How can you engage investors in your CSR project?

Highlight the tangible impact of your project, demonstrating how it aligns with their corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives and can enhance their brand reputation. Engage with potential investors through targeted outreach, personalized communication, and impactful storytelling to showcase the value and social return on investment (ROI) of supporting your project. Offer opportunities for investors to collaborate, provide input, and participate in the project's development, fostering a sense of ownership and partnership. Additionally, ensure transparency and accountability in your project's implementation and impact measurement, providing investors with clear insights into the outcomes and benefits of their investment.

Engaging in political activism or consumer-based philanthropy requires a deep understanding of your audience’s values and concerns. Companies like Patagonia, which actively engage in environmental activism, do so because they know their customer base is deeply concerned about environmental issues. Tailoring your CSR activities in alignment with your audience’s values enhances brand loyalty and customer engagement. Then, when it comes to employees, their desire to make a positive impact and use their skills for social good is NB… as is their knock on to your investor target who are increasingly interested in generating social and environmental impact through their investments - especially if it’s what your customer and employee values too.

It is important to understand what the investors needs are. What do they actually want? Then you look at your capabilities. How do your capabilities connect with the investors needs?

Stories can be an edge to your project. As per my learnings from nonprofit management this story telling helped me a lot. Crafting a right story which delivers the cause of your project and identifies the key stakeholders who will be directly responsible for the impact is important.

The story is always most powerful from the people who benefit from the work. Give faces and emotions to those stories to have a much bigger impact. Saying "someone told us that".... is never as powerful as actually showing them telling it.

In a fast changing world, what gives you an edge might be here today and fast gone. The promises you make in talking about a competitive edge may be very difficult to keep, leading to future frustration and disappointment on all sides. (If the investor is truly looking to beat everyone then they will also likely never be happy) Instead focus on the things that make you unique and different. What are you expert in? What are you knowledgable about? A big company can never replace you and your unique knowledge and expertise.

You can also demonstrate your knowledge and credibility by challenging common assumptions and mistakes. (If everyone is doing x, when how is x wrong and y would be better). If you have data why something is not working then it demonstrates your knowledge. As long as you provide compelling credible alternatives to mitigate against those assumptions and mistakes you create a compelling narrative about your credibility.

Agree an engagement plan with the investor is invaluable. Say we will meet you monthly, tell them what information you will give them when. Put meet on the bones and shows you are serious about wanting to involve them. However, if you say these things you absolutely must do them to maintain trust. Ideally you want an investor whose expertise and knowledge complements yours, to avoid future conflict