The intent of the Stewardship Category is that organizations build relationships with and invest resources in the communities they serve and in which they operate to benefit and strengthen those communities. In the same way that the Living Building Challenge’s philosophy calls for each act of design and construction to be net positive and make the world a better place, Just organizations have the opportunity to not merely leave our communities in a less bad state but to actively contribute to repair, restoration, and thriving.
Because organizations operate within communities, they have a civic responsibility to wield their impact and influence in ways that bring positive benefits to communities. It is incumbent on organizations to understand how their work both affects and can support those communities. An expansive view of the community’s role in enhancing an organization’s impact can result in connections and activities that are mutually beneficial. Local communities benefit from decisions and investments while also contributing invaluable knowledge and unique perspectives that can aid in organizational growth and success. Further, proactive community engagement can ease tension, minimize risks, and generate goodwill and broad-based support of new developments and projects.80
Beyond providing an opportunity for employees to engage with and positively impact their communities, volunteering increases an organization’s visibility in the community and has a positive effect on employee engagement and retention. Volunteering also benefits the employees who participate, allowing them to gain invaluable skills and insights to bring back to their work role.81 A positive culture of volunteerism provides employees with the autonomy to engage in the civic duty or advocacy of their choice, encourages employee participation, and can provide a sense of meaning.82
Charitable giving strengthens an organization’s community connections, enriches the lives of both people who give and the beneficiaries, and increases employee engagement and retention.83 Charitable giving affords organizations and employees opportunities to express their values by supporting causes important to them. Sharing the benefits of success through charitable donations also shows recognition that opportunity is not equally accessible and can both help redistribute resources and support other values-aligned organizations.
Organizations have significant opportunities to make a difference in their communities by proactively procuring goods and services from local, independent businesses as well as those owned by members of communities who have been traditionally underestimated or marginalized. Supporting disadvantaged businesses helps redress long-standing systemic inequities and redistribute wealth, while doing business with local enterprises helps support and stabilize local economies by keeping those revenues within the community and may also result in lower carbon impacts and other environmental benefits. Local sourcing is not just about geographic distance—it has to do with scale and empowerment and how these elements impact positively on local community businesses, economies, and job creation.84
Further, the expanding global economy often means that supply chains are complex and geographically dispersed, a situation in which human rights abuses may be easily obscured. Organizations can leverage their purchasing power to hold suppliers to transparency and operational standards that safeguard human rights and the welfare of all living beings.
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80 Barnes, M., & Schmitz, P. (2016). Community Engagement Matters (Now More Than Ever). Stanford Social Innovation Review, 14(2), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.48558/J83Z-0440. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://ssir.org/articles/entry/community_engagement_matters_now_more_than_ever.
81 Ford, S. (2021, February 16). The Business Case for Employee Volunteer & Skills Giving Programs. America’s Charities. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.charities.org/news/business-case-employee-volunteer-skills-giving-programs.
82 Rodell, J. (2021, January-February). Volunteer Programs that Employees Can Get Excited About. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://hbr.org/2021/01/volunteer-programs-that-employees-can-get-excited-about.
83 Groundswell. (2022, June 6). Determining Your Corporate Donation Budget: How Much Should You Donate To Charity? Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://groundswell.io/blog/how-much-should-i-donate-to-charity-as-a-corporation/.
84 LaVecchia, O. (2015, August 27). Procurement Can Be a Powerful Tool for Local Economies, but Takes More Than a Policy Change to Work. Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Retrieved February 21, 2023, from https://ilsr.org/procurement-more-than-a-policy-change/.
