Covid-19 Fireside Chat: Partnerships

Thanks to everyone who took part in our Fireside Chat on Friday 3rd April, which focused on how we can continue to support partnerships with charities and other social enterprises. In the news last week, we heard about the projected loss of 48% of income for U.K. charities, totalling around £4bn. And this is at a time when the vulnerable most need support and many charities have the expertise to deliver.

Jessica White, Head of Social Impact EMEA & LatAm at LinkedIn and ICRS Board Director, gave an inspiring overview of how LinkedIn is supporting its employees and charity partners during the crisis. This is through a mix of financial donations, in kind contributions and employee volunteering, as well as using the platform itself to help front-line organisations recruit additional staff with the skills needed to support relief efforts.

Now more than ever, our charity partners need our support, financially, through volunteer resources and through how we do business. It was inspiring to hear how our CRS colleagues are working in innovative ways with organisations on the frontline of this crisis, and those who they regularly partner with, to support their most pressing needs.

We discussed a number of challenges that our members are facing which include:

• Managing communications with both employees and charity partners, particularly when we’re being understandably overwhelmed with requests and offers of help
• Redefining the criteria for deciding who to support, ensuring due diligence and providing clarity around matched funding for employees
• The need to focus on our core strengths and expertise, whilst supporting the wellbeing of our employees and thinking about new ways of working with charities
• How to coordinate efforts across organisations to support charities

There will be another Fireside Chat on 17th April with new ICRS Patron Member The Charities Aid Foundation to continue the discussion on financial support for charities and the role of philanthropy. In the meantime, all the resources shared by our members including LinkedIn’s recruitment tools can be found on our new Covid-19 resource area.

Our next Fireside Chat will be held on Thursday 9th April and will focus on communications, led by Vic Taylor, Managing Director of Flag and ICRS Board Director.

If you have thoughts on how the ICRS can support you, please email info@icrs.info. We’re encouraging our members to share examples of how they’re responding to the pandemic so be sure that you’re also a member of our members-only LinkedIn Group, The Exchange Online.