Why This Election Could Make or Break Corporate Progress on Social Justice

By Muneer Panjwani, CEO of Engage for Good

As a personal reflection on the intersection of politics and corporate social impact, I’m writing to share why I believe the upcoming election holds high stakes for the work we do in social impact. These insights stem from my own experiences leading Engage for Good, where we’ve seen the profound effect policy decisions have on the potential of corporate partnerships to drive meaningful change.

As corporate social impact leaders, we know that our work—building partnerships that serve both communities and businesses—doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Policies set by federal officeholders create the environment in which we work, guiding resources and determining how effective we can be. This election presents a pivotal opportunity to choose a direction that either builds on our recent achievements or forces us to defend hard-won progress in social impact.

Historically, Democratic administrations have fostered policies that advance social justice and align with our mission to support underserved communities. Their approach to governance and regulation strengthens the foundations that social impact work relies on. Republican administrations, by contrast, often focus on deregulation, sometimes at the expense of key social and environmental issues that Engage for Good and many in our community consider essential.

Below are some areas where this election could shape whether our work thrives—or faces new challenges:

1. Regulations and Accountability Under a Republican administration, we might see a reduction in mandates for social impact reporting, corporate governance, and charitable tax incentives. Reduced accountability measures and cuts to incentives could shift corporate funding away from social impact initiatives, diverting resources that currently support marginalized communities. At the same time, environmental protections could be scaled back, potentially undermining corporate commitments to climate resilience. In 2022 alone, the U.S. faced 18 natural disasters costing over $1 billion each, disproportionately affecting low-income communities. A Democratic administration would likely continue or strengthen mandates supporting corporate disaster response partnerships, disaster resilience funding, and climate adaptation, enabling companies to work with communities on long-term solutions.

2. Climate Action and Sustainability Initiatives Climate action has reached a critical juncture. According to the UN, we need a 45% reduction in global emissions by 2030 to avoid the most severe climate impacts. Under the previous Republican administration, the U.S. exited the Paris Agreement, pausing essential climate progress. A Democratic administration has since rejoined the U.S. to this accord and launched policies, like the Inflation Reduction Act, that allocate $369 billion for clean energy initiatives. A shift away from these policies could undercut corporate sustainability goals, especially those tied to clean energy tax credits. Communities affected by poverty and hunger, already vulnerable to climate disruptions, would find it harder to adapt, while corporate partnerships bridging resilience gaps for these communities would encounter new barriers.

3. Social Justice Programs and Support for Marginalized Communities The social justice landscape is equally at risk. Conservative administrations frequently frame funding cuts to social programs as “not important, effective, or divisive." This stance often results in reduced support for LGBTQ rights, low-income families, and communities of color. Recent Supreme Court rulings illustrate this risk: the affirmative action ruling limits educational opportunities for Black and Latinx students while overturning Roe v. Wade has affected reproductive rights for millions, disproportionately impacting low-income women. Meanwhile, Republican stances on LGBTQ rights have restricted access to services for transgender youth and adults. A Democratic administration could counter these trends with policies and funding designed to support marginalized communities, giving corporate partners a greater role in addressing these gaps, whether through hunger relief, poverty alleviation, or healthcare access.

4. Corporate Advocacy and Expectations Corporate advocacy for social issues is no longer just “nice-to-have”—it’s expected. A Cone Communications study showed that 87% of consumers would purchase a product because of a company’s stance on social and environmental issues, while 76% would refuse to buy if a company’s values conflicted with their own. A Democratic administration would likely encourage these advocacy trends, maintaining momentum for corporate investment in social responsibility. In contrast, a Republican administration might prioritize deregulation, discouraging corporate advocacy on social issues. The trend of anti-ESG and DEI efforts in states like Texas and Florida is an example, as these regulations penalize companies for taking stances on issues like climate change and social equity. This could disincentivize corporate involvement in critical causes and limit partnerships that benefit employees and communities.

5. Healthcare Access and Equity Expanding healthcare access is fundamental to reducing poverty and hunger. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been instrumental in expanding healthcare coverage for underserved populations. In states that adopted Medicaid expansion, uninsured rates for low-income adults dropped by 44%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Repealing the ACA under a Republican administration could reverse these gains, leaving millions uninsured and worsening economic hardship. For companies engaged in health equity partnerships, reduced access to healthcare would create greater challenges in meeting community needs. A Democratic administration would likely continue expanding healthcare support, creating a more conducive environment for corporate health initiatives and poverty alleviation.

I see this election as more than a political event; it’s a turning point for the future of corporate social impact. Although our work at Engage for Good fosters collaboration across the political spectrum, and we will continue that work no matter the outcome, the direction of our impact—and the lives we reach—will be shaped by the decisions made in this election. I believe the policies that emerge could either help us advance, or require us to defend, our collective vision of a more just world.

This reflection is a call to think carefully about the road ahead. Your vote is not just a choice; it’s a voice for the future of our shared impact.