Corporate social responsibility is becoming more mainstream, as forward-thinking companies embed sustainability into the core of their business to create shared value for business and society.

Partnering with United Way offers corporations the opportunity to dive into the world of charities without fear. When you want your organization to support a positive cause, the first step should be to look within the company culture. What are the issues that are most important to your organization? If you're having trouble identifying any, think of the clients you serve and your geographic location. Typically, it's best to support those right in your back yard.

The advantage of partnering with United Way is that we have a strong stake in the community – we do the research and work to solve the most pressing social problems in education, literacy, family stability and homelessness – so that you can rest easy, knowing your donations are helping the people who need it most.

One of the great things about the corporate social responsibility is that money donated by companies has a direct impact on local communities. But there's even more to it than that. Local communities aren't the only ones who benefit: companies cannot thrive without a sustainable community driving a strong economy.

With all these benefits, it's no wonder that we have attracted some of the top corporations in the world, including several from the Fortune 500 list. We make it easy and meaningful so that our partners never have to worry about which charities they should pay attention to or how they should allocate their philanthropic resources.

At the end of the day, it amounts to this: United Way does the legwork to get those resources to where they should be. It's a perfect collaboration in which everyone brings something of value to the table. Together with our corporate partners, we are strengthening communities and improving lives in San Diego.

Hear from our newest corporate supporter, Redfin San Diego:

While we’re a nation-wide organization, Redfin has about two dozen realtors in the San Diego area, so we’re plugged in to the community in many ways. We recognize the invaluable impact of United Way’s programs on residents of San Diego County, and our donation reflects our support for this city."- Megan Hannay

Learn how to get your company on board.