Beyond the Charity: NGO-Business partnerships for Sustainability Dace Helmane, Institute for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility 09/12/2014

Things change

Community priorities Latvian companies

NGOs (96%) and businesses (84%) are confident that partnerships between the two sectors will become more or much more important over the next three years * *Corporate-NGO Partnerships Barometer

Reasons for partnering - Businesses 92% enhancing brand or corporate reputation and credibility is the private motive for engaging in partnerships with NGOs Long-term stability and impact and innovation (both at 73%) Businesses are also increasingly motivated by the need to develop their people through partnerships (63%)

Reasons for partnering - NGOs NGOs remain primarily interested in the opportunity to access funds - 95% Long-term stability and impact has moved significantly up the NGOs’ agenda over the last year with over 70% of NGOs now realising how important a factor this is

Young employees Krāsu Serviss and Vairāk Saules partner with the Association Dzīvesprieks in order to provide education for social risk youth, offer internships and after the school – permanent job

Strategic advisor Businesses partner with the Junior Achievement Latvia in order to develop youth understanding about finance, business, IT, etc., to raise interest about studies in sciences, to promote start-ups

Vendor with a mission Partnership with the Association of Sarkandaugava’s Development with the aim to improve local environment and get support from local residents regarding the company's business Partnering with the Association of Soft drinks manufacturers with the aim to promote healthy lifestyle

Challenges Disparity between the two sectors on the importance of innovation A dispute about the value of non- financial corporate support Insufficiently developed practices in terms of measuring and communicating the impact of partnerships

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