Unlike some other voluntary services (e.g. picking up garbage is a good service whether you do it once or you do it forever), there is a minimum time commitment of one year for this service. This is because it is believed long term and consistent caring is a very important factor in building confidence and happiness in people.
It is believed, in accompaniment, there is no purpose or expectation. Accompaniment neither necessarily means helping the other person in solving his problems, nor an intent to change the other person. Accompaniment shows itself through caring with equality.Accompaniment without expectation is wonderful but it is also hard to achieve. We can work towards not to expect appreciation from our beneficiaries, and not to expect approvals from the society, etc., and gradually, we will be closer to the state of accompaniment without expectations and closer to be ourselves freely.
“The idea is not for the big friend to be a mentor for the little friends but to treat each other as equal and honest friends who do not look at material gains but rather, a strong moral and emotional support, highlights”, Dr. Kiran Modi, Managing trustee of Udayan Care.
While the little friends gain their much needed support and encouragement from the bonding, the big friend experience personal growth and a feeling of contentment as they grow together with their little ones.
Udayan Care’s Big Friend Program in India is a group of idealistic people providing this little platform mindfully. As we walk together on this path of joyous service, we wish we can happily be ourselves, loving companions for the people we serve, and caring teammates for each other. May we often walk in the path of love, and may t his loving accompaniment brings peace, abundance, and joy to those around us.
“When I first came to know about this programme. I got really enthusiastic to learn more about this altruistic service that people do without any materialistic paybacks”, says Rupa Mahajan from Swati project. Realizing that the need of such programme among adolescents from our Kanak Durga community (in the heart of RK Puram sector 12 in South Delhi), we work in partnership with Udayan Care with an intention to reach out to more needy and disadvantaged children to foster such relationship.
Indeed it’s a joyous path and the Big Friend gets a chance to grow up once again with his Little Friend. And truly, we would all want to grow up once again!

ISR growing in India

noreply@blogger.com (Shweta Shukla) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 04:18:00 +0000

The corporate honchos in India have actively started giving from their personal wealth than company coffers. This is what ISR is about. First it was Shiv Nadar, Co-founder of HCL; Azim Premji of Wipro followed the next. And now Vineet Nayar, Vice Chairman of HCL Technologies follows suit by giving from his personal wealth.

But the similarity is that all are putting their millions into family owned non-profits. This makes their contributions debatable. But it is a good start, I am sure some of this wealth would find way into supporting existing non-profits who are already doing the same work.

Click on the links below to read more about their ISR initiatives.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-company/corporate-trends/HCL-Techs-Nayar-divests-own-stake-for-charity/articleshow/7063225.cms

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Premji-s-2-bn-gift-to-charity-individual-act-not-CSR-initiative/Article1-634769.aspx

Giving as a percentage of GDP

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:52:00 +0000

Last evening there was this panel discussion on NDTV Profit on giving as a corporate culture. The participants, corporate honchos, did not have much to offer but one side view of the voluntary sector. Although, anchor rattled some figures that were interesting enough. He compared charitable giving as a percentage of GDP. According to him US gives 2.5% of its GDP. UK gives 1.75% of its. Amongst BRIC, India gives 0.6% of its GDP while Brazil and China languish at 0.3% and 0.1% respectively.Lots of catching up to do for the formidable BRIC.

Dun & Bradstreet CSR = sum (ISR of all employees)

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:57:00 +0000

D&B TransUnion has an interesting way of looking at its CSR. It defines the same as the "sum sigma of social responsibilities of all associates". As charity starts at home, according to them CSR starts with individuals. Quiet right.

More about their iDo programme is on the link http://www.dnbtransunion.com/Company/aboutus/iDo.aspx

If you are a CSR practitioner intrigued by this explanation of ISR, don't despair. It is much simpler than you may think. Just place employees at the center of your CSR. Create an environment that promotes:

1) Donating to social causes
2) Impactful and strategic volunteering
3) Campaigning for social causes that spreads the word in communities where they reside- in real life and virtually.

Happy ISR way to CSR !

Joy of Giving Week

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:55:00 +0000

Yesterday saw the launch of a campaign that may unleash the real power of Individual Social Responsibility. Dubbed as the "Joy of Giving Week", the campaign aims to promote giving by branding a week (Sept 27- Oct.3) for the purpose in India.

Quiet exciting stuff, although website would need simplification with very clear links on how to give. Click on the promo video below, moving stuff this.

Contributory Theory of Existence

noreply@blogger.com (ESG Global) — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:07:00 +0000

I came across this article in today's Hindustan Times that indicates that letting employees fulfill their Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) could be a potent tool for motivating them. Dr. Anil Sarin, an academic, calls this the Contributory Theory of Existence.
The link to piece is as below

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com//artMailDisp.aspx?article=12_05_2009_131_013&typ=1&pub=47