Ask a CSR Friend: Shifting ERGs from Company-Focused to Community-Centered

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Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, we know it takes a village to create vibrant workplaces where employees are equipped to contribute to the communities and causes they care about. So, when you need a trusted advisor to lean on, rely on Points of Light to be Your CSR Friend. Each month, our experts share their wisdom and wit to address a specific but often universal challenge related to your work as a corporate social impact practitioner.

Have questions about employee community engagement? Submit your question and it may be featured in a future blog post.

Dear CSR Friend,

I lead an Employee Resource Group at my company, and I’m hoping to collaborate with national nonprofits that align with our mission to support an historically excluded population. However, after initial discussions, I rarely receive responses to my follow-up emails. I understand nonprofit leaders are busy, but I worry our approach comes across one-sided or transactional as we have some big goals to achieve rather quickly. As someone experienced in nonprofit partnerships, what advice can you provide so that potential partners know we want to build meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships that truly add value?

Signed,
Getting Ghosted in Galveston

Dear Getting Ghosted,

Thank you for being vulnerable by surfacing an authentic and important challenge that both EVP and ERG leaders can learn from, especially those newer to this field. For decades, CSR leaders operated with the best of intentions but often fell short when engaging nonprofits as partners. At first, we approached these partnerships with a corporate-centric lens, making demands based on our own goals and timelines rather than collaborating with communities to understand their needs. Mistakes were made—lots of them. I hate to admit it, but nonprofits were often seen as service providers rather than partners.

It took years of trial, error and listening for CSR leaders to learn this critical lesson: meaningful impact requires centering the needs of the community, not the corporation. Now, ERG leaders are stepping into similar territory, and the good news is you don’t have to repeat our mistakes.

Here’s how your ERG can start partnership discussions on the right track:

1. Learn from CSR’s Early Missteps: CSR leaders once approached nonprofits with lists of demands: “We need a volunteer opportunity for 500 employees next Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon and it can’t be too messy.” Does that sound painfully familiar? These approaches often alienated nonprofits and, worse, failed to meet community needs. ERG leaders can skip this step by prioritizing collaboration over corporate agendas from the start.
2. Lead with Humility, Not Assumptions: Early CSR efforts often assumed the corporation knew best. The truth? Nonprofits are the experts in serving their communities. Ask questions like, “What do you need most right now?” and let their answers guide your actions.
3. Be a Resource, Not a Burden: CSR leaders eventually learned that meaningful partnerships involve giving more than they take. ERGs can adopt this mindset by asking, “How can we support your mission?” rather than pushing for initiatives that might not align with the nonprofit’s priorities.
4. Understand the Context: CSR leaders spent years learning to understand the systemic challenges faced by historically excluded populations—and how corporate actions can unintentionally reinforce those barriers. ERGs can take a shortcut by prioritizing cultural competency and educating themselves about the communities they aim to support.
5. Invest in Relationships, Not Quick Wins: Building trust takes time. CSR leaders learned that long-term, authentic partnerships are far more impactful than transactional engagements. ERGs can start building those relationships now, knowing that trust is the foundation for lasting impact.

Working with community FOR community is a practice that needs nurturing, refining and constant reflection. This shift in mindset won’t just help your ERG avoid years of missteps; it will allow you to contribute meaningfully to the communities you care about while also achieving internal goals. By approaching nonprofits with respect, humility, and a willingness to listen, you can build partnerships that create real change—while strengthening your ERG’s impact and credibility.

Want to deepen your understanding of how to lead with a community-centered approach? Join us at the Points of Light Conference this summer, where leaders in CSR, HR, and DEIB will explore actionable strategies to build trust, foster equity and create meaningful partnerships with nonprofits. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experts and peers who are transforming corporate community engagement for the better. Learn more and register today!

Until next time,

Your CSR Friend

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