Taking CSR to the next level with crowdfunding

For businesses today, it makes sense to maintain a corporate social responsibility program. Giving back to the communities where they operate increases the company’s value in the eyes of stakeholders. Majority of consumers admit that corporate philanthropy also affects their choice of brands and stores to support.

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While nearly every type of business, from small companies to large organizations, has sought to do its part in providing help to society through CSR projects, current methods can’t keep up with the pace of needed changes. Good intentions may not be enough when companies do not know the best, most direct way to give back to the community. Likewise, the intended beneficiaries of social responsibility may not always be able to communicate their needs to the entities that could provide the necessary aid.

This is why companies seeking greater impact of their CSR projects should look no further than the possibilities opened by modern technology. These days, an emerging method is through online fundraising. Through sites that call attention to social realities, individuals pool their resources and donate to support a proposed solution to problems.

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Companies looking for better ways to donate can turn to crowdfunding sites to improve their current CSR programs. Through available technology, the process of gathering donations and bringing people under a single cause has been made easier than it was before. What used to take months to complete can now be done in a matter of days.
 
In addition, crowdfunding allows companies to participate in worthy causes in a highly transparent channel. The other participants and recipients of the donations know exactly how companies have helped the cause and businesses get the immediate boost to their image.

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Alex von Furstenberg does his part to help communities through the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation. Visit this website to learn about the organization’s goals and methods.

What businesses need to know about ObamaCare

The Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, has been the bane of businesses in the US. Many have fought against it and failed. And since it will fundamentally impact many US businesses, understanding it should be the number one priority for most entrepreneurs and businessmen.

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What is ObamaCare?

ObamaCare is a national health plan that aims to reform the US healthcare system. It focuses on providing Americans with affordable healthcare while regulating the health insurance industry, in order to reduce the country’s burgeoning healthcare costs.

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How will it affect businesses?

Businesses with more than 50 employees working have to provide their employees with healthcare insurance. Failure to do so would require them to pay around $2000 dollars per uninsured employee (after the first thirty employees). So, for a company that does not provide healthcare to its 100 employees, the penalty would be around $140,000. Companies that provide their employees with healthcare insurance that exceeds 9.5 percent of their employees’ household income and/or insurance with inadequate coverage will be penalized as well (around $3000 dollars per insured employee).

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However ObamaCare may seem to be a step into the right direction for the government, it is very important that businesses make sure that these additional tax and penalty burdens don’t cut into their bottom lines.

More business news and updates can be accessed by visiting this Facebook page for Alex von Furstenberg.