Corporate Social Responsibility
can be broadly understood as the responsibility of organizations to be ethical and
accountable to the needs of their society as well as their stakeholders
3 Themes of CSR
1. Positive associations from their strategic philanthropy
2. Make decisions that are in line with the expectations of their stakeholders
3. Social problems are the commonly the focus of CSR
ex. poverty and the environment
The Practice of CSR is different in Sport than many other industries
TRUE
People expect sport organizations to give back more than most other organizations.
That makes CSR more important for sport entities then other entities
5 Common CSR practices
Donating funds to nonprofit organizations and charities
Supporting social causes
Conserving resources, materials, and minimizing waste
Treating all employees fairly
Complying with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policies
Levels of Charitable Giving for Sport
Player or Coach
Team
League
Philanthropy
An act of trust on the part of the donor towards the organization that will receive and use
the donation
In Kind Donations
Donations of products or services to charitable causes (more common)
Cash Donations
Donating money to charitable causes
Foundations
Sometimes, sport entities—leagues, teams, and individuals--establish charitable
organizations that in turn donate to good causes.
Foundations v charities
, Foundations primary activity is to make grants to other charities.
Public charities directly operate their own charitable programs
NBA Player Charities (Bad stuff)
Roughly 25% did not have the most basic documentation required by the IRS.
Players commonly put family members on their foundation's board, despite IRS rules
requiring that the majority of a board's members be nonrelatives.
Of the $31 million generated over three years by those organizations, only 44% actually
reached good causes.
Extravagant fund-raising events commonly operated at a net loss.
Most popular fundraising activities for professional sports
Golf tournaments, theme nights, auctions, and special luncheons
Other ways to support good causes
Volunteerism
Use of Facilities
Sport Outreach Programs
Strategic Philanthropy Aspects
1. Embrace the role of community leader
2. Address community health needs
3. Support programs to raise high school graduation rates
4. Help the assimilation process
5. Use relevant themes in advertising
Top three reasons why companies initiate green programs
Seen as having a direct, positive effect on the environment
Good financial decision for the company
Customers or employees have asked for it
Two ways sport organizations can support environmental responsibility
Reduce negative impact
Promote efforts to be environmentally responsible
Green initiatives
Recycling
Carbon reductions