ACCP 2016: Outcomes and ‘The Power of And’

If you work in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility, the ACCP conference tops the list each year as a must-attend event. The 2016 conference was no different. We returned back to the office energized after spending three days surrounded by corporate leaders committed to creating positive societal impact.

With a full schedule of thought leadership and connection time with our CSR peers across various industries, we continued our ongoing effort to find the best ways to help companies that are doing good in the community. One question we received from many attendees is how can we partner with grantees more effectively?

If you were at the conference you heard of the phrase “The Power of And.” We think this phrase holds especially true for companies wanting to find ways to partner with grantees more effectively. At Versaic our ‘Power of And’ is our versatile solution and our reliable partnership with clients. The combined forces of technology AND a thoughtful and methodical approach to determine the truly relevant outcomes gets you to the greatest impact.

We saw this in action with our work with client Starwood Hotels, where Starwood started by identifying their mission and focus areas and then formulating a plan. The Rensselaerville Institute (TRI) helped Starwood get very clear about the specific, tangible outcomes they wanted to see worldwide, and this drove their focus areas for giving. Only then were they able to identify truly relevant outcomes and put their plan into action in the Versaic system.

For those looking to go from insight to impact, like Starwood, you have to change your approach to outcomes. Remember there is no one-size-fits-all solution to outcomes. The real insight begins with placing yourself in the shoes of the grantee. We worked with TRI to create the Outcomes Initiative with this in mind. While the Outcomes Initiative does not solve the question of impact itself, it helps foundations to get closer to an answer by playing the role of the grantee- from application/eligibility review, through online submission and on to progress and final reporting. As a first example we showcase the strategic giving area of Workforce Development. We hope that the grantmaking community will check it out, provide feedback, and help us expand it to other strategic giving areas. It is our hope that with your collaboration, we’ll be able to break down some walls to help those struggling with outcomes and ultimately increase the impact capable by both grantees and grantmakers across the entire community. To join the initiative, put on your grantee hat and dive into the application process.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in San Antonio for ACCP 2017!

To learn more about how our software can help your corporation gain insights, save time, and build your brand email info@versaic.com or call 877-712-9495.