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What is Corporate Social Investment?

What is Corporate Social Investment?

Gain an understanding of corporate social investment (CSI), and grasp related concepts in responsible business.

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This course is created by Trialogue. 

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What is CSI? Corporate social investment is the practice of companies contributing to social development. Now, CSI is becoming more strategic, with companies focusing more on how they can make a valuable and sustainable impact.  

“What is Corporate Social Investment?” is a short course that gets you up to speed with definitions, key concepts and trends, and how CSI is part of responsible business, with great potential to contribute positively to society.

TESTIMONIALS

Mike Panashe Mberi

Founder and director of Building Leaders Across Continents (BLAC)

The ‘What is CSI’ course surpassed my expectations, offering a profound strategic insight into Corporate Social Investment (CSI) that I deem exceptionally valuable. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to fellow professionals aiming to seamlessly integrate social impact initiatives into their organizational strategies.


What level is the course?

This is a short foundational course for people in business who work in fields related to CSI and corporate responsibility, and for people aspiring to work in these areas. It is also for non-profit leaders and staff who want a deeper understanding of how businesses see  corporate social investment.  

An overview for corporates and non-profits

The course was created using Trialogue’s extensive experience in corporate social investment research and consulting. Three modules cover important CSI concepts and trends. It includes valuable insights from CSI experts at Trialogue and leading international experts.  

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Learn fast in your own time

Total learning time is approximately 2 hours. Additional resources are provided to guide you to dig deeper and learn more. At the end of each module there is a short quiz to help you cement your learnings from the module. 

What will you learn in this course?

You’ll discover the foundational concepts of CSI and how it relates to responsible business concepts such as shared value. 


  • Module 1: What is CSI and why is it important?

    • Define corporate social investment and understand why CSI important for business and society.
    • Understand the difference between CSI and corporate social responsibility (CSR). 
    • Clarify what socioeconomic development (SED) means and the link between SED and CSI. 
    • Keep updated with CSI trends in South Africa and globally.
  • Module 2: Strategic CSI and shared value

    • Get familiar with the concept of strategic CSI and Trialogue’s CSI positioning matrix. 
    • Understand the concept of shared value, and how it relates to CSI. 
  • Module 3: What is responsible business?

    • Understand how business is an integral part of society and its potential for making a positive impact.
    • Explore the concepts that make up responsible business and the relationships between them.

    What will this course do for me?

    By the end of this course you will: 

    • Understand what CSI means and why it’s important. 
    • Learn how CSI relates to CSR, SED, shared value, and responsible business. 
    • Gain relevant insights from top experts on the trends in CSI. 
    • Explore the concepts that make up responsible business and how business can positively impact society.

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    This course is created by Trialogue.

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    NPO Resilience by Nedbank Private Wealth

    NPO Resilience by Nedbank Private Wealth

    Gain the tools you need to strengthen and futureproof your non-profit

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    This course is created by Trialogue and offered free through sponsorship from Nedbank Private Wealth. 

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    As non-profits come under increasing financial and capacity pressure, it’s vital they strengthen against future shocks. Dwindling resources, financial pressures, staff shortages, scant public services and lack of vital information make doing good harder than ever. The Covid-19 pandemic has stretched organisations even thinner, while the need for services has increased.  

    The need for the services of non-profit organisations (NPOs) has never been greater. Yet, more than half of South African non-profits have no effective future plan and zero cash reserves. 

    An NPO with resilience, developed through insight and skill, is stronger, more efficient, delivers better services and is more attractive to funders.  

    How do you, as an NPO leader, ensure your organisation is resilient? 

    TESTIMONIALS

    Irene de Bod

    Chief Development Officer, National Institute for the Deaf

    “It was really one of the best courses I have done in my 33 years working at NGOs.” 

    Amy Lategan

    Fundraiser, Living Through Learning

    “I learnt how to fundraise with a difference, to reach more donors and to think of more innovative ways to reach fundraising goals.”

    Mfundo Mpathani

    Chairperson, Mbhashe Community Radio Station Eastern Cape

    “The course made move out of what I thought was a comfort zone of knowledge, and think out of the box, based on examples given. I learnt almost everything in this course, not to be just a leader and see your team as just any other employee, but to understand the human behind the employee.”

    Jessica Blom

    Progamme Manager, Centre for Early Childhood Development

    “I already knew about the importance of partnerships and collaboration. But, this course highlighted how important these are and how it can be used as a tool to innovate, especially during a crisis. I want to start proactively building partnerships so that they can be leveraged during a time of crisis.”

    Coreen Hickman

    Chief Resources Officer, National Institute for the Deaf

    “I learnt the importance of providing monthly mental health days to prevent staff burnout, and about moving away from the old thinking that you have to be at work for 8 hours. The productivity when you are at work is more important than the amount of hours at work.”


    What level is the course?

    This course is for non-profit leaders, managers, board members and executives who need to equip themselves with tools to build and manage a more resilient NPO. 

    The material is also of value to corporate funders who wish to gain greater insight into healthy NPOs and understand how to apply this knowledge in their corporate social investment (CSI) strategies. 

