The phrase “The only constant is change” has been around for a long time, and it still holds true today. Developing the skills to navigate change successfully is essential. Since its founding in the early 1990s, the Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) of Atlanta has continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of its members—who themselves are responding to the shifting expectations of employees, companies, and society at large.
Today the CVC of Atlanta is about more than supporting volunteerism. The mission of the CVC is to support member companies and their strategic commitment to social impact and civic engagement. Social impact helps build trust, strengthen communities and align business goals with broader societal needs. I’m proud to serve as the President of CVC of Atlanta this year. Driven by our board members and led by Cheryl Kortemeier, CVC Executive Director, we provide a platform for corporate social professionals to learn, collaborate and network.
Our members are committed to making a difference, working side by side with nonprofit agencies to authentically show how our corporate members are committed to making change. Examples of how companies make social impact include corporate volunteer programs, sustainable business practices, philanthropy, mentorship programs and mental health/wellness programming. As you can see, corporate social responsibility, as you can see, extends far beyond volunteerism.
The CVC of Atlanta brings nonprofit agencies to table as well through our Member Partner program. Every 2 years Atlanta nonprofits can apply for membership, bringing diverse perspectives to our discussions and programs. I believe it is important to bring companies, funders and nonprofits together if we are going to make true change and impact on our community.
I like to say the only difference between a nonprofit and a for-profit company is the tax code classification. A nonprofit organization operates primarily to serve a public or social benefit rather than to make profit for its owners or shareholders. Unlike for-profit businesses, nonprofits do not distribute their income to individuals or shareholders; instead, any surplus funds are reinvested into the organization’s mission. At the same time, all successful organizations—nonprofit and for-profit alike—are mission-driven and use clear strategies to achieve their goals.
Nonprofits touch nearly every aspect of life in Atlanta. Nonprofit Hospitals provide vital healthcare services, many of the local museums, and arts organizations as well as traditional social services agencies are also nonprofits. Their presence is everywhere. The CVC of Atlanta itself is a nonprofit organization. It’s important for all of us to value and support the important role nonprofits play in our society. Their leaders, especially in times of rapid change, face tremendous challenges—and they deserve a seat at the table as we work toward solutions that benefit everyone. Would you like to learn more about how the CVC of Atlanta members are living our commitments to social impact? We invite you to join us at the 28th Annual Impact Awards on September 9th at The Dogwood at Westside Paper as we recognize our finalist companies and the work they do in our communities in partnership with our exceptional Atlanta nonprofit community. Change is constant and CVC of Atlanta members are navigating to help employees, nonprofits and communities thrive.
