If there was a theme for the first quarter of 2018, it would have to be ‘purpose’

Since the New Year, discussions have centred on this topic across the entire social impact, sustainability and CSR movement. February also saw the publication of the 2018 Annual Edelman Trust Barometer, which all but insists that organisations across all sectors reconnect with and do better at delivering on purpose. If you want to know what Good2Give’s purpose is, watch our video below.

In line with our purpose to inspire, enable and grow giving – we kicked off the year with an innovative technology solution that will transform the ease and effectiveness with which businesses and donors can give to their charities of choice. It’s called Fundraising at Work.

Fundraising at Work is live

Working with our partners at GoFundraise, we started the year with three forums on Innovations in Corporate Giving held at EY in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, including an exclusive preview of Fundraising at Work to our clients.

Then we launched on 7 March 2018, celebrating an initiative that has been more than a year in the making with more than 100 people at the Hyatt Sydney. Our guests heard about this new technology solution that seamlessly integrates workplace giving and peer-to-peer fundraising.

Those attending our launch event were also presented with insights on institutional trust from Edelman Australia CEO, Steven Spurr, following the release of the annual Edelman Trust Barometer. The data emerging from the annual study reveals that businesses are being called to stand up on social issues and address gaps in action for government, and that employers want to trust their places of work.

In that context, we also heard about the need for digital innovation and trust in the profession of fundraising from Rob Edwards, the CEO of the Fundraising Institute of Australia, in light of the Trust Barometer indicating a reduction in trust for the not-for-profit sector.

If you missed the event, you can see the photos here. If you want to get the lowdown on trust and the message to business leadership across Australia, read the feature in BOSS from the Australian Financial Review.

Purpose in practice

I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment of the AFR article referred to above – and the content of two events hosted by Humanity in Business and Wildwon in February. Reconnecting with, and delivering against, purpose is the key to rebuilding trust. That’s the cornerstone of corporate social responsibility.

It is quite apparent that there is a deficit in trust and that it is crucial that institutions in every sector rebuild this. The numbers aren’t fibbing. Why all leaders should strive for this is clear. How? That’s harder. But that’s where we come in. Good2Give prides itself on finding solutions to the challenges businesses face in realising their commitments to corporate community investment. We make it practical and achievable. We make it effective and easy. We make it happen.

It’s important to note that when I say we innovated with Fundraising at Work – I really mean it.

We found a partner with shared values in GoFundraise. We adapted the best in our respective technology platforms, rather than replicating and going it alone. We genuinely collaborated. We used best practice innovative process: we asked the market what it needed, we listened, we built a minimum viable product and trialled this with trailblazers including Westpac, Built, EY, BDO and Australia Post. We listened some more. We refined. Then we launched our product. That’s innovation.

We are grateful to all our partners who invested their time, talent and trust, and worked with us to achieve a result that will deliver a positive financial impact for the charity sector.

Talking ‘bout a revolution

International Women’s Day really came into its own this year, and Good2Give was named official workplace giving partner for UN Women NC Australia’s 2018 campaign. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation to #LeaveNoWomanBehind and #PressforProgress, and who donated to support the empowerment of women and girls around the world.

You can hear about my #IWD2018 revolution here, along with other leaders from the International Women’s Forum and you can also read the impression an inspirational woman named Lisa Witter made on one of the other women leaders at Good2Give here.

We really do believe that when people with purpose work together – anything is possible. And if you’re reading this, we know you do too.