    Course description

    This course provides a comprehensive toolbox of resources and knowledge to help you strengthen your non-profit organisation, while planning to manage future threats. 

    A practical toolkit for NPOs

    Developed in partnership with Nedbank Private Wealth, this course offers  comprehensive training on resilience for NPOs. It will help you identify threats and opportunities, make meaningful change to your organisation and meet the unique challenges of supporting and uplifting society. 

    Real-world insights from leading experts

    This course was conceptualised using lessons learned from the Nedbank Private Wealth Innovation Awards for non-profits. It includes valuable insights from the most successful entrants. You’ll also get well-researched expertise from Trialogue and relevant advice from leading international non-profits, to help you build a stronger organisation. 

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    Learn in your own time

    Total learning time is approximately 8 hours, and each lesson takes an average of only ten minutes to deliver the essentials of each subject. Additional resources are provided so you can dig deeper. You’ll also have opportunities to reflect and answer questions so that you can apply your new skills as you learn.  

    What will you discover in this course?

    The strategies and processes NPOs apply to make themselves stronger and ready to respond to opportunities and threats.

    • Module 1: Course introduction

      Learn how to navigate the course and how to get the most out of it.

    • Module 2: Understanding NPO resilience

      Explore the true meaning of resilience and why it’s important for your NPO. Then, meet the successful South African NPOs you will learn from throughout the course. Get introduced to vital concepts for NPO preparedness and success. Acquire key tips from experts, along with stories of how NPOs have implemented these concepts to thrive, even in a crisis.  

      By the end of this module you will: 

      • Have a clear view of what resilience is and why it’s important for your NPO. 
      • Be familiar with the six key concepts of resilience: 
        • 1. Managing risk 
        • 2. Building financial resilience 
        • 3. Ensuring strong leadership and teams 
        • 4. Partnering and collaborating 
        • 5.  Managing operations and systems for continuity 
        • 6. Adopting an agile and innovative approach 
    • Module 3: Managing risk

      Resilient NPOs know how to manage risk. In this module, we delve deeper into risk management and how to evaluate your organisation and uncover the risks you face. 

      By the end of this module, you will:  

      • Know what risk management entails in the context of NPOs. 
      • Understand the importance of risk management. 
      • Recognise the different types of risk your organisation could face. 
      • Evaluate key risks within your organisation. 
    • Module 4: Building financial resilience

      In South Africa, more than half of NPOs have no cash reserves. Cash flow is a constant challenge. Knowing where to access enough funding, or the right funding, is often a barrier. 

      A financially resilient NPO can sustain itself, even in the face of a crisis, like the pandemic. And financial resilience is part of good governance – vital to secure funding. This module explores some ways of making your NPO financially secure, with tips and advice from experts in both NPOs and corporate philanthropy.

      By the end of this module, you will:  

      • Explore financial resilience and how it should apply to your organisation. 
      • Know key concepts to build and manage financial reserves. 
      • Grasp the importance of diversifying funders and funding sources. 
      • Reflect on your own organisation’s financial resilience
    • Module 5: Ensuring strong leadership and teams

      Great leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It is created through knowledge, experience and personal skills developed over time. Strong leaders build and manage strong organisations. During a crisis, their importance is clearer than ever.  

      In this module, you will discover more about the skills and qualities of effective leadership in an NPO. You will explore strategies, like succession planning, and ways you can build, support, and develop your internal capacity and human resources.  

      By the end of this module, you will:  

      • Understand why strong leadership is key to building resilience in your NPO. 
      • Know the qualities of effective NPO leaders. 
      • Begin to formulate strategies for succession planning 
      • Be able to explain capacity building and its importance for building resilience. 
      • Explore strategies to support and nurture your team.
    • Module 6: Partnering and collaborating

      Strategic partnerships bring many benefits for an NPO. Shared resources, new insights and greater opportunities stem from a collaborative way of working.   

      This module explores what an inclusive and collaborative approach can look like for your NPO, with tips and strategies for fostering good relationships with partners and  stakeholders.  

      By the end of this module, you will:

      • Be able to formulate ideas to make your NPO more inclusive and collaborative. 
      • Understand why it’s important to foster strong partnerships. 
      • Know practical tips and strategies to foster collaboration.
    • Module 7: Managing operations and systems for continuity

      Recovering from a crisis and being able to continue to operate effectively, despite setbacks, means knowing how to anticipate and prepare for the unexpected.  

      In this module you’ll learn about using information and communications systems. You’ll also discover the fundamentals of business continuity planning, and the essential components of drawing up a continuity plan for your organisation. 

      By the end of this module, you will:  

      • Know the importance of information and communications systems in your organisation. 
      • Know the components and importance of a business continuity plan. 
    • Module 8: Adopting an agile and innovative approach

      There’s no shortage of situations where NPOs have to be agile and adapt to changes quickly. Successful NPOs know how to find new and innovative solutions to the challenges they face, however unexpected.  

      This module covers agility and how to foster innovation. It provides tips for growing an innovative environment and offers success stories from organisations that have developed methods to adapt and respond effectively during a crisis. 

