The Future of CSR Software: A Buyer’s Guide

As corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs mature, the technology that powers them needs to mature as well. In 2024, and beyond, CSR professionals will face new pressures, and they need technology that will help them live up to the increased demands. 

Much of the pressure comes from employees and customers. In fact, 76% of employees want their employer to make a positive impact in their communities. On top of this, 70% of customers are more motivated to purchase from companies who take an active interest in improving the world.

This momentum puts pressure on organizations to double down on CSR.

But to meet these expectations, CSR teams need more support and resources. In 2023, one-in-five CSR professionals reported mental health concerns on account of rising job demands. Many of your teammates already have too much on their plate.

Good CSR software takes some of the load. It helps by making it easier to launch and track the impact of CSR programs. The right CSR software can also help you focus more on practicing good corporate citizenship, by removing the grunt work and making space for deeper strategic thinking. 

And, as we’ll get into, it’s never been more important for CSR teams to think deeply and strategically about their programs. With the backlash against ESG, the rise of AI, and climate change impacting daily life, we’re approaching an inflection point on how companies engage with the communities they’re in. It’s an exciting time, and your CSR software needs to match the moment. Before we get into the specifics of how, let’s reflect on the trends influencing CSR practitioners today.

The borders and expectations around CSR mirror today’s most pressing social issues. They are constantly evolving. The trends shaping CSR right now are redefining best practices and what “good” CSR software means.

Climate change is unavoidable—it’s impacting daily life for people across the world. The general public now expects companies to be proactive about their environmental impact, and CSR teams are central to that effort.

We’re at a tipping point when it comes to society’s perception of climate change. Seventy-four percent of Americans say climate change is happening right now. On top of this, two-thirds of Americans believe large businesses aren’t doing enough to combat climate change.

According to the 2023 ACCP study referenced earlier, environmental sustainability is the top social issue at companies with CSR programs. In 2024, this focus is likely to sharpen.

And yet, these trends don’t match philanthropic spending. In fact, only 2% of philanthropic funding goes toward climate change efforts. As more and more people both take note of and see the effects of climate change, it will be increasingly important for companies to prioritize this when planning CSR programs.

AI is everywhere now, including embedded into CSR software. It’s no longer a matter of if your organization will use AI, but how. 

Already, AI is seeping into word processors, search engines, and more. It will become a part of everyday work in the coming months and years. Which means organizations need to think now, not later, about how they’ll use AI in their own company. In 2024, your corporate social responsibility software will need to clarify its stance on AI. In 2023, we laid out our responsible AI principles, which we encourage you to read. 

Recently, we expanded on these principles with our AI hub, which contains all our AI-related content and an invitation to participate in our AI research. In 2024 and beyond, you’ll need to choose a CSR platform that’s thoughtful and transparent with their AI use.

When evaluating CSR software, it’s important to keep the above trends in mind and to think about the scope of your use case. Some CSR software is capable of delivering a very broad range of features, while others specialize to help companies with one type of CSR programs. 

We break CSR programs up into three types:

• Community investment: Grantmaking, scholarships, awards, and other community-focused efforts.

• Employee volunteering: Efforts and initiatives driven by employee involvement.

• Corporate giving: Company-fueled efforts that don't entail the same level of employee involvement.

Keep the following in mind when shopping for CSR software that fits your own use case. Making the right choice can allow you to act quickly, pivot on the fly, and get the most out of your CSR efforts.

Security: A #1 feature for all use cases

No matter your use case, top-notch security is a must for any CSR software you choose.

The cost of the wrong software: Compromised data for millions of customers, as in the case of Blackbaud’s breach in 2020.

Ask yourself:

• Is the platform encrypting information?

• What’s the company’s data storage policy?

• Are they SOC 2 Type 2 certified?

• Do they adhere to GDPR rules?

• What’s their track record with customer data?

Dig deep and give security the attention it deserves. You and your customer’s depend on it.

Corporate philanthropy is less hands-on for the bulk of your employees, but can result in a ton of work for your corporate giving, HR, and payroll teams. With the right CSR software, you can streamline corporate giving efforts and even improve your future initiatives overall.