In this Charlotte Business Journal article, Ruth Kinzey writes:

When establishing a corporate social responsibility program, some companies make the mistake of thinking only "green" and focusing solely on environmental-related activities. But corporate social responsibility is much more than that. For years, smart businesses have recognized the importance of investing in the communities where they operate.

Kinzey, who has many years of corporate experience, goes on to talk about corporate responsibility in terms of risk management—an interesting and increasingly popular concept.

In these tough economic times, the value of the CSR/corporate citizenship professional will be in how he or she can help the company navigate today’s challenges and lay the groundwork for future success and longevity. Who better to do this than the person with a finger on the pulse of the sentiments within NGO and community-based groups?  As Kinzey says, "identifying how a company’s brand and corporate social responsibility interrelate is essential to the development of a corporate social responsibility philosophy."

Read on for "more about being green"—next month we’ll present Kinzey’s discussion on how green-friendly efforts can quickly boost bottom line.