Solidarity companies are those that collaborate in various ways with organizations that have social aims. They provide funding and also advice and ideas to generate positive change in the most neglected societies.
What are solidarity companies?
Solidarity companies are those that collaborate in various ways with organizations that have social aims. They provide funding and also advice and ideas to generate positive change in the most neglected societies. They are businesses built around the main ideas of cooperation and mutual support, therefore they prioritize social goals over maximizing profits for owners or shareholders.
Solidarity companies often include workers, consumers, or community members as co-owners. Decision-making is usually democratic, giving each member a voice; they provide positive values through altruistic activities. Profits are usually reinvested into the company or shared fairly among members. They aim to strengthen local economies and promote social inclusion. Examples of solidarity companies include cooperatives, worker-owned enterprises and fair-trade businesses.
Businesses and their role in social change
Businesses tend to be distanced from social organizations when it comes to their objectives and the way in which they impact on society and on the planet. However, in recent years, we have seen a convergence and a new paradigm through which the private sector makes and contributes to efforts to have a positive effect on numerous social causes.
These companies, which have the improvement of the surroundings in which they operate embedded in their DNA, act through altruistic activities, donations or directly organizing activities of a social nature, influencing society by promoting ethical practices and sustainability.
Many companies now address issues like climate change, inequality and diversity. Through innovation, they create solutions that improve people’s lives. Businesses also shape public attitudes through their brands and campaigns.
Solidarity companies. How can they help?
There are different ways in which businesses can collaborate with social organizations. Support is not exclusively limited to donating money, given that these businesses can:
- Fund a complete project or some of its activities
- Offer know-how and innovative proposals
- Collaborate pro bono
- Sponsor events with social aims
- Spread the work of social organizations
Furthermore, many organizations with social aims have their own initiatives to channel these collaborations with solidarity companies. In 2019 at Anesvad Foundation we set up the Businesses Advance Fund to resolve the urgent needs of healthcare centres in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin. These centres, for the most part, are located in zones that are difficult to access and face a shortage of medical supplies; they do not have running water, and have few healthcare providers. Thanks to the thousand-odd businesses and collectives that support us, we are supplying various centres with basic medical materials to alleviate shortages.
This is one of many examples of collaboration that solidarity companies can perform. If you are a business we invite you to sign up to this movement to improve the lives of millions of people.
Other ways companies can support social causes
Solidarity Companies can indeed support social causes and make a change through donating funds or resources. They can launch corporate social responsibility programs and offer volunteer opportunities for employees. They can also raise awareness through marketing and public campaigns. Businesses can promote fair labor practices and ethical sourcing. Partnering with nonprofits or community groups strengthens their reach. Investing in sustainable products or services also drives positive change. That’s the aim of Anesvad Foundation in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin, countries where we have set up the Businesses Advance Fund in the last years in order to work on people’s urgent needs in healthcare centres, most of them located in zones that are difficult to access, without running water and with few healthcare providers.
How can your company help?
- By supporting local and global social initiatives.
- Providing financial donations or needed resources to causes.
- Offering employee volunteer programs that will strengthen community ties.
- Ensuring ethical and sustainable practices across our operations.
- Raising awareness about important social issues through marketing.
- Partnering with nonprofits and other organizations for greater impact.
- By listening to community needs.
