DEIB and CSR: What are the Differences?

DEIB & CSR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING + CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

While diversity and inclusion programmes and corporate social responsibility are often spoken about in the same context and can complement each other, they are very different things .

Investing in diversity and inclusion training and development is a quid pro quo arrangement . There are clear benefits to any organisation in terms of increased productivity and creativity, higher profits and being seen as a more attractive employer . Corporate social responsibility is different, in that it is more altruistic- there is no direct service or benefit in return .

Are my company’s DEIB programmes socially responsible? Diversity and inclusion programmes exist because discrimination and oppression exist, and nobody likes someone else profiting from their oppression . Two questions you could ask in this regard are: When I ask someone from a charity or non-profit organisation to deliver a training event, am I paying them the same rate I would pay someone from a private consultancy or training company? And where does the money go?

For example, Pride at Work operates as a social enterprise within Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride . All facilitators are paid a fair salary, however all profits or surpluses are reinvested in community projects and initiatives (see the following pages for a review of what we’ve been up to over the past year) .

Other organisations, such as BeLong To and Shoutout, offer training programmes and use the money generated from them to provide supports and services to young people across Ireland . Of course, there’s nothing wrong with using a private company to deliver DEIB training, and sometimes there are advantages in that, but a socially responsible programme will also include non-profit organisations that work directly with the people affected . Nothing about us without us .

Are my company’s CSR programmes diverse and inclusive? Making a donation to a social cause without asking for anything in return is one of the clearest ways a company can show what its true values are . While LGBTQ+ issues are not the only important causes that need support, including them in your CSR and philanthropic programmes is an important way of demonstrating a genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion .

In 2021, we launched the Dublin Pride Fund at The Community Foundation for Ireland, as a system for individuals and organisations to donate to LGBTQ+ causes . The fund is managed by The Community Foundation who ensure the highest levels of compliance and transparency and focus on providing financial support for regional Prides and smaller volunteer run organisations across Ireland .

LAUNCHED IN 2021, BENEFICIARIES TO DATE INCLUDE:

CARLOW PRIDE FESTIVAL / DROGHEDA LGBTQ SUPPORT EAST CORK NETWORK PRIDE / GALWAY COMMUNITY PRIDE LEITRIM PRIDE / LIMERICK LGBTQ PRIDE FESTIVAL MAYO PRIDE / PRIDE OF THE D / SLIGO PRIDE FESTIVAL TIPPERARY CLONMEL COMMUNITY PRIDE WEXFORD PRIDE / EQUALITY FOR CHILDREN FULL SPECTRUM / THE SWITCHBOARD AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PROJECT TO SUPPORT LGBTI+ ASYLUM SEEKERS