New Survey of 125 Companies Reveals Growing Use of Technology in Executing and Measuring Corporate Social Impact
FAIRFAX, VA – A new, far-reaching survey of corporate social impact professionals at 125 major corporations responsible for nearly $1 billion in community investments found that leveraging new technology is becoming increasingly important in implementing and reporting the impact of corporate social good work with 45% of respondents reporting they have either implemented new technology within the last 12 months (26%) or are laying the groundwork to institute a new technology in the near future (19%).
The survey, recently released by Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) and Your Cause® from Blackbaud®, also found that 31% of respondents say they need improved technology to meet their team’s demands and expectations. Furthermore, corporate social impact professionals are seeing a variety of ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help with their work, from better data analysis and aggregation (49%) to better communications (24%) and better storytelling (12%). Yet, 12% are still unsure or unclear on how to use AI in their work.
“In recent years, new reporting regulations, both domestically and internationally, along with an increased focus by CEO’s to fully measure the impact of their corporate social impact work, has underscored the importance of technology in our field,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, president and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP). “Today, corporate social impact professionals are embracing technology systems to help make the case for the importance of corporate investment in everything from supporting community, DEI initiatives to ESG programs. In the years ahead, AI will play an increasingly important role in corporate social impact as this year’s survey showed signs that CSR and ESG professionals are experimenting with ways to leverage data to better tell their story and increase efficiencies.”
Full ACCP survey results and topline data illustrations can be viewed here
Andrew Troup, director, Giving and Engagement, YourCause from Blackbaud said, “The need to measure impact goes hand in hand with the importance of leveraging new technology – especially when the data may live in disparate locations within an organization – and we agree with the respondents that AI will play a key role in allowing their organizations to aggregate and analyze their data, enabling them to tell a more holistic story of impact.”
2024 CSR Insights Survey: Leveraging New Technology Takeaways
Leveraging new technology is becoming increasingly important in implementing and reporting the impact of corporate social impact work.
- Corporate social impact professionals see a variety of ways AI can help with their work, from better data analysis and aggregation (49%) to better communications (24%) and better storytelling (12%). However, 12% are unsure or unclear on how to use AI in their work.
- Twenty-six percent of respondents have implemented a new technology solution in the past 12 months, and another 19% are discussing or laying the groundwork for new technology.
- Fourteen percent of respondents have invested in ESG reporting technology because of increased reporting regulations.
- Thirty-one percent of respondents say they need improved technology to meet their team’s demands and expectations.
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The Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP) is the preeminent membership organization advancing the practice of corporate social impact. ACCP increases the effectiveness of CSR & ESG professionals and their companies by sharing knowledge, fostering solutions, and cultivating inclusive and supportive peer communities. ACCP amplifies the voices of its practitioner network to elevate strategies that work, provide innovative solutions, and expand impact.
