Business Tools: Social Health & Well-Being

The activities of the business sector touch many aspects of the community. Business operations have an affect on the environment, people depend on businesses for jobs, and businesses provide important goods and services. Thus, the business community has an important role to play in the social health of our community. Socially responsible businesses are accountable for the social and environmental consequences of their activities. Socially responsible businesses work to preserve the common wealth of the community and do not pursue profit at the expense of poor work, unemployment, or any kind of pollution or contamination. Socially responsible businesses provide goods and services that respect local values and priorities. Socially responsible businesses make effective use of unique and valuable local resources, such as the beauty of the Sonoran desert and large quantities of sunshine, while respecting the limitations imposed by scarce or vulnerable resources such as water.

Explore the information below to learn about developing a socially responsible business and how businesses can be community leaders.


Corporate Social Responsibility

As You Sow

In 1997, As You Sow launched the Corporate Social Responsibility Program (CSRP) to use shareholder advocacy and the financial markets to catalyze positive change within public held companies.

Business Link: Corporate Social Responsibility

A guide that explores the benefits of corporate responsibility.

International Institute for Sustainable Development: Corporate Social Responsibility: An Implementation Guide for Business

The critical role of companies in implementing sustainable development internationally is widely recognized. Increasingly, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is being acknowledged not only as a key to risk mitigation but also as a core element for building corporate value. This guide, designed for businesses operating in the international context, provides an overview of the basic steps to, and instruments for, implementing a CSR strategy adapted specifically to your business or organizational context.

Eldis: Corporate Responsibility Guides

Eldis aims to share the best in development, policy, practice and research. Access an ever-growing collection of editorially selected and abstracted full-text, online documents related to Corporate Responsibility. All documents are available free of charge.

Educators for Social Responsibility

ESR helps educators create safe, caring, respectful, and productive learning environments. We also help educators work with young people to develop the social skills, emotional competencies, and qualities of character they need to succeed in school and become contributing members of their communities.

Giving Back to the Community

The workplace provides a great opportunity to organize volunteer efforts, pool resources to help community endeavors, and facilitate employee contributions to community-building organizations. Connect with local non-profits and volunteer opportunities through the resources below.

United Way Days of Caring

Days of Caring connects volunteers with local nonprofit groups to complete projects that may not otherwise get done. This unique event gives employees an opportunity to spend their workday or a Saturday on volunteer projects that make a difference in the lives of children, family and seniors. Days of Caring also provides a way for companies and groups to develop long-lasting relationships with colleagues and agencies.

Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona

The Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona is a private non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through effective volunteerism. We’re best known as a clearinghouse for volunteers, but we also deliver creative solutions to community problems by harnessing the power of volunteerism in a number of other ways.