      By the end of this module, you will:  

      • Understand agility and its importance to your organisation. 
      • Know the essential characteristics of an agile NPO. 
      • Be able to define innovation and explain its importance. 

    What will this course do for me?

    By the end of this course you will: 

    • Have the practical tools you need to assess your organisation’s resilience. 
    • Be familiar with key concepts in resilience for NPOs. 
    • Recognise the range of NPO resilience issues and strategies using case studies. 
    • Be able to formulate and apply strategies to improve your organisational resilience.

    This course is created by Trialogue and offered free through sponsorship from Nedbank Private Wealth. 

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    Strategic CSI Masterclass

    Strategic CSI Masterclass

    Gain the practical tools to make your CSI programme more strategic.

    Don’t miss out on our next Strategic CSI Masterclass—subscribe now to stay in the loop and secure your spot!

    Subscribe now

    More and more, companies realise that corporate social investment (CSI) is moving beyond traditional corporate philanthropy.

    CSI is becoming an increasingly professional sector in Africa. Trends show that it’s progressing from once-off projects that create only reputational benefit, or the reactive donation of funds. CSI professionals need to strategise carefully to ensure their CSI initiatives balance high business value with meaningful development impact. But how do you achieve this? Which questions should you be asking? How do you evaluate your programmes and know you are achieving optimal outcomes?  

    It’s easy to get stuck managing complex CSI programmes. Now it’s easy to get unstuck

    Responsible business leaders want to create a positive impact for their business and for society. This is a notoriously difficult challenge. During this course, you’ll be able to solve problems with experts and exchange workable solutions with other CSI practitioners. Wherever the pain points exist with your current CSI initiatives, it’s time to take a step back and create a strategy that moves your CSI goals forward.  


    What level is the course?

    The Strategic CSI Masterclass is for senior leaders and decision-makers working in CSI, including CSI managers, trustees of foundations, and heads of foundations. The course is suitable for delegates engaged in CSI across Africa.  

    Course description

    The Strategic CSI Masterclass provides you with the tools to think strategically about CSI in your organisation and to make choices that optimise the business and development value of your CSI initiatives. 

    Learn about strategic CSI in online classes with industry leaders

    Trialogue has been engaged in industry research and supporting corporates and non-profits on CSI strategy and thought leadership for more than two decades. The Trialogue Strategic CSI Awards have evaluated and celebrated lead practice in CSI for over five years. And Trialogue has been running in-person CSI courses in-person for more than a decade.  

    Now, these tried-and-tested approaches are available to you online, through interactive video sessions, case studies and research. The course allows you to apply the concepts you learn to your business and take practical steps to apply them to your projects. 


    TESTIMONIALS

    Yumna Mathese

    Social impact manager at V&A Waterfront

    “To be honest, I have learnt so much from this course than from any other. Thank you for putting me on the spot and for encouraging me to participate so actively.

    I’ve learnt to understand shared value so much better. I’ve learnt to think more strategically about my role, projects and my portfolio in its entirety. I am currently applying this knowledge by rethinking and reshaping all this.”

    Katie Andrews

    Managing Director, Nahana Foundation

    “I found everything very beneficial and it’s given me a lot to work on going forward. I look forward to developing and drafting a clear and focused CSI strategy for 2023 and beyond.”

    Portia Oduro-Morrison

    External Communications and CSI Officer, Stanbic Bank Ghana  

    “Everything I learnt will be applied, from shared value to outcomes of our CSI programmes going forward.”

    What will this course do for me?

    By the end of this course you will: 

    • Possess the knowledge and skills to derive shared value from your CSI initiatives. 
    • Learn from other CSI projects through analysing case studies. 
    • Evaluate your company’s CSI programmes. 
    • Know how to drive change in your CSI initiative.

    Created for CSI professionals in Africa

    This is the only course that teaches strategic CSI in an African context. Modified from a popular in-person course, taught only in South Africa, the online version allows delegates to join from across Africa. 

    Who are your course instructors?

    • Nick Rockey

      Nick Rockey is the managing director of Trialogue, having started the business as founding director approximately 20 years ago. He was one of the early pioneers in the field of corporate sustainability, overseeing Trialogue’s first publication in this field in 2006, The Good Corporate Citizen. Nick has over 20 years of consulting and research experience across many market and industry sectors, and plays a lead consulting role in the fields of sustainable business and CSI. He has worked with a wide range of corporate clients, providing support for strategy development and implementation, stakeholder engagement, and reporting.
    • Cathy Duff

      Cathy Duff joined Trialogue in 2008, was appointed a director in 2011, and manages Trialogue’s Johannesburg office. Her experience includes almost 20 years of research and advisory work in the corporate responsibility and philanthropic sectors and five years in strategy consulting. Prior to Trialogue, Cathy was research and development manager at Tshikululu Social Investments, research manager at New Philanthropy Capital in the UK, and manager at Deloitte Consulting. Cathy oversees the research, content and production of the Trialogue Business in Society Handbook and the Trialogue Business in Society Conference. She has worked with numerous corporate clients on their CSI and sustainability strategies, reports, and project reviews.

    Book your place now

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