What happens when corporate citizenship is no longer a “nice to have,” but a business imperative under scrutiny? And how can associations help members prove value when the environment turns uncertain?

In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Andrea Wood, President and CEO of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP). Andrea discusses:

• How ACCP serves professionals responsible for corporate social responsibility (CSR), social impact (CSI), and ESG efforts, acting as liaisons between businesses and communities.
• The critical importance of making the business case, linking CSR to employee recruitment, retention, morale, reputation, and financial performance.
• How younger workforce expectations are accelerating demand for meaningful corporate community engagement.
• Why the most effective CSR strategies embrace a shared value approach, simultaneously benefiting the business and the community.
• How ACCP supports members with practical, ready-to-use toolkits and resources so small teams don’t have to “start from scratch.”
• ACCP’s evolving engagement strategy: virtual summits, sold-out in-person conferences, regional meetups, and targeted programming for career stages.
• How ACCP is helping members navigate political and economic scrutiny by doubling down on data, research, and clear communication of impact.
• The role of associations as extensions of staff for under-resourced members who need insights, benchmarking, and peer support.
• Andrea’s leadership approach: listening deeply, staying informed on external trends, and rapidly adapting programming to meet the moment.

References:

• ACCP Website
• Making The Case